2016 Sky Fillies Information

Sky Fillies
Summer Information
2016
www.S kyR anch.org
903.266.3300
Index
Welcome from President and CEO, Linda S. Paulk....................................................................................3
Welcome from Rope Myers...............................................................................................................................4
Welcome Letter.....................................................................................................................................................5
Night Events...........................................................................................................................................................6
Getting Ready Check List..........................................................................................................................................7
Packing Tips...................................................................................................................................................................7
What to Bring (and What NOT to Bring) to Summer Camp..........................................................................8
Arrival and Departure.................................................................................................................................................9
Important Things to Know......................................................................................................................................10
Health Information.....................................................................................................................................................11
General Policies and Guidelines............................................................................................................................13
Stay Connected with Sky Ranch Social Media.................................................................................................14
The Sky Ranch Life Map...........................................................................................................................................15
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Welcome from our President & CEO, Linda S. Paulk
Dear Camper Parents,
Thank you for providing Sky Ranch the opportunity to serve your family this summer. It has been a privilege to
serve families for more than 60 years, providing a fun, Christ-centered encounter for all of our campers. We are
so excited about what God has planned for summer 2016 at Sky Ranch.
It is our desire to communicate effectively with all of our families in an effort to manage your expectations,
answer your questions, and provide you with peace of mind, knowing that your child is in great hands at Sky
Ranch. Within this packet, you will find up-to-date information, FAQs, and other material that will be helpful as
you and your children prepare for their week at Sky Ranch.
Please read the information carefully. Once you have had a chance to review the materials, please do not
hesitate to contact our Guest Services department at 903-266-3300 with any additional questions or concerns
you might have.
Thank you again for selecting Sky Ranch for your child’s camp experience. We are looking forward to a terrific
summer. Please know that it is an honor and a pleasure to provide an environment where your children can
relax, have fun, build life-long relationships, and most importantly, learn how to be the full expression of what
God has created them to be!
See you soon!
In His Grip,
Linda S. Paulk
President and CEO of Sky Ranch Camps
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Welcome from Director of Champions Rodeo, Rope Myers
Dear Rodeo Families,
Thank you for the privilege of serving your family at one of our rodeo programs this summer. With a staff of
serious rodeo competitors and horse lovers, our hope is to help you reach a “new level” during your time with
us at Sky Ranch this summer. Our COVERED arena will be in full use with shade, lights, and great, big fans to
help with the east Texas summer heat.
Please make sure you read over the articles in this packet, for general information about Sky Ranch and camp.
There are some areas that are specific to the rodeo camps, such as arrival and departure information. If, after
reading through the information, you still have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
There are two ways to do that: Guest Registrations 903-266-3300 or the Livery Office 903-569-8925. It is our
desire that this be one of the most amazing weeks of your life – in every way.
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Rope Myers
Director of Champions Rodeo
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Welcome Letter
Welcome Campers!
For those of you who were here last summer and are counting down the days until summer camp starts…get
ready, because it will be here before we know it! For those of you who are joining us for the first time….you’re
about to have the time of your life!!! We are excited to tell you that our theme for the summer is “BIG SHOW:
Transformed by the Ringmaster.” We have some awesome things planned for our mornings and afternoons,
and some cool evening activities as well. Below are some previews of your week, as well as some reminders of
extra things to bring along to make this the best week of camp ever!
Even more important than the night events and activities, this summer we are exploring the answer to the
question “Who is Jesus?”. The more we come to know Jesus the more we leave the wild, self-centered
survivalist behind in order to really live. We go from living in what we thought was freedom to actually
experiencing true freedom in being fulfilled by our new role of imitating our Savior’s transforming power to
anyone who may see us. In no way is this a work of our own but rather the product of our Savior’s patience and
love to shape us into the full expression of what God has created us to be.
