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Frequently
Asked Questions
(And Their Answers)
| Question Categories Select a category directly to advance to that section: |
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| Safety, Health, and Security | ||
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Where can I get background information and recommendations regarding the Colonial-American Programs and its directors? You can peruse this website, and particularly the Mission Statement and Camp History page. Why do the Directors close their letters with "Your Humble and Obedient Servant?" Letters were often closed with similar statements during the Eighteenth Century. It was a method of demonstrating respect and honor toward the letter's recipient. Perhaps this is one of the many things that can enlighten modern audiences regarding early American courtesy. How can I find your campsites? The Colonial-American Programs are not located at one place. We have multiple facilities at Historic London Town in Edgewater, Maryland; Historic Sotterley in Hollywood, Maryland; Historic Yates Mill Farm in Raleigh, NC; and many other locations. We host events year-round at hundreds of sites on the East Coast of the US--we can even bring our Colonial-American Program to your site. We are based in North Carolina, but travel between Florida and New York. |
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parents come to your Programs? We conduct events for both the young and old. Some parents work as volunteers during Summer Camp and other events. Other events are exclusively for adult Participants. We often have Parent Volunteers who come with their children during Summer Camp. (Sometimes they even come without their children.) If you're interested in becoming a Parent Volunteer, you should look at the Jobs page. Everyone is welcome at the Colonial Camp. Is your Program religious? No. The mission of the Colonial-American Programs is to develop the character of Participants; it is not to promote a particular religious perspective. All Participants are welcome and treated with dignity. Is your program a rewarding, challenging, life-changing experience? Yes. Do you know any funny jokes? No, but here is a joke anyway: Why did the turkey cross the road? Chicken's day off.
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Where can I get more information about your Summer Programs? Go to the Summer Program webpage for more detailed information. What is the refund policy? We may offer refunds for Registrations, less the nonrefundable deposit. Refund of paid registration fees are made solely at the Camp Director's discretion. Factors for consideration include the reason for the cancellation, the proximity of the cancellation to the event, and the time between the initial registration and the cancellation. If you request a refund, please be prepared to explain why you are making the request. |
Does you offer scholarships? We do provide scholarships for Summer Camp programs. The family of a scholarship applicant is required to provide a letter of explanation regarding why the camper should be considered for a scholarship. We provides scholarships to qualified candidates solely on the basis of financial hardship. The family must also complete a registration form; leave the payment information blank. The camper must send a one-page, handwritten essay on some important historical person from the 18th Century. Explain their significance to life in the present day. Scholarships are 90% scholarships--after acceptance, the camper pays only $40 for a one-week session. The deadline for scholarship applications is March 15. Notification of scholarship acceptance will be provided by April 1. |
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How do I register for a Field Trip? Simply download our Field Trip Registration form. Call or email us to ensure that the date and location you desire are available. Complete the easy-to-use form, then mail or fax it in. Examine the Field Trip event webpage to get an idea of the type of activities that are available. |
I want to participate in an Overnight Encampment. When are they scheduled? Examine the Encampment webpage for more detailed information. We conduct two-day/one-night and three-day/two-night Encampments for groups of twenty or more persons, such as wilderness groups, historical interest groups, families, scouts, church groups, youth groups, etcetera. You would be responsible for creating a group and scheduling the date to conduct the Encampment. Call Toll-Free at 866.354.6856 for more information. |
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How do you make the delicious Campfire Fudge? You should have the correct ingredients, but how you cook it is even more important. The ingredients are: 8 ounces of chocolate cocoa; 8 ounces of milk, 8 ounces of light corn syrup, two sticks of butter, 4 pounds of sugar, and a teaspoon of vanilla. Add all the ingredients to a pot, except one-half stick of butter and the vanilla, and set over a hot fire. Stir while the pot heats.
The fudge will boil, with rapid bubbling. The fudge will thicken and rise, then as the bubbling begins to slow, the fudge will begin to drop. It is important that the fudge be allowed to thicken until the bubbles slow, pop slowly, and form craters around the bubbles. Remove from the fire, add the vanilla and extra half stick of butter. Stir around the edges and bottom of the pan. When the fudge begins to harden slightly around the edge of the pan, pour into a flat cookie sheet. Let cool, then cut and eat while still warm. What clothing is provided for participants? Males use a Colonial shirt. Females wear a shift (otherwise known as a chemise), which is like a gown -- it is worn as a blouse, an undergarment, and also for nighttime clothing; a petticoat around their waist -- it is pulled up by a drawstring, like a modern skirt; and a wear a pinafore on top of their chemise -- it functions like an apron. In the Eighteenth Century, women would pin their pinafore to their shoulders; however, our pinafores have ties worn around the neck and waist. Women and mature campers wear a bodice. It is comparable to a modern vest and is worn for modesty. Where do you get your clothing? Ms. Louise Byrd makes all of our Program clothing. Ms. Byrd is 83 years old and loves to sew! She is retired from working for many years working in the mill industry. She is a wonderful person to visit -- we look forward to visiting with her regularly. You can know that all of the clothing was made with loving care. Ms. Byrd is a big fan of our Program.
