Parent Information

Chinsegut Conservation Center employs four staff year-round. Visit our Staff and Facility page to learn more about our year-round team. Staff must pass a Level 2 background screening and receive three weeks of pre-camp training. All staff are Adult and Pediatric First Aid, CPR, and AED certified through the American Red Cross.  

On Tuesday morning, please park in the general parking area for the Conservation Center. Come into the Center to meet with the camp staff to verify the camper’s registration information, authorized pick-up list, and health history.

On Wednesday and Thursday morning, please pull through the loop, remain in your vehicle, and let your child out at the Conservation Center building entrance.

Checking In and Out:

Your compliance with the check-in and check-out times is important and ensures orderly registration and dismissal procedures. After five minutes past the camp check-in/check-out time, staff will call for an estimated time of arrival if the Camp Director has not yet been notified by voicemail, text, or email. Campers must be picked up by 3:15 PM, and if they are not picked up by 3:30 PM, we will follow our policy to get the camper into appropriate care.  

To check out your camper, please pull around the circle and wait in your vehicle. Staff will check the identification of anyone listed as approved for pick up before campers are sent out for dismissal. Please follow the procedures above rather than contacting your camper directly. On the last day of camp, please be sure to take any medications home.

Check-In:

• 9:00 – 9:30 AM (every day)

Check-out:

• 3:00 – 3:15 PM (every day)

Camper Release Info and Transportation:

• You (or your designee) are responsible for transportation to and from the facility. If you expect your child to ride home from the camp with a friend or neighbor, please verify that they are listed on the pick-up authorization form during Monday check-in. The authorization form must include the name(s) of the authorizing person(s) signing in the camper, the adult who filled out the registration form, and the person(s) permitted to pick up your camper. Campers will not be released without proper identification, to anyone not on the authorized pick-up list, or to a designee(s) under 16 years of age. If an extenuating circumstance prevents you from complying with the established drop-off and/or dismissal times, please notify the Camp Director as soon as possible. Campers must be picked up by 3:15 PM. If a camper is not picked up by 3:30 PM and attempts made by camp staff to contact those authorized to pick up are unsuccessful, we will follow our policy to get the camper into appropriate care. 

Reminder:

• For anyone authorized to pick up camper(s) from camp, please remember to bring an I.D. as it will be checked by a staff member each afternoon during pick-up. 

Inclement Weather:

• In the case of inclement weather (i.e., a shelter-in-place requirement due to lightning in the area) drop off and pick up procedures will differ from our normal requirement that you remain in your vehicle. If we are expecting inclement weather at pick up and/or drop off times, when you arrive at the Chinsegut Conservation Center building you will see a sign notifying you that we are under a shelter-in-place: 
• If we are under a shelter-in place during drop off, please put your car in park, exit your vehicle, and escort your child to the classroom door.
• If we are under a shelter in-place at pick up, please put your car in park, exit your vehicle, and walk up to the classroom door to pick up your camper.
• Once you have returned to your vehicle (in both instances), please promptly exit the circle to ensure smooth flow of pick up.
• If you are in line to pick up and drop off, please do not park or exit your vehicle until you have made it to the front of the carpool line and to the center entrance door.
• These procedures ONLY APPLY during a shelter-in-place and will not be permitted at any other time.

Chinsegut Conservation Center does not provide food service. Please ensure that you pack your camper a lunch and enough snacks and drinks to sustain campers for long days with high-energy activities.

We will not have a microwave or refrigerator available for use. Please pack only food items that do not need to be heated, and ensure their lunch stays at a proper temperature by including ice packs.

The camp will provide water refills, but it is the camper’s responsibility to bring their own reusable water bottle each day. We recommend packing only water and electrolyte drinks for camp and avoiding other options that encourage dehydration in campers.

The health history information collected during camp registration is diligently reviewed by camp staff to ensure all campers will be successful and cared for while at Chinsegut Conservation Center. If your camper’s medical information changes, or they may benefit from program modification due to a disability, please contact the director as soon as possible so that we can ensure a safe and welcoming experience for your camper.  

During check-in, supervisory staff will collect any camper medications and will verify with the parents/guardians that no changes in medical history have occurred. Vitamins and prescription drugs must be in the original containers.  

If your child is on medication for ADD/ADHD during the school year, it is recommended that they remain on their medication for the duration of camp.  

Don’t Forget:  

Please do not forget to bring any medications on the first morning of camp! Arriving without any life-saving medications indicated on your registration, including inhalers and epi-pens, will result in your child returning home with you. If life-saving medications are indicated on the registration but no longer required, an accompanying doctor’s note must be brought to check-in. 

Medical Emergencies:

• This camp strives in every respect to provide a supervised and safe learning experience. However, it must be realized that a portion of the responsibility for this success also lies with you and your child during camp, outside of camp hours.  
• Camp staff are First-Aid/CPR/AED certified. Minor injuries and ailments are treated with over-the-counter medications (Children’s Tylenol, Children’s Benadryl, and Triple Antibiotic Ointment) where approved during camper registration.   
• A Registered Nurse is on call for any consultations deemed necessary by the Camp Director.   
• Major medical issues will be handled by calling 9-1-1. Parents/guardians are notified as soon as possible in the event of an emergency.  