Your Sky Ranch Summer Camp Team (Clinton, Chrisleigh “Grizz”, Ethan, Allie, and John) will make sure we keep
the highest standard of safety and excellence, and we will make sure that you and every other camper are
cared for well. We hope you are already getting excited about the unforgettable week in store. The water is
warming up, school is winding down, and cabins are ready, now we just need YOU to get here!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email us at [email protected] or call 903-266-3300.
We look forward to seeing you this summer!
In Him,
Chrisleigh Jones
Sky 1&2 Camp Manager
Ethan Knowles
Sky 1&2 Camp Manager Sky
Allie Knowles
3&4 Camp Manager
John Morgan
VP of Ministry Programs
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Clinton Pfalser
Operations Manager
NIGHT EVENTS
As some of you already know, night events are probably one of the coolest parts of camp - time to dress up,
goof around, go crazy, save camp, dance, and even more! Here’s the Summer 2016 Night Event information:
Sunday Night: Opening show and the beginning of BIG SHOW 2016! Wear something silly and fun, a big
wig, lego costume, or crazy face paint all fit in here.
Monday Night: We will be kicking off the week with awesome night events for each Sky level!
Sky 3: It is that time of the year that people gather around from all over the world to compete in the Olympic
Games, and this summer The Pride is going to be competing in their very own Olympic themed night event, Go
for the Gold! Come dressed up as your favorite Olympic sport, or dress in your favorite country’s colors, and you
could even just grab some gold clothing! Get ready to be messy, compete as a cabin, and see which cabin will
win the Gold for the night.
Sky 4: Grab your swim suit, American flag hats, shirts, and shorts for Red, Wolf & Blue. This beach bash is
going to be filled with fun under the sun as Sky 4 takes on snow cones, slip ’n sides, and some extra jet skis and
torpedo time. Members of the Wolfpack get pumped to splish, splash, and laugh a lot because we have some fun
games in store for you.
Tuesday Night: Rodeo Practice Night
Wednesday Night: Rodeo performance for Sky 1 & 2 campers.
Thursday Night: Get ready for the coolest dance that is out of this world! It will be the dance of the century so grab your
favorite basketball jersey or outer space outfit and get pumped for Space Jam! Think Star Wars, to neon, to basketball
jerseys, to metallic, to glow sticks, and more! This is going to be full of fun surprises so get stoked for this Jam!
Friday Night: Friday will be all about campfire and closing ceremonies. This is our night to remember all God
has done throughout the week and to celebrate how amazing it was.
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Getting Ready Checklist
Please be sure that all of these items are completed before your camper attends camp.
Complete the Health Form ONLINE - through the Parent Portal at www.SkyRanch.org/Register
Complete the Helmet Release Waiver and return to Sky Ranch.
Review the packing list and purchase necessary items or things for night events.
Arrange for care package(s) to be sent to your camper (most campers will receive mail, email, and
packages during the week).
Pay balance for camp in full.
Confirm roommate requests through the Parent Portal.
Add money to the Ranch Bank Store Card.
Remember to bring your driver’s license to camp - it’s required to drop off your camper!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns that are not addressed in this packet, please feel free to call
Guest Services at 903-266-3300 or email us at [email protected].
Packing Tips
As you prepare for Sky Ranch Summer Camp, we have provided a list of items you will need to pack for your
camper. On the following pages, we’ve included extensive lists for “What to Bring” and “What NOT to Bring”.
Before we jump into packing, we wanted to share a few tips.
Helpful Hints
Please pack using a large suitcase or trunk (no larger than 40Lx37Wx16H)
Each evening we have a themed Night Event and encourage your campers to dress up and get in “costume!”
These themes can be found on page 6 in this packet.
Don't buy a lot of new clothing - this is camp, and we will most likely get wet and dirty!
Use ziplock bags to waterproof items.
Don't send anything that you consider irreplaceable.
Clearly and boldly label all of your child's belongings.
Strapless clothing, mini-skirts, or t-shirts with large cut outs are not allowed.
