Frequently Asked Summer Programs Questions
     
 
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 What are the 2004 Camp Dates?
 
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 What are the ages for camp?
 
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 How many weeks can I sign up for Day Camp/Language Immersion Program?
 
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 To which areas of transportation does the Day Camp/ Expedition Camps Language Immersion Program/and Leaders-In-Training Program pick-up?
 
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 Who drives your buses?
     
    Day Camp:
 
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 What do campers do at your Day Camp?
 
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 Who works in your Day Camp?
 
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 How is your pool staffed?
 
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 What are daily swim lessons like?
     
    Language Immersion:
 
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 What do campers do in Language Immersion?
 
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 How do the teachers group language students?
 
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 Who teaches in your language program?
     
    Expedition Camp:
 
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 What do campers do in the Expedition Camps?
 
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 Can campers repeat an Expedition program?
 
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What is the Voyager Expeditions?
 
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Can you tell me more about the program?
     
    Leaders-In-Training:
 
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Tell me about your Leaders-In-Training Program.

What are the 2004 Camp Dates?
Day Camp June 14-August 6 (no camp July 2)
Language Immersion June 14-August 6 (no camp July 2)
Expedition Camp
  Session I
Session II
Session III
June 14-June 25
July 5-July 16
July 10-July 30
Voyager Expeditions
  Pacific Northwest
Smoky Mountains
August 2 - August 8
August 9 - 15
Leaders-In-Training
  Session I
Session II
Session III
June 14-June 25
July 5-July 16
July 10-July 30
Sports Camps
  TBA
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What are the ages for camp?
  Day Camp Ages 4-10 years (must be 4 by June 2004)
Language Immersion 4-10 yrs
Expedition 9-10 yrs (Trailblazers) 11-14 yrs
Leaders-In-Training 13-15 yrs

How many weeks can I sign up for Day Camp/Language Immersion Program?
  4, 5, 6, 7, 8 wks
The weeks do not have to be consecutive weeks.
This is a five-day a week program
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To which areas of transportation does the Day Camp/Expedition Camps Language Immersion Program/and Leaders-In-Training Program pick-up?
  The bus routes pick up as far south as northern Evanston, as far west as Waukegan Rd. in Glenview, and as far north as Glencoe. Pick up/drop-off times vary depending on location.
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Who drives your buses?
  Certified professional bus drivers
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What do campers do at your Day Camp?
  4-6 yr olds: daily swim lessons, gymnastics, creative play, arts and crafts, group play
 
  7 yr olds: daily swim lessons, tennis, archery, golf, outdoor adventures (rock climbing), arts and crafts, group play
 
  8-10 yr olds: daily swim lessons, tennis, archery, golf, outdoor adventures (rock climbing), arts and crafts, sailing/canoeing, group play
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Who works at your Day Camp?
Each child is a member of a group of about 16 campers.
A team of counselors -- a senior counselor who is at least 18 and has previous camp leadership experience, and a junior counselor who is at least 16 years of age, supervises this group.
An administration team who is all educators and has extensive camp experience supervises these counselors.
Our activity instructors are at least 18 years of age and have experience in the activity. An administrative team also supervises them.
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How is your pool staffed?
  To meet the safety standards for our pool, there is a staff of 4 lifeguards and a pool director. All are trained by Jeff Ellis & Associates (a private lifeguard training company.) Our guards train throughout the summer on rescue techniques.
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What are daily swim lessons like?
  Campers report to the pool once a day for 30-minute swim lessons.
 
  Lessons are taught by trained counselors and are supervised by the pool staff. Class size varies but is usually one instructor to six campers.
 
  If a child is hesitant about swimming they are never forced. Rather staff members are trained to work with the camper and help them decide on when they want to swim.
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What do campers do in Language Immersion?
  In this half-day program, children receive instruction where the integration of content and communication skills gets children involved. In a classroom environment, children learn to communicate the language of their choice by participating in activities, which build vocabulary and teach about a given culture.
   
  With small teacher to student ratios (1 teacher per 12 students), teachers interact with students and promote the acquisition of the language.
Using many different instructional strategies and academic tasks, such as computer projects, music and art, students are actively engaged in the learning process.
 
  Campers who are enrolled in morning immersion and day camp begin their camp experience at 11:45am. They have the same experience as all day campers do.
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How do the teachers group language students?
  You pick the language to study. (French, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Spanish)
   
  During the first few days' teachers do assessment of students and group accordingly based on ability and age.
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Who teaches in your language program?
  Professional language teachers from the local schools.
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What do campers do in the Expedition Camps?
  Mariner: A full day boating program at Lloyd Beach in Winnetka. Campers split their day learning how to navigate sailboats, canoes, kayaks, and windsurfers. They also learn basic seamanship skills and boating safety skills. This is a two-week program.
 
  Wayfarer: A full day program that teaches outdoor living skills (hiking, biking, camping skills) Mon, Tues, Wed finds the campers on the North Shore campus or travel to local forest preserves to learn new skills (orienteering, nature study) then on Thursday morning campers pack up and travel to a state park for an overnight camping experience. The next week is scheduled the same but more skills are taught culminating in a final campout. This is a two-week program.
 
  Trailblazers: A full day program that combines the best of Mariner and Wayfarer. Trailblazer campers are introduced to the Expedition Camps. They will bike, hike, sail, kayak and learn many skills. This two-week program culminates in an overnight camping trip the last two days of the session.
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Can campers repeat an Expedition program?
  Yes. The idea is to build upon skills so the camper can ultimately become self-sufficient.
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What is the Voyager Expedition?
  Voyager Expedition is a two week-long expedition for children ages 11-13 years. The Pacific Northwest Expedition will explore the Olympic National Park in Washington State.
 
  Cost for program is all-inclusive.
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Can you tell me more about the program?

  The Pacific Northwest Expedition:
Olympic National Park is the site for the Pacific Northwest Expedition. We'll spend one day of orientation at North Shore Country Day School and two additional days of travel. For five days, you will be exploring one of our nation's most varied ecosystems. Its mountains rise steeply from the sea, capturing moisture and creating a heavily forested national park. You may see a variety of animals, birds and sea creatures on this fantastic journey. You'll work hard traveling over the terrain with all your gear on your back. You'll learn the basics of camping, cooking, and hiking. You'll work together with a group of fellow campers. Expeditions are influenced by weather, terrain, the group's health and its skills, experience and ability. It is difficult to script the expedition, but we will begin exploring the rain forest areas of Lake Quinault and the Hoh River. Then we will spend a day hiking all the ocean trails of the Pacific Ocean. A trip to the Hurricane Ridge area will offer spectacular mountain vistas. A guided sea kayaking adventure outside Vashon Island will conclude this expedition.

Tell me about your Leaders-In-Training Program.
  The Leaders-In-Training course offers youth ages 13-15 a chance to develop lifelong leadership skills. The course is a two-week, day-long program based at the North Shore Country Day School and utilizes area locations to emphasize important elements of leadership. Summer Programs staff that has extensive leadership experience and training will facilitate the course.
 
  The Leaders-In-Training program is designed to develop leadership, teaching and communication skills and to create active members of the local community. During the program, LITs will fine-tune their teamwork skills, learn about the responsibilities related to being a leader and help to plan and organize events. Participants will be encouraged to explore personal values, purpose and visions for the future. They will also explore self-imposed limitations--mental, physical, and emotional--and work to reach beyond them. These experiences develop the whole person and help youth realize their full potential.
 
  A variety of activities will help youth develop leadership skills.