FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FOR PARENTS

• Is there someone around when my kid first goes to sleep until the counselor goes to bed?
  
  Yes, there is always a ‘Counselor on Duty’. Your camper’s counselor stays in the bunkhouse until your camper is asleep. Then there is someone assigned to be at the bunkhouse – outside the rooms until counselor curfew and your camper’s counselor returns to the bunkhouse for the night.
  

• Does my camper need to know anything about horses to attend Orme Camp?
  
  Due to our extensive heard and trained wranglers we accommodate riders who have never seen a horse before to riders who compete during the school year either in rodeo or English riding shows.  We will teach your camper everything s/he needs to know from grooming to 'telling the horse' which way to go. We also have competitive riders on our staff who help experienced riders refine their skills.
  

• My kid is there for two weeks, does laundry get done while s/he is there?
  
  Yes, there is one laundry day per week for each age group and camp. This is why a marked laundry bag and marked clothes are especially important. Iron on name tags are for sale through our virtual store on our website. Unfortunately we cannot ensure that clothes will come home clean. Most likely you will open bags of evidence of a fun-filled and action packed week with their suitcases.
  
  

• Who determines what meals are served and when the mealtimes are?
  
  Our food service is ‘Sacco’. Sacco was new to Orme in summer 2008 and they pride themselves in serving delicious, nutritious and well appointed meals. All juices are 100% fruit, there is a choice of three entrees per meal and no unnecessary sugar is served.  Meal times are determined primarily by our riding schedule, and on weekends by our excursions.
  
  

• Why are foods in Commons restricted to certain items at night?
  
  Our campers enjoy long and strenuously fun days. Sugar items before bed, we believe, may interfere with proper sleep. We, there allow one sugar drink and one snack item like pretzels. Often our Younger’s Head of Camp limits sugar intake more than the rest of camp. This is due to the younger children seemingly to be more sensitive to the effects of sugar and we prefer to offer healthier alternatives.  However, on ice cream sundae days, all campers partake!
  
  
• What items get sold at the Trading Post in Commons?
  
  We have a relatively limited supply of items available; however we do offer basic items like toiletries, flashlights, t-shirts and sweatshirts.
  
  
• Can I call my kid at camp? Can s/he call me?
  
  Unfortunately, we do not allow phone conversations between campers and parents during camp. We have found it to detract from the camp experience and to invoke home sickness.  However, we absolutely encourage you to communicate with your camper through Bunk1 - Bunk Notes. This is a wonderful system whereby you email your camper and, we print it out for them, they can respond in their own writing and it gets sent back to you via email in their own writing!
  
  
• How do you find your counselors?
  
  Tim and Susie attend college summer job fairs around the country. We also receive applications from counselors abroad who are intensely screened by ICEP and then interviewed by us. We have an extensive interview process for all counselors and staff, and we perform a background check before all counselors arrive at Orme. Once at Orme, they participate in two weeks of training, 5 days of which focus on horsemanship safety. The rest of the time is spent on not only camp proceedures but on child development and bunkhouse management. This two week period allows us time to really get to know new staff well; we part ways with counselors and staff who do not live up to our standards before campers ever arrive. This affords us the highest quality counselor to care for our campers.
  
  
• What are riding boots and where do I purchase them?
  
  Riding boots can be tradition cowboy boots or any other boot appropriate for riding a horse. They must have a short thick heel and a toe that is not too wide. Inexpensive boots may be purchased at Wal*Mart adn will last the duration of the summer. Quality boots can be purchased at Boot Barn or any western clothing store.