Bus Transportation

Bus Stop Locations & Times

Bus Safety Rules

Behavior Management

Learn more about Bus Safety Rules

What is the Camp Store and Snack Shack?

A favorite hangout spot where campers can purchase candy, toys, camp merchandise and more!

View Store Menus

Payment Methods:

• Cash (We recommend placing money in a ziplock with the amount and your camper’s name written on the bag)
• Credit or Debit Cards
• Camp Sonshine Gift Cards (E-Gift Card or Physical)
  • Take note of Gift card number and pin on back in case card is lost

How to Set Up a Gift Card Account

Read Camp Sonshine Square E-Gift Cards to learn how to create an account, add funds, or how to check balances and transactions!

We strongly encourage labeling items that are sent with your child to Camp such as hats, towels, lunch kits, etc. All non-valuable items found will be stored in our lost and found area. Meanwhile, all valuable items will be sent to Parent Services.

If you wish to report a missing item please complete our Lost & Found Form and a staff member will be in touch shortly to assist you.

Please Note: At the end of each summer we donate left over items.

Lost and Found is unavailable for visitors during arrival (8:30-9:45am) and departure (3-4:30pm) for safety reasons. Therefore, visitors seeking access to Lost and Found must check in at our Parent Services office, where a staff member can assist you.

Campers may not move up a swim level without having parental or guardian consent on record in Parent Services. Please remember that it takes a minimum of 24 hours to make any changes. With this in mind, the camper will be tested at the newly-requested level upon the next pool visit. In addition, please be aware campers may also be bumped down a swim level if leadership deems it appropriate.

Swim Levels:

Red (Level 1)

Wading pool–no campers over 4ft tall

Orange (Level 2)

Shallow end, water up to 3 1/2ft

Yellow (Level 3)

Shallow end, water up to 3 1/2ft, slide

Blue (Level 4)

All water depths, slide, low dive

Green (Level 5)

All water depths, slide, low and high dive

Water Safety

For campers visiting Ocean Beaches, Cunningham Falls, Gunpowder Falls, Sandy Point State Park, and Greenbrier State Park, additional swim testing and the use of personal floatation devices (PFDs or life jackets) are required. Campers unable to meet this safety standard will only be allowed to swim in shallow or enclosed wading areas. Parents have the option to waive the recommendation for their child to wear a life jacket specifically for these trips by contacting Parent Services and completing our Life Jacket Waiver form.

 Note: Campers will be required to wear a life jacket if a waiver is not on file.

Camp Sonshine Dash Pass

To pick up your child from Camp or any of our bus stop locations, you must present your Camp Sonshine issued Dash Pass from the pre-week email. This pass should be printed and filled out with the camper(s) name and program or grade.

Late Arrivals

If your camper arrives after 9:15 AM, they must be checked into Parent Services. When running late, parents should review their campers’ schedules to check for any field trips or pool trips scheduled for that morning. If the bus has already departed for the field trip, parents have the option of dropping off their campers at the trip location or choosing to have them wait until their group returns to camp grounds.

*Before dropping off a camper at the trip location, please ensure to call Parent Services to confirm the trip location.

Early Pick-Ups

If you need to pick your child up early, it’s crucial that you notify Parent Services by emailing info@campsonshine.org to inform us of your plans. Kindly be aware that a note sent with your child is not acceptable. We kindly request a 24-hour notice, whenever possible, if your child needs to leave early. Early pick-ups are only permitted before 2:30 PM.

*Regrettably, we are unable to accommodate early pick-ups between 2:30 PM and 4:00 PM due to daily departure preparation.

Late Pick-Ups

Regular Camp Pick-Up

If a child who is usually picked up by a parent or guardian is not collected by 4:15 PM, they will be escorted to Extended Care. In such cases, a one-time use fee of $15 will be charged for utilizing our Extended Care service.

Bus Stop

Please call Parent Services if running late for pick-up at the bus stop. The bus will wait for 5 minutes before calling Parent Services if no one is present. In such cases, Parent Services will make every effort to reach you. If our attempts to contact you are unsuccessful, the camper will be transported back to Camp.

