Ketcha Outdoors

Summer Camps | Pre-K | Preschool | After School | Event Rental | Wedding Venue | Scarborough, Maine

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Registration & Policies

Registration Open January 2024

We’re so excited to spend another summer season having fun and learning in the outdoors with our campers.  Camp Registration will open in January 2024. Secure your spot by registering for the week/session of your choice. If your preferred week/session is already full, don’t worry – you can join the waitlist by sending an email to registration@ketchaoutdoors.org. We’ll make sure to keep you informed if any spots become available. Don’t miss out on the adventure and fun at Camp Ketcha.

In 2024 we will continue to offer phased registration. The first phase will be registration for campers attending camp for 7 weeks or more. We hope that this ensures that families who need consistent childcare this summer can sign up without trying to beat the clock on registration day. This phase of registration will open on Tuesday, January 16th, 2024 at 7:00 AM. For this phase of registration families must register for 7 or more weeks of summer camp in either our traditional camp or our specialty camp in 2024. If you choose to register during this phase you must commit to at least 7 weeks of summer camp and sign a separate cancellation policy specific to this registration phase.

All first-phase registrants will need to pre-register in Camp Brain (our registration platform) starting on January 5th, 2024 at 9:00 AM.

Then on January 16th phase one families will fill out a Microsoft form survey indicating which 7 weeks they would like to register for and Ketcha staff will manually add campers into the registration system on a first come first serve basis. If you are not fully pre-registered your submission will be invalid.

Phase two of registration will open up on Thursday, January 18th at 7:00 AM. During this second phase, we will allow week-by-week registration in all programs and all camp spots (traditional and specialty) will be open. This registration phase will happen in Camp Brain.

In addition to phased registration, we will also be utilizing the waitlist feature in our registration platform so you do not need to call to be added to the waitlist. Additionally, you will not be asked to sign up for pizza, early/late care, etc. until a later date. Our goal is to reduce the amount of work you will need to do on registration day, make it easier to sign up multiple children, and allow you to focus when signing up.

Please see the information below on financial aid, pre-registration, registration tips and tricks, and our weekly themes and specialty camp schedules!

  • Pre-Registration: January 5, 2024 at 9:00 AM. Pre-registration does not secure a spot in camp for your child but is highly recommended to make registration day easier. All families registering during phase 1 will need to pre-register or their submission will be invalid.
  • Registration Phase 1: January 16, 2024 at 7:00 AM. Phase 1 requires registration for 7 weeks or more per camper. Phase 1 registration will be completed via Microsoft Form (link coming soon). Ketcha Staff will manually register your child on a first come first serve basis only if Pre-Registration is fully completed. 
  • Registration Phase 2: January 18, 2024 at 7:00 AM. Phase 2 registration will be open for anyone registering for between 1-11 weeks.

 

Camperships and Financial Aid

Ketcha Outdoors is committed to increasing access to children who may not have the opportunity to attend summer camp. Given the increasingly competitive nature of registration for summer camp, in 2024 we will be saving spots in our summer camp to ensure that campers who need financial assistance are given the opportunity. We also hope to increase access to our financial aid program to families who may need a subsidized rate to keep up with the increasing costs of childcare.

The 2024 Scholarship Application will be available through Camp Brain at a later date.

Pre-Registration

Pre-Register online beginning on January 5th, 2024 at 9AM.

*Pre-registration is highly encouraged*

Steps to complete required paperwork online prior to your registration wave:

  • You can “pre-register” (completing required paperwork) ahead of time by visiting  https://campketcha.campbrainregistration.com
  • If you are a new user, you must create a new account. Returning families will already have an existing account.
  • To complete your registration for Summer Camp you MUST complete all necessary forms. Please have your child’s medical and immunization information ready to enter.
  • To complete these ahead of time, log into the Camp Brain Registration system, and select the camper you wish to register under Step 1-Select People for Registration.
  • Once a camper has been selected (or added) it will bring you to Step 2-Select Sessions. Click on Summer Day Camp Pre Registration for the session Camp Ketcha 2024 and click ADD TO CART. After a program has been added select CONTINUE on the bottom right.
  • You are now at Step 3- Fill out Forms. All required forms need to be completed to continue.
  • Step 4- Payment Options and Methods: here you will enter and review payment information. During pre-registration, you will only need to pay the $20.00 registration fee for the new calendar year. This year we are requiring automatic payments.
  • Steps 5 & 6- Review and Submit: Review all of your information to ensure everything is accurate and submit your registration. You will receive a confirmation email following step 6.

