Senior Outpost

Welcome to Outpost Summer Camps!

Summer Camp is an exciting time for campers, parents, staff and the directors of camp! Here at Outpost Summer Camps, we are committed to each camper in our program having a summer full of fun, friends, adventures and positive experiences. This Senior Outpost webpage is designed to prepare both campers and parents for their first summer at Outpost Summer Camp.

Please read this information carefully. If you have any questions, please call us at (858) 842-4900.

Below is an example of a Senior Outpost session schedule. The schedule is sent out before each session with instructions on what to bring each day.

We are looking forward to seeing you this summer!

Table of Contents

Getting Ready for the Senior Outpost Program

Senior Outpost is specifically designed for campers entering 6th to 9th grade. We’ve chosen to build our program around exciting outdoor activities that emphasize challenge and positive risk taking while also promoting a sense of support and encouragement among the group. What does this mean? Senior Outpost campers adventure around San Diego, experiencing high ropes, the beach, swimming, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, and having an incredible time! Our groups are led by handpicked, intentionally trained counselors. Friendships that are made at camp often last forever.

How can your camper be ready for camp? Bring a smile, a positive attitude, and a willingness to try new activities and meet new friends. There will be moments that they try something outside of their comfort zone, times when they get to support someone else who’s trying something new, and special group moments of bonding.

Open House

Prior to the beginning of your child’s session, we will offer an Open House, where you will be able to practice the drop off and pick up, meet the camp director, and receive your child’s shirts and car placard. You will also receive more detailed information about how drop off and pick up works.

Drop Off and Pick Up

Drop off is from 8:45 to 9:00 AM daily. Please do not plan to arrive before 8:45 AM as our staff will be setting up camp, and we will not be able to sign in your camper until 8:45 AM. When you turn into camp off of Black Mountain Road, you will drive straight past the first turn (towards the Recreation Center) and into the first parking lot just past the playground on the right along the fields. Our light blue tent will be set up on the curb. An Outpost staff member will help your child out of the car, walk them to the check in tent, and sign them in. You will remain in the car. Your child will walk to Blitz and you will exit the same way you came in.

In the afternoon, pick up is between 3:00 and 3:15 PM. Pick up will take place in the same spot as drop off. During Open House (or at drop off on the first day if you are not able to come to Open House) you will be given a placard with your child’s name on it. Please display this on your windshield, and a staff member will bring your camper to your car. You do not need to get out of the car. If someone is picking up your child who does not have a placard, they will be asked to show their ID, and they will need to be on your camper’s “okay to pickup” list.

What Happens on the First Day?

On the first day of camp, all campers will meet their counselors and the other campers in their group. Although meeting new people and trying out new things is fun, we understand that being comfortable in those first few moments of camp is important to having a great summer, and our staff do everything they can to help alleviate “first day jitters.” It is on this day, in fact, that the special friendships and pride in the group start to form.

During the first few days of camp, counselors take extra time to familiarize their groups with camp and to help each camper feel like they belong. Here are some highlights so that your camper knows what to expect on the first day of Outpost:

Morning Campfire

When your child arrives at camp, they will meet the counselors and the other campers at the logs for morning campfire. Morning campfire is the kick-off to the camp day, with songs, cheers, and skits that get everyone ready for a fun and exciting day at camp. Be ready to participate – it is fun! After campfire, your child’s group will work together to create a group name and a group identity.  It is in these first few days that everyone gets to know one another. We play some name games and do some “icebreakers,” because at Outpost Summer Camps we value everyone getting to know everyone else at camp immediately.

Lunch

Campers bring their lunches every day to camp and carry them in their backpacks. All lunches must be peanut free. Refrigeration is not available so please bring non-perishable items or ice packs. Senior Outpost campers are responsible for carrying their own belongings throughout the day; keep this in mind when choosing what to bring to camp!

Challenge Course

During the first week of camp, your campers group will participate in Challenge Course. This is led by one of our leadership team members. The group will partake in a number of different activities intentionally chosen to help them bond, work on their communication, and set up group expectations for the rest of the session. Challenge course is fun and meaningful at the same time!

Afternoon Campfire

At the end of the day, groups meet at the logs for afternoon campfire. Groups come up and tell of their adventures, often challenging other groups to find their flag or a fun campfire competition. Afternoon campfire is a loud and exciting show of group and camp pride and is a wonderful close to a fun-filled day.

Cell Phones

At Outpost Summer Camps we are fully committed to an “Outside and Unplugged” camp experience. Our campers become completely immersed in our program and benefit most when they are away from screens. As per our terms and conditions, and in alignment with our philosophy, all campers are prohibited from bringing cell phones to camp. If a phone is brought to camp, it will be taken by an Outpost staff member, and the parent will be required to pick it up directly from camp. If a phone is brought to camp a second time, that camper will not be allowed to return to camp for the rest of the session without a refund.

In the event of an emergency, or if you are needed by your camper, you will be contacted by an Outpost Director. We have several well-established systems of emergency communication in place to contact all parents and manage a crisis should one occur.

The Senior Outpost Activities

Kayaking (once per session)
Our Bay Water Sports program is held in Mission Bay, home to many exciting and different types of water-sports. Outpost chose kayaking as an excursion because of the teamwork and cooperation needed for this activity. Senior Counselors intentionally pair campers for tandem kayaks, and the pair works together to reach their destination.

Campers wear PFDs and enjoy kayaking around the bay.

Stand-Up Paddle Boarding (once per session)
Along with kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding is held in Mission Bay. In addition to getting to have fun in the water, campers will get to explore new skills such as patience, mindfulness, and perseverance while learning how to paddle board.

