| About our Junior Ranger Camp |
Below is a summary of the camp, which can be found as a PDF above. Below the summary is a PDF for registration. Please use the EventBrite link above to pay for your child's registration.
NOTE: REGISTRATION FOR CAMP WILL BEGIN THE WEEK OF MARCH 28TH.
We are excited for you to join us in our first year of hosting Junior Ranger Camp at the
Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites in Hyde Park, NY. Youth will engage with handson
activities, learn about the stories of the homes and their inhabitants, and how to be stewards of national
parks and their communities.
We look forward to building a community of families who use the park for a variety of reasons. Whether
your child has visited the park multiple times or this will be their first, we hope to inspire creativity,
promote lifelong learning, and encourage your family to keep coming back to visit the park. Please
email Josie_Wallin@nps.gov to receive email updates of park events.
Contact Youth Programs Coordinator Kayla Altland at kayla_altland@nps.gov if you have any questions
about camp. Any following references you see in this document to Camp Director refers to Kayla.
When:
Camp is Monday July 10Thursday July 13, 2017. Participants will attend all 4 days. Camp lasts from
9a4p. You can drop off youth as early as 8:30 and pick them up as late as 4:30. If anyone other than
the Primary and Alternate Contacts listed on your registration form will be picking up your child, please
let the Camp Director know. Only these people will be able to sign your child out of camp.
Where:
Camp will take place at all three historic sites in Hyde Park. This includes the Home of Franklin D.
Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Sites.
Pick up and drop off for camp will be in the parking lot at Vanderbilt Mansion. When entering the park,
there is a oneway that leads you to the parking lot. We will gather in the north end of the parking lot.
You will see signs directing you to camp checkin and a table with a popup tent.
GPS Address: 119 Vanderbilt Park Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538
Pick up on the last day of camp July 13 will be at the Wallace Visitor Center. This is due to the
final camp celebration at the Wallace Visitor Center from 34p.. GPS Address: 4097 Albany Post Road,
Hyde Park, NY 12538
Who:
Camp is for youth ages 10-12 as of July 1, 2017. Generally this will include youth who have just
completed 4th-6th grade.
Cost:
$150 per person. This is paid by credit or debit card through the registration link on the RVHA website,
www.rooseveltvanderbilt.org. The cost includes 2 Tshirts, a water bottle, a drawstring bag to carry
lunch, and a nature journal. It also includes lunch and snacks all 4 days. Camp costs include program
supplies, activity leaders, and the Camp Celebration.
Activities:
Camp will consist of a variety of activities that are interactive and handson. We strive to keep youth
learning, exploring, and engaged through questions, experiments, and design. Youth will interact with
multiple park rangers of various backgrounds to provide a unique experience in the park. Programs will
also focus on telling lesser known stories and encouraging stewardship in the park and your
communities.
The majority of activities will take place outside. There will be lots of hiking and walking! Please be
prepared by reading the checklist of what to bring and make sure your child gets enough rest.
Youth will be transported in our shuttle bus to travel between sites. This shuttle is used for the general
public and the drivers have all the required licenses necessary. The Camp Director and at least one
Camp Counselor will be present on the shuttle at all times for the safety of the youth.
Camp Celebration:
The final day of camp will end with a family and friends celebration from 34p on Thursday July 13. We
will provide cake and drinks. Youth will present what they learned during their week at camp. The
celebration will be held at the Wallace Visitor Center at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National
Historic Site. GPS Address: 4097 Albany Post Rd Hyde Park, NY 12538
Photography:
We will be taking photos and video throughout camp. You can indicate on the registration form whether
you authorize us to take photos of your child and for what use. If you do not authorize us to take photos
or to share them for marketing purposes, your child may appear in photos from behind or where you
cannot identify their face. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at NPS_HydePark as well as
Facebook at Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site to see photos and highlights of camp.
Medication:
None of the staff are certified to carry or administer medication. Youth must carry and administer their
own medications.
Food:
We will provide lunch and snacks every day of camp. The food will be prepackaged or prepared by
local businesses with food safety certifications. Please indicate any dietary restrictions or preferences
when registering. Youth will carry their own lunches in their bags and food items will be nonperishable
or eaten within a few hours.
What to bring:
The following list is strongly recommended for the safety and comfort of your child.
