Parent FAQ

General 🗺️

  • Camp St. Charles is nestled on a beautiful peninsula off the shores of the Charleston Creek and Wicomico River in Southern Maryland. Our private waterfront property includes rustic cabins and wooded trails. We’re just 90 minutes from both Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. Get directions.

  • Yes. Camp St. Charles welcomes campers of all faith backgrounds. While we are a Catholic summer camp and include daily prayer and values‑based programming, participation is inclusive and focused on community, kindness, and respect.

  • Faith formation at Camp St. Charles is woven into the rhythm of daily life. As a Catholic camp, we start and end our days with prayer, celebrate Mass together as a community, and encourage Christian values like kindness and teamwork in every activity. Our goal is to make faith feel natural, approachable, and relevant to every camper's experience. Formal religious education is not our focus.

  • Camp St. Charles is an overnight camp serving campers ages 6–13, and returning campers ages 14-15 in our Mentor Program. Campers are generally grouped by age: Middies (6–9), Minors (10–11), Majors (12–13), and Mentors(14–15) to ensure age-appropriate activities and social connections.

  • Most of our campers come from Maryland, Virginia, and the Washington D.C. metro area, with additional families joining us from across the country and even around the globe.

Camp Life ⛺

  • Campers live in traditional, rustic cabins of the same gender with bunk beds, air conditioning, and a nearby bathhouse. Cabins are mixed-ages (from 6-15), creating a unique family-style environment where siblings and cousins can stay together and older campers naturally mentor younger ones.

  • Meals are kid‑friendly, nutritious, and served family‑style in our dining hall. We offer a variety of options at each meal, and team counselors help campers make good food choices. We also provide twice-daily snacks (canteen) which are included in your tuition.

  • Mini Session campers will get a taste of most activities. Giant swing and tubing are not guaranteed for mini session campers. Weather can be a factor with limited time to reschedule. Our two week sessions offer more opportunities for each activity. Our master schedule is designed so that every camper has the opportunity to try every activity we offer. There is also supervised free time where campers can choose from several open activities.

  • During our two week camp sessions, Minors (10-11years) participate in an overnight camping adventure adjacent to the camp property. Majors (12-13 years) spend a day at Terrapin Adventures. On the 4th of July, campers attend a field trip to see a local fireworks display.

  • Homesickness is common but short-lived. It’s a natural part of the overnight camp experience and a great opportunity for growth. Our staff is trained to provide gentle support, structure, and encouragement to help campers adjust. In the rare case that it persists, we will contact you.

  • Bedwetting is common and handled with the utmost discretion and sensitivity. We encourage parents to notify the camp director and nurse in advance. Our staff is trained to manage these situations quietly to avoid any embarrassment for the camper.

Health & Safety 🩺

  • Yes. Camp St. Charles is proudly accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), meeting or exceeding over 250 national standards for health, safety, and program quality.

  • Safety is our foundation. We maintain high staff-to-camper ratios, conduct rigorous background checks, and ensure all specialized activities (like swimming and the climbing wall) are led by certified instructors. We also maintain a current youth camp license from the State of Maryland.

  • Our on-site health center is staffed 24/7 by a qualified camp nurse. In the event of a minor illness or injury, we provide immediate care. For more serious concerns, we will contact parents immediately and nearby EMS are only a few miles away.

  • Our caring staff consists primarily of young adults, many of whom were CSC campers themselves. After a rigorous hiring and screening process, every staff member undergoes intensive pre-camp training covering safety protocols, child development, conflict resolution, and emergency procedures.

  • Camp St. Charles has welcomed many campers with food allergies and dietary restrictions, including vegetarian, nut‑free, gluten‑free, and dairy‑free diets. Families should discuss their child’s needs with our Camp Director before enrolling so we can plan appropriately and keep your child safe. Campers must be able to make independent food choices and ask questions when needed.

  • All medications (prescription and over-the-counter) are kept securely in the health center and administered by our camp nurse according to a doctor's written instructions. Medications must be brought in their original packaging.

Registration 📋

  • Tuition varies by session length. Current rates can be found on our Dates & Rates page.

  • Yes, thanks to the generosity of our alumni, Camp St. Charles offers partial camperships to help make camp more accessible. Interested families should apply for a campership here.

  • Refunds are available up to one month before the session, minus a $200 non‑refundable deposit. No refunds are given for homesickness, early departures, or disciplinary dismissals. Cancellation insurance is available to protect your tuition investment.

  • We do our best to honor mutual cabin requests for campers of the same age group and gender. To ensure a balanced environment for all campers, we ask that you limit requests to a maximum of three names.

  • Yes. Families are welcome to attend one of our open house events or schedule a camp tour during the off‑season.

Packing & Prep 🧳

  • For a full list of required and recommended items, please view our packing list here.

  • No. All activities, snacks, and day trips are included in tuition. There is no need for campers to carry cash at all.

  • Camp St. Charles is proudly an unplugged camp. Phones, tablets, smartwatches, and gaming devices should stay at home so campers can fully engage in the experience. E-readers are permitted.

  • We ask campers to wear one piece swim wear suitable for active play. A very modest swim shirt and shorts style suit is also acceptable.

  • Check-in takes place on Sunday from 1pm–3pm via a "kiss and go" drive-through process. Check-out is on the final Friday of the session from 6pm–8pm. Specific instructions can be found here.

  • Required forms include health forms, immunization records, waivers, and any medication documentation. All forms can be found on our Parent Resources page or in your UltraCamp account.

During Camp 📸

  • Bunknotes! Parents may send bunknotes through the Camp St Charles App or on Bunk1. Be sure to include a bunk reply for your camper to write back. Most families use 3 bunk note credits per camper per camp day. Bunk notes are delivered daily to campers during siesta and replies are sent to parents in the afternoon. Campers are encouraged to write back on bunk replies.

  • Please do not mail packages. Camper packages are collected during check in. A small shoe box size or sealed back labeled with your child’s name and cabin works well. Packages are delivered on Wednesdays. Two week campers may have a care package for each week.

  • We upload photos daily to a private gallery hosted by Bunk1. Parents will receive login instructions via email before the session starts so they can follow along with the summer fun. Photo access is complimentary. The passcode for photo access will be provided by email prior to camp.

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