At Outdoor School, the safety and well-being of every participant are at the core of everything we do. From the moment students, Mentors, and teachers arrive, Camp GEORGE staff provide continuous, 24-hour care and support to ensure a safe and positive experience for all.

Our trained Mentors manage and supervise students in their cabin groups, dining hall, and during our camp-wide activities, with ongoing direction and support from Camp GEORGE staff and teachers. During class sessions and instructional activities, students remain in the care of their classroom teacher(s) and Mentors.

While our Mentors play an important leadership role, teachers remain ultimately responsible for the behavior of their students. The Camp GEORGE staff works closely with teachers to support them in behavior management, providing guidance and stepping in when necessary to ensure a positive, structured, and safe environment. Additionally, our staff work closely with Mentors—especially in the cabins—to ensure the safety, success, and well-being of everyone involved.

Overnight, Camp GEORGE staff will conduct quiet check-ins on cabin groups to ensure everyone is safe and sound, providing additional support to students and/or Mentors as needed. To provide even greater peace of mind, our staff living quarters will be located within a short walking distance of our cabin groups.

Gwinwood Retreat Center is equipped with Wi-Fi and 911 accessibility for rapid communication and emergency response when needed. In an emergency requiring medical attention or transport, the Camp GEORGE Director and the student’s classroom teacher(s) will be directly involved.

Once the student is safe and stable, the Camp GEORGE Director and the classroom teacher(s) will contact the school principal and the student's parent or guardian by phone to provide updates and support. These measures reflect our commitment to participant safety and clear, consistent communication with our school principals and families.

Each school follows specific medication distribution guidelines that align with their district’s policies. Parents or guardians will need to communicate with their child’s classroom teacher or school nurse to obtain all necessary medication forms required for students attending overnight Outdoor School. Please be awarethat obtaining the necessary medication forms for your child is mandatory. We strongly encourage you to plan ahead and allow sufficient time for these forms to be completed and signed. It’s imperative to ensure that this process is finalized before your child arrives at Camp GEORGE.

Additionally, all prescription medications must be in their original labeled containers. Over-the-counter medications must also be in their original, brand new, and unsealed containers upon arrival at Camp GEORGE. Once on-site, medications will be securely stored, accessible only to the Camp GEORGE Director and/or the classroom teacher(s).

It’s important to note that Camp GEORGE staff will not distribute medications to students; this task must be carried out by a school employee, such as the classroom teacher or a designated medical liaison sent by the school to assist with the process.

*Prescription medications must be in their original, labeled container. There are no exceptions.

*Over-the-counter medications must be in their original, brand new, unsealed container. There are no exceptions.

*For May 2026, Gwinwood Retreat Center can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and non-celiac gluten-free diets only. Wheat flour is regularly used in the kitchen, and we cannot guarantee that cross-contamination will not occur.

Camp GEORGE is committed to accommodating most dietary needs and food allergies (within reason) to ensure every participant has a safe and enjoyable experience. While we are currently in the process of securing a facility and partnering with a chef and kitchen staff, having a team that is willing and able to work with us to accommodate dietary needs and food allergies is one of our top priorities.

Once our kitchen staff is in place, we will work closely with our teachers and families to ensure our menu can meet specific food allergies and most dietary needs. Parents/Guardians are responsible for providing specific dietary information to their child’s classroom teacher before their assigned Outdoor School week and including it on their child’s Permission Slip. If we are not made aware of a child’s dietary needs or food allergies before they arrive at Camp GEORGE, it becomes extremely difficult for our kitchen staff to purchase the necessary items and properly prepare meals throughout the week. Without this advance information, the chef and kitchen will not be able to accommodate these needs on-site.

For the safety of all participants, Camp GEORGE will not allow any outside food or beverages into our facility. We will provide healthy, nutritious, kid-friendly meals, ensuring that all students are fully fed.

*Camp GEORGE and Gwinwood Retreat Center have a strict zero-food-and-beverage policy. Outside food or beverages of any kind will not be permitted on the premises. Please refer to the Code of Conduct and the Prohibited Items list.

At Camp GEORGE, we understand that bedwetting can happen at any age, and we are committed to ensuring every child feels comfortable and supported during their overnight stay. Our staff are trained to work sensitively with students who experience frequent or infrequent bedwetting, helping them have a dry and successful camp experience. Discussing our plan with your child in advance can also be beneficial.

If your child experiences bedwetting, we ask that you include this information on their Permission Slip and inform their classroom teacher before Outdoor School begins so we can tailor our approach to their needs. Below are the measures we will take to provide discreet and supportive care:

1. On the first evening at Camp GEORGE, our staff will speak privately with your child to explain the plan and reassure them. We will discreetly wake them several times throughout the night—for example, about an hour after bedtime, before staff go to bed, and in the early morning—to support their success.

2. If your child uses pull-ups or diaper briefs, camp staff will wake them quietly in the morning about 10-15 minutes before others. This allows them time to remove hygiene items and freshen up in the restroom or shower if needed.

3. Cabin Mentors, who play a key role in providing privacy and emotional support, will also be discreetly informed about your child's needs. They are trained to handle sensitive information responsibly.

4. Each morning, Mentors will check cabins for wet sleeping bags after all students have exited. If a sleeping bag is wet, we replace it with a temporary one while laundering the original to maintain privacy, cleanliness, and comfort.

At Camp GEORGE, your child's safety is our top priority. Our staff will work with sleepwalkers to ensure their safety while providing a sense of comfort and reassurance. If your child is a sleepwalker, please make sure to include this information on their Permission Slip and inform their classroom teacher before Outdoor School begins, so we can tailor our safety measures as needed. Here's how we will address sleepwalking at Camp GEORGE:

1. Cabin Mentors are discreetly informed about a student's sleepwalking tendencies to ensure safety. Mentors are trained to handle this sensitive information responsibly.

2. Students who sleepwalk are assigned to a bottom bunk, positioned furthest from the front door. Additionally, our staff will conduct overnight checks on cabins with sleepwalkers.

3. Every evening, after the cabin lights are turned off, Camp GEORGE staff will set up a stack of large tin cans (or similar items) outside the cabin door. If a student or Mentor tries to sleepwalk out of the cabin, the cans will crash loudly to the floor, alerting everyone inside immediately.

No, Camp GEORGE is an electronics-free zone. We proudly turn screen time into green time, by immersing students in the great outdoors, building real connections, and encouraging exploration. Additionally, items such as laptops, tablets, music or reading devices, video games, etc. are not allowed.

The Outdoor School experience offers a rare opportunity for students to disconnect from their screens, focus on the present, build relationships with their classmates, peers, teachers, and Mentors, and be fully engaged with themselves. In the event of an emergency, the Camp GEORGE Director and classroom teacher will contact parents or guardians via phone.

If a student or Mentor brings their cell phone to Camp GEORGE, it will be collected immediately, safely stored, and returned at the end of the week prior to departing Outdoor School.

*Please refer to the Code of Conduct and the Prohibited Items list.