Camp FAQs

A camper may request one “buddy” per session. Both buddies must register for the same camp, program, and session, and must list each other's name on the registration forms. The camp director has final say on camp placement.

Campers are placed in groups of 5 to 30 campers, with 2 to 5 staff per group. At resident camp campers stay either in cabins (6-12 campers), yurts (6 campers), tent-a-los (5 campers) or platform tents (4-6 campers). All cabins, tents, and yurts are supplied with cots/beds and mattresses. The program, number of campers, and the camper’s age determine the living arrangements. Each unit has shelter for rainy day activities, bathroom facilities, and storage.

Transportation is included in the cost of day camp. Bus stop location details are included in the Camp Guide and in your camper information packet. Buses may be cancelled by GSEMA due to insufficient enrollment. We are not currently offering bussing to resident camp.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts makes every attempt to offer summer camp opportunities to all girls. If you have a camper with a disability, please email customercare@gsema.org to discuss how we can make your camper's experience one that is exciting, appropriate, and fulfilling. The information that you share with us about your camper will be held confidential, shared only as HIPAA allows, and in accordance with your wishes.

All requests for refunds MUST be in writing and emailed to customercare@gsema.org.

Four Weeks before Camp Session Begins
Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable. Refunds of camp fees (not including the deposit) may only be made when written notice of cancellation and a request for refund is received at least four weeks prior to the start of the camp session.

Cancellations Due to Medical or Emergency Circumstances
In some cases, refunds may be granted after the four-week cancellation and refund period for medical or emergencies circumstances only. A written notice of cancellation with explanation of medical or emergency circumstances must be provided for a refund request to be considered. Additional documentation may be requested by GSEMA. Partial or full refunds will be at the discretion of GSEMA after reviewing the request.

Inclement Weather 
High ropes, trips, and water activities may be cancelled when weather conditions are unsuitable. Alternative activities will be provided. Refunds are not given when activities are cancelled due to inclement weather.

Program Cancellation
If a program is cancelled due to insufficient enrollment, every effort will be made to place campers in a similar program. Camp sessions are held regardless of weather, but programs may be modified due to inclement weather.

Changes in Cancellation and Refund Procedures
GSEMA may make changes to cancellation and refund procedures when considering the health and safety of GSEMA campers and staff. No refunds are given for campers arriving late, leaving early, dismissed from camp, or unable to attend all or part of a session.

Parents/guardians will be notified as soon as possible should a camper be taken to the doctor's office/hospital for an injury or health condition and if medication has been prescribed by the camp's healthcare supervisor (HCS). The HCS or camp director will notify parents/guardians of any persistent conditions or ailments. Parents/guardians should notify their doctor and healthcare provider of any health condition or accident/injury occurring at camp for follow-up visits and billing purposes.

Staff is responsible for reporting any signs of illness to the healthcare supervisor (HCS), who assesses each situation. The HCS may administer over-the-counter medications she believes are warranted if they are authorized by the parent/guardian. If the HCS determines the camper should be sent home or seen by the healthcare consultant, she informs the camp director and arrangements are made. In both situations, the parent/guardian is contacted as soon as possible.

Financial assistance is available to campers who otherwise would not be able to attend camp. So that we may meet the needs of as many campers as possible, they may only apply for assistance for a portion of one session of day or resident camp. Limited camp financial assistance is available only to campers living in a Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts community.

• Financial aid is provided on a rolling basis as long as funds are available.
• The deposit is refundable if financial assistance is not approved.
• All information related to financial assistance will be kept confidential.
• Funding for assistance is limited and not all requests may be granted.

To apply:

1. Complete the online camp registration form on CampinTouch and pay the $50 deposit per session.
2. Once you have submitted the registration form and paid the deposit, go to the CampinTouch Forms & Documents section and complete a financial assistance application.

Review and Next Steps:

• Financial assistance applications are reviewed as they are received, and families will be notified of decisions within two weeks of review.
• GSEMA may request proof of income documentation during the review process.
• Final payment of remaining camp fees (after the deposit and any financial assistance) is due June 1, 2023.
• Campers receiving financial assistance are subject to all cancellation policies.

The healthcare consultant (HCC) is a licensed physician. The HCC assists in the development of the camp's healthcare policy, develops and signs written orders for the health care supervisor, and is available for consultation at all times. The health care consultant is not present at camp.

The healthcare supervisor (HCS) is, by regulation, present at the camp at all times and has, at a minimum, first aid and CPR certification. The healthcare consultant authorizes the HCS to be in charge of health matters at camp on a day-to-day basis and to dispense medications.

All campers are required to have a physical examination within 12 months (after June 15, 2022) prior to arriving at camp. A print out from your camper’s doctor must be signed by a physician each year (including inoculation update) and submitted no later than May 3, 2023. Please review the Massachusetts required immunizations for you camper to attend camp. The Camper Health History Form is available to fill out online. If a camper will attend more than one Girl Scout camp this summer, please list all camp names and sessions on the health form. Make an appointment with your family doctor for a physical or to obtain copies of current immunization and exam records early.

