Summer Camp Transportation

Getting to Northwoods Camp should be a safe, fun, and exciting experience. We believe that your camper's first day at camp actually begins when they step into the car, van, or bus to camp.

Parents/guardians may bring your camper directly to Northwoods Camp. Many Salvation Army units also provide transportation to and from camp. Information on how to get connected with Salvation Army transportation is at the bottom of this page.
 

Drop Off and Pick Up

Drop Off Procedures

All camps begin with check-in from 2-4 PM. Campers are pre-assigned to cabins. All registration must be received via CampDoc, two weeks prior to the camp start date.

Please park all vehicles in the Pool Parking Lot. Do not part on any grass or block the road. There will be a designated staff member acting as the Parking Lot Attendant to assist you.

• Drivers must remain at camp until the check-in process is completed. In case of illness, discovered lice, etc. the camper will be sent home. If the driver is not a parent/guardian of the camper, two adults must accompany the child home.
• Do not unload camper's luggage until the registration process is complete.
• Check-in occurs at Critters, the camp's snack shop, located right next to the Pool Parking lot. In the event, of incliment weather, check-in will take place in the Cedar building.
• Parents/guardians and leaders dropping off campers will need to proceed through check-in with their campers and may not leave until all of their campers are checked in.

Please carry any medications or candy store money with you through the check-in process to give to the appropriate staff members but leave luggage in the car. After check-in you will be able to help your campers drop off their luggage in the cabins.

Check-In Stations

• Station 1 - Head Checks
  • All campers and leaders who are staying at camp must have their heads checked for lice.
  • Northwoods Camp has a zero lice policy. Those found with live lice will not be able to stay at camp. There will be no exceptions.
• Station 2 - Registration
  • Campers will check-in and verify all documents received.
  • Campers will turn over electronic devices (inlcuding phones) to be secured in a locked location. Phones will be returned at the conclusion of camp at check-out.
• Station 3 - Medical
  • The Summer Camp Healthcare Manager will review the camper's health form. 
  • All medications will need to be turned into the nurse at this time. All medications must be listed on the camper's health form, be in the original container, and have the camper's name.
  • Medication listed/not listed on CampDoc that is brought to camp is under the discretion of the Healthcare Manager in conversation with parent/guardian.
  • It is recommended that campers who take medication during the school year should strongly consider remaining on their medication during camp, but this is ultimately at the doctor's discretion and should be noted on the medical form with the doctor's signature.
  • Food allergy wristbands will be provided based on identified allergies.
• Station 4 - Critters (Snack Shop) Deposit
  • Turn in snack shop money. Money turned in for Critters must be in increments of $5.
  • Critters bracelets will be provided in increments of $5 for each person depositing monet.
  • Any additional funds not utilized (bracelets not distributed) will be refunded at the end of the camp session.
  • Bracelets distributed to campers can be used at later camps within the same season.
  • A maximum of $5/day will be accepted for each camper.
• Station 5 - Electives
  • Sign-up for electives if available for the specific camp session.
• Station 6 - Cabin Assignments & Camp Swag
  • Receive any camp swag available for the specific camp session. T-shirts will be given the last night of camp.
  • All campers will be assigned to rooms. All campers are required to stay in the rooms assigned to them. Please do not ask for a change in room assignment.

After your whole group has completed the entire registration process, campers may take their luggage to their cabins. Luggage may NOT be driven to the cabins.

There will be staff members available to assist campers in finding their housing assignement. Cabin Counselors will be available at the cabins to receive campers. All campers will remain with their Cabin Counselors to unpack, get to know each other, etc.

Once all campers have been received by their Cabin Counselors, parents, guardians, and leaders that are not staying for the session may leave once they check out with the Parking Lot Attendant.

Pick-Up Procedures

Anyone picking up campers to transport them home should be aware that no camper will leave campgrounds unitl they have been released by the Cabin Counselor. Cabins will be cleaned prior to leaving camp, and campers will be checked out of their cabins at that time.

Campers can be picked up on the last day of the camp session between 10-11 AM. In the event of a late pick up please call our Youth Department at 651-746-3472 or email them.

• Exception for Music Camp
  • Music Camp Concert - Immediately following the Music Camp concert, parents, guardians, and leaders can check out their campers within the Cedar building prior to leaving.

Please park all vehicles in a parking spot in the Pool Parking Lot. Do not park on any grass or block the road.

Each driver should have a list of the campers they are supposed to pick up.

Checkout stations are located at the windows of Critters, our snack shop, located next to the Pool and across from the Pool Parking Lot.

Check-Out Stations

• Station 1 - Check Out Campers
  • Parent, Guardian, Leader will share the names of the campers they are checking out.
  • Northwoods Staff will communicate to cabins for the release of campers to bring luggage to parking area.
  • Incident Reports from the week will be distributed as needed.
• Station 2 - Medical
  • The Summer Camp Healthcare Manager will return all prescription medication, including empty bottles, should there be any.
• Station 3 - Critters & Electronics
  • All snack shop dollars not distributed at a bracelet will be returned to the parent, guardian, or leader for the camper.
  • Electronics will be distributed to those who turned them in at check-in.

Parents, guardians, and leaders will wait with a parking lot attendanct for campers with luggage before leaving campgounds.

Please help make sure that your camper has collected all belongings before leaving camp. Once an individual has left camp, it is difficult to retrieve lost items.

Change in Pick-Up Person

If someone other than a parent/guardian or official Salvation Army representative listed on the registration will be picking up your camper, please call our Youth Department at 651-746-3472 or email them.

Transportation from Local Salvation Army

When desiring to utilize Salvation Army transportation, it is ultimately the parent/guardian's responsibility to contact their local Salvation Army unit to confirm that transportation is being offered and any other accompanying details.

When transportation is offered, we are vigilant in ensuring the safety of every camper with assurances of high standards for both drivers and vehicles.

Please keep these things in mind when arranging and utilizing Salvation Army transportation:

• Not every Salvation Army Unit may provide transportation to every camp.
• You will contact your selected transportation location to make departure and pick up arrangements.
• Van/Bus space is often limited so seats may fill on a first come, first served basis.
• Please arrive at least 30 minutes before scheduled departure.
• Our vans/bus runs on a tight schedule and cannot wait for late campers. If your camper is not present upon departure, you are responsible for driving your camper to camp.

Not familiar with your local Salvation Army? Click here to use our location finder and find a Salvation Army near you.