Welcome, One Mission’s Sibling Retreat Camp Counselors!

A Note From The Director

We are so excited to have you join us at Camp Casco’s Sibling Retreat this summer!! In this packet, you will find information about getting to and from camp, how to pack for camp, and what to expect. Please look over the attached packet at your convenience. 

We know that this week of camp will be a ton of fun, and we hope that you are excited! If you have any additional questions, please email me at tristan.kijak@campcasco.org

anytime. 

We can’t wait to see you soon! If you’d like to connect with other camp volunteers in the meantime, join our private Facebook group!

Sincerely,
Tristan “Triscuit” Kijak
Camp Director

Camp Director, Tristan at Lights Out Lunch at Overnight Camp 2022

Getting To Camp

We will be staying at Berkshire Lake Camp for the duration of our time at camp. It is located at: 822 Peru Rd, Hinsdale, MA 01235

Going to Camp Casco: Arrive on Tuesday 7/11 by 8:00 AM 

Departing Camp Casco: Leave on Friday 7/14 at 4:00 PM

Please follow the map below and proceed to the parking lot next to the welcome center upon arriving at the campsite. If you have any trouble finding it, please call the Berkshire Lake Camp Office at 413-655-8020. If you anticipate being late, please notify us immediately! Call/text the Camp Casco leadership team at 857-302-2726 as soon as possible.

Theme Days

Theme days are a wonderful way to get into the camp spirit! This year, the theme of the week is DISNEY!, with each day having its own special movie related theme. Some of our counselors go all out dressing up for our theme days, and we coordinate games and crafts throughout the week to go along with our theme days. Counselors are encouraged to coordinate their outfits to fit the theme days. This could be as simple as wearing a themed t-shirt that you already have in your closet. Please note that there is no need to go out and spend money on these themes.

This year's theme days are as follows :

Tuesday: Disney Magic! (Think about your favorite Disney movie and characters! What would it look like if you just arrived at Disney?)

Wednesday: Adventure Day! (Think about Indiana Jones, obstacle courses, etc!)

Thursday: Heroes and Villains! (Think about Peter Pan and Captain Hook, Jafar and Aladdin, Ursula and Ariel, etc!)

Friday: Disney best friends!

Counselor Rainbow with camper

Rainbow living up to her camp name with her chosen costume

Packing List

You may want to have a change of clothes for your days at camp as well as a few extra items. Refer to the list below and feel free to bring any other supplies that you think might be useful during your day. You may  get dirty or wet during the day so take that into consideration when dressing for the day. Please note that closed-toe shoes are mandatory at all times except going to and from the swimming area.

SUGGESTED ITEMS MAY INCLUDE:

Clothing: 

  • Theme outfits

  • T-shirts

  • Tank tops

  • Shorts

  • Jeans, long pants

  • Jacket, sweater, sweatshirt or fleece

  • Rain jacket

  • Hat with a brim

  • Modest swimsuit

  • Pajamas 

Footwear:

  • Closed toe and closed heel shoes (required)

  • Sandals or flip flops for swimming at the lake/showering

Toiletries:

  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, brush/comb, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, chapstick etc.

  • Towels for swimming or water fights

Outside Gear:

  • Backpack, fanny pack or tote bag

  • Insect repellent

  • Sunscreen

  • Watch

  • Any and all theme day accessories 

  • Water bottle

  • Flashlight with extra batteries

Sleeping:

  • Pillow

  • Sleeping bag, blanket, sheet 

  • Alarm clock (if watch doesn’t have an alarm, b/c cellphone use is prohibited in the cabin)

Miscellaneous:

  • A small lockable bathroom bag if you would like additional privacy for your personal medications (see next page for more details on this!) 

  • Any kind of energy drink/snacks that you might need to help refuel for the week. There will be space in the break lounge to store them. (Coffee will be available daily! We are also nut free!).

The amount of each item is left to your discretion, although extras are highly recommended. The above list is a general summary of the items you will need for a week at camp. Feel free to make additions as you think necessary, and please ensure that you have enough clothing to last the entire week.

Important Notes

We will be providing daily breakfast, lunch and dinner along with yummy snacks.

  • Volunteer meds will be stored in personal brown bags in a single locked cabinet in our Med Shed that all volunteers have access to. A selection of over-the-counter meds for volunteer use will be provided there as well, though we encourage you to bring your own OTC meds if you have a need for a specific brand or type of medication. If you would like more privacy/protection over your personal meds, we encourage you to bring your own small lockable bathroom bag.

  •  Use/possession of weapons, tobacco, alcohol, non-prescribed cannabis or illegal drugs is strictly forbidden, including while on breaks. Violators will be sent home IMMEDIATELY and suspended from attending camp in future years if any of these items are found in their possession or used. 

  • Lost and found items will be held by Camp Casco’s Camp Operator for six days after camp. Camp Casco is not responsible for lost or damaged personal equipment.

  • DO NOT PACK any gum, candy, fireworks, or valuable items. 

  • It will be hot and humid, so please pack a water bottle or a CamelBak type hydration pack. 

  • Cell Phone Policy: We have a 100% zero tolerance policy on all camper cell phones. Upon arrival at camp, all campers will check in their cell phones at our Med Shed. “Unplugging” is incredibly important to helping the campers bond and make the most of their time at Camp Casco, and we ask for your support in enforcing this rule. Because of this, we ask that you do not use your cell phones at all inside the cabin or when around campers. You may use your cell phones only during breaks and away from view of the campers. This goes for tablets, iPods, and laptops as well. Smart watches are OK if used in airplane mode. Camp Leadership will have their cell phones on them for communication with parents and visitors, and for documenting moments for Camp Casco’s social media platforms. This policy applies to all campers and all volunteers (with the exception of Camp Leadership and their designees) and will be strictly enforced.

One Mission’s Sibling Retreat 2022

We can’t wait to see you there!

Krystin Whitacre

Krystin "Lo" Whitacre is our Program-Director, and has been part of Camp Casco since our founding in 2014. When she’s not at camp, you can find her paddle boarding if the weather is nice, or puzzling if it’s not! Check out our News & Updates page for more camp blogs!

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Theme Days: How Camp Themes Foster Connection & Belonging