Camper & Family
Handbook

Bedwetting is completely normal, especially for younger campers in a new environment. If your camper occasionally wets the bed, please note it on their health form in CampMinder so we can be prepared. We handle it discreetly — bedding is washed the following morning and returned to the camper's bed before the end of the day. We also encourage families to talk with their camper before camp about the importance of letting their coach know if they have an accident overnight, so we can help quickly and privately.

If your camper has a birthday during their session, we celebrate! The kitchen prepares a cake to share at dinner with their cabin, siblings, and friends, and the whole camp sings Happy Birthday. If your camper's birthday falls during camp, they will be on the Birthday Calendar that we generate from our CampMinder system.

Our goal is always to help campers succeed at camp. When a camper's behavior is not meeting expectations, we follow a progressive and restorative approach:

• A coach has a one-on-one conversation with the camper to address the behavior, set clear expectations, and help the camper understand the impact of their actions on the community.
• Our Director of Safety, Health, and Wellness may meet with the camper to provide additional support, helping them develop the tools needed to navigate challenges and repair relationships with their peers.
• If the behavior continues, the Executive Director or Director of Safety, Health, & Wellness speaks with the camper and contacts the family to discuss what's happening and create a collaborative plan for success.
• If the behavior still does not improve despite these interventions, the family may be asked to pick up the camper.

In cases involving safety — including physical violence, bullying, or possession of prohibited items — Live Oak reserves the right to send a camper home immediately. We will always communicate openly with families throughout this process.

In the event of an emergency or the illness or injury of your child, the Director of Safety, Health and Wellness or Health Care Provider will contact you. Bills for accidents and illnesses requiring outside medical attention will be forwarded to you for submission to your insurance company and are not the responsibility of Live Oak. Should it be necessary for your child to be seen by a doctor, the Director of Safety, Health and Wellness will notify you immediately and stay in close contact.

The use of alcohol, cigarettes, vaping, or illicit drugs by campers will not be tolerated and is cause for immediate dismissal.

The safety of our campers is our top priority. Our campsite is staffed 24 hours a day during each session, and all visitors must check in with camp leadership upon arrival. Staff are trained on emergency procedures including lockdown protocols, and campers participate in safety orientations during their first day at camp.

Delicious and nutritious meals are served family-style in the dining hall (Chateau). We do not allow campers to keep food in their cabin or elsewhere. This isn't just about tidiness — food in cabins attracts mice, and mice attract snakes. Keeping food centralized in the Chateau keeps our cabins and campsites safe for everyone. Campers may not receive food in care packages.

Summer in Mississippi means heat and humidity. Our staff is trained to recognize early signs of heat-related illness and we take proactive steps throughout the day — including shaded rest periods, regular hydration reminders, and adjusted activity levels when temperatures are high. Every camper is required to bring a refillable water bottle, and water stations are available throughout camp. Please encourage your camper to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water!

Homesickness may occur with some campers, especially those who have never been away from home before. Live Oak works closely to ensure that a homesick camper feels welcome and is included in all aspects of the camp program. Should a parent receive a homesick letter from a camper, please send an email or text message to the camp director so that we can check in with the camper. Prior to a camper's arrival at camp, it is recommended to parents that strategies for managing homesickness be discussed. It has been the camp's experience that homesickness usually subsides after the first few days. It is a natural part of the sleepaway camp experience! In our 12 years of running camp, we are proud that no camper has ever left early due to homesickness. This is a testament to how our staff and community rally around every camper to help them feel at home.

If a camper becomes ill during the session, our nursing staff will assess and care for them in the infirmary. We will notify families if a camper is kept in the infirmary overnight or if symptoms persist. In the rare event of a contagious illness at camp, we follow established isolation and hygiene protocols and will communicate promptly with all affected families.

Every camper receives a lice check before boarding the bus on the first day. If lice or nits are found, the camper will not board and must complete treatment at home before attending camp. If lice are discovered during the session, the camper's family will be contacted to pick them up for treatment. Once treatment is complete and a follow-up check confirms the lice and nits have been fully removed, the camper is welcome to return to camp.

