GANC Rules
We try to keep these as brief and clear as possible, but our rules are 100% mandatory for all participants and staff, at all times.
Our three main rules are Be Safe, Be Kind, and Be Helpful, and all individual rules fall into one of these three categories.
Be Safe
Shoes: Must be worn at all times.
Hair: If hair comes down to your shoulders or gets in your eyes, it must be pulled back at all times.
Climbing: If there is a play structure that you can’t reach to climb into by yourself, then it is off limits.
Cars: We are located in the woods with a fairly long gravel road, and can easily hear when a car is approaching. As a safety precaution, when a car starts to come down the road, a staff member will call out “car” and all participants go into the nearest building.
Restrooms: One child inside a restroom - while the door is closed - at a time!
Sick Policy: Please keep your participant home if they are feeling cruddy that morning, have had a fever, or thrown up within the last 24 hours.
Off limit areas: When not with a staff member, these include the Big House, all workshops and studios, the fenced yard, down the road past the gate, and the creek/stream.
Be Kind
Name calling: Here at GANC we know that words are powerful, and that even if they aren’t meant to, sometimes they can hurt you. Please refrain from mocking anyone.
Copying: Copying the way someone colored their drawing or constructed a craft project is considered to be a compliment and a way of learning here at GANC. However, copying someone by repeating every word they say to the point where they become frustrated is not the kind of copying that we encourage.
Animals: We expect that all our animals will be treated with complete respect and never chased or teased. All of our pets - including the chickens - are human friendly, but mother hens can be extremely protective of their chicks, so please admire them from a distance. In addition, never directly approach or disturb wild animals, particularly ones that might be injured or have babies.
Be Helpful
Cleaning up: All participants are expected to pitch in and help the staff put away game equipment and craft supplies, and clean up after themselves following lunch and at the end of each day.
Disposal system: When you want to throw something away, there's one of 5 places it might go. We divide our waste stream into trash, burnables, compost, recyclables, and upcyclables. The system will be reviewed with all campers, SITers, and Staff during the camp orientation meetings. If you are not sure where a particular item should be placed for disposal, please ask a staff member for help.
Field Ethics
Obey all laws protecting animals/plants
Only hold/take animals that are safe to handle and can be kept alive
Only collect and animal/plant is there are at least 10 left behind
Make sure you have permission to go on someone else’s land and leave it how you found it (close gates behind you, pick up trash, etc.)
Always choose someone to do Sweep (someone who stays at the back of the group and makes sure no one gets lost)
GANC Policies
Fire
All campfires must be monitored by a Staff member until fully quenched.
Knives & Other Tools
During camp we will be using knives and other potentially dangerous tools. Their use must be monitored by a Staff member.
Pop Culture References
As we are not a public educational institution, campers, SITers, and Staff are permitted to mention, discuss, or wear clothing referencing pop culture, as long as it does not include any gratuitously violent or derogatory subject matter.
Religion
Grow Camp is not affiliated with or teaches about any specific religion. Therefore, campers are permitted to ask SITers and Staff about their religious beliefs, SITers and Staff may answer as they see fit.
Clothing
Clothing must cover all private parts, core body, and buttocks (one piece bathing suits are preferred, but not required). While clothing may contain pop culture references, religious affiliations, etc., all curse words and images of private parts or blood and gore are prohibited.
Social Media
SITers and Staff may not proactively share their social media handles with campers or post photos of campers on their social media. SITers and Staff may share their personal contact information with camper’s guardians at the camper’s request.
Personal Electronic Devices
Campers or SITers personal electronic devices will be kept in a secure location and returned to them at the end of each day at Pick Up. Staff may only use their personal electronic devices during camp for camp related activities. Digital cameras will be available for all Campers, SITers, and Staff, for nature photo journaling.
Drugs & Alcohol
Drugs and alcohol are both strictly prohibited during camp.