No child may attend camp without submitting a health form.

Trips, ropes, and water activities may be cancelled when weather conditions are unsuitable. Alternative activities will be provided. Refunds are not given when activities are cancelled due to weather conditions.

At the request of the Department of Public Health we have included a fact sheet on Meningococcal disease on our camp registration website. Campers attending day or resident camps are not considered to be at an increased risk. Also, in an effort to increase awareness of Lyme disease, the Department of Public Health asks all parents to conduct daily "tick checks" to prevent infection. Remember: not all ticks carry Lyme disease. For more information, please visit this site and read the Public Health Factsheets.

Healthcare at GSEMA camps is administered under regulations established by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (105 CMR 430) or the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

State regulations cover the storage and dispensing of medications. All medication must come to camp in the original containers and be stored by the healthcare supervisor (HCS) in locked compartments in the camp health center. Exceptions to storage by the HCS are authorized for medications for treatment of allergies and asthma. Questions about these medications should be raised with the camp prior to the child’s arrival. To ensure a smooth transition, we recommend that your child continue the medications she needs during the school year at summer camp. If prescription medications are brought to camp, the container must have a pharmacy label showing the prescription number, patient’s name, date filled, physician’s name, name of medication, and directions for use. Any camper coming to camp with a prescription Epi-pen® or inhaler must bring two of either, one for the infirmary and one for the unit. The HCS dispenses medication according to the directions. If a camper refuses to take prescribed medications, this refusal is documented in the health log and the parent/guardian is notified. If your camper is taking the bus to camp, all medications must be placed in a Ziploc bag labeled with the camper's name and address and handed directly to the bus monitor by parent/guardian.

Complete healthcare policy for GSEMA camps is available to a parent/guardian upon request to Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, 111 E. Grove Street, Middleboro, MA 02346.

Meals and snacks are provided at resident camp. Please do not send food with or to resident campers. Day campers should bring a non-perishable lunch, snack, drink, and water bottle each day to camp.

Our meals are planned to be nutritious and kid friendly. We can accommodate most food allergies/dietary needs. Food Allergies/Dietary restrictions are handled by the Camp Director and Healthcare Supervisor at each resident camp. Be sure to list any nutritional concerns when asked while completing your camper’s registration so that we can plan accordingly and contact you if we have any question.

All programs have a minimum number of campers required by camp or a program provider. A program may be cancelled or changed by GSEMA or provider if the minimum number required is not reached. If a program is cancelled for lack of registrations, every effort will be made to place each camper in a similar program. Camp sessions will be held regardless of weather, but programs may be modified in extreme weather conditions.

Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of every camper. Our camps follow all safety and risk management guidelines set by Girl Scouts of the USA, the local, state, and federal boards of health, and the American Camp Association, a national camp organization that sets high standards for both the health and safety of campers and staff, and the delivery of quality programs. All camps in Massachusetts must comply with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (105 CMR 430.000). New Hampshire camps are in compliance with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Rules (Part Env-WS 1120.00). In addition, the board of health in the town in which the camp is located licenses each camp.

As required by MA DPH 430:190 (C) and (D), these camps must comply with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and be licensed by the local board of health. Parents may request copies of background checks, healthcare and discipline policies, as well as procedures for filing grievances.

American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation means that the camp you are considering for your child cares enough to undergo a thorough annual review of its operation—more than 250 standards from staff qualifications and training to emergency management. The ACA collaborates with experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth service agencies to assure that current practices reflect the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation. All our camps are ACA certified. A healthcare supervisor staffs the camp health center and a local physician is on call.

Our camp staff are selected for their ability to work with young people, be part of a team, and teach and share skills, as well as their enthusiasm to commit to the values of Girl Scouting. All staff are at least 18 years of age or are high school graduates. Criminal background and sexual offender checks (C.O.R.I. and S.O.R.I.) are conducted for all camp staff. To comply with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and to be licensed by the local board of health, we inform you that you have the right to request proof of background checks, camp healthcare policies, discipline policies, as well as policies for filing grievances.

All staff attend pre-camp orientation where they learn or review camping skills, risk management, safety procedures, Girl Scout programming, human relations, and communication skills. Many of the staff return each year and travel from all around the world to join us.

For Summer 2023, all GSEMA camp staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

For an application to work at camp, please visit our employment webpage.

Campers and staff are not permitted to bring drugs, alcohol, pets, tobacco products, or weapons of any kind (e.g., Swiss army knives, scissors, etc.) to camp. Prescription medication should arrive in its original container with the camper's name and be turned over to the bus monitor or healthcare supervisor upon arrival at camp.