Here are some of our most common questions and answers - hope they help!

NOTE: The following information should not be followed without consulting your own health professionals where appropriate. This information is a compilation of camping experience by camping professionals, not to be considered without consultation of medical professionals where appropriate.

How much will it cost me?
What do we need to pack?
How much spending money should I send with my camper?
What should I do if I am afraid my camper might be homesick when she goes away to Camp Tapawingo?
What does camp do about allergies?
How can I contact my camper while she is there?
How can I help?
What happens each day at camp?
What activities do you offer?
What is the swim test like?
What if our camper has to fly in?
How do you make cabin assignments?
How do we get there?
What is check-in time?
What if my camper is staying for more than one week and she runs out of clean clothing?
What is the History of the camp?
Who owns Camp Tapawingo?
Can we visit Camp Tapawingo?
Can you tell me anything else?
Funny facts

Q: How much will it cost me?

A: The cost is $465 per week session, per camper.  Each camper is also required to pay a one time $10 annual membership fee.  Additional costs include spending money for crafts and our camp store.

Q: What do we need to pack?

A: Our weather is unpredictable and extreme at times. It can get very cold (it even snowed once in June!) and very warm. It can be very windy and rainy, or very still and blistering hot. And all these things can happen in a matter of days! So we suggest you pack with this variety in mind. Here is a checklist that helps our campers - we hope it helps you as well!

To check the weather in our area, just hit the following link! Weather at CAMP-of-the-WOODS.

WHAT TO BRING - the items with an asterisk(*) are optional:

WHAT TO LEAVE HOME:

Radios, tape recorders, discmans, walkmans, electronic games/pets, cell phones, pagers, trading cards, weapons, ghost stories, witchcraft books or other books promoting cults, and Internet access equipment are not allowed. If these items are brought, we will request they be kept in our safe for the duration of your camper's stay and returned to her upon her departure.

ALSO, we want to let you know that we desire for each Tapawingo staff member and camper to dress modestly. When packing, please keep this in mind. We ask that you do not bring spaghetti strap tank tops, shirts that show midriffs or short shorts. Thank you!

Q: How much spending money should I send with my camper?

The following are suggestions for camper accounts. This amount can be charged to your account, along with your balance, or can be paid by a separate check. We operate on an account system - campers do not carry cash but can add to their accounts at any time during their stay (i.e. if Grandma sends $5 in the mail while she is at camp, etc.)

Your camper will need at least $20.00 if she wants to do arts and crafts. An additional $10.50 allows your camper to be able to get one candy bar ($.75) & one soda ($1) each day. Any additional money will allow her to purchase things offered in our camp store (toothbrush, pens, sweatshirts, rings, devotional booklets, bookmarks, postcards, stamps, books, pants, shorts, tee shirts, journals, etc.)

The following items may be subtracted from your camper's account during her stay: craft items, store items, missionary donations (by her request only), stay-over day purchases and/or charges for loss or breakage of camp equipment and laundry service charges (only as requested by camper). Money left in your camper's account at the end of the session will be returned to her in cash.

Q: What should I do if I am afraid my camper might be homesick when she goes away to Camp Tapawingo?

A: Your question is a very good one, and an important one. Following is a compilation of our years of experience with this problem.

What is homesickness?
Homesickness is the sense of discomfort that occurs in a child for a variety of reasons and at a variety of ages. Typically homesickness is the discomfort that occurs in her first prolonged stay away from home.

Who gets homesick?
Any camper who is outside of her "comfort zone" for any reason whatsoever. Typically homesickness results from a camper who has never been away from the comfort of home for more than a day.

Why do campers get homesick?
When your child comes to camp, there will be many new things for her to enjoy and experience. For some campers, the "new-ness" of camp (the schedule, the food, the people, the bed, etc.) makes her want to have the comfort of what she knows (home). In some cases, simply the new experience of being away from home for more than a day makes her want to have the comfort of home. Either way, the camper who is homesick wants to reach for the person or thing that best comforts her at home, and it is not there. The unpleasant feeling that results from not being able to self-administer the comfort that the camper believes she needs is homesickness.

What does Camp Tapawingo do about homesickness?