□ Additional Water Bottle (fill prior to camp if possible)
□ Sunscreen
□ Insect Repellent
□ Sturdy shoes/sneakers (no sandals or flip flops)
□ Sunglasses
□ Sweatshirt or rain jacket
□ Hat (with a full brim works best)
□ Energy and a good attitude
Inclusion:
We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible experience for the youth who participate in Junior Ranger
Camp. If you have any questions about camp activities, logistics, or processes, please reach out to
Kayla Altland, Camp Director. We are open to adapting and designing our programs to be accessible
and inclusive for all. Let us know on the registration form if there are any special considerations we can
incorporate into our programs to provide the best experience for your child.
Safety:
Safety is a priority for the camp staff as well as the National Park Service. All camp staff will have a
federal background check, including fingerprints. They will also go through Mandatory Reporter training
for child abuse and receive current CPR and First Aid certification.
Counselors in Training (under 18) and Volunteers will have reference checks. Adults in contact with the
youth will be cleared through the New York Statewide Central Register for child abuse reports.
There are at least 2 Law Enforcement Rangers on duty during the day who can assist with any possible
emergency situations. Primary adult contacts will be informed if there are any major incidents.
Camp staff will practice general child safety guidelines where all children will be within hearing
distance and children and adults will stay in groups. We will maintain at least a 12:1 child to adult ratio.
At no time will one adult and one child be allowed to be alone. Emergency contact and medical
information will be kept in a secure place with the Camp Director at all times.
Health:
If child is sick and unable to come for the day, call the Camp Director. If child gets sick or injured
during camp, Camp Director will take appropriate steps based on training, involving local health
emergency officials if necessary. Camp Director will call and consult primary adult contact on the
registration form if child is sick, injured, or needs to be picked up. The alternate contact will be notified
if the primary is unable to be reached.
The Camp Director will not be able to administer any type of medication, even topical antibiotics or
nonprescription pain medication. If youth have their own prescription medication, we suggest it be
administered before or after camp. If this is not possible, make sure to note that in your registration form
and be aware that your child must carry and administer their own medication.
We will be outside a majority of the day doing a lot of hiking and walking. Youth will be reminded to
drink water and do hourly wellness checks. You can help prepare their bodies and minds by encouraging
them to drink water at home before and after camp, eating a healthy breakfast, and getting enough sleep.
Staff:
Camp Director:
Junior Ranger Camp is being organized and lead by the Youth Programs Coordinator for the
Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites. Kayla Altland started working in Hyde Park in Spring of
2016. She leads school outreach programs, plans programs for the Roosevelt Home Garden and
develops opportunities for young people and families to explore and learn in their national parks. At
Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, she coordinates the summer internships of 68 high school
students. Her experience working with youth stretches back over 10 years including working as a camp
counselor for a day camp, a substitute teacher, as well as leading field trip and afterschool programs at
Mesa Verde National Park and Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site.
Lead Counselor:
Maggie Huston is a returning intern with the Youth Community Ambassador (YCA) program
at Martin Van Buren National Historic Site in Columbia County. She is from Chatham, NY and will be
a graduating senior from Chatham High School. She works with her mom at a daycare, babysits, and
has organized events and programs for 4H youth development for over 4 years.
Counselors in Training:
Will be high school interns from the Youth Community Ambassador program and National Honor Society
students from Dutchess County.
Volunteering:
If you or anyone you know would like to volunteer to help with check in/out or during the day, have them
contact the Camp Director. Volunteers must provide 3 references as per the National Park Service
policy.
About:
The camp is coordinated by the National Park Service with considerable support provided by the
Roosevelt-Vanderbilt Historical Association (RVHA). The National Park Service is a part of the
Department of the Interior under the federal government. The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National
Historic Site, Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, and Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
are administered by the National Park Service in Hyde Park.
As part of the National Park Service mission to preserve the nation’s heritage for the enjoyment of
current and future generations, we want to provide experiences that are relevant, inclusive, active, and
fun. To accomplish this important work, we seek to engage people at all ages of their learning journey
and foster relationships with our local community. We are excited for your child and family to join us.
www.nps.gov/hofr www.nps.gov/vama www.nps.gov/elro
Instagram and Twitter @NPS_HydePark
Explore, Learn, and Protect!