Upon arrival, they will be escorted to Extended Care to await parent pick-up. It’s important to note that under no circumstances—unless a Walker’s Note is on file for the current Camp year—will your camper be left unattended at the bus stop.

Extended Care

When parents pick up a student after 6:00 PM, a Late Fee of $1.00 per student for every minute of additional care by our staff members will be charged. For example, a late pick-up at 6:12 p.m. for one student would result in a Late Fee of $12.00. Failure to pay late fees or recurring instances of lateness may result in dismissal from the program and barred registration in any Camp Sonshine Programs.

Walker Consent

If a parent or guardian wishes their camper to have permission to walk home from the bus stop, a signed waiver (in the form of a letter) must be on file in Parent Services. Alternatively, if no waiver is on file, a parent, guardian, or designated adult with a Camp Sonshine issued Dash Pass must be present to meet the child at the stop.

Kindly complete the Walker Consent Form and send it via email to Parent Services.

The State of Maryland requires that each adult in contact with campers be fingerprinted and have a background check.  For this reason, visitors are not allowed to join groups.

If you would like to see your child during the day, you will be asked to follow this procedure:

• First, check in at Parent Services to receive a visitor’s badge.
• Next, a Parent Services representative will escort you to where your child is according to their group schedule.
• Finally, you may watch your child’s group from a distance.

*If you would like to say hello to your child to let them know that you visited, please ask in advance and a staff member will bring your child to you. Afterwards, the staff member will then take your child back to their group.

Absence of more than two consecutive days due to illness or school being extended. Camp will credit for the days missed after, but not including, the first two days when requested in writing and accompanied by a doctor’s or school note.

At Camp Sonshine we measure a camper’s positive experience based on all campers’ ability to follow our Camp expectations. As campers grow and learn, our expectations are adjusted to best meet the needs of our campers and families to ensure that everyone is able to have a safe and fun time with us at Camp.

PRE-K, KINDERGARTEN, 1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH GRADE CAMPERS

Will be held to the following expectations while at Camp:

• Kind words only
• Keep your hands and feet to yourself
• Choose a positive attitude
• Treat others how you’d like to be treated

In the event that expectations are not being met, we have a behavior policy in place to restore a positive atmosphere for our campers at Camp. Our procedures for behavior management are based on the behavioral issue demonstrated by the camper.

Minor Offenses

• Whining and complaining
• Disrespectful attitude or language
• Cutting others down with hurtful words or actions

Minor Offense Procedure:

• Specific verbal warning
  • A verbal warning will clarify expectations, encourage desired behavior, provide opportunities for the camper to show their ability to do that.
• 5-minute timeout
• 10-minute timeout

Any Minor Offense whose repetition passes the three consequences will escalate to a Major Offense.

On campgrounds, we have a Calming Tent staffed with a counselor whose sole purpose is to listen to and support our campers in positive behavior. Our Calming Tent is used for behavior management for our Major Offenses but also as a place where campers can regroup and refocus away from their group

Major Offenses

• Using hands and feet for physically harmful purposes
• Running away from the group or activity
• Focused emotional abuse (ie. bullying)
• Sexual misconduct

Major Offense Procedure:

• Removal from the group and 1-3 activity periods spent in a calming environment with leadership
• Full day suspension from Camp
• Three-day suspension from Camp
• Expulsion from Camp for the summer

One Major Offense will result in immediate communication with parents and guardians and may result in immediate expulsion from Camp. Our purpose for communicating with families for behavioral issues is to help foster a safe camp environment through collaboration. We will make decisions based on what is best for all campers at Camp.

5TH GRADE CAMPERS AND OLDER

Will be held to the following expectation while at Camp: Respect each other

We are hoping to help our campers be the best they can be by instilling values of respect, compassion, and care with their fellow campers and counselors while at Camp.

Minor Offense

Campers’ inability to meet this expectation will first result in a verbal warning. A verbal warning will clarify expectations, encourage desired behavior, provide opportunities for the camper to show their ability to do that. The next step would be for campers to be pulled from their group for a conference. If behaviors do not change or improve, families will be contacted to ensure that communication is kept open in order to facilitate a positive and safe Camp environment.