Before you arrive at camp:
At Camp Tapawingo we believe homesickness is a real condition that should not be taken lightly. Even before the camper arrives we try to help the parents prepare the camper with the following advice that is sent out to all of our camper parents prior to arrival. We also train our staff on how to deal with homesickness if it should occur.

Saying Goodbye (a few helpful suggestions we've compiled from previous camper parents):
Telling you camper: "If you don't like it you can always call me and come home" is not recommended. Campers that struggle with leaving mom and dad repeat this sentence in their minds, which makes it difficult for them to make a healthy transition to the Camp Tapawingo community. Your confidence now will make a difference in your camper's experience! BE ASSURED - in the unlikely event that your camper is suffering from homesickness by day 2 (Tuesday evening) - which means she is crying, feeling sick, talking about home, wanting to go home (please note this is very rare at Tapawingo) - you will receive a call from the Director.

Should we send our camper if we know she will struggle with this?
We recommend camper parents evaluate their camper and ask themselves the following questions before determining whether or not to sign their camper up for Camp Tapawingo.

1. "Will we (the parents) be able to handle it knowing our camper will be in discomfort and will not be able to be comforted by us?" Sometimes camper homesickness is far less than parental homesickness!! Be sure you are ready to face the trial of the separation and are prepared to model a healthy attitude toward the separation for your camper. You need to be ready for this as much as she does!

2. "Do we (the parents) know enough about Camp Tapawingo to entrust them with the comforting of our child?" If there are any doubts about this, we would ask that you not send your camper to us. Get to know us first through visits, our website, our staff manual, etc.

3. "Will our camper's negative reaction be so severe that the other girls in the cabin will suffer?" If so, you need to realize that you may need to be picking up your camper before her week is out at your own expense. We do not refund your money for any reason other than family emergencies.

4. "What will our position be if our camper wants to come home, even after she has given it a full two days? Will we make her stay and finish what she started? Will we be available to pick her up no matter what happens? Will we be able to be reached if we need to pick her up? Can we afford to pay for a week and then not have her stay the week?"

5. "Even with Tapawingo's excellent care and our excellent support, do we still have reason to believe that our camper will not be able to make the transition to the Tapawingo community?" If so, we highly recommend you NOT sign up your camper for Camp Tapawingo. The reasons are threefold.

A. If your camper does not complete the amount of time she originally believed she would be able to complete away from home, she will be LESS confident of her ability to spend time away from home overnight the next time the opportunity or need presents itself. This is can be harmful to your camper's growth and development.

B. Once you return home with your camper, it is possible she will be miserable for having left early and will spend the next several days wishing she had not left. She may even blame you (the parents) for bringing her back home. This situation results in a lose-lose for everyone involved.

C. We will not be able to refund your money for the week(s). Why? Because we feel confident if your camper is able to follow our guidance in how to get over her homesickness, she will get over it in two days or less.

6. Is there anything in your camper that would lead you to believe she would become defiant in terms of dealing with homesickness? As parents of a potentially homesick camper, you need to be certain that your camper will respond to the leadership of the camp staff in terms of how to combat her own homesickness. If she refuses to attempt to get over her homesickness because she is angry that you (the parents/guardians) forced her to come, and she wants to make everyone suffer through pouting, crying and being miserable, we will most likely need to send her home anyway (even if you don't want her to come home). This is an even worse scenario than the ones mentioned above and should be avoided.

We sent our camper, now what does Camp Tapawingo do when she is homesick?

1. Our program is designed with homesickness in mind. It is our overall goal to see campers bond with their fellow cabin-mates and their own counselors right away, thereby making a quick transition from "home" to "Tapawingo". Some ways we seek to do this are.

A. No gossip rule - campers are not allowed to gossip about other campers at Tapawingo. This paired with the friendly, accepting environment centered on Christ usually results in campers enjoying themselves and making new friends.
B. Excellent staff - our staff are trained to give comfort, love and support. They are wonderful women of God who are here to love campers with the love of Christ.
C. Active programming - Our Tapawingo program is active with little or no "down time," and our campers are well-supervised. We average a 1:4 ratio of staff to campers, and we keep track of where our campers are at all times. Our staff even go to the rest room (stand outside) with their campers to monitor conversations and keep things moving along.
D. The comfort of Christ - most importantly, we offer the comfort of the Lord, our Great Comforter. Many campers come to know the Lord as their true comfort when they step outside their comfort zone and step into His ability to care for them. This can be a real faith builder for the camper, in addition to other campers around her!

