Parent Information

Online registration opens at 8:00 AM (ET) on Monday, February 2, 2026

If creating a new account, you will receive two confirmation emails, one from FYCCN and one from our volunteer team. Please only use the one sent by FYCCN to complete your camper’s registration – the volunteer team link is not operational at this time.

After February 3rd, once you have registered your child for a specific program, a camp staff member will contact you with further information and payment instructions. As always, summer camp is filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

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 JBYCC@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. Refunds may take up to one month to be processed.

If you are interested in our camps but unable to cover the cost due to financial limitations, we have scholarships available on a limited basis. Please contact JBYCC@MyFWC.com for more information.

Our mission is to foster awareness, appreciation, and stewardship for Florida’s wildlife and environment through outdoor recreation and conservation education. Through fun, safe, hands-on programs, we help create the next generation that cares about Florida’s fish and wildlife resources. Campers will gain knowledge about the natural ecosystems of Florida to better respect and take care of living things and the environment. As a result of camp, campers will become confident in the skills needed for paddle sports, archery, fishing, and wildlife discovery while gaining life skills in communication, teamwork, responsibility, respect, and friendship building.

On Monday morning, please enter through the gate and park in the parking area in front of the classroom. Come into the classroom and meet with the Camp Director to verify the camper's registration information, authorized pick-up list, and health history.

On consecutive check-in days ensure that each camper is signed in every day by a parent/legal guardian. For campers aged 16 and up, prior approval to drive themselves to and from camp must be submitted to the Camp Director.

Once checked in, the camper (along with their belongings) will head to the classroom where camp staff will be present for morning activities. Use caution when exiting the main gate, the road is a single vehicle road. Be cautious of wildlife and other oncoming drivers.

Check-in: 8:00 – 8:30 AM (Every day)

Check-out:

Monday - Thursday: 4:30 – 5:00 PM
Friday: 2:00 PM

Your compliance with the check-in and check-out times is important and ensures orderly registration and dismissal procedures. Five minutes after the camp check-in/check-out time, staff will call to request an estimated time of arrival if the camp has not yet been notified by voicemail, text, or email.

If an early check-out is necessary, contact Meghann Dawkins or Patricia Brown to notify the camp. To check out your camper(s), please pull into the roundabout and check out your camper(s) with camp staff. This ensures that your camper is safely going home with the right person and that any concerns throughout the day are addressed in real time. On the last day of camp, be sure to take home any medications.

You (or your designee) are responsible for transportation to and from the facility. If you expect your child to ride home from camp with a friend or neighbor, please verify that the friend or neighbor is 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(s).

Campers will not be released to anyone without proper identification or if the person is not on the authorized pick-up list. If an extenuating circumstance prevents you from complying with established drop-off and/or dismissal times, please notify the Camp Director as soon as possible.

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.

The health history information collected during registration is diligently reviewed by camp staff to ensure all campers are successful and well cared for while at Joe Budd. If your camper’s medical information changes or they may benefit from a program modification due to a disability, please contact the Camp Director at your earliest convenience so 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 since registration. Vitamins, over-the-counter, and prescription drugs must be in the original containers. Don’t Forget! Please do not forget to bring any medications on the first morning of camp! Arriving without the medication your child needs for the day, including inhalers and epi-pens, may result in your child returning home with you. If medications are indicated on the registration but no longer required, an accompanying doctor’s note must be brought to the first day of check-in.

Also, 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.

There is a three-strike policy for behavior as outlined in the Camper Code of Conduct (a statement signed during online registration).

If a camper fails to respond to counselors, the camper will discuss any problems and appropriate solutions with the Camp Director.
On the second visit to the Camp Director, the parent/guardian is called to discuss the problem and possible solutions.
If problems persist, the parent/guardian will be called to pick up the camper immediately.

If a camper is requested to be picked up for disciplinary reasons, the family will not be eligible for a refund. Please note, some offenses do not require three strikes. This is not an exhaustive list, but for example, if your child injures others, steals, or attempts to run away from the camp, there will be immediate dismissal from the camp. Response to each situation is at the discretion of the Camp Director.

Rights and Dignity of Others

Please review the following with your camper(s):

Campers will adhere to respectful communications with and regarding all individuals in terms of ability, culture, gender, race, religion, sexuality, physical characteristics, and language 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.

JBYCC has zero tolerance. Harassment and bullying will not be tolerated at camp.

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 director will contact you if:

Child is injured and we feel they need to be taken to the emergency room.
Child is running a fever over 100.0 degrees or vomiting.
Child is having an unusual reaction to an insect bite, food, or allergy not recorded on the health history form.
Child is having continuous behavior problems.
Any health concern that arises which may require early pick up.
If a campus emergency has resulted in offsite transportation.

Lost and Found

JBYCC has a lost and found box. Please ask your child to check the lost and found box for any belongings before leaving. Labeling your child’s items is highly recommended.

Camper Insurance

The camp provides secondary, minor health and accident insurance during summer camp. The parent or guardian’s policy is considered primary. Only if the camper is uninsured would the camp’s policy become primary.

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 or utilize the MyFWCAlert system. Additionally, the same information will be provided to our FWC Regional Office in Panama City and our headquarters in Tallahassee.

In the event of severe inclement weather, parents will be notified and encouraged to pick up their camper(s).

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. Joe Budd 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 (paddling, fishing, bending, running, jumping, etc.).

Please avoid wearing inappropriate statements, symbols, or images that are profane, obscene, political (including associations with political or social activism), controversial, or make references to tobacco, drugs, or alcohol. 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 in or out of the water. Be sure to send a change of clothes for after-water activities.

During activities, campers will get wet, muddy, etc. Please send clothing/items that can get dirty, and leave expensive items at home.

Closed-toe shoes with a closed heel 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. Flip flops, slides, or other nonprotective footwear are not permitted.

Label everything!

Recommended Daily:

Hat
Sunglasses
Reusable water bottle
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Long-sleeved sun shirt
Towel
Extra pair of closed-toe dry shoes
Change of clothes
Deodorant
Neck gaiter/buff
Raincoat
Hydration beverages
Bag for wet or dirty clothes/shoes

DO NOT PACK:

Fishing gear
Kayaking equipment
Electronics
Tobacco/Alcohol/Drugs
Weapons
Flammables
Explosives
Flip flops/Slides