We show lost and found daily at our morning meetings. Items with names are returned to the campers very easily. Items without names are often never returned because kids can forget which item is theirs surprisingly easily in the busyness of camp. On the last day of a session, we show all the lost and found when parents arrive. After the session, we photograph the lost and found items and upload them to a Google Drive folder that parents can review to claim missing items by picking them up from our New Orleans office. After two weeks, we donate unclaimed items.

All medications must be entered into CampInTouch before Day 1 camper arrival. All medications must be in their original packaging and clearly labeled with the camper's name. To ensure safety, all prescription and over-the-counter medications must be submitted to our health care staff at check-in. These are stored securely in the locked Health Center and distributed by the health care provider at breakfast, dinner or before bedtime. Exceptions are made for emergency medications, such as inhalers or EpiPens, which campers may self-carry as needed. These medications still must to be input into CampInTouch. Given the high volume of healthcare needs at camp, we ask that families refrain from sending optional medications or vitamins. Consider having your child stay on any medication this summer that they take during the school year. If it's helpful at school, it will be helpful at camp. Please don't make any major medication changes prior to Day 1 of camp.

It is highly recommended that campers not bring items of value to camp, including cash. Campers should be respectful of their fellow campers' gear, clothing, and personal space (their bed and clothing area). Campers may not take or borrow other campers' gear or clothing without their explicit permission. Campers may not have animals of any kind while at camp, and are prohibited from having weapons, including knives.

Live Oak staff photograph and video camp activities throughout each session. These images are shared with families through the Campanion app and may be used on Live Oak's website, social media, and printed materials to celebrate our community and support our mission. If you do not want your camper's image used in public-facing materials, please notify us in writing at campers@liveoakcamp.com before the start of camp.

Tuition payments are non-refundable on the following schedule:

• Before April 1: 100% refund
• Before May 1: 50% refund
• Before June 1: 20% refund
• After June 1: No refund

Tuition payments are non-transferable and cannot be applied to a future year. Exceptions may be considered for campers unable to attend due to unexpected injury or illness, subject to approval by Live Oak's executive team. If a camper departs early during a session, whether voluntarily, for medical reasons, or due to behavioral dismissal, no refund will be issued for the remaining days. If you have questions about tuition or need to discuss your family's circumstances, please reach out to Jack at jack@liveoakcamp.com or 504-206-9741.

To ensure a safe and inclusive environment focused on personal growth and community building for all campers and staff, romantic relationships between campers are not permitted during their time at Live Oak. This is documented in the Live Oak Way. This policy helps maintain appropriate boundaries and allows everyone to fully engage in the camp experience.

At Live Oak, we are committed to creating a safe, supportive community where campers can grow, building meaningful relationships and live The Live Oak Way. In any community or relationship, conflict is inevitable, and when it arises, we see it as an opportunity for growth. Using restorative practices, we work with campers to slow down, listen to one another asking and answering three questions: What happened, who was impacted and how, and what do we need to agree to to make it right and not happen again? We support campers to take accountability for their part, and repair harm when it occurs.

Camp Sojourn is located in southern Mississippi, where thunderstorms and severe weather can occur during the summer. Our team monitors weather conditions closely and has established protocols for each type of severe weather event. When severe weather is in the area, all outdoor activities are suspended and campers move to designated shelter locations on site. Our staff is trained annually on emergency procedures, and campers participate in safety drills during their first days at camp. In the event of a significant weather event, we will communicate with families as soon as it is safe to do so.

All staff have completed a rigorous hiring process and background check. The majority are CPR/First Aid certified. We always have a nurse (or higher) on site as our Health Care Provider. Certified Red Cross Lifeguards are present anytime campers are swimming or boating.

Coaches remind campers to apply sunscreen and bug spray throughout the day, especially before waterfront and outdoor activities. Staff will help younger campers with application as needed. Please send your camper with their own labeled bottles. Should a camper run out of bug spray or sunscreen, we will be sure they have access to replacements.

Camp is a rare place where we can all break free from the forces of technology that surround our daily life. In order to give all campers the space to explore the natural world around you, the following are not allowed at camp:

• Cell phones
• Earbuds, AirPods, or portable speakers
• eBooks (Kindles, etc.)
• Handheld gaming devices (Nintendo Switch, etc.)
• Tablets, laptops, or any devices with screens
• Smartwatches with messaging or cellular capability
• Cameras (we have cameras that campers in our photography exploration use)