2. In addition to the above, if a camper complains of being homesick, she will be given a speech similar to the one below.

"That feeling of being homesick is something each of us must face at one time in our lives or another. It is a painful experience, but a necessary one. It is part of growing up from being a little girl to becoming a young woman. It will help a great deal if you can decide in your mind/heart to be here at Camp Tapawingo, even though you don't feel like it right now. Once you "decide" to make the best of your time here, and once you "decide" to stop thinking about the possibility of going home early, you will be so amazed at how you actually start having a better time! Do you think you could make that decision today, and we'll talk again at lunch and see how you are feeling?"

The camper would then be encouraged to get the focus off of herself by participating in a few "self-less" activities like making cards for other campers and secretly delivering them, etc. Following is an excerpt from our staff manual on how the staff are trained to handle homesickness.

Homesickness
Being homesick is very natural and can be expected to occur. In some cases it is more severe than others and can create real anxiety.

A. When it seems to be a more serious problem, let the Director/Asst. Dir. know immediately. If camper is still crying and upset by Tuesday morning of her first session, let Director know immediately. (DON'T WAIT! We are depending on you to let us know!)

B. Involve the camper in an activity as soon as possible. Keep her busy. This takes work, but do work at it! (i.e. play games, tell stories, involve camper with other kids, get other kids to rally around her, get her to write home about the positive things about camp, etc.)

C. Allow them to see siblings and/or friends if possible to provide security. Never leave them alone.

D. If stomach problems occur, take them to the Health Director yourself.

E. Encourage cabin mates to pray for her, but be discerning in how much attention you give to the homesick camper. Too much attention may have the opposite effect.

F. Try to redirect her emotions - laughter is the best medicine.

G. Keep their attention focused on the next major event. Get them through one more meal, activity or night. A week away is easier for them to handle if broken down into smaller pieces.

H. As a staff, never say you are homesick or miss your boyfriend. Even though these comments are often done out of a heart trying to connect with camper, they only make matters worse for her. She needs you to be glad you are here, stable about being here, able to make her like it here, etc. Save homesick talks for our all staff gatherings - we are the ones that want to hear about it!

I. Give her a special assignment: Making "Comfort Cards" for other homesick campers. This works! I have the materials for this project - it has had a 99% success rate so far.

J. Be tender! Think about a time in your life when you were really scared and things felt really out of control - and then try to be a COMFORT! It may be a true test of your patience when Susie Smith comes crying to you at 2 a.m. every night - but lean on Christ for that extra ability to comfort her yet again! Please be sure to alert the Director if homesickness is continuing past the two-day mark.

K. Be WISE! Is the camper in her panic zone? Is it possible this camper will attempt a late night escape off the island? If you think this may EVER be a possibility, alert Director in order that camper may be assessed and appropriate measures taken to insure her safety."

3. If these techniques failed and counselors were out of ideas by Tuesday morning, they would alert the Director and/or her assistant to determine what the next course of action will be. Usually at that point the Director would speak to the camper to determine whether or not she believed the camper could make a transition quickly. If she had doubts, she would contact the parents that afternoon and determine a course of action with them.

This is a compilation of our experience over the years. If you have further questions on any points, let us know!

Q: What does camp do about allergies?

A: We need to receive your completed purple camper health form in the mail four weeks prior to her arrival. Please note that among other items, the purple health form requires a doctor's signature. WE CANNOT ADMIT YOUR CAMPER WITHOUT A FULLY COMPLETED HEALTH FORM. Timely receipt of the health form makes it possible for Camp Tapawingo staff to catch any mistakes/omissions on your health form PRIOR to your arrival.

Download the HEALTH FORM here!

Adobe Acrobat Reader required to view and print this file.

If your camper has a known allergic reaction, she MUST bring her prescribed Epi-pen. Please call your doctor for details. PRN inhalers are the only medication allowed in the cabin with the camper.

Q: How can I contact my camper while she is there?

