Day Camp FAQs

We know you have some questions about Petra Cliffs SumMAT Camp! Here are some Day Camp FAQs to help guide both new and returning camp families.

Are you looking for Activity Descriptions or Overnight Expedition FAQs instead?

Registration

  • Registration opens at midnight on February 1st!

    Go to our camp main page for the link to register.

  • If you need to make a change to your registration, email the Camp Director.

    Cancellation Policy:

    • 21 days or more = full refund minus $25 cancellation fee

    • 8 to 20 days notice = ½ refund minus $25 cancellation fee

    • 7 days or fewer = no refund

  • While we do our best to honor buddy requests, please understand that we cannot guarantee that they will be met. In order to maximize your chances of being placed together, please do the following:

    • Submit requests AT LEAST two weeks in advance (please do this directly through your camp registration)

    • Limit to two (2) names

    • Reciprocate buddy requests

    Please note that groups are organized based on age, which supersedes any buddy requests made.

  • Day Camp has a maximum group size of 10 campers with 2 counselors, plus a specialist for certain camp activities

  • Petra Cliffs requires all early pick-up to be approved by camp management.

    If your camper needs to be picked up early from camp due to a family emergency, please call Petra Cliffs Climbing Center at 802-657-3872.

    Due to the nature of camp logistics, we cannot guarantee that early pickup and late arrival for non-emergencies like doctors appointments, sports practices, etc. will always be possible.

  • Regular camp hours are 9 AM to 4 PM.

    Extended care is available from 8 to 9 AM and 4 to 5 PM.

    Parents/Guardians are able to register for extended care sessions up until 2 PM on the Wednesday prior to each camp week. Last-minute extended care sessions are available on a first-come first-serve basis until a session is full. Pre-registration is required for both, and space is limited.

    All children must be signed in and out by an adult each day, unless permission has been explicitly granted for a camper to walk home at the end of the day.

  • Families may have noticed that many other local camps have switched to lottery-based registration systems, while we have not. This is for a few reasons:

    1. While there can be a lot of uncertainty around summer childcare, a direct registration provides an immediate answer for families looking to ensure their camper(s) are taken care of when the school year ends.

    2. Based on registration data from the last ten years, we have found that a direct registration process does not notably favor returning camp families.

    For the last few years, we have shared a Camp Registration Guide on our website in order for families to know what to expect from the registration process.

    3. Lottery-based systems require more significant administrative support than a direct registration system. Petra Cliffs only has one full-time year-round camp admin!

Communication

  • Due to each group’s travels for various activities, counselors from each group are responsible for taking photos of each group.

    We do our best to encourage a few photos be taken each day, but cannot guarantee that you will receive photos of your child.

    Links to a folder of each group’s photos will be sent out on the Monday following your child’s week of camp.

  • You will receive a link to our camp evaluation form on the Monday following your child’s week of camp along with the email containing camp photos.

Health Information & Allergies

  • Each season, we ask that families upload Petra Cliffs wellness forms (signed by campers’ pediatrician) and vaccination forms to our camp registration portal.

    Participants will receive automatic reminders to upload these throughout the spring.

    Please note that this information must be from within 24 months of the session for which your camper is registered.

    Upload directly via the portal, fax, or email us.

  • If your child requires medication to be administered during the camp day, please email the Camp Director at camps@petracliffs.com in advance.

  • If someone in your group has a severe food allergy, you will receive a separate email notifying parents/guardians about this. Please do not pack these allergens in your camper’s lunch in order to ensure the safety of all camp participants!

  • Each camper receives a sweet treat at the end of a week of camp! The cooler in the Petra Cliffs lobby is stocked with a variety of Hershey’s ice creams, which can meet most common food restrictions (dairy-free, vegan, nut-free).

    If you have concerns about your camper's specific dietary needs, please email the Camp Director.

  • We require that all campers are up to date with the current schedule of regular childhood vaccines as per school/childcare guidelines set forth by the VT Department of Health.

Miscellaneous

  • In order to maintain fairness for all camp participants, we ask that parents/guardians DO NOT send their campers with money to camp.

    If there is a medical reason they might need additional food during a camp day (ex: diabetes), please email the Camp Director in advance.

    Otherwise, if campers would like to purchase snacks, we ask that this occur during camper drop-off or pick-up.

  • While some campers may be interested in purchasing chalk to use while climbing in the gym, summer camp may not be the most appropriate time for a young child to use their own.

    Camp staff reserve the right to ask campers to put personal chalk bags away if they are found to be causing excessive disruption/distraction for the group.