Campers wear PFDs and enjoy stand-up paddle boarding alongside campers and counselors from their group.

High Ropes (once per session)
Campers participate in the high ropes course at UCSD where they challenge themselves, support other campers and have an unforgettable experience in the trees of La Jolla. Campers remember high ropes as a day that they felt proud of themselves and bonded with their group.

Beach Days (twice per session)
We visit the beach twice per session. Campers need to bring their swimsuits and towels. Body boards and boogie boards are permitted (no surfboards). We have a ton of fun beach activities that we participate in on these days. Remember your sunscreen!

Swimming
We swim at the Fairbanks Ranch Country Club (except days we are out of camp all day), located minutes from camp. We assess all campers’ swimming ability on the first swimming day so we can provide the safest environment for everyone. Bring your swimsuit and be ready to cool off and have fun!

Other Activities
Senior Outpost also visits other areas surrounding the Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve and Rancho Penasquitos area.

Clothing

At Outpost Summer Camps, we have hands on experiences outdoors. Because of this, we usually come home dirty! We recommend that your child wears old clothes that are ready to be worn out. All campers must wear closed-toed shoes that can get dirty or wet. Shorts are ideal for hot days, unless you are highly susceptible to sunburn. Please do not bring expensive sweaters, towels or any unnecessary items that could easily become lost. Bringing money to camp is not necessary. Two camp shirts will be handed out at the Open House held the Saturday before your camper’s first day. One shirt will be a Senior Outpost cotton shirt. The other is a Senior Outpost rash guard that can be worn to any of the water activities. The shirts given will be the size designated on your child’s enrollment form. If you need to exchange them for another size, please return them unworn and unwashed along with a note stating the camper’s name and size desired. We will send new ones home with your camper the next day. Additional shirts can be purchased through the camp office.

Lost and Found

Personal equipment such as stereos and music players, cell phones, game equipment or other electronics are not permitted at camp.

Although the staff will try to prevent articles from getting lost, please be responsible for your own belongings. At the end of each day we display any lost and found articles for the campers to claim. Every attempt is made to return labeled clothing to their owners, but we cannot be held responsible for personal belongings brought from home. At the end of the summer, we collect the labeled lost and found and contact you if we have found something belonging to you. Unclaimed items are given to a children’s charity.

Medical Information

The safety and well being of your child is of utmost importance to us. Since your child will be in our care, it is extremely important that we are prepared to assist him/her at any time should a medical problem or emergency arise. You have supplied this information on your camper’s enrollment and health history form. If there is any condition or problem about which you feel the office or your child’s counselor needs to know, please call the office with that information.

All of our Senior Counselors are CPR and First Aid certified. Paramedics are also very conveniently located if needed, and we have two excellent hospitals within ten minutes of camp. In the event a child is hurt at camp and needs emergency treatment, the staff will contact the camper’s parents, the emergency contact, and/or the family doctor. We feel that because we are in a day camp setting and, in most instances, you are within an hour’s drive from camp, you are the initial contact. It is important that in the event of an illness or injury you, or someone designated by you, be available to come to camp to pick-up your child.

Outpost Summer Camps’ accident insurance covers, up to our policy limits, any injuries received at camp to the extent that they are not covered by any other health and/or accident insurance covering the child.

In the event of a non-emergency medical or health concern, Outpost will contact the person listed as “Parent 1”. An Outpost Director will contact you if there is any kind of head injury (regardless of severity), a bee or wasp sting or any injury that requires care above a small bandage. If your child has symptoms of being ill (that are not potentially COVID-19 related) that do not subside within 5-10 minutes, an Outpost Director will contact you. You may be contacted to inform you or to require that you pick up your child.

Other Important Information for Parents

  1. Please do not send any equipment, personal sports equipment, toys or anything valuable such as radios and tape recorders. Cell phones should be left at home. Our directors have cell phones and all our staff have radios – we are in constant contact with parents if necessary. All knives, weapons, drugs and alcohol are prohibited. Jewelry and watches should also be left at home.
  2. Group pictures are taken once each session. If your camper is absent, they will not be in the picture. The camper will, however, receive a picture of their group with their counselors and friends.
  3. No make-up days can be given for any reason.
  4. Our camp policy prohibits staff from accepting monetary and expensive gifts from parents.
  5. Please remember that the campers do spend time in the sun everyday. We strongly recommend that you have your camper apply sunscreen at home in the morning and consider sending your camper with a hat if they have sensitive skin!

 Communication with Our Directors

Outpost Summer Camps is a family owned business, and as such we are dedicated to providing a program of the highest quality. We welcome your comments, suggestions, questions and feedback, at all times. Please do not hesitate to contact us earlier rather than later if you have something you wish to discuss with us. Often, we are able to address any issues more successfully if we are contacted immediately.

Benefits of Outpost Summer Camps

We’re proud of our program and what we do for kids. Here are some “key messages” that define our program:

Camp is a caring community!  Our campers experience belonging and are part of a true community – getting along with others, accepting differences, and working together. The joys of acceptance and sharing prompt our campers to try out new positive behavior like choosing new friends, expressing caring thoughts about others and successfully resolving conflicts.

Camp is a safe and nurturing environment for children. Kids are at less risk when they have a sense of community, intergenerational relationships, and first-hand experiences.  Our trained and caring staff help each of our campers feel loved, capable and included.

Camp is a vital element in a child’s education! Children connect with the natural world directly at Outpost Summer Camps – not through the filters of television, computers or movie screens. Discovery, exploration, and active participation are the methods of learning at camp!

Thank you for trusting us with your child this summer. We look forward to meeting you!
Please e-mail us at office@outpostsummercamps.com or call us with any questions at (858) 842-4900.