Camp Loyaltown Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Camp Loyaltown is an overnight summer camp and year-round respite program that offers a rewarding summer experience for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Over 600 children and adults attend Camp Loyaltown from 4 years of age and older.

During each summer, 60 or more campers attend each session at Camp Loyaltown.

Camp Loyaltown can provide many different levels of supervision depending on the needs of our campers. Examples of the camper-to-staff ratios and their meanings are 1:1 – one camper to one staff, 1:2 – one staff to two campers, and 1:3 – one staff to three campers.

All camper’s medical history/ information will be reviewed prior to an acceptance at camp.   It will be at the discretion of the camp nurse manager and the camp team to make the final determination as to whether the camper will be accepted into the camp program.

While much of the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are strongly recommended for camp attendance as per DOH and CDC. Again, this summer, camp cannot accept campers who use nebulizers due to the spray of secretions and the risk of the spread of possible COVID or other respiratory illnesses. All camper’s medical history/ information will be reviewed prior to an acceptance at camp.   It will be at the discretion of the camp nurse manager and the camp team to make the final determination as to whether the camper will be accepted into the camp program.

Failure to communicate behaviors or needs may jeopardize the safety of the applicant as well as others at camp. Individuals whose needs and/or behavioral challenges are beyond the scope of the camp to safely accommodate will be sent home immediately.

ATTN: CAMPER FAMILIES/GUARDIANS

RE: MEDICATION PACKAGING AND SHIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

Blister Packed Medications Ordered through any private pharmacy (other than Pharmerica/Chem Rx) Are Required to be sent to Camp via Federal Express or UPS 10 days in advance of your child’s session start. Please address to:

Nursing Staff/Health Center
Camp Loyaltown
118 Glen Avenue
Hunter, NY 12442

For Safety and Compliance reasons, we are unable to provide any Exceptions for drop off of these medications.   if you have any questions, please call the Health Center at Camp Loyaltown at 518-263-4242x 125 and e-mail Healthcenter@citizens-inc.org.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND VIA REGULAR MAIL (USPS), AS DELVERY MAY BE DELAYED AND IT IS NOT AS SECURE

We have activities typical to summer camp including daily swimming in our fully accessible heated swimming pool, arts and crafts, music and drama, sports, games, nature study, theme days and much more. All activities are adapted to ensure that every camper has fulfilling camp experiences.

The full-time summer staff consists of a Nurse Manager and nurses (RNs and LPNs) on site 24 hours per day. The medical staff dispense medications and attend to emergency and non-emergency situations (e.g. seizure management, bug bites, illness).

The Health Office is a comprehensive facility complete with a treatment room, observation/quarantine rooms and private bathroom. Emergency equipment is readily available and portable. CMH Rapid Urgent Care is 25 minutes from camp.

The medical staff and counselors are trained to assist your camper with any personal care needs he/she may have. Our staff are trained and competent in providing the following types of care:

• Lifting and transferring: We have mechanical lifts with slings. In addition, all toilet facilities are equipped with handrails.
• Dressing: We have variable changing beds to facilitate safe changes for our campers.
• Bathing: We have shower benches, chairs, each shower is equipped with handrails in our shower stalls.
• Toileting and incontinence care for children and adults
• Daily hygiene such as combing hair, shaving and brushing teeth
• Dining: Supervised, assisted, hand-over-hand, total assistance and special diets.

Our meals are healthy, varied and camper friendly. Lunch and breakfast options are typical of a school menu. Dinner options are typical of home cooking. All meals are served family-style. Menu items are selected to provide nutritional meals that appeal to our campers.

At every meal we offer:

• Plain and Flavored Water
• Low-fat Milk
• Hot Chocolate/Tea/Coffee
• Hot and Cold Cereal
• Wheat Bread
• Yogurt
• Granola

Breakfast – Hot breakfast selections vary daily. Selections may include:

• Pancakes/Waffles
• Egg and Cheese Sandwiches
• Bagels
• Muffins
• Scrambled Eggs with Bacon or Sausage

Lunch – Our main course varies daily. Selections may include:

• BLT Sandwiches
• Chicken Caesar Wraps
• Deli and Tuna Sandwiches
• Pasta Salad
• Grilled Cheese
• Turkey Club Sandwiches

Dinner – Our main course varies daily. Selections may include:

• BBQ Grilled Pork Chops
• Chicken Quesadillas
• Spaghetti
• Baked Potato Bar
• Cheese Ravioli w/ Sauce
• Chicken and Veggie Kabobs

We are able to accommodate special dietary needs. We provide Lactaid and/or lactose-free food for meals and snacks campers who are lactose intolerant. Campers who are on a gluten-free diet can bring the necessary food, but our chefs are equipped to make any special meals.