All shorts must be a modest length (fingertip length) and we have a NO ROLL rule.
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What to bring and what not to bring to camp
Required:
Optional Extras:
Clothing: Please make sure to label all of
your camper's belongings!
Blue jeans/long pants
Raincoat/poncho*
Tennis shoes (2 pair)
Riding Boots
Pair of clothes to get dirty
Baseball cap/hat*
Night Event costumes
White t-shirt to tie-dye*
Blue & Red shirt for Rodeo Night
Socks
T-shirts/tops (no strapless)
Shorts (modest length please)
Lightweight jacket/fleece
Swimsuit (one-piece only)
Water shoes* or old sneakers
Twin bed sheets/blankets/sleeping bag
Pillow & pillow case
Towels (shower and beach)*
Toiletries (shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)*
Disposable cameras*
Sunscreen*
Insect repellent
Bible/journal/pens*
Wash cloth
Water bottle*
Flashlight*
Laundry bag*
Stationary/stamps* (Pre-addressed, please)
Care Packages**
RODEO EQUIPMENT
If your Sky Filly is bringing their own horse to
camp, please remember to bring buckets,
feed, supplements and all tack required fo
your horse for the week. If your Sky Filly is
using a Sky Ranch horse, all of the above will
be included and provided.
*For your convenience, these items are available for purchase in the Corner Store, located in the Legacy Center
**Care Packages - One of the highlights of the Sky Ranch camping experience is receiving mail or care packages
from friends and family. Sky Ranch offers the option to purchase pre-made Sky Packs for cabin delivery or you
are welcome to bring your own care packages. For more information, see the “Good Things to Know” section.
What NOT to Bring to Camp
Any electronic device that can access the internet breaches our security policy. If discovered by a counselor, it will be
collected and stored until the end of the camper’s session. In addition, Sky Ranch cannot be responsible for lost or
broken articles. Please do not bring anything that would break easily or cause loss if misplaced.
Any web-enabled devices
Cell Phones
Computers
iPads/Tablets
Money (please see the section on Ranch Bank)
Handheld video game systems
Alcohol
Illegal drugs
Tobacco products
Weapons (including pocket knives and multi-tools)
Pets
Fireworks
Personal sports equipment (everything you need will be provided for your activities)
- Paintball guns or gear
- Archery equipment
- Skeet shooting equipment
- Climbing gear
- Wake boarding equipment
- Bikes
- Scooters
- Skateboards
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Arrival and Departure for Summer Camp
We can't wait to see you! Check-in time for Sky Fillies is Sunday afternoon from 3:00pm to 4:00pm. For safety
and scheduling reasons, there will be no one to assist you or care for campers before the starting time. Please
do not arrive early. If for some reason, you cannot arrive during the required arrival time, please note these
variations in your Parent Portal in the “Additional Questions” tab. If you are bringing a horse, Sky Ranch Staff will
be at the arena beginning at 2:00 PM to assist you. Once you have your horse settled, you will proceed to
regular check-in on camp.
Maps and Directions
Maps and Directions to Sky Ranch locations are available on our website at www.SkyRanch.org/Locations
Airport Transportation
Transportation is available for campers flying in to DFW Airport and Dallas Love Field. The cost for
transportation is $130 each way. Below are the required schedules for airport transportation.
ARRIVALS:
DFW - Sunday 11am - 2pm
Love Field - Sunday 2pm - 4pm
DEPARTURES:
DFW or Love Field - Saturday 10am - 12pm
Transportation is secured through The Parent Portal (www.SkyRanch.org/Register) on the “transportation” tab
in the itinerary.
Closing Ceremony
First thing Saturday morning, your Sky Filly will participate in an exhibition rodeo at our Champions Rodeo
Arena. They will have an opportunity to show off their newly acquired event skills and introduce their families
to their new two-footed and four-footed friends. The rodeo will start promptly at 8:15am, and your camper will
be finished in time to attend the Summer Camp Closing Ceremony at 10:30am in the auditorium.
