Thank you for registering your child for our 2025 Wilderness Skills Overnight Camp.

This page provides important information about preparing your child for camp; we know it’s long, but please read it thoroughly!

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Camp Location:

Earth Native Bastrop Campus, WOODVIEW ENTRANCE, 137 Woodview Ln, Bastrop, TX 78602​​

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Communication:

Please call the main school number at 512-299-8870 if you have any questions or have trouble finding our campus. On Monday and Wednesday evenings you will receive a camp update email from the Camp Director. The Camp Director's cell phone number will be included in these emails. Please keep this number handy, if needed for after-hours when our office is closed.

 

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Camp Times:

Drop-off: Please arrive at 10:00am on Monday for registration and sign-in. Please plan to stay with your child for the first 30-60 minutes to help set up their tent, meet the staff, get settled in and attend a mandatory parent orientation. 

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Pick-up: Please pick up your camper on Friday at 12:00pm. No later pick-up is available.

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Sign-In and Sign-Out:

It is our policy that each camper be signed in at the beginning of the camp and signed out at the end. Please make sure that whoever drops off and picks up your camper is aware of the need to do this. Please let the staff know at sign-in if your child will be picked up on Friday by someone other than the person who dropped them off on Monday.

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What to Bring: (PLEASE LABEL ALL YOUR CAMPER’S BELONGINGS)

• 6 full changes of clothing

  • Comfortable clothes that can get dirty and are appropriate for the weather

  • Please pack a pair of light pants to help prevent mosquito bites

  • Please send shoes that are comfortable for playing running around games in addition to any other shoes packed.

  • Sleepwear

• 2 towels (one for showers and one for creek time)

• ​Swimsuit (that covers maximum amount of skin - to protect against sticks in the creek and sunburn. Rash guards are ideal.)

• Sturdy, closed-toe shoes that can get dirty

• Water shoes (will be needed for creek time)

• Tent (no larger than a 4-person tent)

• Sheet or lightweight blanket (even lightweight sleeping bags are too warm in the summer)

• Outdoor sleeping mat/camping pad

• Pillow – if desired

• Raingear or poncho

• Bug spray and anti-itch cream/spray!!

• Sunscreen/Hat

• Flashlight or headlamp

  • ​If you purchased a headlamp during registration, it will be given to your child at camp.

• 1 full water bottle, at least 27 oz. (Please do not send disposable water bottles.)

  • ​If you purchased an Earth Native water bottle during registration, it will be given to your child at camp.

• Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, biodegradable soap, etc.) – Avoid scented items because they will attract insects.

  • ​All shampoo, body wash, soap, etc. should be biodegradable

• Small Backpack (Daypack)

• This is in ADDITION to whatever you pack all your camper's other belongings in (i.e. suitcase, duffel bag, trunk, etc.)​

• Mess Kit (non-breakable plate, bowl, spoon, fork, knife, cup)

• Medications (if applicable) – Please list all medications on your child’s registration form. Any medications must be given to the staff at check-in on Monday morning. 

• Knife - Morakniv Craftline Basic with Stainless Steel Blade and Combi-Sheath (3.6 in blade)

  • ​If you purchase a knife during registration, it will be given to your child at camp.

  • If you choose to purchase a knife on your own, please be sure to pack it.

• All meals are provided at camp. Please do not send any food with your child to camp. If your child has any dietary restrictions that we cannot accommodate, please be sure to get in contact prior to camp. Please bring a packed lunch for pick-up on Friday.

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OPTIONAL ITEMS (to help beat the heat): 

• HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Battery-operated fans that can be hung/set in tents (pack extra batteries). If your child has a rechargeable fan please let them know to ask for help recharging it during the day. 

• Water bottles that also spray mist or cooling towels that can be worn around the neck.

• Lastly, feel free to pack playing cards, books, non-electronic games, etc. for tent time. (No phones or electronics are permitted at camp)

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NOTE: We do have a limited amount of gear that is available for rent if you don’t have an item on the list and would prefer not to buy it. If you did not choose this during your registration process but are still interested, please contact info@earthnativeschool.com to have any purchases or rentals added. Rental gear is limited and is available to reserve on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you are interested in renting items from us, please let us know ASAP (and at least 1 week prior to camp) so we can hold them for you. Please make all purchases/rentals in advance of camp.

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What NOT to Pack:

• Electronics – Including cell phones, iPads, Apple watches, video games, etc. If parents would like to check up on their campers, they can contact the Camp Director at any time.  

