Overnight Expedition FAQs

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

Are you looking for Activity Descriptions Or Day Camp 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

    If your child needs to be dismissed from camp due to poor behavior, Petra Cliffs will NOT issue a refund.

  • Overnight Expeditions maintain (at minimum) 8 camper : 2 staff ratio, with additional guides frequently joining for activities like caving.

  • 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.

  • Trip logistics, including pick-up & drop-off times, will be communicated in June for each trip.

  • 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

  • Trip Leaders 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.

    Where phone service allows, we will try to share photos throughout the trip. 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.

  • No news is good news!

    Expeditions often travel to places throughout the northeast, and we don’t always have cell service. We try to share updates throughout each trip.

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 your child has started a new medication prior to camp, please ensure your online camp registration forms reflect the most up-to-date information.

  • If your camper has a severe food allergy, please include this in your camp registration forms. An additional email to the Camp Director is also appreciated.

    We are able to accommodate most dietary needs, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.

  • 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.

    We will include whether your trip’s campground(s) will require quarters for showers in the pre-trip email sent out in early summer.

  • Petra Cliffs can provide climbing shoes, harnesses, and helmets for climbing. However, if you have your own gear, we encourage you to bring it!