Camp Huckins Eligibility Criteria
To attend Camp Huckins, campers must be able to participate safely, independently, and cooperatively in a traditional overnight camp setting. Because counselors supervise groups—not individuals—campers must already have the following skills before arriving:
1. Ability to Live in a Group Cabin
Campers must be able to:
- Live and sleep in a cabin with similarly aged campers
- Participate in group play, conversation, and downtime
- Manage conflicts or frustrations with typical counselor support, not requiring 1:1 supervision
2. Appropriate Behavior With Only Typical Supervision
Campers must be able to:
- Follow camp rules and routines with normal reminders
- Maintain safe and respectful behavior without requiring constant redirection
- Function in a group without needing more attention than other campers their age
Campers should NOT require:
- Continuous or intermittent 1:1 supervision
- Intensive emotional or behavioral intervention
- Staff involvement for frequent meltdowns, unsafe impulses, or significant dysregulation
3. Independent Personal Care and Safety Awareness
Campers must be able to independently:
- Manage daily hygiene
- Organize and care for personal belongings
- Participate in basic health routines
-
Communicate needs clearly to staff
4. Ability to Move Around Camp Independently
Campers must be able to:
- Navigate uneven terrain and outdoor paths
- Move between activities with their group
- Use free time responsibly without 1:1 supervision
5. Ability to Follow Instructions and Participate in Activities
Campers must be able to:
- Understand and follow group instructions most of the time
- Participate in a full activity schedule
- Engage in community experiences like all camp-activities and games including singing and tolerating loud noises, participating in family-style meals in the dining hall with 400+ campers and staff, and campfires
6. Ability to Act Safely in an Emergency
Campers must be able to:
- Follow emergency procedures promptly
- Stay with the group
- Make safe choices without individualized supervision
7. Social and Emotional Readiness
Campers must be able to:
- Manage emotions and behavior with typical camp-level support
- Use coping strategies without frequent crisis intervention
- Maintain peer relationships with standard counselor guidance
8. Ability to Meet Mental Health Safety Requirements and Uphold Camp Values
Campers must be able to:
- Comply with mental health safety policies, including:
- No inpatient psychiatric or mental health hospitalization within 12 months before camp
- No suicidal ideation or suicide attempts within 12 months before camp
- No self-injurious behavior (including superficial cutting) within 6 months before camp
9. Contribute positively to the spirit of the camp community, demonstrating the Huckins core values
Campers must be able to demonstrate the core values of camp:
- Honesty
- Caring
- Respect
-
Responsibility