REMEMBER: Save your log-in information and use it to log into Camp Brain on Registration Day to easily complete your registration! 

*Please note that this is only a pre-registration to make the process smoother on registration day. This does NOT ensure that you are signed up for camp and you will need to go back in on registration day and choose weekly sessions and pay a deposit.*

Registration Tips and Tricks

  1. Log into your account and be sure that ALL required forms are filled out for 2024. Even if you are sure that you have filled out the forms it is best to triple check! We will not be able to push your registration through with missing information.
  2. Have your most up to date immunization records, physician information, and health information ready to enter. If you have previously entered your medical form online you will have the option of verifying all previous information. We do need to update our records yearly.
  3. We have prepared Camp Brain with our registration dates this year so we hope it won’t take as long to process your registration. We found it was NOT helpful to exit out of a lagging page because that makes the spot available for someone else to take.
  4. Take a look at our attached calendar for a layout of the summer. Our website will be updated soon with Summer Camp 2024 information. This is a very important tool in being prepared to register. Here is the process I have heard works best for families when preparing for registration.
    • Take some time to look at the grid and decide which weeks and services your family needs for care during the summer. This is also a good time to look at your school district’s calendar!
    • Print out and mark up the grid by circling weeks that you need care for your child.
    • If your child is interested in traditional camp only you are ready to register. If your child is interested in specialty camps go through the weeks and choose their first, second, and third choice and write them down. Take time to look on our website for descriptions of each camp. Feel free to reach out about specialty camp information as we work to update the website.
    • No need to stress about add-ons (such as pizza lunch, aftercare, etc.) at this time. We will open those options up for registration at a later time.

Camp Capacity and Staffing

Unlike the past two years, we are hoping to fill up to our licensed capacity. To do this successfully we need great staff! If you know someone who would like a fun summer job working with children in a beautiful outdoor setting please send them to klarochelle@ketchaoutdoors.org

Camp Schedule 2024

Traditionally Camp Ketcha runs on a 12-week schedule to better serve our families in between camps ending and school starting. Last year we tried out an abbreviated week 12 made up of only Monday and Tuesday due to staffing challenges that week and to also give our year-round staff time to rest and prepare for our school year programs that start in September. Signing up for week 12 means your camper may not be able to swim or attend all program areas (due to staffing) but we will make it an amazing two days of Vacation Camp! We will release our full rates and dates information in the upcoming weeks. For now, we have provided our 2024 Summer Camp Schedule. Here you will find our camp weeks, themes, special events, and wacky Wednesdays! Traditional camp is not shown however it will be open for all 11+ weeks of summer.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you this summer!

To check availability for your child’s age group and/or specialty camps,  Visit Camp Brain.  Create your own Camp Brain account by following the prompts and entering your child’s information.

  • If there is no availability in your desired week(s) of camp please utilize the waitlist function on Campbrain. We will add campers off the waitlist on a first-come-first-serve basis as spots become available due to cancellations or increased staffing.

Summer Payment Information

It is the goal of Camp Ketcha as a non-profit organization to offer quality programs at an affordable cost.  The following policies help us to properly allocate staff and resources and ensure that our prices remain as low as possible.

DEPOSIT: A $50 deposit per week and a yearly registration fee of $20 must accompany your registration and is applied to the total camp tuition.  Deposits and membership fees are not refundable under any circumstances.  

