Day Camp Parent Pack

Camper Drop-Off and Pick-Up is at the main field parking lot. From the main entrance, take your first right. All campers must check-in and out with a Director.  Please click here for a short video on our Drop-Off and Pick-Up process.

• Drop-Off time starts at 8:50am and goes to 9:25am.  We have a staggered drop-off schedule based upon your child’s school grade.  The staggered drop-off times are:
  • Incoming K to 1st graders: 8:50am – 9:10am
  • Incoming 2nd & 3rd graders: 8:50am – 9:10am
  • Incoming 4th & 5th graders: 9:10am – 9:25am
  • Incoming 6th and up including CITs: 9:10am – 9:25am
  • If you are dropping off siblings, please pick the best time that works for you.
• Check-Out time for Cub Campers (5- 6 year olds) starts at 3pm.
• The staggered Check-Out time for all other day campers starts at 4:15pm.  The staggered pick-up times are:
  • Incoming K & 1st graders: 3:00pm – 3:20pm
  • Extended Cub Camp: 4:15pm – 4:25pm
  • Incoming 2nd & 3rd graders: 4:15pm – 4:25pm
  • Incoming 4th & 5th graders: 4:20pm – 4:30pm
  • Incoming 6th and up including CITs: 4:25pm – 4:35pm
  • If you are picking up siblings, please pick the best time that works for you.
• If your child will be absent from camp, please call the Camp Office at (650) 576.2267 or email at [email protected].
• Campers who will be picked up early must be signed out by the Camp Office.  Please fill our our Early Camper Pick-Up Request Form the night before or let us know in the morning during drop-off that you’ll be getting your camper early.
• Everyone picking up a camper must have a “Day Camp Placard” with the camper’s name and group.  (Please see below.)

If your Cub Camper (incoming Kindergarten and 1st graders) needs to stay at camp later than 3pm, Extended Cub Camp is available. It is an additional charge and if selected, your Cub will remain with their fellow Cubs and Cub Counselors and will be waiting for you at the regular Camper Pick-Up starting at 4:15pm.

If your Camper is a Cub and it signed up for Swimming Lessons, there is no need to sign up for Extended Cub Camp. Your Cub will remain with their Cub group until it is time for their swimming lesson at the end of the camp day.

. 

The weekend before your session starts, you will be emailed a “Day Camp Placard” for your camper. Please print out the placard and bring it with you on the first day of camp. This will help us get your camper to the right group. We will start our camper check-in at 8:50am. A Staff member will help your camper out of the car and walk them directly to their group.

While campers continue to arrive, your child will be playing games with their group, meeting new friends and getting acquainted with our counselors. When all of the campers in a group are checked-in, the counselors will go over our camp orientation and start their activities.

In the afternoon, we will set up the main parking lot for our camper pick-up. Just pull up and show one of our camp staff members your day camp “Day Camp Placard” that has your camper’s name and group on it.

We will then escort them to your waiting car. There is no need to park and you can quickly get on own your way.

Please, no walk-ups to pick up your camper.

Forms can be accessed by Login to your account at the top of our website with your email address and password.  Please click here for a short video on Filling Out Your Camper Forms.
Please complete and return the following required forms which can be found under Forms & Documents section of your camper’s account.

• Health History (online form) which includes:
  • Permission to Treat

*Mountain Camp Woodside’s accreditation requires that each camper updates and submits their required camper forms each year.

CAMPERS CANNOT ATTEND CAMP WITHOUT COMPLETED FORMS.

If your camper needs medicine, it must be turned in to a Camp Director. All medication must be in the original containers. Due to licensing, we are not allowed to dispense any medicine not in original containers.  To speed up the process, please download, print and fill out our As Needed Medication form.  Bring it with you on Monday along with your camper’s medication.

Mountain Camp Woodside provides lunch and an afternoon snack every day for Day Campers. If your camper has special dietary needs, lunch can be brought from home. The Cubs and Blazers will be served boxed lunches that are prepared by the Woodside Priory’s kitchen staff and they will eat their at their group spots.   Trackers and Alpiners will eat their lunch in the dining hall.   Please click here for our Menu for this summer.

If available, additional meals, breakfast and dinner, are available at an extra cost through our Extended Care program.  (Unfortunately, not available for 2024.)

Mountain Camp Woodside has a limited number of mountain bikes. Campers are encouraged to bring their own bike and helmet. Personal bikes can be kept on site while campers are enrolled.

Campers who wish to participate in our mountain biking activity must first pass a bike skills / safety assessment. This assessment is designed to evaluate each camper’s proficiency with bike handling, braking, changing gears and downhill navigation skills and the evaluations are nonnegotiable. This is to ensure the safety of mountain bike riders as they venture off-camp.

