FAQ

Although we host  over 700 campers each summer, our dedicated staff strives to make each family a top priority. Our dedicated year round Summer Programs Coordinator is available to answer questions, concerns, or simply to chat at any point during the summer camp process. Our committed Directors, who are also Friends’ Central School teachers, spend months creating excellent programming and work closely with the whole camp team to provide a fun and engaging experience for every camper. In the spirit of our inclusive Quaker values, our Summer Programs aim to build a community in which every camp family feels valued, respected, and connected year after year. We look forward to giving your child an amazing camp experience that will be remembered for years to come.

Check out our Camp Overview for a quick look at our offerings. Location of camp, ages of campers, and a brief description are listed for each of our programs. Have a question about a program we offer? Reach out to the Summer Programs office 610-645-5132 or summerprograms@friendscentral.org.

The staff of the Friends’ Central Summer Programs consists of experienced teachers and mature counselors who guide the campers through their day with energy and care. All summer employees are oriented in and guided by the Quaker practices for which Friends' Central is known. A registered nurse is available on both campuses as well as a certified athletic trainer for our Basketball, Reading, and Math Clinic to serve our campers medical needs. 

For our Tenderfoot and Trailblazer camps, each bunk has a Head Counselor, assistant counselor, junior counselor, and counselor in training. Our Head Counselors are generally teachers from FCS or surrounding area schools and have a strong background in childcare. Assistant Counselors are generally college-aged, and our Junior Counselors are upperclassmen in high school. Our Counselors-in-Training (CIT) are our youngest counselors, typically 14-15 years old. Junior Counselors and CITs are typically camp alumni who know firsthand what it’s like to be a camper at Friends’ Central. 

For the Basketball, Reading, and Math Clinic, there are three types of instructors that campers engage with: teachers, coaches, and counselors. All BRM teachers are certified Reading and Math teachers from FCS or surrounding area schools. Our experienced basketball coaches have years of experience coaching youth basketball and as players themselves. Counselors are typically high school students who have aged out of the program and come back to work with the program.

Our Summer Boost instructors are all FCS instructors who teach their respective subjects all year long.

Each bunk has 4-5 counselors, as is listed above. Ratio varies based on age. Please see the graph below.

Yes! There is an orientation date, typically the Saturday before the start of the camp season for Tenderfoot and Trailblazer or the Thursday before the start of Basketball. Reading, and Math Clinic. If you would like to visit campus before that time, please contact the Summer Programs Office to schedule a tour.

No, you can register for any of the seven weeks for both Trailblazer and Tenderfoot Camps, though there is a three-week enrollment minimum. The Basketball, Reading, and Math Clinic is a five-week program, you must enroll for all five weeks.

We offer transportation (inter-campus shuttle only for Tenderfoot and Trailblazer Camp and off-campus shuttle only for Basketball, Reading, and Math Clinic) and extended day care. For more information about our Additional Option, click here.

Tenderfoot Camp and Trailblazer Camp group their campers into bunks based on their age and grade. Basketball, Reading, and Math Clinic campers are separated into Lower, Middle, and Upper Leagues based on their age and scoring on their first athletic and academic assessments.

Before camp begins, you will receive a packet in the mail with a letter from the Director and the calendar for the season. If you do not receive this packet by mid-June, please contact the office. The letter and calendar will also be available via your CampinTouch account under “Forms and Documents.” Throughout the summer, weekly newsletters with updates about the camp week and photos will be sent via email to families with campers in Tenderfoot Camp, Trailblazer Camp, and Basketball, Reading, and Math Clinic. You can also follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Our campuses have adequate space to keep campers indoors if the heat exceeds safe levels. We do try to keep campers outside for as much time as possible despite the hot summer days.

We strive for equal outside and inside time every day for all our campers. For Trailblazer campers, their Pathfinder selection (ie. Computers versus Soccer) will impact how much time they spend indoors vs outdoors. The Upper School campus has an indoor swimming pool and indoor and outdoor basketball courts. On the Tenderfoot Campus, specials vary from day to day and can be indoors or outdoors and the swimming pool is outdoors. The Basketball, Reading, and Math Clinic uses both indoor and outdoor basketball courts throughout the day.

A list of items to pack for camp will become available in the spring before camp. Items that are usually on that list include:

• Refillable water bottle
• Towel
• 2 bathing suits
• A backpack
• Pool shoes (slides, water shoes, etc.)

Most campers become much stronger swimmers after a summer at our Trailblazer and Tenderfoot Camps. Instructional Swim takes place every morning on both campuses, and Trailblazer campers have an option for free swim and Tenderfoot camp has a mandatory free swim in the afternoons. Please click here to learn more about our swim program.

We do a car line for pick-up and drop-off. You will receive car signs before the beginning of camp with your child’s name, camp, and bunk (if applicable). In the morning, parents will pull around to the front of the campus, and counselors will bring the campers from the car to their bunk. In the afternoon, parents will pull to the front of the campus and hand the counselors their car sign, from there the counselors will bring the camper to their parent or guardian.

We do offer an intercampus shuttle for Tenderfoot and Trailblazer camps. More information, including shuttle schedule will be available in the spring. You must register your camper for the shuttle ahead of their first day of camp as the shuttle fills up quickly and availability is limited.

There is no shuttle option for extended day care. If you have a camper on both campuses, you can send the older camper to the Lower School campus to participate in the Tenderfoot ACE program. Tenderfoot campers cannot participate in the Trailblazer ACE program for the safety of our youngest campers.  Please call the Summer Programs office with questions or to register your Trailblazer camper for Tenderfoot ACE.

If you need new or additional car signs at any point in the summer, please contact the camp office, and we will send them home in your child’s backpack. For alternative pick-ups, before camp begins you will see the option to add any adults to the “Authorized Pickup List” via your CampinTouch account. If the individual does not have a car sign, they will need to show ID to the counselors upon pick-up. This list closes the week before the first week of camp. To add additional individuals, please call the office. If you have an individual that was not added to the “Authorized Pick-up” list and does not have a car sign, please call the office with the name of the individual coming to pick up your child so we can check their ID upon arrival.

Lost and Found at the Upper School campus is located in Shallcross Hall, on the tables to the left immediately upon entering. On the Lower School campus, Lost and Found is located in the camp office.

Yes! We are happy to facilitate any tutoring or special services your child may need during the camp day on campus. We ask that all special services are completed by 11 am. If you will need to have a tutor join us, please call the office in order to schedule. We will also need all clearances from the individual joining us.

Tuition assistance is offered for our Basketball, Reading, and Math Clinic only. Please click the link to learn more.

We offer a sibling discount of $100 off per camper after the first sibling is enrolled at full price for Tenderfoot, Trailblazer, and Basketball, Reading, and Math Clinic.

We have a full time registered nurse on staff for both campuses. During the orientation, the nurse will be available to discuss any medical attention your camper may need throughout the day, and all medication can be put in the nurse’s office at that time. If you have any specific questions or concerns, please contact the office. We are a “peanut-aware” campus, not a nut-free camp.

Remember, camp is tax deductible! Our Tax ID is 23-1352636.