Information for Chaperones

We meet with teachers and chaperones on your arrival date so that we may disseminate needs and last minute information, and to get to know each other better. We appreciate the willingness of parents and teachers to chaperone students. We hope that your time as a chaperone at our environmental education center will be enjoyable for you as well as for the students. This information should help you feel comfortable and at home while you are with us.

Supervision of campers: The Sumatanga Environmental Education Staff will teach all classes. You are invited to contribute, especially to help students synthesize things learned from camp and school at home. Chaperones are responsible for the discipline of the students, both during class and during free times. Students must be supervised even during unstructured times. Dining Hall Procedures will be explained during the first meal at Camp. Please help see that these procedures are carried out by the students. See schedule for meal times. Following each meal, announcements will be made regarding upcoming activities. Everyone should remain seated in the dining hall until after announcements are made.

The pay phones are located in the front hall of the Lodge. Adults are welcome to use these, but we would appreciate it if calls are kept short (five minutes). Students should not use the telephone without the teacher's permission. Cell phone access is limited in our area.

The regular camp phone is answered twenty-four hours a day. Emergency messages will be delivered to you day or night. Non-emergency massages will be brought to each meal.

A list of emergency numbers is posted beside the pay phones. The coordinator can be reached at home at night (256)538-3264. Please call if there is an emergency. Medical forms are kept beside the telephone in the East Wing Infirmary so they can be easily found in case of an emergency.

Please let us know, before arrival at camp, of any food allergies, special diets, or medical conditions that might limit a campers or chaperone's participation in camp activities.

The Sumatanga Enviromnent Education Staff will carry first aid kits on all camp activities. Simple first aid supplies (Band-Aids, Tylenol, etc.) can be found in the first aid cabinet in the top floor of the East Wing.

Please respect the others who share the camp with you and observe quiet time from 11:00 p.m. until 7:00 am. If students will need time to talk before quiet time, please plan an earlier bedtime, accordingly.

After vehicles are unloaded, please park them in the area in front of the Main Lodge or around any of the wings where parking is designated,

We believe that it is important to make students aware that one way to care for our environment is to conserve energy. Please help students save energy at camp by turning off lights when leaving the room, keeping showers short, keeping doors and windows closed when heat and/or air conditioning is on, etc. (Please - do not hang anything from the sprinkler heads found in all rooms)

Out going mail can be placed in the mail box in front of the Lodge. Incoming mail for your students will be given to you at lunch or smack time,