Camp Loyaltown has rustic camper sleeping cabins with doors and windows. Each cabin houses six campers and six counselors, 1 counselor is in charge of overnight duties until 12:00am when the other staff has to be in the cabins. Cabins are all close in range to other buildings and have two exits monitored by door alarms that are kept on throughout the night for safety. All cabins are well maintained equipped with central air conditioning and heating.  We also have several fully accessible cabins on camp.

Campers will have the opportunity to visit the camp store for snacks each afternoon. We recommend your camper bring $10-$20 per session. We will collect your camper’s spending money at busing, log their money into of camp store log book. Unused money will be sent home at the end of the session.

We strive to keep our campers healthy. To support this effort, we ask guardians to inform us of any dietary restrictions for a specific camper to one snack and one drink from the camp store per day.

We sell camp apparel, chips, soda, cookies, flavored water and Popsicles. If you which to send snacks for a camper that has dietary restrictions, we suggest that he/she bring labeled snacks from home (individually wrapped packets work best). We will keep these in the kitchen so that he/she does not feel left out when his/her cabin mates are “shopping.”

Potential employees complete a comprehensive application including disclosure of criminal history and a complete background check (state and sexual offender databases). Each applicant completes two personal interviews with camp administration and three references are checked for every candidate. Employees are continually observed during their employment to ensure exemplary performance.

Camp applications are completed on CampDoc. Camp Application will be available on CampDoc. If you have any questions, please contact us at (516)-293-2016 ext. 5165.

The application will open on December 18, 2023, at 9 am EST.

The camp application is due March 15; however, early application is strongly advised to ensure a spot on the roster. We advise you to:

• Fully complete the application
• Complete the annual physical
• Upload proof of COVID-19 vaccine
• Upload behavior intervention plan
• Upload the most recent life plan, which includes:
  • Section 1: In the narrative. Should mention I utilize Citizens Options Unlimited Inc Camp Loyaltown to provide temporary relief to my caregiver” in the about me or happiness section
  • Section 3: Supports. Should mention citizens options unlimited Camp Loyaltown or location may vary. Should have at least 3 safeguards.
  • Section 4: Should mention: Authorized service: Respite – Provider (Program Name): Citizens Options Unlimited INC location may vary – Effective Dates: The date you placed us in this section – Quantity (Per): Please leave Blank – Unit of Measure (Total Units): (1344.00) units – Duration: ONGOING. For people that live in group homes, you don’t have to put us in section 4
  • Section 5: Contact. Should Mention: Relationship/Service Type: Respite – Name: Operations Manager – Organization: CITIZENS OPTIONS UNLIMITED, INC.- Address: 189 Wheatley Road, Glen Head, NY then Contact: camp@citizens-inc.org
• Ensure that the 2024 medical packet is completed, signed by a physician, scanned, and uploaded in the medical packet section of CampDoc.
• Ensure that immunization records are up to date with uploaded proof of immunization.

Applications cannot be processed until all documents are uploaded and complete.

You will receive a confirmation email via CampDoc to verify that we have received your application. This only confirms that it has been received, not that the camper is enrolled. You will receive an acceptance packet as a final confirmation. If you have not received confirmation within two days of completing the application, contact the camp office @ (516)-293-2016 ext. 5165. to verify receipt.

An automated email will be sent periodically with the status of your camper’s application, and any missing items will be indicated.

An acceptance packet with details about the session (when to arrive, what to bring, directions, etc.) will be emailed to you upon approval of a complete application.

The Assistant Director will discuss alternate sessions with you, but we also maintain a waiting list for each session. We will notify you as soon as possible if a space becomes available in the desired session.

We can accept checks addressed to the Account department at 189 Wheatley Road, Brookville, NY. Credit cards (Master Card, Visa, and Discover) can be used to make payments over the phone by calling our Account department at (516) 626-1075 extension 1311.

The checks for camp should be mailed to:

Citizens Options Unlimited, Inc.
189 Wheatley Rd.
Brookville, NY 11545
Attn: Accounting #5, Dolores

Please make check out to: Citizens Options Unlimited, Inc.

Please write the camper’s name in the memo & the session he/she is attending.

Campers are allowed to attend multiple sessions!  There are some financial considerations:

If a person is living at home and receives a Medicaid waiver and the camp receives the correct paperwork for a Medicaid waiver, the person’s first session can be covered by the Medicaid waiver.  The remaining sessions must be privately paid out of pocket.  The rates are the same if a person is living in a group home. However, they will not have a Medicaid waiver for any session.

