42 Glorious Acres!
Our Campus and Things to Consider
Our campus and programs are designed to give campers ample opportunities to spend time in the outdoors, to experience traditional camp activities, to interact with others of diverse backgrounds, and to enjoy summer in an atmosphere of acceptance and respect. Within our 42 acres, there are forests, meadows, natural springs, creeks, trails, and abundant flora and fauna. Most activities are held in the open-air, except when there is a threat of severe weather.
Respect
We strive to provide a safe and inclusive environment for all our campers and staff. Through activities and practices geared toward character development, campers learn to respect and care for one another, the natural environment, and the barnyard animals with whom we share a campus. Efforts around environmental stewardship include encouraging families to avoid single-use plastics in lunches, maintaining a no-idling carpool line, and educating campers on the environmental impact of their interactions with nature.
How to Dress
Everyone attending High Meadows Camp should be dressed ready for days full of activity and outdoor play. Comfortable clothing that can get wet, dirty, and possibly lost is best as your campers will likely get dirty and muddy in activities. It is always a good idea to pack an extra change of clothing as well as a rain poncho as we go outside rain or shine. Campers should wear closed-toed shoes appropriate for running and climbing and clothing conducive to outdoor play in warm temperatures.
Exposure and Allergies
High Meadows campers spend the majority of their days enjoying our outdoor campus. We utilize a few indoor spaces primarily for younger campers and for activities that need to be protected from the weather. During camp, these indoor areas are not air-conditioned. As a predominantly outdoor program, our campers are regularly exposed to common allergens including grass, hay, pollen, barnyard animals, and insects. Individuals with severe allergies or sensitivities should consider whether our camp environment is an appropriate fit with their health considerations.
Co-Existing With Nature
As part of our commitment to the natural environment, we restrict the use of pesticides and herbicides on our property. As a result, it is not uncommon to encounter plants and animals around our 42 acre property that may be harmful. We proactively educate our campers and counseling staff about our campus in effort to help them identify and avoid situations which could pose a threat. Poison ivy is common in our deep forests, and we frequently encounter spiders, snakes, and stinging insects. Our program is not recommended for campers for whom exposure to these natural environmental factors would pose a significant health risk.
Campus Safety & Security
Safety and security are top priorities at High Meadows Camp. Each summer, our camp staff participate in comprehensive training to ensure they are fully prepared to support and protect our campers in the event of an emergency. We also have a full-time security officer on campus every day. Throughout the season, we conduct regular safety and severe-weather drills so our team is ready to respond confidently and effectively in any situation.
Physical Activity
High Meadows campers are incredibly active from the moment they arrive in the morning to the end of the day at carpool. Our property offers many opportunities for physical movement, be it climbing a tree, scaling a climbing wall, or participating in an obstacle course. We have safety guidelines for children climbing trees, playing on the playground equipment, and participating in organized activities, but the potential for injury always exists. While we strive to offer inclusive programming, our campus cannot be functionally navigated in a wheelchair or by individuals with significant mobility challenges. As we are spread over 42 acres, campers and staff should be comfortable and able to negotiate a variety of terrains.
Barnyard Animals
At High Meadows, we view our barnyard animals as part of our campus community. Unlike at a petting zoo where animals are presented as a commodity for entertainment, our campers are educated on how to respectfully interact with our animals as fellow sentient beings. We teach children to about the traditional value of farm and service animals and how to treat all animals in a safe and respectful manner. Our equine activities are conducted by trained staff members and participants are oriented to safety rules prior to riding ponies.
Community & Self-Expression
We respect the opportunity of our community members to express their religious, political, and cultural beliefs in an atmosphere of acceptance and tolerance, rather than one of offense or coercion. The celebration of holidays, personal displays of religious symbolism, and exchange of greetings do not indicate or imply a preference for any system of beliefs, but rather our desire to educate and expose our children to the diversity of thought and action in the world.
We welcome your participation in our community and in our unique environment. We hope to preserve the “magic of the medders” and hope that all of our community members will understand and respect the characteristics which add such traditional richness and beauty to our programs. Though some may find certain aspects inconvenient or uncomfortable, we sincerely believe that, as it is, our program fosters a positive exposure to and an unparalleled respect for the natural world and its human diversity.