FAQs

American Camp Association is a leading authority in youth development. ACA works to preserve, promote, and improve the camp experience. ACA Accreditation means that your child’s camp cares enough to undergo a thorough peer review of its operation — from staff qualifications and training to emergency management. American Camp Association collaborates with experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth-serving agencies to assure that current practices at your child’s camp reflect the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation. Camps and ACA form a partnership that promotes growth and fun in an environment committed to safety.

ACA helps member camps provide:

• Healthy, developmentally appropriate activities and learning experiences
• Discovery through experiential education
• Caring, competent role models
• Service to the community & the environment
• Opportunities for leadership & personal growth

ILC’s camper to staff ratio in a bunk is always at least 6 campers to every 1 counselor. The only exception to this rule is when counselors are On Duty after 9pm.

Campers at ILC are not allowed to bring any cell phone or electronic device that has access to wifi, cell service, or able to transfer data.

Independent Lake Camp understands the large role of cell phones in the world today. Children and teenagers have increasing pressures in their everyday lives to be connected to the Internet and Social Media. At ILC, we strive to foster an environment and community where kids and teenagers can be relieved of that pressure. During their time at camp, campers will interact face-to-face and “love the ones they are with.” At ILC, our policy is to ensure that our campers can disconnect, pick their heads up from their devices, make eye contact, live in the moment, learn to advocate for themselves, gain independence, and lift their chins so they can stretch and grow!

*Campers who are flying to ILC may bring their phones on their journey, but must turn them in to the office upon their arrival to ILC. We will store their phones in the office until they are leaving ILC. They will not have any access to their phones during the session or on camp trips.

**We discourage other electronics so they won’t be damaged or lost, but we do allow simple, small electronics without wifi/data access, like basic cameras, e-readers or mp3 players. See our extended written policy for more info.

They can use the camp phones to call home during designated times or by asking a camp director/head counselor. Campers can also use the computer labs to email home, or send a letter in the mail. You can contact your camper in various ways explained in the Camper Manual, but the most convenient is by emailing camp, bunkmail@independentlake.com (it will be printed and delivered to campers at rest hour). We use a third party picture app called Campanion to get you pictures of your camper while they are at ILC.

It is a fantastic way to get the pictures of your camper (not everyone else’s camper). Make sure to set up your account through the Campanion app linked to your ILC Camp-In-Touch family account.