Frequently Asked Questions

We explore the woods in and around the Hilton Area of Patapsco Valley State Park in Catonsville.  Other locations may be available under contract with private groups.

YES!  And that’s exactly what makes our program so uniquely engaging and developmentally beneficial to children – the benefits of unstructured play are well documented.  Peer-reviewed research and best practices in child psychology show that unstructured play is about the most engaging and developmentally beneficial form of education humans experience throughout life, especially in childhood.  Check out our Resources for Camp Families, and our Camp Philosophy for more insight on what makes Lure of the Wild stand out among the top camp programs available anywhere today. 

They can!  Check out our Google Reviews for stories from camp parents who felt the same way at first!  Also, watch this video from Ranger James explaining what his own kids’ experience was like at a similar program developed by his friends at Neptune Nature School in California.  And there’s even more about us on our In the News page. 

After signing your camper(s) in at drop-off, and dropping extra gear at our meeting spot, we double check that everyone has their food and water packed in their backpacks.  Campers meet their counselor, get acclimated and comfortable.  We discuss safety concerns: what are the dangers we need to be aware of in these woods?  In addition to weather, we also address how to avoid ticks, poison ivy, and (very unlikely) venomous snakes, among other common concerns.  We also review how to communicate on the trail with hand signals and sounds.
With a little guidance, your child works with their group to decide where they want to go and what they want to do.  At our Catonsville location there are a variety of places to explore that vary from a ten-minute walk, to a two-hour loop hike through the park with many stops along the way.  We are rarely more than a half-mile (about ten minutes) from emergency access.  We may practice hiking silently to look for deer, birds, or other wildlife.  We may go to a nearby stream to play in the gravel beds and build with stones and sticks.  We may go to an open field to play tag or other games using rules the campers make up cooperatively.  The campers decide everything they do individually and as a group, and every day is different.

If it rains, we get wet.  We keep an eye on conditions before and during camp each day, and we plan and adapt as needed.  In severe conditions we use a nearby covered shelter.  Our state-approved Health and Safety Plan calls for more specifics related to high wind and storm advisories, which are based on National Forest Service guidelines for safety in forested areas.   Generally speaking, as the old saying goes, “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes.”  Our seasonal orientation packages explain more about how to be prepared for outdoor play with us, year-round.  You can read more about our Weather Policies and Protocol, as well as this article on our blog about why playing in the rain is not only fun, but beneficial to children’s development!  

To put it discretely, we practice leave-no-trace ethics.  But let’s be up front about it- we poop in the woods, and we have an entire section of our state-approved health plan that details how it’s done safely and discreetly.  It’s not that big a deal really.  They find a private place, do their thing, and we pick up after them.  Your kid can handle it!  Their ancestors did for thousands of years.  We even wrote this blog post about it for those who may want more specifics.  Also, while we’re on the subject, all campers must be able to independently go to the bathroom.  Our state-approved health plan does not allow for diapers or pull-ups.  

Seriously.  Our families are consistently surprised and delighted at what an incredible experience their kids have playing by their own rules, guided by their feelings and senses in nature with friends new and old.  Our reviews speak volumes!  

Yes, and while we prefer you sign up for multiple weeks with our camp in particular, we feel strongly that parents should send their children to the SAME camp multiple weeks a row regardless of what camp they choose.  Here’s a blog post we wrote explaining why.  We believe so much in the power of free play in nature that we provide our best prices for returning families who sign up for multiple weeks.  

Sure can!  Drop us a message and we’ll get you in touch with as many as you like!  You can also meet them in our online and in-person camp orientations and parent drop-ins.  Registrants are also invited to join our private community on Facebook where they can exchange information and ideas and learn about impromptu gatherings, hikes, and other events we occasionally host for our camp families year-round!

Absolutely, and our Health and Safety Plan is considered by state inspectors to be a model among the best, most organized, and comprehensive in the state.  Our Maryland Department of Health Youth Camp License Number is 03-YC-13369.  As leaders at the front of our field, we follow MDH guidelines to the letter, and we work hard to exceed them.  A good example is our staff-to-camper ratio, which we maintain at nearly half the legally permitted ratio that most camps take financial advantage of.  We aim for an average of 8-10 campers per group, plus a teen “Guide in Training” to assist each group along with additional highly trained support staff. 

Our core age range is pre-k through about age 12, give or take a little.  We accept those as young as 4 years old.  Starting at age 14, those interested can apply to be Guides in Training.  Each Counselor’s group may include one GIT or Junior GIT (a 13-year-old who receives discounted tuition) who acts as a role model to the younger campers and occasionally lends a hand and an extra set of eyes to the Counselor.  Perhaps the best part of being a GIT is getting to share and build knowledge with younger campers as well as adult staff while also gaining real-world experience and seeing childhood development in action.  From a pedagogical standpoint, the GIT role is based on the practice of mixed age groups, a practice rooted in research that provides more and better opportunities for growth among campers of all ages.  

We observe the social interactions of our campers very closely, and we nearly always recommend against keeping siblings in the same group.  Children (and all people, really) do best when they are challenged just slightly beyond their comfort level.  While some sibling relationships are mutually beneficial, in a setting where there is great potential for growth through personal challenge, personal boundary-setting, and personal confidence-building, the sibling dynamic can have a negative or stagnating effect on that growth.  It helps to give each child the freedom to be their own self and to play on their own terms, without expectations or input from a sibling.  That said, we may place your children in the same group if you insist on it, but we tend to advise against it.  Of course we do make changes when we see a better opportunity for each individual child.

We are certified to administer medications under the legal guidelines of the state.  This includes epinephrine (“Epi-pens”), asthma inhalers, over-the-counter, and prescription medications.  We follow a strict “no nuts” and “no food-sharing” policy.  If your child takes daily medicine or “as-required” medicine, the appropriate forms will be provided during the registration process (you can also find them here).  If your child has a medical or other condition please be sure to let us know so we can help ensure they have the best possible experience.  Your registration information is private and confidential.  

We’re parents.  We know stuff happens.  In case you need to make a change or cancel, please learn about our policies here.

Check our Orientation materials here, or call us at 443-457-3474.