If your camper choses to take part in our swimming camp activity, they will first participate in our water safety assessment. This mandated American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation requirement offers our lifeguards and camp staff the opportunity to asses each camper’s swimming ability and identify who will require special attention (and possibly a life vest) during their swimming activity periods while at camp. Their evaluation of each camper’s ability is focused on keeping your child safe during their time at Mountain Camp Woodside. Cubs do not take the swim assessment as they are required to wear a life vest (PFD) while in the pool. Camper safety is our number one priority.

It is Mountain Camp Woodside’s policy to notify parents any time a camper is seen by a physician or EMT. For all other non-life threatening illnesses or injuries, notification is at the discretion of the Camp Director.

Lost and found items will be kept in a designated spot in the Camp Office throughout the summer. Please check with the Camp Directors if you believe an item of yours was left behind at camp. We are unable to store lost and found items once camp is over and we will donate any unclaimed items after the final day of camp.

Campers will have a designated storage locker / bin for the week where they can store personal belongings and equipment, such as a towel and bathing suit.

Please label everything so it can more easily be located in our Lost & Found if it is left behind:

• A bag or backpack
• Closed-toe shoes
• Towel, swimsuit
• Your personal water bottle – Campers should bring their own water bottles with their name on it from home. Since all of our water bottles are the same, we do not want kids accidentally using someone else’s this summer.  If someone loses theirs, we will have bottled water to give out.
• Hat
• SUNBLOCK!! Please apply sunblock in morning before drop off and we will remind campers to reapply throughout the day.

We are creating an environment where our campers have the power to unplug and put down their electronic devices. We believe camp is a great opportunity for children to remember the benefits of old fashion play and learn how to be independent from their parents in a safe and supportive environment for a short period of time. No cell phones are permitted at camp and may be confiscated until the end of the camp. If the matter is urgent, please contact the Camp Office.

We ask that you help to enable your camper to unplug and please leave all electronic devices such as iPods, phones, personal gaming devices and laptops at home. Finally, we do not allow pets, weapons, drugs, alcohol, tobacco or other banned substances at camp.

Swimming Lessons

Sign your camper up for swimming lessons with one of our swim instructors/lifeguards. Lessons are individually tailored to meet the needs of each child.

• Swim lessons are semi-private (can be a group lesson) and are 25 minutes.
• The lessons are more geared for the fearful non-swimmers to new or beginning swimmers.
• Swimming lessons are offered for an additional fee. Please refer to the website or camper application for pricing.
• Please click on the “Login” link to access the “Additional Options” form in the “Forms & Documents” section to enroll. Reservations are required.
• Please fill out the “Private Swimming Lessons” form to help us prepare our swimming lesson plan for your camper.
• If your camper is a Cub, they will have their lesson and remain with their Cub group until the regular Camper Pick-Up starting at 4:15pm. There is no need to sign up for Extended Cub Care.
• If your camper is an incoming 2nd grader or older, their lessons are at the end of the camp day and pick-up is at the pool.

Every weekend, we give our Day Campers the chance to see what it is like to be a Resident Camper. Campers staying for TGIS have dinner in the cafeteria, participate in a special evening activity, join us at our campfire with songs and s’mores and then sleep over in one of our dorms. TGIS campers eat breakfast at camp the following morning and pick-up starts at 10:15 am. Please refer to the website or camper application for TGIS pricing. Campers are free to come to any TGIS session that is offered.

(Unfortunately, our TGIS is not available for the 2025 summer. )