The Summer Camp Closing Ceremony is especially designed for you and your family. The counselors will honor
your camper and speak of the character qualities they saw in your camper during the week. A video of your
child’s week at camp will also be shown. We hope you will attend! Detailed closing information and times will
be provided to you at Check-In on Sunday.
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Important Things to Know
Car Decorating
Many Sky Ranch campers choose to decorate their cars for the trip and arrival to camp – with window paint, crepe
paper, etc.. “Sky Ranch 2016”, their cabin/camper name, etc. It’s a fun way to start the week, but certainly not
required. You can purchase car markers at Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, or Michaels.
When You Arrive...
You will be directed to a parking space, where you’ll place your luggage behind your car and wait for one of our
staff members to transport you, your camper, and their luggage to their cabin. You will need your driver's license
with you to the cabin, for identification verification. At the cabin, you will meet your camper’s counselors, help your
camper make their bed, get settled, and discuss any special concerns with their counselors. For the safety of all
campers, a lice check will be performed on all children in their individual cabin according to our policy. Once your
camper is settled, you can say your good byes in their cabin, and you will be transported back to the Legacy Center.
At this time you can drop off medications, complete Ranch Bank deposits, drop off camper mail, and take care of
any remaining details. Once you depart, remember to listen to the CD, and remember that you can check the
website for any updates, photos of the week, and you can follow Summer Camp on Twitter.
Letters and Packages from Home
You may bring mail and care packages on Check-In Day and drop them off at the Mail Station located in the
Legacy Center. Please indicate your camper’s name, cabin number and desired delivery day. Be sure to put any
food in a re-sealable container, please send only non-perishable food items, and please do not send gum. **We
request that your camper’s packages be no larger than the size of a normal shoebox. We encourage you to
arrange for your camper to receive email, mail and care packages during the week. Most campers will receive
one or more during their stay. The Sky Ranch Corner Store, located in the Legacy Center, sells ready-made care
packages called Sky Packs. For more information on Sky Packs and Snack Packs please visit your parent portal at
www.skyranch.org. Additionally, any item purchased in the store on Check-In Day can be delivered to your
camper on the day of your choice.
Laundry Service
Laundry service is available for multi-week campers only. Please be sure to label every article of clothing clearly.
We do not recommend bringing clothing that requires special care or is delicate or expensive. Cost for this
service is $16 per camper.
Lost and Found
Please check the Lost and Found table before leaving on Saturday. If you realize your camper did not make it
home with an item, please call Camp Works at 903.266.3394 and leave a message describing the missing
item(s). Claimed items will be returned C.O.D. Items will be held for one week. Unclaimed items will be donated
to charity. Please label all items and make sure that you have all of your camper’s belongings before you leave.
Please note that Sky Ranch cannot be responsible for lost or broken articles.
Session Videos & Camper Photos
Session DVDs and photos of your camper, their cabin mates, and counselors will be available for purchase on
day of departure.
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Health Information
Every Sky Ranch camper is required to fill out the Sky Ranch Health Form online in the Parent Portal. This should
be completed prior to your session start date. Please go to the Parent Portal at www.skyranch.org to complete.
Special Dietary Requirements
Sky Ranch is concerned about your child’s health and will gladly work with you regarding special dietary
restrictions and requirements. We can accommodate a gluten-free or dairy-free diet. Please contact Sky Ranch’s
Food Service Department by emailing [email protected] or calling 903-266-3368 to review our menu and
make the appropriate substitutions if available.