A: Please keep in mind that the reason camp is special for campers is a chance to experience life away from home. With that in mind, here are some suggestions on how to encourage your camper in the adventure she has set out to enjoy...

Outgoing mail leaves the island after breakfast each day. Mail is delivered to campers each day after lunch and prior to rest period. Feel free to send a care package, but keep in mind that campers will not be allowed to store food in the cabins; they will have access to care packages, etc. during free time and right before rest period. You can write to your camper at: Camp Tapawingo, Camper's Name, P.O. Box 250, Speculator, NY 12164. PLEASE NOTE: The Tapawingo phone, fax and email are for business and emergency use only.

We recommend Sealed With A Kiss care package company for sending your daughter something special!

Q: How can I help?

A: If you are interested in sponsoring a needy camper for one week or more, or if you would like to make a financial contribution of any kind, please e-mail our director at the following e-mail address.

Tapawingo@camp-of-the-woods.org 

Or call us at our year-round number.

518/548-5091

Our Director will be delighted to share with you all our hopes and dreams for this exciting ministry to young women!

Q: What happens each day at camp?

A: Following is a schedule of a "typical" day at camp.

6:00 am Staff rise, devotions and/or exercise
6:40 am Staff showers
7:00 am Camper Personal Devotions (optional)
7:30 am Campers Up - Get Ready
7:45 am Cabin Clean up
8:00 am Waitress bell/Flag Raising/Exercises
8:15 am Breakfast
8:45 am Power Hour - All Camp Bible study
9:25 am Warning bell for activities
9:30 am Boat leaves for off island activities
9:40 am Activity Class #1 begins
10:30 am Bell rung for Activity Class #2
11:30 am Activity Class #2 ends
11:50 pm Waitress bell/Wash up for lunch
12:00 pm Lunch
12:50 pm Store, canteen or free time
1:20 pm Reflex hour begins
2:30 pm Activity Class #3 begins
3:30 pm Bell rung for Activity Class #4
4:20 pm Bell signals end of Activity Class #4
4:20 pm Free Time/Free Swim/Showers
5:00 pm Capers (all camp clean-up duties)
5:20 pm Flag Lowering/Waitress Bell
5:30 pm Supper
6:15 pm Event Hour (fun theme-type activity)
7:00 pm Cabin Prayer Time
7:15 pm Evening Worship
8:30 pm Cabin Devotions
9:30 pm Lights Out/Taps

Q: What activities do you offer?

A: Our campers enjoy doing their best to earn badges in each of our activity areas. You can earn your basic, advanced and masters level badge in any of the following areas:

Archery, Campcraft, Canoeing, Fitness, Handcrafts, Sailing, Sign Language, Swimming, Tennis, Water-skiing, Wakeboarding, and Wildlife.

In addition, we offer drama, Bible class, banana boating, hiking and a low-ropes challenge course. For our older campers, we also offer overnight camping off-site.

Q: What is the swim test like?

A: All first-time campers (and returners wanting to improve their swim level rating) will be given a required swimming test, which will include swimming using various strokes, treading water, floating, bobbing and climbing into a rowboat from in the water. The test is 15-20 minutes in length and is intended to determine what water activities she can safely participate in.

Activities affected by the swim test include sailing, swimming, water-skiing, wakeboarding, canoeing, banana boating, and any other activities that include the water. Campers will be given a bracelet that corresponds to their swim level. Some campers will be "non-swimmers" which will mean they will not be able to participate in our water sports except swimming. Non-swimmers are those swimmers who do not take the test, or who do not pass the test on the basic level. Other levels include "swimmer" and "advanced swimmer."

Q: What if our camper has to fly in?

Campers arriving by air fly into Albany airport and are asked to schedule their flight to arrive no earlier than 9:00 a.m. and no later than noon (if possible) on Sunday. Also, end of session departures should be no earlier than 9:00 a.m. on Saturdays. Albany airport is 2 hours from Camp Tapawingo. The fee for transportation to and from the airport is $70 each way, per camper. If you desire to schedule an airport pick-up or drop-off, you must discuss this with the Camp Tapawingo Director, Angie Armstrong, AND call us 24 hours prior to the scheduled pick-up and/or drop-off to confirm times. Call direct at (518) 548-5091. Do not assume your airport pick-up/drop-off is confirmed unless you have received FAXED and or VERBAL confirmation from our CAMP TAPAWINGO Director, Angie Armstrong.