• Excess extra clothes

• Any food at all (unless your child has dietary restrictions that we can not accommodate and you have spoken to a director on the phone and come up with a plan that includes you bringing food to be kept in the camp kitchen.)

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Parents/Guardians and the camper's secondary emergency contact need to be reachable by phone 24 hours a day while camp is in session. 

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Tent Sharing:

Tent sharing is allowed as long as it is requested in advance by parents/guardians. Spontaneous tent sharing will not be allowed.

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Food:

All food will be provided for all program participants. Please do not send any food with your child to camp. We have noted all food restrictions/allergies that you provided during registration and will shop accordingly. If there is a need to send food due to a food allergy/restriction that we cannot accommodate, please be sure to get in contact prior to camp. You will need to “check-in” this food with an Instructor or the Cook on the first day. Please bring a packed lunch for pick-up on Friday.

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Hydration:

We take safety very seriously at Earth Native, and the summer heat is definitely a hazard we face here in Texas. In order to prevent heat related illness, we will require your camper to drink water throughout the day regularly. 

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Preparing for a Hot Camp Week:

Earth Native has safely and successfully hosted thousands of kids and hundreds of camps in 100+ degree weather. After all of this experience, we’ve noticed that our campers often have a harder time on Mondays. We believe that this is largely due to the fact that many kiddos are not hydrating well on Sunday (so they show up at camp a little dehydrated), and with the late summer nights and no school, many kids also often don’t get enough sleep the night before camp. 

 

Given these observations, we highly recommend that your kids drink lots of fluids the weekend before camp and get a solid night’s sleep (early bedtime) on Sunday so their bodies are fully operating and ready for adventure.

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Knives:

We require that each student participate in knife safety training at camp unless they have previously received a level 2 or above knife safety certification through Earth Native. After the training, each student will be required to pass a knife safety certification before they can use their knife. Even after students pass the verbal and skill test and are “Knife Safety Certified,” instructors will hold the students to strict guidelines regarding knife use that must be followed at all times to include:

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• Students must ask an instructor before using their knives. (If it is an appropriate time, the instructor will direct them to a safe location where they can carve.)

• Students must maintain a minimum safe distance apart from other students and instructors while carving. (The distance must be equal to or greater than the distance of their arm length plus the length of the object they are carving.)

• A knife is not a toy and can never be treated as such. (Using a knife in an inappropriate manner can result in the knife being taken away and a loss of knife certification. If this happens, the student will have to re-earn their knife certification by acknowledging that what they did that was inappropriate/dangerous and re-passing the knife certification at a later time/date deemed appropriate by the instructor.)

• Never carve toward or on top of any part of your body.

• Never leave a knife unattended.

• Always put your knife back in the sheath and back in your backpack when you are done carving.

• Knives must stay in backpacks when not in use.

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Over the years, we have found that Mora brand knives are the best

and a great knife for both new and advanced carvers.

 

 

Weather Policy:

Our camps run rain or shine; however, although it is very rare, we will delay or cancel a day of camp in cases of dangerous/severe weather (such as tornado warnings, flash flood warnings, etc.). If the first day of camp is canceled or delayed due to severe weather, you will be notified via phone or email and it will be clearly marked on the webpage for your camp. If unexpected severe weather hits or is imminent while camp is in progress, we may call you and have you come pick up your child from camp. Camp will resume after the severe weather has passed. If you have questions about cancellations, please first check our website, if you don’t get the answers you are seeking, then please call the main school number at 512-299-8870

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Homesickness for first-time overnight campers:

Spending time away from home at overnight camp can be an incredible experience full of growth for kids. It can also be tough! It is not uncommon for kids to feel homesick at overnight camp even if they already have (or have made) friends or even siblings at camp with them. Most commonly children experience homesickness in the evening and at night when they aren’t as distracted by fun camp activities.

 

In our experience the kids who are most likely to experience homesickness have little experience camping in their own tent, are feeling forced to attend camp, are anxious, or have overheard their parents express concerns or fear about them attending overnight camp. 

 

Most feelings of homesickness are not a major issue. Missing home is normal and isn’t really a problem unless feelings of sadness, and the anxiety associated with these feelings, become so strong that they interfere with a camper’s abilities to make friends, have fun, sleep, eat and fully participate in camp activities. The Earth Native staff will do their absolute best to provide as much support for homesick campers as possible. Our caring, empathetic approach is effective in most cases, and usually results in homesick campers feeling settled in by the third day of camp. It is our experience that homesick campers who work through their emotions and stay at camp are almost always glad that they decided to stay. 