Lice Policy
For the safety, health and comfort of all campers, no child with untreated lice (bugs) or lice eggs (nits) on their
person or belongings will be admitted to camp. Each child will be checked for lice/nits upon arrival to camp. If
lice/nits are present, they must be treated prior to admittance to camp. Parents are responsible for treatment of
both their camper’s belongings and camper’s head when lice and or nits are found at camper check-in. Please
check your child within 48 hours of arriving at camp (see www.headlice.org for more information). In order to
properly perform a lice/nit check, ponytails must be removed prior to check. We will do our best to do lice
checks around braids but any signs of lice or nits will require that braids be taken out. In the event that lice/nits
are found, you may choose to have Sky Ranch perform a lice/nit treatment on your child for a fee of $300.
Health Care Reminders
At Sky Ranch, safety is our number one priority. Your child’s safety and health are of the utmost importance to
us and we will provide professional and responsible care while they are at camp. To maintain our standards of
excellence, we follow the regulations of the Texas Department of State Health Services for Youth Camps and
subscribe to the American Camp Association standards. Below are some suggestions that will improve your
child’s experience and expedite your check in process on Sunday.
• We have a No Nit, No Lice policy. Please inspect your child(ren) 48 hours prior to camp for lice and/or
nits. If found, please treat and remove ALL nits so that they can be admitted to camp. (There are a
number of resources available that can assist you in this process. For your convenience, here is a
sample website you can review: http://www.wikihow.com/Check-a-Child's-Hair-for-Lice.) Please note
that every child is also checked on their arrival day by a counselor and/or Health Care Professional.
• All medications are required to be in the original packaging and contain only the medication identified
on the container. Do not put two or more different medications in the same container.
• If your child requires a prescription medication, the prescription label must be legible with the camper’s
name on it. Please do not use old bottles or those belonging to another family member as they will not
be administered per state law.
• Please check the medication’s expiration date. Expired medication will not be administered per state law.
• The ONLY medications that are permitted to be kept with the counselors are RESCUE inhalers and EPI
pens. These are the only medications that our counselors are trained to administer. If you have any
questions, please feel free to contact our Health Care Administrator prior to camp. We do not allow
campers to keep these medications themselves as it poses a threat to other campers. A counselor that
has your child’s rescue medication will be with your child at all times. The counselors are allowed to
keep glucometers.
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• Please contact the camp Health Care Administrator as soon as possible at [email protected]
if your child has one or more of the following conditions:
• Requires any injectable medication
• Any seizure disorder
• Autism
• Asperger’s Syndrome
• Any special situation that requires our attention. It is very beneficial for us to have this
information as soon as possible so that we may prepare our counselors and staff.
• If your child’s medication will be coming with someone who is not familiar with the dose and administration time, please be sure to send a note with the exact information. Medication administration times
are 30 minutes prior to and 30 minutes after Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and at Bedtime. Please choose
which med call times you will prefer.
• If your child has surgery, a fracture or serious injury within six weeks of camp, please contact our Health
Administrator as a physician’s release will be required.
• If contagious illness 7 days prior to camp, please contact Health Care Administrator to discuss specifics.
• All medications will be returned on Saturday. Medications that are left over are disposed of so please
be sure to stop by our Medication Return table in Legacy on Saturday.
Please feel free to contact our Health Care Administrator at [email protected] with any questions.
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General Policies and Guidelines
Roommate Requests
At Sky Ranch, we will do our best to honor up to three roommate requests per camper if they have been
accepted through the Parent Portal, for a total amount of four in a respective cabin. Roommate requests must
have an “accepted” status 14 days before your session of camp begins to be honored.
You can submit your roommate request through the Parent Portal on the “roommate request” tab. Please email
any questions to [email protected].
Cancellations
Campers who cancel before April 15, 2016 will be refunded all payments except the non-refundable deposit of
$100. If this reservation is cancelled for any reason after April 15, 2016, all money paid will be non-refundable.
All cancellation requests must be submitted via e-mail to [email protected]. All payments are
non-transferrable. Registrations not paid in full by April 15, 2016 may be subject to automatic cancellation.
Communications
The best way to contact Sky Ranch is through email. Please address all correspondence to
[email protected]. We check our email regularly and respond in a timely manner. You may also call
903-266-3300.