Major Offense

Anything like physical violence, bullying, or sexual misconduct – will result in immediate communication with parents or guardians and may result in immediate expulsion from Camp. Our purpose for communicating with families for behavioral issues is to help foster a safe camp environment through collaboration. We will make decisions based on what is best for all campers at Camp.

The Parent Services Team will facilitate communication with our camp families to ensure we collaboratively create a fun, safe, and nurturing camp environment.

Ultimately, our behavioral and conduct policies exist to allow us to help our campers grow and have fun during the summer in a safe and positive environment.

While we have outlined typical steps for addressing such offenses, we reserve the right to adjust these measures as necessary. This ensures that we can make the best decisions for all campers and the camp community, based on a thorough understanding of each situation. Furthermore, immediate communication with parents and guardians is a critical aspect of our process, enabling us to collaborate effectively towards a resolution.

Clothing Expectations

We emphasize tasteful and appropriate attire for all teens during camp activities. Clothing promoting alcohol, drugs, sexual content, profanity, or revealing undergarments is prohibited.

In terms of swimwear, camper comfort is paramount. Therefore, male campers should wear well-fitting swim shorts. Meanwhile, female campers are encouraged to wear secure one-pieces or tankinis suitable for movement.

Footwear Expectations

For foot safety, our medical supervisors recommend camp shoes with sturdy support and full foot coverage (including toes and heels) to prevent injuries. With this in mind, water shoes or old sneakers are advised for creek exploration.

Please Note: If your child arrives at camp wearing non-permissible shoes, we will contact you to provide alternative footwear for their safety.

As a standard practice, our counselors are prohibited from contacting campers via phone call, text, or social media. Therefore, if a parent desires an exception to this rule for their camper, they must complete the communication waiver and submit it to Parent Services.

Our Electronics Policy is designed to:

• Encourage your children to spend more time in the outdoors
• Promote socialization between campers
• Remove the divide between “the haves and the have-nots”
• Ensure that children are not exposed to age-inappropriate material
• Reduce stress associated with the damage to or theft of electronics
• Give children a much needed break from the world of technology
• Ensure that children are not focusing on situations revolving around their friends outside of camp

Electronics –  NOT ADVISED

• Cell Phones
• Laptops
• Netbooks
• iPads
• Ereaders
• Nintendo Switch or DS
• PSPs

Our long-standing policy strongly discourages campers from having a cell phone at camp. We firmly believe that the camp experience offers children a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a world beyond home. As a result, this fosters autonomy, independence, and a stronger sense of self. In summary, it enables them to forge new friendships, assume responsibility for themselves, problem-solve, and mature. With this in mind, achieving these milestones becomes challenging when parents or friends are just a phone call away.

MORE ABOUT CELL PHONES

While cell phones have not been recommended at camp for many years, it’s observed that many campers “accidentally” pack a cell phone. The resulting consequences can be challenging for the campers, their peers, and the staff.

Cell phones can:

• Leads to conflicts within the group.
• Enables campers to call parents for advice instead of seeking help from peers, counselors, and directors.
• Allows campers to contact parents when feeling unwell instead of notifying Camp First Aid, Directors, Staff, or Counselors.

We believe that cell phone use at camp contradicts the values we teach and uphold, interfering with an essential aspect of the camp experience: peer interaction.

We need your support and help

To underscore our firm stance on leaving cell phones at home, we urge you to discuss this policy with your camper. In the past, campers have concealed their cell phones in their bags without their parents’ knowledge.

We have engaged in conversations with numerous campers, staff, and parents regarding this policy and have carefully considered your feedback from our camp evaluations. Therefore, we advise that your child powers down, unplugs, and enjoys a much-needed break from the world of electronics. Please respect the usage and content limitations we have implemented.

If you have any questions or want further clarification, please contact Parent Services.

In the event of a minor or major offense escalating to an expulsion we will adhere to the following procedures:

• If a camper is expelled from our Explorer or Discovery programs, they will be eligible to return to camp after a period of 2 summers.
• However, if a camper is expelled from our Adventure, High Adventure, Teen Adventure, or Leader-in-Training programs, they will not be permitted to return to camp indefinitely.

*Our decisions are guided by what is in the best interest of all campers at Camp. In summary, our behavioral and conduct policies are designed to facilitate the growth and enjoyment of our campers during the summer in a safe and positive environment.