• Cost: The cost for sessions is $690 per day.
  • Sessions 1-4: $9,660 each
  • Sessions 5A,5B and 6: $4,830 each
  • Session 7: $2,760
• Non-refundable deposit
  • A non-refundable deposit per additional two-week session, due by February 18, 2024.
    • The deposit schedule is as follows:
      • Sessions 1-4: $1000 each
      • Session 5A,5B,6 and 7: $500 each
    • The deposit will be applied to the overall cost of sessions attended.
    • If the funds are not received by January 30, the sessions will be released to a family on our waiting list.
• Payment in full
  • Additionally, sessions not covered by Medwaiver will need to be paid in full no later than March 28, 2024.
    • Please see the cost schedule above.
    • If the funds are not received by March 28, the sessions will be released to a family on our waiting list.
• Timeline
  • February 18, 2024: Non-refundable deposit due
  • March 28, 2024:  Payment in full due

Both a caregiver and the camper must be present at check-in. Luggage should be carried to check-in so it can be tagged. The camp staff will assist with bringing luggage to the bus after your camper completes the check-in process.

We will not be accepting health forms at camper check-in. Please submit/upload the health forms online with the required information attached, signed, and dated. The medical forms, information, and dates must encompass the camper’s entire stay at camp during 2024. *DUE ON OR BEFORE MARCH 9th, 2024* ***PLEASE BE ADVISED IF YOUR MEDICAL FORMS ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY COMPLETED; THIS MAY AFFECT THE CAMPER’S ENROLLMENT.

After completing check-in, you can talk to a unit head who oversees the cabins to relay any additional information about the campers. But please be advised to include all information in the 2024 camper application. We encourage you to chat with the staff.

To help your camper enjoy his/her experience we encourage calls home. You will be notified in the case of an emergency or any other concerns. If you are concerned that your camper may be overly homesick, a documented chat with your camper’s Unit Head or the Assistant Director can be arranged. You are welcome to check in daily with the Camp.

We discourage sending items of value and electronics to camp and encourage campers to engage with fellow campers and camp staff.

You may contact your camper by one-way email at camp@citizens-inc.org. Upon receipt, the email will be printed and delivered to your camper. These emails are one-way, and campers will not have computer access.

Families and caregivers are encouraged to send mail. Please be sure to send it prior to camp or just after arrival to ensure your camper receives it.

It is not unusual for young or first time campers to be homesick. We do our best to keep campers active and involved in fun and exciting activities. If the homesickness persists, the Unit Head may call to let you know what is happening and seek helpful suggestions.

• Don’t over pack.
• Make note of all items packed prior to arrival.
• Don’t bring new or expensive clothing – this is camp, we will most likely get dirty!
• Don’t send anything that you consider irreplaceable – grandma’s quilt, family photos, jewelry, etc.
• Clearly label all of the camper’s belongings with a full name. We serve hundreds of campers every summer. By the end of the season first and last initials are little help in sorting left items.

Yes! We make an honest effort to send each camper home with the same items with which they arrived. Despite our best efforts things do get left behind. The lost and found is located at the camp office. Items will be held until the end of the camping season pending calls to claim items. You will have the opportunity to come and pick those items up at your convenience. Items not claimed will be scheduled for drop off at campers Residential Programs.

All drop-off and pick-up locations are the same this year!  We will be at our one-time – home location in Brookville! The address is 189 Wheatley Road, Brookville, NY 11545, to Hunter, NY.

When you arrive on the campus, follow the signs for the Brookville Center/Cissy Birnbaum Building.   Our Coach Buses will be arriving/departing directly in front of this facility.   Please find a spot in one of the parking lots to park adjacent to the Mansion, Silver School, or Advantage Care buildings.

Campers can be picked up on campgrounds between 10 and 10:30 am on a changeover day. Please ensure this information is included in the 2024 camper application.

• To ensure campers’ safety, we are requiring ALL oral medications to be blister packed with a few exceptions (birth control pills, certain controlled substances, medications that require refrigeration, pain medications, and antibiotics). Exception medications must be brought to the nurse on the day of bussing. Arrangements to do so can be made with the Camp Nurse Manager. All medication packaged through the pharmacy will also be electronically transcribed onto a medication record, another step in reducing human error. Blistered packed medications will then be transported directly to camp. All medications (including over-the-counter medications) need to be clearly labeled with camper name, drug name/strength, and current dosage
• All medications and treatments must have a signed Physician’s Order or a copy of the most recent script.
• Please send only a travel supply (14 days) of accurately labeled medications. We will accept monthly birth control packs.
• All medications must be turned in and reviewed with the nurse during check-in dates, including all prescription and over-the-counter medications and vitamins. Please do not leave any medications in luggage.
• Please supply any specialty medication supplies necessary for the camper.
• Unused medications/supplies will be returned on the day of departure.
• On the first day of camp the first dose of medications will be dispensed at 5:00 pm.