Camper Check-Out Policy
Campers will be released only into the care of their parent or legal guardian. Before you pick up your child, you
will be required to show your driver’s license to our check-out staff and place your signature on the check-out
form. No camper will be released to any individual for any reason without following this check-out policy. Your
camper will only be released to authorized individuals listed in your Parent Portal under the “Additional
Questions” tab. We will not release your child to anyone not on this online list.
Ranch Bank Store Card
Upon arrival at camp, each camper is issued a Ranch Bank account. The Store Card helps campers control their
spending money. Because campers are not permitted to carry cash, each parent can deposit spending money
into their camper's account through the Parent Portal. Campers can purchase snacks, souvenirs, gifts, books,
apparel, toiletries and much more. We recommend depositing $60 for each week of summer camp. Unused
Store Card funds may be donated to the Sky Ranch Scholarship Program once camp is over or credited back
approximately two weeks after camp is over.
Visits from Family
If your child is staying more than one session, you are welcome to visit on Saturday morning, and you may
leave camp with your child. The Check-Out process would apply, and you should return no later than Sunday at
5:00pm.
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Contacting Your Camper
If an emergency arises you can call our office 24 hours a day and one of our staff will assist you. If your camper
needs to contact you we will facilitate that as well. “I know my child is doing great, it’s me that is lonely!” We
understand... here is a tip - send an e-mail or letter to your camper. The address for all regular mail
correspondence is:
Camper’s Name and Session Number
Camper’s Cabin Number
24657 CR 448
Van, TX 75790
You can also send emails using your Parent Portal account and kids love it! Your e-mail will be delivered directly
to your camper with the daily mail call. This service is optional and will incur an additional fee.
More information will be provided at Check-In or you may visit www.SkyRanch.org for complete details.
Stay Connected with Sky Ranch Social Media
Stay Connected During Camp Week (and All Year Long!)
Sky Ranch has an active presence in several areas of social media. You can find our official Sky Ranch fan pages
on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and stay connected with us through a variety of blogs.
Please visit www.SkyRanch.org/Media to view the variety of ways you can communicate with us, get to know
us better, and stay connected all year long.
Live Updates on Twitter
Get the latest camp news by following @SkyCamperUpdate on Twitter. We’ll be “tweeting” throughout the day.
If you think it would be fun to hear little bits of detail from daily camp life as a way to “follow” your child’s week,
then this is for you. We will not use camper names or personal information in our “tweets,” rather we will be
trying to capture something from every cabin each day. However, for privacy purposes, we will not use
individual camper names.
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The Sky Ranch Life Map
At Sky Ranch, we are honored to have the opportunity to impart solid Christian principles and the Word of God
into your child’s life. Sky Ranch’s faith and character development program is divided into three parts, and it’s
called the LifeMap. As your child grows older, he or she will progress through each phase until the completion
of the program.
Phase 1: Learn
Beginning with our first-time campers and going through the early teen years, Phase 1 creates a culture where
kids learn foundational concepts that build strong character and vibrant faith.
Phase 2: Experience
In Phase 2 camps students begin the C.O.R. Leadership Track based on I Corinthians. These camps are designed
to stand alone or tie together over the course of six summers to help develop a deep faith and the character of
a servant leader. Campers are challenged to dig deeper beyond their childhood beliefs as they begin to
challenge their thinking and their faith. Phase 2 is an immersion into experiences that help turn teens into
Christ-centered servant leaders.
Phase 3: Become
As young adults, some campers choose to become counselors. Phase 3 is the fusion of content, context, and
the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of young adults as they prepare for their adult years, all while giving back
to the next generation of children.
It is our hope that the Sky Ranch program can have an eternal impact on your child’s life by being an
instrumental element of their spiritual and personal growth. We hope each phase will challenge them and help
them move forward to become the person God created them to be.
experience
learn
become
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