We recommend parents and guardians apply sunscreen to their child before bringing them to Camp. Additionally, we recommend packing a hat, extra sunscreen, and water bottle in each camper’s backpack.

 Parent Services must be contacted if your camper has a special request to be grouped with a friend.

Our team will make every effort to acknowledge your request, given that (1) both children are in the same grade and (2) the child’s parent has not specifically requested a different grouping arrangement.

Latestays

If your child opts for a Latestay after the camp week begins, payment must be made to Parent Services. The payment cannot be mailed or sent with a camper. Furthermore, payment must be submitted by the Wednesday preceding the Latestay.

Overnighter

The overnighter cost is included in the weekly tuition. If your child chooses not to attend, no alternative activities will be provided and refunds will not be available.

For medication administration during a Latestay or Overnighter, we require a signed Medication Authorization Form on file.

We are not a special needs camp.

However, depending on your child’s needs, we may be able to accommodate. To determine whether or not we are a good fit and equipped to meet your child’s needs, parents or guardians are required to submit necessary information prior to scheduling a face-to-face meeting. This information, such as your child’s IEP or BIP, will allow us to accurately assess if Camp Sonshine would be suitable for your camper.

Once Parent Services receives above mentioned information, a meeting will be scheduled with you and your child. This meeting will provide an opportunity for us to evaluate if your child can fully function at Camp. The meeting will also allow for you to ask specific questions about our program.

Camp Sonshine adheres to strict guidelines regarding our ability to intervene with camper behaviors. Our priority is ensuring the safety of both our staff and your child by maintaining the safest possible environment.

*Please note that a camper’s application cannot be processed without prior acceptance.

Due to limited availability, fees for Spring Break Camp must be paid in full upon registration. Furthermore, no refunds will be issued for cancellations made after the week has started.

If a child is unable to enroll or is withdrawn from the waiting list, all payments are refunded. Payment is only processed upon camper enrollment.

*Please be aware that having a sibling on the waiting list does not warrant a refund.

Additional charges will not be incurred for:

• Switching from one week to another.
• Changing from Teen Adventure to Leader-In-Training.
• Transferring from Germantown to Silver Spring (within the same program)

*Please note switching weeks depends on availability,

Cancelling one or more weeks (retaining others):

A $20 administrative fee per camper per canceled week will apply until April 23, 2025. However, there will be no refunds for summer weeks after April 23, 2025.

Withdrawing from everything (per camper):

All fees paid will be refunded except for the $20 per week non-refundable deposit and $45 application fee per camper until April 23, 2025. To repeat, there will be no refunds for summer weeks after April 23, 2025.

Please note that all cancellations must be made in writing by emailing our Parent Services team.

*Additionally, having a sibling on the waiting list or needing to attend Summer School does not warrant a refund.

If payment in full is not yet made, a non-refundable deposit of $20 per week enrolled (per camper) and a $45 application fee per child are required. Moreover, the deposit is applied toward the full balance and reserves your child’s spot. It does not function as a separate fee but rather provides you with the freedom and flexibility to make payments at your convenience until your total balance is paid.

Any additions made after the payment deadline require full payment.

Kindly be aware, discounts apply solely to camp tuition and cannot be applied towards your deposit amount.

There is NO discount on:

• Convenience options
• Multiple children
• $45 application fee

Any registrations received on or after the payment deadline of April 23rd, 2025 must be accompanied by payment in full.

Acceptable forms of payment:

• Credit or debit cards (MasterCard, Discover, AMEX, or Visa)
• Money orders
• Cash (Place in a bag with your name and amount written on the bag)
• Checks (*We are unable to accept e-checks for any reason on or after April 23rd.)

A $35 fee will be charged for returned checks.

Please designate a local emergency contact who is available to pick up your child if you are unable to do so. For safety and compliance reasons, staff members are strictly prohibited from transporting campers in personal vehicles.

First Aid Station

The First Aid Station serves as the central hub for camper health and well-being during camp hours. Our staff are equipped to provide first aid care, including:

• Treating routine cuts, scrapes, and minor illnesses
• Securely storing and administering daily and emergency camper medications
• Providing a quiet space for campers to rest and recover