Frequently Asked Questions

About our Arts Summer Camps

International Campers
Our international population is usually 10-15% of the total camp, with campers coming from all parts of Europe, and some campers from South America, Asia, Canada, and Mexico.

 

Transportation to camp
Transportation to camp for international campers involves flying to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP). Campers flying to camp arrive one day before the listed start date of the session. Our staff pick campers up at the airport in camp vehicles and bring them to the camp. The airport is about one hour from campus.

 

Camper/staff ratio, staff age and experience
We maintain an excellent camper to staff ratio, generally between 2:1 and 3:1 (35-45 staff, 90-120 campers). Or minimum staff hiring age is 19 except for the few former campers who have attended our Counselor In Training program. These staff are eligible to apply at age 18. Our average staff age is usually 23-24. Our staff are mostly American although we do hire a few international staff each summer. All our staff are specialists, with most both living with the children and teaching them in one of our activity areas. They are typically university students with at least two completed years of study, teachers, and professional artists.

 

Communication and mobile phones
Contact with the camp office and your campers is encouraged, but
only permitted through certain channels:

          1. Camper Email: campers can send and receive email
using one of two camp email systems. Campers over 13 years of age
can use both email systems if desired. Information on the email
systems will be provided to all families.

          2. Fax: campers can receive faxes at the camp office fax
number. If you would like your camper to be able to send faxes,
please contact us to make arrangements.

          3. Phone: campers do not have access to phones. Should
parents and the camp administration agree that phone contact is
necessary between parent and child, phone calls will be arranged on
a case-by-case basis.

          4. Parents are encouraged to contact the camp office at
any time, via any medium,  and as often as necessary for updates on
their children.

 

Mobile phones are strictly disallowed at the Ballibay Camps.

Campers traveling by air are allowed to arrive at camp with phones,
but are required to leave them in the camp office for the duration
of their stay at camp.

 

Accommodations
Our cabins are well-maintained and have electricity, indoor bathrooms, and indoor hot water showers. At least two staff live in each cabin with the children, and one staff person is on duty at all times that campers are present. Cabins are organized by age. Depending on the age of the child, there will typically be between 8 and 12 children in a cabin. No other area of the camp is organized by age, and campers spend relatively little time in their cabin groups.

 

Our Food
Fresh, Unprocessed, Local, Seasonal, and Educational
We are among the first camps in the United States to emphasize:

• Fresh and unprocessed food prepared from scratch
• A seasonal menu plan
• Local and sustainably-produced ingredients
• Grass-fed meat and free range poultry, hormone and antibiotic free
• No hydrogenated oils or trans-fats
• “Local Harvest” meals during which we serve as much of the food as possible from local purveyors
• A vegetable garden on campus providing a meaningful portion of our produce

 

We are partnering with local producers for our bread, milk, meat, and produce, completing our transition to “green” cleaning products started several years ago, continuing and improving our recycling program, and adding composting in order to become as much as possible a “zero waste” environment.

 

This year we will also begin some informal and optional food education programs for campers; we are in the beginning planning stages. Campers have always done some cooking at Ballibay on their overnight camp-outs; we plan to offer more opportunities for kids to learn about and get involved in their food.

 

The Camp Philosophy
Our program is educationally oriented, with an emphasis on process rather than product; and growth, learning, safety and caring are our highest priorities. Activities are non-competitive, and participation is based on the individual choices of campers.

 

Campers of all interest and skill levels are at home in our program; our goal is the artistic and personal growth of children, whatever their backgrounds and goals.

 

Among the key philosophies of Ballibay is a commitment to a noncompetitive environment. There are no awards, prizes, or inclusion and exclusion based on judging, scoring, or grading of any type in our arts program areas. Our teachers provide feedback, advice, and encouragement; they encourage campers to pursue interests, and to observe others to gain insight and inspiration.

 

How to register
We have a secure on-line registration system available here:
http://register.ballibaycamps.com/