PLEASE NOTE:  A nurse will not be available to assist you during those times unless you have scheduled an appointment; please look at the dates and schedule a time that works for you by calling. Please call the Health Center @ 518-263-4242 ext. 125 to schedule an appointment for medication check-in, which takes place in Plainview (115 E. Bethpage Rd Plainview NY  11803).

The location of the Medication check-in will be the Plainview office for Any liquid forms of medications or topicals at 115 East Bethpage Road, Plainview, NY  11803. An appointment is required prior to arriving to the Plainview office. Please refer to the schedule below:

Session 1-Wednesday June 5^th, 9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-5 pm by appointment only

Session 2- Wednesday, June 19^th, 9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-5 pm by appointment only

Session 3-Wednesday July 3^rd, 9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-5 pm by appointment only

Session 4-Wednesday July 17^th, 9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-5 pm by appointment only

Session 5A-Wednesday July 31^st, 9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-5 pm by appointment only

Session 5B-Wednesday August 7^th, 9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-5 pm by appointment only

Session 6- Wednesday, August 14^th, 9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-5 pm by appointment only

Session 7-Wednesday August 21^st, 9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-5 pm by appointment only

We do not supply prescribed medications or nutritional supplements. Please bring enough for your camper for the 2 weeks in original containers. The infirmary stocks common over-the-counter medications in case of headache, stomachache, etc.

** Medical marijuana drugs/ Medical Marijuana are considered “Schedule I” controlled substances under Federal law. The Federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) makes the use, possession, etc., of marijuana (and other Schedule I drugs) illegal. The Nurses at Camp Loyaltown cannot administer or store any marijuana drugs/ products, including products containing CBD, e.g., gummies, oil, products containing THC, or food containing marijuana, e.g., brownies, etc., as it is illegal under Federal law. There are two synthetic forms of marijuana that are FDA (Federal Drug Administration) approved:  Marinol and Cesamet. These drugs can be administered by the camp nurses pursuant to a valid doctor’s order. A third synthetic form of marijuana that can be administered is Epidiolex; given for two forms of epilepsy: Lennox Gestault Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome. Epidiolex also needs a valid doctor’s order for the camp nurses to administer.

If your camper is currently taking any of the above drugs/ products (with the exception of the three approved synthetic forms of marijuana), please consult with their physician prior to the start of their camp session to discuss.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. The safety of our campers is our top priority.

We are moving from planned activity schedules to open activities.  This means that rather than having specific activities planned at specific times, activities will run throughout the day and campers will be able to choose what activities they want to go to and when they want to go to them.  A daily schedule would look like this:

Morning Activity choices:

Arts:  Ceramic hearts, paper crafts, painting.
Nature Barn:  Rabbit care, cow care, sensory garden, vegetable garden
Recreation:  Basketball, volleyball, inflatables on the beach
Pool: Swimming!

Afternoon Activity choices:

Arts:  Pottery wheel, decorate pine cones, painting.
Nature Barn:  Rabbit care, cow care, sensory garden, vegetable garden
Recreation:  Mini golf, swings, kickball.
Pool: Swimming!

Evening Activity choices:

Dance party
Karaoke
Sensory room
Campfire

Tevin Gilfillian, Assistant Director
tgilfillian@citizens-inc.org
516-293-2016 ext 5165

Durraine Dunn, Operations Manager

ddunn@citizens-inc.org

Office: 516-293-2016 ext. 5170

To request information, please contact: camp@citizens-inc.org

If your camper develops signs and symptoms of COVID, or it is revealed by testing that they are positive for COVID while at camp, they will need to be transported home by you or your emergency contact within 24 hours. COVID vaccines and boosters are strongly recommended for camp attendance as per DOH and CDC. Again, this summer, camp cannot accept campers who use nebulizers due to the spray of secretions, and the risk for spread of possible COVID or other respiratory illnesses. All campers’ medical history/information will be reviewed prior to an acceptance at camp. It will be at the discretion of the camp nurse manager and the camp team to make the final determination as to whether the camper will be accepted into the camp program.