During camp, the Camp Director will contact you if your child is: 

• Injured and needs to be taken to the emergency room.
• Running a fever of over 100.0 F or vomiting.
• Having an unusual reaction to an insect bite, food, or allergy not recorded on the health history form.  
• Having continuous behavior problems.
• Any health concern that arises which may require early pick up.

Emergency Evacuations:  

• In the event of an emergency evacuation, camp staff will attempt to contact all parents/guardians on the emergency contact list and leave a voicemail with the location once at the evacuation site. Additionally, the same information will be provided to our FWC Regional Office in Lakeland and our Headquarters in Tallahassee.  
• You will also receive notifications through the MyFWCAlert system that you signed up for when you registered your child.  

Important Contacts:

• Chinsegut Conservation Center: 352-754-6722
• Lakeland Regional Office: 863-648-3200

Recommended Daily:

• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Reusable water bottle
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellant
• Long-sleeved sun shirt
• Towel
• Change of clothes
• Deodorant
• Neck gaiter

Do Not Bring:

• Fishing gear
• Electronics
• Tobacco/Alcohol/Drugs
• Weapons
• Flammables
• Flip flops/Crocs/Slides

• Camp is a time to connect with friends and the outdoors. Please do not send a cell phone or mobile device to camp with your camper. If a device is brought to camp, please know that staff will ask that the device be stored in personal belongings for the duration of camp activities.
• Cameras are permitted – waterproof or disposable cameras work best. Chinsegut is not responsible for lost or broken electronics. If a child has a cell phone and attempts to contact or is contacted by a parent/guardian, please inform the Camp Director to ensure communication is occurring through the proper channels.

• Clothing should be appropriate for an outdoor environment. Campers will be active (bending, running, jumping, etc.). Clothing should fit comfortably and should not inhibit the listed activities. Clothing referencing alcohol, tobacco products, profanity, etc., is inappropriate and is not permitted. 
• Whether in dry clothes or swimwear, clothing should cover from the shoulder to around mid-thigh. Shirts and shorts/pants are required for all activities. Be sure to send a change of clothes with your camper each day.
• During activities, campers may get wet, muddy, etc. Please send clothing/items that can get dirty, and leave expensive items at home. 
• Closed-toed shoes with a closed heel and sides that can be wet and muddy are to be worn at camp. You may wish to send your camper with two pairs of shoes, so they have a dry option to change into after water activities. All shoes should meet the above specifications. Crocs, flip flops, slides, or other non-protective footwear are not permitted. 
• Label everything – campers will mix up their items, and this makes it much easier to get item(s) back to the owner. 
• Pack enough lunch and snack foods to sustain campers for long days with high-energy activities. 
• A reusable water bottle is required for all outdoor activities. 

Camper Code of Conduct: 

• There is a three-strike policy for behavior as outlined in the Camper Code of Conduct (signed during online registration). 
  • Strike one: Camper to discuss issues and solutions with camp director.
  • Strike two: Discussion with camp director and parent/guardian
  • Strike three: If problems persist, the parent/guardian will be called to immediately pick up the camper. 
• If a camper is picked up for disciplinary reasons, the family will not be eligible for a refund. Please note that some offenses do not require three strikes, and the response to each situation is at the discretion of the Camp Director. 

Rights and Dignity of Others: 

• Campers will adhere to respectful communications with and regarding all individuals in terms of ability, culture, gender, race, religion, sexuality, physical characteristics, and language in order to promote a safe, kind, and welcoming camp environment. 
• Campers will respect others and their property. Campers will help everyone feel safe and welcome in our camp community. 

FYCCN takes the safety of campers in our care seriously. As a result, expulsion from an FYCCN camp for bullying, harassment, or abuse will result in the camper being barred from future attendance at any FWC-run camp. 

No payment is due at the time of application. You will receive payment information after confirmation that you have received a spot at camp. Payment is due 14 days after you are notified that you have been selected for a spot. If payment is not received by the deadline, your child will be unregistered from the selected camp. 

Cancellation policy: 

• Cancellation of a week of camp requires written notice. Please email any requests to Chinsegut@MyFWC.com with attention to the Camp Director. 
• Each camp registration includes a non-refundable $25 deposit.
• Refund requests will be declined if the camper was sent home for disciplinary reasons. Please consult the Camp Director for their refund policies in cases where a child is sent home due to illness during camp.

Cancellation/refund deadlines are as follows:

• Cancellations made on or before May 15th = 100% refund (excluding the $25 deposit).
• Cancellations made after May 15th and between 15 and 30 calendar days BEFORE the start of that camper’s week of camp = 50% refund (excluding the $25 deposit).
• Cancellations made after May 15th and 14 calendar days or LESS before the start of that camper’s week of camp = no refund.

Approved refunds will be issued via check and cannot be refunded to a credit card. They may take up to one month to process.  

The FYCCN has a Flickr account where Chinsegut Conservation Center posts summer camp pictures. If a camper has filled out the Photo Release Consent form, parents will receive an email in the fall, AFTER camp has concluded, with a link to access the Flickr album.