What is a typical menu like at a Colonial-American Program? This is the actual menu from a day at Summer Camp. The campers chopped the wood; the campers prepared, managed, and maintained the fires; the campers prepared, cooked, served, ate, and cleaned the meal:
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Do the Colonial-American Programs include a residential camp? Yes. (For Residential Summer Camp and Encampments, that is.) However, we also conduct School Field Trips, Daytime Summer Programs, and other Special Events that are completed during the day. You may conduct an event at one of our sites, or we will bring the Colonial Camp to a site-of-your-choice. We can either conduct a standard event or you can craft a Program to your specifications. Call 866.354.6856 for pricing, details, and more specific answers. What is a typical day at an Overnight Program like? Before a day begins, the Program Directors create a schedule and a menu--each team has their own separate schedule. The staff meets early in the morning to discuss the plan for the day; at the end of the day they meet to review the day and lessons learned. The day revolves around five milestone activities: arise out of bed, eat breakfast, eat dinner, eat supper, and go to bed. Campers rise before breakfast. One team cooks breakfast, one team chops wood, and other teams may perform other chores. There are activities and crafts during the day between meals. In the morning, there is a Proverbs discussion. After dinner, there is a mandatory rest time. Everyone also showers during the day. In the evening, there may be a special activity, like Capture the Flag, or a hike. Prior to bedtime, there is a reading from Colonial history and awards are presented for the day. The schedule for a typical day might look like this:
Can campers opt out of activities for which they do not want to participate? Absolutely. However, there are some activities that are not optional, like helping to cook a meal, other chores, or participating in the character discussions. Are there swimming or water activities at the Colonial-American Programs? No. What topics are covered during the discussions from the Proverbs of Solomon? The Proverbs of Solomon are treated as great spiritual wisdom with their origin from the Creator of the universe--the view of many of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, and the view of most Americans in the Eighteenth Century. The topics emphasized may include: the benefits of hard work and discipline, the need to seek wisdom, obedience to parents, true friendship, accepting wise instruction, personal integrity, and other similar topics. We also use documents such as The School of Manners or Rules for Children's Behavior, 1701, or George Washington's school exercises, Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversation. May campers send and receive mail? There is a mail call every afternoon; families and friends are welcome and even encouraged to write to campers. Campers are also encouraged to write letters; one of the common activities is to write an actual letter with quill and ink. It is also acceptable for families and friends to miss beloved campers. Ice cream or a good movie may be used suitably as antidotes. What sleeping accommodations are provided for campers? For re-enacting the American Revolution we offer these historically correct wedge tents. Campers sleep in historically-correct American Revolutionary War era canvas wedge tents that hold either two (6' x 7') or six (12' x 12') persons. The tents are waterproofed. Large tents have flys over the doors. This makes it possible to conduct activities under any weather conditions. The tents are also located on earth mounds so that no water can drain into the tent. There are other tents and tent flys always available for activities, cooking, and eating.
