Kids Camp
New Friends - Unique Learning Experiences - Fun | Camps Designed for Children
Camp programming includes a variety of recreation-based camps designed for children in Kindergarten through 6th grade (ages 5 - 12) emphasizing physical development and education while promoting a healthy lifestyle. Camp activities are conducted primarily at the Student Recreation Center and Perry Field House and also include special guests and outings to various facilities throughout Bowling Green State University.
Typically, Recreation and Wellness offers ten, week-long Summer Kids Camps and a one-week Spring Break Kids Camp annually.
Mission
The Recreation and Wellness Kids Camp program provides participants fun experiences that empower physical, emotional, social, and intellectual growth. Safety and respect are foremost while a desire for lifelong learning is instilled in each camper. A supportive environment encourages pride in individual achievement, regardless of ability.
Camp Leadership
BGSU Summer Kids Camps are administered by dedicated Recreation and Wellness professionals and BGSU graduate and undergraduate students with special training in safety, human relations, and interpersonal skills with children. All staff maintain CPR for the Professional Rescuer with AED and First Aid certification and pass mandatory background screenings prior to employment.
Size limit of 26 youth, 3 counselors, and 1 head counselor per location.
Activities
- Arts and Crafts
Creative and fine art skills are encouraged through the completion of a variety of simple and long-term projects. - Field Trips/Events
Activities are planned weekly throughout BGSU and Bowling Green, Ohio. Most trips are within walking distance; transportation is provided when needed. - Fitness and Wellness
Fun and exciting summer activities are specially tailored to the age and skill level of campers. - Games
Games and activities appropriate for each age group are facilitated by counselors and are focused on physical skills and friendly competition. - Ice Skating
- Soccer/Volleyball/Other Team Sports
Summer campers learn the basic skills and rules of various games and team sports while playing and having fun.
- Rock Climbing
Belay-certified instructors support campers through both the physical and psychological challenges of the BGSU Climbing Wall. - Swimming
Campers swim most every day in Andrews and/or Cooper pool. Counselors supervise all pool activities with an emphasis on safety and engaging participation.
- Team Building
Group activities are designed to promote and encourage leadership development.
What to Bring - Label All Belongings
- Wear comfortable clothing (shorts, athletic shoes, t-shirt) appropriate to the forecasted weather
- Sunscreen
- Backpack (one that holds all camper’s items)
- Water bottle
- Change of clothes (accidents happen!)
- Lunch (food items, drink, utensils if needed, etc.)
What Not to Bring
- Jewelry
- Cell phone/iPod/Other electronics
- Gum or candy
- Valuable items that could be lost, stolen, or broken
If these items are brought to camp, this is an accepted risk.
Enrollment and Payment Information
Placement is guaranteed only upon receipt of all documentation and payment.
Download all Summer 2021 Kids Camp forms here.
Submit via the methods below.
- Medical History and Medication Forms are due at the time of registration. Download forms can be found through the link above or to the left.
- Hand Deliver: Student Recreation Center Welcome Desk
Drop off forms in person. Acknowledgement and receipts are emailed within 2 business days when enrollment is completed. - Mail: BGSU Recreation and Wellness
Kids Camp
BGSU Student Recreation Center
1411 Ridge Road
Bowling Green, OH 43403 - Email: kidscamp@bgsu.edu
Patron requested refunds may be subject to a $25.00 administrative fee. Check payments returned for any reason are subject to a $30 service charge.
Summer 2021 Schedule and Weekly Themes
- Week 1: 6/7 - 6/11 | Pirates - Welcome Aboard
- Week 2: 6/14 - 6/18 | Sports - Kids Camp Olympics
- Week 3: 6/21 - 6/25 | Animals - The BGSU Safari
- Week 4: 6/28 - 7/2 | Space - To Infinity and Beyond
- Week 5: 7/6 - 7/9 | Red, White, and Blue - Stars and Stripes
- Week 6: 7/12 - 7/16 | Rescue Heroes - Inspiring us All
- Week 7: 7/19 - 7/23 | Beach - Let's Make a Splash at Summer Camp
- Week 8: 7/26 - 7/30 | BGSU Spirit - Falcon Fun
- Week 9: 8/2 - 8/6 | Superheroes - Your Powers and Responsibilities
- Week 10: 8/9 - 8/13 | Color Teams - Game On!
Information below represents scheduling and cost structure based on past camp practices and is for information purposes only.
Camp Dates | Monday - Friday | 9 AM - 4 PM
Weekly Per Camper Summer Prices
- Community Member First Camper: $150 | Additional Camper: $140
- BGSU Employee/Student First Camper: $140 | Additional Camper: $130
- Part-Time Camper: $100 (Summer Camp Only)
- Community Member First Camper: $170 | Additional Camper: $160
- BGSU Employee/Student First Camper: $160 | Additional Camper: $150
- Part-Time Camper: $110 (Summer Camp Only)
- Add Before/After Care: $30 (7:30 - 9 AM and 4 - 5:30 PM)
Payment Options
Payment is due at the time of registration. Weekly payments are not offered, and campers cannot hold a place for a given week without full payment.
General Policies
- Face coverings are required only during activities when physical distancing is not possible.
- Children will not be in vehicles longer than 15 minutes for field trips.
- Policies subject to change based on COVID regulations.
The BGSU Recreation and Wellness Kids Camp home base is located at the Student Recreation Center (SRC) Classroom. A camp counselor is stationed by the back doors of the SRC to receive or release campers and obtain parent/guardian signatures.