 

The first two nights can be hard for some kids since they are in a new and unfamiliar environment, and it can also be a little overwhelming to leave behind many of the comforts of home. It isn’t uncommon for some campers to express a desire to go home on the first or second night of camp. In these circumstances the camp staff will sit down and talk to them, encourage them to share their feelings, and help them work through it. 

 

Below are some tips for parents to help your child through the experience of missing home- 

 

Tips and Tricks for Parents:

 

• We highly recommend that parents write short encouraging letters to their child(ren) and give them to the Camp Director on the first day of camp. This can help campers feel more at ease knowing that you are thinking about them and are proud of their accomplishments. Secret parent tip - It is also fun to hide a few notes in their bag or gear that they can randomly find.

 

• Begin preparing your child to be away from home days or even a week or more before camp. Talk about homesickness and let them know that these feelings are normal. Perhaps share an experience where you felt homesick as a child and how you got through it. Discuss in advance some things they might do to help themselves feel better if they start feeling homesick. Encourage your child to engage in “Positive self-talk”. Positive self-talk is used to encourage yourself to be strong and confident in your abilities. An example of positive self-talk is saying, “I’m safe and even though I am in a new and different environment, it is a good place where I can have fun and make new friends.”

 

• If your child gets anxious about the dark or has trouble falling asleep, make sure to pack a comfort item from home (examples include, stuffed animal, a shirt with mom or dad’s smell on it, or another item that makes them feel less lonely). A comfy sleeping pad will also help them relax and get better sleep. A low power LED light can also be used as a nightlight if needed

 

• Texas summers are hot and sleeping in the heat can be a challenge since our bodies are not used to it. Our most experienced campers have learned that bringing a battery operated fan with extra batteries helps them keep cool and sleep soundly at night. If your child brings a rechargeable fan let the instructors know and ask your child to communicate when they need help charging batteries.

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Steps that the Earth Native Staff will take to help campers work through homesickness include:

 

Problem:

Most campers may not get a good night’s rest the first two nights. There are many reasons for this, but in our experience we’ve noticed that many homesick campers may not have the best sleeping arrangements, left behind a favorite comfort item (i.e. stuffed animal, blanket, book) or feel anxious or scared sleeping in their own tent away from home. 

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Common Camp Staff Actions:

• Assess campers' needs and provide positive coping outlets.

• Provide an extra sleeping pad, blanket, pillow, book or stuffed animal if needed.

• Encourage the camper to talk about their feelings and help relieve any worries/concerns they may have.

• Follow up in the morning with the camper to see how they are doing and take further action to help alleviate their homesickness. 

 

Problem:

For some kids, homesickness sticks around even though they are doing their very best to fight this feeling and they aren't able to work through it without additional support. 

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Common Camp Staff Actions:

• The Camp Director will call the camper’s parent/guardian for help.

• The Camp Director and parent will discuss strategies to help make the experience for the camper better. Sometimes words of encouragement by a parent over the phone are enough for the camper to feel confident in themselves to continue on with the program.

  • If we do end up needing to call you please be prepared for a lot of emotions to come up over the phone. Homesickness can bring up big emotions.

  • Following a phone conversation it will be up to the parent to decide if they would like to come pick their child up or encourage them to continue with camp.

  • If the camper and parents decide to keep the child at camp, the Camp Director will update parents/guardians throughout the day about their child’s progress/feelings.

 

Problem:

If the camper is truly not enjoying their time at Earth Native Summer Camp, and we’re not seeing them make progress, after a reasonable amount of time and effort from the staff, the Camp Director will call parents and discuss the matter further and determine the best course of action to move forward.

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Camp Staff Action:

While it isn’t very common, sometimes kids aren’t quite ready for overnight camp and just aren’t able to work through feelings of homesickness even with support. If a child is consumed by homesickness and they can’t get over it, after we use all of the tricks up our sleeve, we will call a parent to come pick them up. 

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Note: If you have a specific approach that you would like for us to take in helping your child deal with homesickness please let us know. Sometimes parents request that camp staff call them immediately if their child is expressing homesickness and others would prefer that the child work through the experience on their own (without direct parent involvement with them). We will honor any and ALL direct parent requests regarding these issues.

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Lastly, please take a moment to read our Student Code of Conduct

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If you have any questions, please contact us at (512) 299-8870 or info@earthnativeschool.com

We look forward to seeing you this summer!

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