BALANCE OF PAYMENT: The balance of all camp fees is due by auto-payments according to the following schedule.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

Payment is due on the first of the month before the weekly session starts.

May 1 for any June Sessions (Weeks 1, 2, 3)
June 1 for any July sessions- (Weeks 4, 5, 6, 7)
July 1 for any August/September Sessions- (Weeks 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)

If we do not receive full payment for camp sessions on time your child will not be allowed to attend Camp Ketcha until a payment is received. A $25 late fee will be charged to each camper account if your automatic payments are declined.

Summer Camp Cancellation Policy

Any deviations from our refund and cancellation policy will be up to the discretion of our Board of Directors. 

 

If you cancel in writing 21 days or more from the start of the session: Will receive a refund of what you have paid minus the $50 non-refundable deposit per week and $20 registration fee.
If you cancel in writing 14-20 days to the start of the session: Will receive a refund of what you have paid minus the $50 non-refundable deposit per week, $20 registration fee and $40 late cancel fee per week.
If you cancel 0-13 days to the start of the session: No refund will be given.
Medical Emergency Cancellation for severe medical issues. A doctor’s note must be sent to us within one week of you notifying us in writing to request the cancellation.  You will receive a refund of what you have paid minus the $50 non-refundable deposit per week and $20 registration fee.  
January 16th Early Registration Cancellation Policy for families registering for 8 weeks or more:
This added cancellation policy applies to families choosing to register early for full summer (seven to twelve weeks).  If you register on this early date you are required to pay for at least seven full weeks of camp.  

For example if you register for ten weeks and cancel four weeks we will only be refunding you for three of those weeks (with cancellation fees per our regular cancellation policy). 

Summer Camp Transfer Policy

Please email registration@ketchaoutdoors.org for all day camp transfers from one session to another. Transfer requests are not guaranteed. Requests must be made 21 days prior to the start of the session you wish you change. One transfer request per camper is allowed prior to May 1st with no charge. A $10 fee will be applied to all transfers made after May 1st.

Behavioral Dismissal Policy

Camper fees are non-refundable if a camper is removed for disciplinary reasons. Physical violence or bullying toward another camper or staff member will result in immediate dismissal from the camp program and you will not be refunded for the current week.  Additional weeks will be refunded minus a $50 non-refundable deposit, and a $40 late cancel fee per week.

Conduct While Attending Camp

Our programs follow a 5 finger contract that is to stay safe (pinky), respect others and the environment (ring), be kind (middle), lead by example (pointer), and have fun (thumb). These are gone over daily as a way to set expectations for program participants who can high five each other to “seal the deal”. These rules are a positive support approach to help campers with skill building for self-control and self-advocacy. We strive to create a supportive, nurturing and joyful environment where everyone shares a sense of belonging and acceptance. Our goals are to support confidence and self-awareness and to build social skills. 

Ketcha Outdoors views discipline as the positive use of guidance and language that will teach children the appropriate responses to sometimes challenging situations. We believe that discipline is not punishment, but using these experiences to teach, guide, and redirect children with the purpose of raising responsible, resilient, and confident children who will grow up to care for themselves and others. 

We strive to create an open, trusting relationship with parents that welcomes communication between parents and staff regarding their child’s experiences at Ketcha Outdoors. If a child’s behavior is interfering negatively with the functioning of the program or the safety of others, we will notify the parent or guardian to set up a meeting with the director and appropriate head counselor. Staff will work cooperatively with family to develop and implement strategies to provide extra support by creating a behavior plan.

If it is decided that Ketcha Outdoors cannot reasonably accommodate the child’s support needs, the family may be asked to withdraw the child from the program. Camp Ketcha’s philosophy is to help each child develop respect for oneself, others, and the environment, and our goal is to help all children who attend Camp Ketcha to be successful in our program.  Camp Ketcha program supervisors reserve the right to suspend and/or dismiss the child from the program without reimbursement for violent or inappropriate behavior that causes risk to the camper, others, or the environment. Please discuss and reinforce the above behavioral expectations with your child.