FAQs
Read below to see the answers to common questions we get about camp!
"My child said his experience was a 10 out of 10! His favorite things were hanging out with his friends, and playing all camp games. He can’t wait to be back next year."
- Mom of nine-year-old Base Camper
Camp Program
What is a typical day at camp?
For Base and Teen Campers, a typical day at overnight camp is broken into five main parts: meals, cabin time, structured free time, skill classes, and all-camp activities. During structured free time and skill classes, campers make individual activity selections, supported by staff. There is a lot to choose from! Swimming, boating, arts and crafts, pottery, ball games, side porch board games, and independent reading are popular choices. All-camp activities are a mix of many different games - some are done by cabin, some by age, and some are the whole camp mixed up on teams. These activities are led by program staff and supported by cabin counselors. Some favorite all-camp activities are: pillow polo, capture the flag, exploration night, egg drop, counselor hunt/whistle chase, and carnival. Teen Campers have a mix of typical days like what is listed above, and trip days. On trip days, they will leave camp for a day or overnight hike, canoe paddle, or camping location. Additionally, Teen Camp will often use the afternoon activity session blocks to prepare for their trips.
What programs are offered? Are "Teen" and "Base Camp" different?
During our overnight camp sessions we offer three programs: Base Camp, Teen Camp, and Leadership Camp (CITs). Base Camp is for our youngest campers up to age 13. This program is our largest and stays in our main camp (also called Base Camp) for most programs and follows the daily schedule listed above. Teen Camp is for our younger teen campers who are ages 13-16. This program does a mix of Base Camp activities and local trips to waterfalls, the Appalachian Trail, waterways for canoeing, and campsites. The oldest camper program, Leadership Camp, is for Counselors in Training (CITs) is for teens aged 14-17 and is by application only. Our CITs learn how to support campers, lead activities and develop personal leadership skills.
Are teen camp hikes hard?
Teen campers get to go on all kinds of cool hikes. Some hikes are super easy and just around the camp, where they will find new swimming spots and new views. There are also more challenging hikes to nearby waterfalls (day hikes between 2-8 miles long), and they hike on the Appalachian Trail for overnight hikes. The Appalachian Trail hikes are planned specifically for the individual group, after trying out a day hike and can last 1-3 nights. They are challenging, but require no prior hiking experience and camp has packs and other gear to lend if a camper prefers not to purchase supplies just for the program.
Where do campers sleep and how are cabins assigned?
Campers sleep in one of our 11 camper cabins on cabin row. Cabin sizes are 6-8 campers and 1-2 counselors. These cabins all face our pond and are simple wood structures with electricity, bunk beds, and big screened windows (no AC). Bathrooms and showers are located centrally in one stand-alone bathhouse that is a short walk from cabin row. Additional toilets are provided by portable toilets in several places around camp. Cabins are split up by age and gender. Guardians can select the appropriate cabin type for their camper during registration. Campers can also indicate one bunk request. Additional bunk requests cannot be accepted due to the small size of our cabins. All cabins are located close to each other and siblings or friends not grouped together in the same cabin can still spend time together during the day.
When do campers go to sleep and get up?
Base Campers return to their cabins at 8:30 PM. Teen Campers sometimes have a later activity. Lights out starts at 9:00 PM and individual cabin lights will stay on longer depending on the age and needs of each cabin. Wake-up time starts at 7:30 AM and includes three wake-up reminders. Morning music is put on the loudspeaker at 7:45 AM to help everyone get up. The entire camp does attendance and a short morning word of reflection at 8:15 AM before breakfast.
What if my camper gets homesick?
Missing home is a very normal part of camp. Everything is different at camp, and it’s easy to miss caregivers, favorite things, and normal comforts. Counselors are trained to support all campers with homesickness. If a camper struggles in larger ways with homesickness, our health care team will also support the camper and will reach out to a parent or guardian for guidance and to keep them informed of how the camper is doing.
What happens on a rainy day?
Rainy days at camp are sometimes the best days! Changes in weather give us the opportunity to change up our routines and see camp and our community in a new mode. The Main Lodge is well equipped to hold the entire camp through a daytime storm - so the most typical response to a rainy day is to move everyone there and do special activities. Sometimes it rains for days and days and days - and those sessions are particularly unique and memorable! Making it through wet and muddy sessions is a great badge of honor.
Camper Registration Logistics
When is pick-up?
You will be greeted at the top of the hill and given instructions from there. You may have an opportunity at this time to go down the hill and explore camp with your camper! Below are specific pick-up times by program: 2-Week Overnight Programs: Second Friday of the session, 2PM 1-Week Overnight Program: Saturday, 10AM Day Camp: Monday-Friday, 4PM
Do you offer financial assistance or scholarships?
Yes! Making camp accessible to campers is of utmost importance to us and scholarships have been a part of our camp program since it was opened nearly 100 years ago. To apply for a scholarship, a family should fill out the brief application when registering. The application will ask how much a family can afford for each week of camp and we do our best to match that need.
What should I do if I'm having trouble uploading camper health documents?
Sometimes it can be difficult to upload the necessary documents needed to finalize your camper's enrollment. These include a physical, insurance card, and immunization record. If you are having trouble please email info@smithpark.org and we will get the documents added to your camper's profile.
How do we contact our children while they are away at camp?
Writing letters and postcards is the easiest way to keep in touch. There is no cell reception or email. Additionally, phone calls are possible via the camp’s landline in case of emergency or if a parent wants to check in with camp staff. See the bottom of this page for the address and phone number, or check out or Contact page from the header.
Do eight-year-old campers really come for two weeks?
Yes! It is common for our youngest campers, 8-9 year olds, to come for two weeks. This summer we also offer a one-week session for those that aren't quite ready for a full two weeks. This one-week session is popular with all ages, and is a favorite way for two-week campers to lengthen their stay.
Camp Food & Safety
COVID Response
We are licensed by our Town Board of Public Health and must cooperate with all guidance from the State of Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Communicable diseases, including COVID-19 must be reported. If quarantine is required, campers will be required to be picked up. For current guidelines on any disease, please visit the CDC. Vaccination status records are required in Massachusetts, and up-to-date COVID vaccines are recommended.
Is camp food good? What about allergies and restrictions?
This is a really common question - and yes, the food is good! Meals are served family-style in our dining hall. Campers eat with their camper cabin. Each individual meal, a camper represents their cabin as the "Waiter" and sets their table, fetches the food, and cleans up afterwards. Main courses vary each day. A typical breakfast will be bagels, spreads, fruit and sausage. A typical lunch could be grilled cheese, potato tots, veggie sticks and soup. A typical dinner is spaghetti and meatballs, roasted broccoli and dessert of "Dirt and Worms". In addition to the standard main courses, all breakfasts offer a yogurt and cereal bar, and all lunch and dinners have a soup, salad, and sandwich bar. Gluten free, vegetarian, vegan and other dietary needs are accommodated for all meals. Allergy substitutions or changes are also made by staff as needed. Allergies can be noted during registration.
How bad are the bugs, and what about ticks?
Mosquitos at camp can vary tremendously depending on the weather. A session that comes after a week of rain can have a lot of mosquitos, whereas a session in the rain or during a dry period of the summer can be somewhat more bug free. Campers that have large reactions to bug bites are encouraged to pack light layers and appropriate bug spray. Similar to the mosquito population fluctuating, ticks can also vary each summer. We do spray annually in Base Camp to keep the population lower. Tick checks are done each evening, after hikes in the woods, and during showers.