1. No cell phones or “smart watches” are allowed. Phone calls between parents/guardians and campers are possible only in emergencies. Any phone calls to or from home must go through the Camp Director.
2. Campers are not allowed to have any electronic equipment at camp including laptop computers, video games, personal music players, or personal video players. If these items are brought to camp, they will be turned into a director and returned at check out.
3. The camp reserves the right to dismiss a camper whose conduct is dangerous, illegal, or unsatisfactory at the discretion of the Camp Director, or is detrimental to the camp and/or to other campers. This includes drug use, smoking or use of alcohol. The camp reserves the right to search campers’ backpacks, bags or any other items at any time for drugs, weapons or any form of contraband. No refunds are given to dismissed campers.
4. Campers will not use profane, abusive, or disrespectful language. The camp reserves the right to send a camper home for the following reasons: teasing, bullying, unsafe behavior, and intentionally hurting others or themselves.
5. The camper agrees to abide by the rules of camp set for the health, safety and welfare of all campers. Campers must participate in the activities that are offered throughout the day.
6. Should parents leave home for an extended period of time during the session, the camp office must be advised where they can be located. If the parents or guardians of the camper are to be unavailable at any time during the camp session the camp will be given the name(s) of someone who could pick up the child in case of emergency and care for the child until the parents or guardians return. Should your camper have to leave camp due to camp closure, behavior concerns or illness, parents/guardians are responsible for picking up the camper as soon as possible (no longer than 2 hours after notification).
7. The undersigned parent or guardian consents to the use of any pictures of the camper to be used in advertising or promotion by Mountain Camp Woodside, the American Camp Association (ACA), or the Western Association of Independent Camps (WAIC).
8. No parental visits will be allowed during the camp session.
9. The camp is not responsible for articles of clothing or personal belongings lost, damaged by fire, theft etc. Please DO NOT bring items of monetary or great sentimental value to camp.
10. In case of medical or surgical emergency, I hereby give permission to the physician selected by the Camp Director to hospitalize and secure proper treatment for the camper listed. I authorize Mountain Camp Woodside staff to provide basic first aid as needed. All such expenses will be the responsibility of, and shall be paid for by, the parents or guardians.
11. Mountain Camp Woodside requires that all campers be immunized per the 2024 CDC Recommended Immunization Schedule for schools as prevention for all communicable diseases such as Measles, Whooping Cough, Chicken Pox, etc.
12. In the event Mountain Camp Woodside is unable to open or is forced to begin late or close early due to circumstances beyond Camp’s control, including but not limited to weather, air quality, floods, utility failures, inaccessibility, civil unrest, governmental order or other such reason, Camp shall not be responsible for any costs, losses, or other damages beyond a refund of tuition (minus deposits), or a proportionate share thereof in the event of a partial shutdown as outlined in the Camp Closure Policy.
13. Please check your camper for head lice before they arrive. Should your camper come to camp with active lice, Mountain Camp Woodside will contact you to send your camper home until the lice have been eliminated from your camper. In the event that the camper returns with still active lice, the Camp will contract with a professional lice treatment service, and you will be responsible for paying that company to treat your camper.
14. If your camper gets sick (vomits) during camp, they will be sent home immediately (to prevent the spread of their illness to other campers or staff) and are eligible for return after they have been symptom free and fever free for 24 hours from their last instance of sickness.

We highly recommend purchasing Camp Tuition Insurance (Cancel For Any Reason Policy) to cover your expenses in the event you should need to cancel. Camp Tuition Insurance is offered by Travmark (MHRoss), a third party travel insurance company, and not by Mountain Camp Woodside directly. Please remember that Camp Tuition Insurance is the ONLY way to be reimbursed for camp expenses should anything unexpected come up for your family (sporting events, travel changes, positive COVID test, illness, changes in academic schedules, injury, or anything unexpected).

(All cancellations must be submitted via email to [email protected].)

• You are welcome to change sessions as needed at no cost, provided there is space available in your desired session, and the session length is greater or equal to the currently enrolled session. If you switch to a session that is shorter in length, the below policy applies.
• All cancellations made prior to March 1st: Tuition returned, less $75 registration fee.
• Cancellations made between March 1st & May 1st: Tuition returned less $500 non-refundable deposit for per enrolled session.
• Any cancellations made after May 1st: No refund.
  • This includes cancellations due to illness, COVID-19, family emergencies or anything unexpected.
• Any credits used for camp tuition are subject to the cancellation policies above.
• Campers sent home for disciplinary reason or because of homesickness: No refund.
• Camper sent home due to illness, COVID-19 protocols, or injury: No refund.
• Camper registrations cannot be traded or exchanged. Available slots in a full session are filled from the waitlist based on date of application.
• If Camp is forced to close or cannot operate for any reason, parents will be able to select their preferred cancellation option from our Camp Closure Cancellation Policy.
• For swimming lessons: All cancellations must be received two (2) weeks prior to your camper’s swimming lesson in order to receive a refund. No refunds for swimming lesson cancellations with less than two weeks notice.

Purpose

Making the world a better place by positively impacting campers and counselors though the camp experience.

Mission

To inspire and influence the camp community and bring the camp experience to as many children as possible.

Core Values and Beliefs

Integrity, Community & Safety, Education & Growth, Fun & Lasting Memories, Adaptability & Sustainability, Hospitality, Empowerment and Individuality and Tradition.

The Woodside Priory School is located at 302 Portola Road, Portola Valley.

• To reach the school, exit Highway 280 at Alpine Road going west.
• Turn right at Portola Road (T-intersection with a stop sign) about 5 miles from exit.
• The Priory campus soccer fields and the main Priory driveway are several hundred yards from the intersection, on the right.
• Make a right turn into the Priory driveway.
• For a link to Google Maps, please click on Find MCW.