Q: How do you make cabin assignments?

We do our best to honor one cabin request per camper, but sometimes there are reasons that we are unable to honor requests. Those reasons are...

1. Camper #1 requests a camper who is in her age group. But the camper she requested made a request for a camper who is in her age group, but not in camper #1's age group. Our cabins are arranged by age, and we do not recommend campers be a part of a cabin where the majority of the campers are two or more years older or younger than she is.

2. Camper #1 requests that Camper #2 be in her cabin. Camper #2 requests that she not be in a cabin with camper #1. Although this is rare, it does occasionally happen. We appreciate it when our parents and campers handle situations like this in a straightforward way prior to registration. But when this is impossible, we will most likely honor the request to not have a certain camper in with another camper. During camp, it is our desire that all campers learn to love and care for other campers in a healthy, non-dysfunctional and unconditionally caring way. We also recognize the need at times for boundaries between certain relationships in order to come to a healthy, God-honoring way of relating to each other.

Q: How do we get there?

Please follow this link for directions: Directions to CAMP-of-the-WOODS

Q: What is check-in time?

CHECK-IN SCHEDULE:

Campers should arrive to register on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. After you drive through the CAMP-of-the-WOODS entrance, the gatehouse personnel will stop you and tell you where to go for Tapawingo registration.

Q: What if my camper is staying for more than one week and she runs out of clean clothing?

A: Any camper staying for more than one session who wishes to have her laundry done may do so. Please make sure your camper comes with a laundry bag and clothing (clearly labeled) if you wish to utilize our laundry service. Laundry service takes place on Saturday and costs $5 - a sum that can be deducted from camper's store account if needed.

Q: What is the History of the camp?

A: Camp Tapawingo was begun in 1959 with Director Vida Wood from Taylor University. In 1960 the Director was Jean Schabinger from Taylor as well. In 1961 Carolyn Ray from Columbia Bible College assumed the role. "Miss Carolyn" blessed us with her leadership until 1998 when Kim Winters became the Director. Camp was again blessed by the godly leadership and modeling of Kim until 2004 when Angie Armstrong became our fourth director.

Ever wonder how much we paid for the island and all its buildings? When purchased in 1958, the total cost was $25,000. What a blessing that the man who sold it was also a follower of Christ. He wanted to see the land used for the glory of God - and His prayer has been answered!

Q: Who owns Camp Tapawingo?

A: Our parent organization is CAMP-of-the-WOODS, which has been in operation on its current site since 1916. The CAMP-of-the-WOODS campus is just one mile away from us (by boat). We utilize their campus for tennis, challenge course and climbing wall. The history of CAMP-of-the-WOODS is much more extensive and amazing, and well worth looking into! There are books written about it, as well as an on-site museum. CAMP-of-the-WOODS is owned and operated by The Gospel Volunteers, Inc. Connect to the CAMP-of-the-WOODS web site for more information on this wonderful ministry!

Q: Can we visit Camp Tapawingo?

A: Yes! Even if you don't have a daughter eligible for camper or staff status at Tapawingo, we hope you'll visit us anyway and be encouraged by the ways in which the Lord has been glorified by this ministry in the Adirondacks! Tours of the island are open to the public on Sundays. Signups start at 3:15 p.m. and tours start as soon as all the campers are on the island. Other visits can be arranged, but must be made between June 20 and September 1. Call the Director's office at 518/548-5091.

Q: Can you tell me anything else?

A: Yes! Here are some Tapawingo facts for you...

Elevation: 1,724 feet above sea level.

Lake Pleasant (the lake we are located on) is an all-natural sand lake. It is 4 miles long and 65 feet deep at its deepest point.

The type of fish we enjoy from Lake Pleasant are black bass, pickerel, great northern trout and rainbow trout.

Funny facts:

Every winter, deer find their way across the frozen lake to Tapawingo - sometimes they even get "trapped" on the island when the ice melts in the spring.

The staff run each morning on the island - it takes 3.5 laps on the perimeter of the island to make a mile.

We have one treadmill - and we'd like more!

The dining hall is the original home of the man who lived there before us (Dick Woike).