Parking is offered in marked spaces in Lot X located at the rear entrance of the SRC, and in other adjacent lots. A short term (PDF) pass is distributed to participants. Do NOT leave cars parked or standing in the driving lanes of the parking lot.
7:30 - 9 AM and 4 - 5:30 PM
Campers dropped off or picked up outside of the above hours must be accompanied to the SRC Classroom by parents/guardians. Only adults listed as authorized to pick up may receive a child at pick-up time. Daily sign-in and sign-out procedures are in place. All camps begin and end at this location. *An additional fee of $15 per day is assessed for campers not picked up by the designated time.
Camp staff must receive a written notice in advance from the parent/guardian of the intent to arrive late or leave early. This courtesy allows staff to best plan a camper’s day and activities. Based on arrival time or departure time, drop-off or pick-up at an alternate location may be necessary. For last-minute or emergency schedule changes, call the SRC Welcome Desk at 419.372.2000.
Morning and mid-afternoon snacks are provided by Recreation and Wellness. Water is available to every participant throughout activities. Children with special dietary needs provide their own snacks. Participants must bring daily, well-balanced lunches. Refrigeration space is limited and microwaves are not available.
All camper special requests must be documented in writing by a parent and must be submitted to the Camp Director.
In order to administer prescription medication, nonprescription medication which requires physician or dentist instructions, any other nonprescription medications, or nonprescription topical ointments, creams, or lotions, the parent/guardian must fill out the Medication Administration Form. The Medication Administration Form includes the following information:
- The child’s name
- The date of the instructions
- The name of the medication
- The amount of the dosage
- The time the medication shall be administered
The Medication Administration Form is valid for no longer than six months. The form shall be maintained on file at the camp for a period of one year and shall be available for review by ODJFS. Nonprescription and prescription medication shall be in the original container with the original label attached and labeled with the child’s name. Medication shall be kept in a safe location and shall be inaccessible to children. A medication requiring refrigeration shall be refrigerated and safely stored, separate from food items, immediately upon arrival at the camp.
BGSU Kids Camp staff is dedicated to giving each camper a summer to remember. Reasonable accommodations are made for children with disabilities. Every effort within the training and means of Recreation and Wellness is made to assist campers with special needs. If your camper has a documented learning, medical, or emotional disability, please contact the Camp Director at 419.372.8110 three weeks prior to camp to discuss your camper's needs. Dependent on the information provided, an assessment and determination is made if camp staff is able to provide adequate coverage/care. Inadequate notice of a disability may result in the child being ineligible to attend camp. BGSU Kids Camp does not provide personal medical assistants, care attendants or aides of any other type. Parents/Guardians are not permitted to attend camp with their child.
Minimum Enrollment: 15 - Recreation and Wellness reserves the right to cancel a camp week if enrollment does not meet this minimum.
Maximum Enrollment: 26
Behavior and Discipline
General Expectations
- Maintain a positive attitude
- Respect people and property
- Exhibit friendly, helpful, and kind actions
- Listen and follow directions
Discipline
Kids Camp staff adhere to the following guidelines and procedures with campers in the event of poor behavior choices and rule violations.
STEP 1: Verbal Warning – The camper is cued to inappropriate behavior, given methods to correct the behavior, and given a clear consequence should she/he choose not to modify the behavior. Counselors complete the discipline log.
STEP 2: Time Out – The camper is removed from the activity for duration (minutes) not to exceed the child’s age. At the end of the time out, the child is cued to the inappropriate behavior, given methods to correct the behavior, and given a clear consequence for choosing not to modify the behavior. Counselors complete the discipline log.
STEP 3: Meeting with Camp Director/Phone call to Parent/Guardian – The camper is removed from the activity and escorted to the Kids Camp home base. The Camp Director or Head Counselor contacts parents/guardians and completes an incident report. The incident report contains a brief description of what occurred, action taken, and notes consequences of continued misbehavior.
STEP 4: Suspension/Expulsion – Parents/guardians are required to pick up their child in the event of a day/week suspension resulting from poor choices and continued misbehavior. No refund is given for children violating the rules to the point of suspension (repeated daily/weekly offenders) or expulsion from camp.
Kids Camp reserves the right to skip any of the above steps should an offense be a major violation threatening the safety and well-being of other campers or staff.
Licensing Agencies
Wood County Department of Health: 419.352.8402
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services: 1.877.852.0010
All Kids Camps are administered by Recreation and Wellness professionals and BGSU students and graduate students. Camp staff maintain CPR, AED, and First Aid certifications and also pass a mandatory background screening prior to employment.
Refunds
Refunds, at the discretion of the Recreation and Wellness Kids Camp Director, are subject to service fees based on withdraw date. Registration implies financial commitment. All refunds are processed via the original method of payment and require a minimum of two days for credit cards and two weeks for checks.
Camp Contacts
Camp Director, Chris Ballard: 419.372.7482, cballar@bgsu.edu
Assistant Camp Director, Tai Knoll: 419.372.6071, kidscamp@bgsu.edu
All messages are returned promptly.
Youth and Family Office: 419.372.6071
Use this phone when camps are in session. Messages are returned once staff returns from activities with campers.
Student Recreation Center Welcome Desk: 419.372.2000
Use this number for general inquiries and for immediate contact while camps are in session.
Fax: 419.372.8454
Email: kidscamp@bgsu.edu
Parent Testimonial
"The quality of the staff and programming was beyond my expectations. It was a great option for my son, as it provided him exposure to new activities and an entirely different group of kids. It was a great value! Thank you for providing this program to the campus and the community."
-Daria Blachowski-Dreyer