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What is the telephone number for emergency purposes? See the contact information. What happens if my child becomes ill or homesick? The directors take all injuries or illness seriously. Simple childhood illnesses are handled through typical means: rest, comfort, plenty of fluids, and time. If a more serious condition exists, the parents will be contacted. When appropriate, the camper may go home. If necessary, the Staff will seek medical attention. It is normal for a few campers to become homesick at the beginning. The staff will reassure the camper that this is normal and encourage the camper to deal with these feelings by building relationships with other campers and get involved in the many interesting activities. At the discretion of the Camp Director, a call home will be placed. It is recommended that the parents tell the camper to stay and that they are proud of the camper. In some instances when this course of action is not satisfactory to settle the camper, it may be required for the family to pick up the camper. What happens in the event of severe inclement weather? The facilities are well-suited and time-tested to work well even in moderate inclement weather. Our activities continue under the cover of waterproof tents and tent flaps. They can resist well, even comfortably, strong rain and winds. The Staff regularly stays abreast of current weather conditions from the relevant local weather authorities. In the event of a severe weather condition, the campers and staff seek safety at some secure location away from the campsite. What about snakes, bugs, ticks, and poison ivy? Snakes, bugs, ticks, and allergic plants are located everywhere in the United States, probably including your back yard. Contact between snakes and humans is not likely; snakebites are rare, contrary to popular fears. Snakes don't usually crawl into people's beds and bite them, because snakes are more afraid of people than people are of snakes. Snakebites often occur when someone accidentally encounters a snake and doesn't respond with caution. Campers are required to stay in a group of at least three persons. The Directors recommend that all campers bring insect repellant to prevent irritation from bugs. The Staff also frequently checks for tick infestation. Insects are a fascinating and educational facet of the environment, and campers are taught to observe and learn about the natural habitat of the great outdoors. The Staff instructs each camper about how to identify and avoid poison ivy. In the event that a camper becomes irritated by poison ivy, the Staff will treat the infection using standard medication. Poison ivy is a vine often growing near the base of trees; the leaves are characterized by clusters of three leaves.
What type of security is available for camp facilities? We know the whereabouts of all Participants at all times. Staff are with the campers at all times. We haves a Three-Person Rule -- no camper may leave the central campsite without going with a group of at least three people. No counselor, adult, camper, or other individual may be alone with another individual on the campsite for any reason. |
Where is my cup? This is the most frequently asked question at the Colonial-American Programs. (Young campers sometimes misplace their personal drinking cup.) The correct answer is, "Right where you last left it." Why does the food taste so good? There are many reasons for this. We make all meals from fresh products and the food is prepared from scratch. Probably the biggest reason is the use of cast-iron cookware. (Those who use cast-iron at home are now audibly agreeing.) Cast-iron cookware absorbs a lot of heat because it is so dense--this disperses the heat and maintains a low, constant, even temperature. Cast-iron retains some of the oil from previously-cooked foods (called "seasoning"), thereby flavoring all other foods. Cast-iron therefore makes 'lower' cuts of meat more tasty and tender. What type of wash areas are available for campers? Soap and water are supplied at the drinking barrels. Bath facilities are provided via corrugated galvanized walls, shower curtains, and buckets with holes in the bottom. Weekend campers do not usually utilize the shower facilities, since they are only present for one or two nights, but weeklong campers do make use of the shower facilities. How do you ensure that employees are appropriate to work with children? All staff must complete an employment application and are interviewed face-to-face. All of their personal and employment references are called. We perform a criminal background check for all employees, and we check each state's Sexual Offender Registry. Every employee is asked if there is any reason why it might not be appropriate that they work with children. We are committed to make every reasonable effort to prevent inappropriate persons from having access to campers. What are the nearest medical facilities? We have multiple sites. We know the local hospitals, emergency care centers, and emergency contact numbers. What first aid supplies and emergency procedures are available? Staff are certified in First Aid and CPR. We maintain a stock of emergency medical equipment and First Aid pharmaceuticals. We also maintain an Emergency Evacuation procedure. What is the source of water? The water is supplied by well or public sources and approved for use by local health departments. |
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Who was Molly Pitcher? Mary Hays McCauly was the wife of John Hays, who was part of a team that fired cannons. It was her responsibility to bring pitchers of water to the soldiers during battle. They would drink the water and use it to cool the gun and artillery barrels. During the Battle of Monmouth (New Jersey, June 28, 1778), her husband collapsed, and she took over his position helping to fire the cannon! It was particularly legendary for a female to participate in battle during the Revolutionary War, and General George Washington took special note. He issued her a warrant as a non-commissioned officer, and she was nicknamed "Sergeant Molly." "Molly" became famous as a war hero, and because she carried pitchers of water to soldiers, she became known as "Molly Pitcher" in the popular imagination. A sculpture still stands at the battle monument today.
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Who were Roger's Rangers? Robert Rogers commanded a force during the French and Indian War (1755-63). He was given a commission by the British because of his experience fighting against the Indians in remote areas. His Rangers were known for their unconventional tactics and bravery.
What is the style of scalloping (trim) that you have around your marquis tents? That particular style of scalloping is named "George Washington Scalloping"--it is the style used on the tents of our first President. Why did the early flag have thirteen stars? The thirteen stars of the first American flag represent the thirteen original colonies. Although later flags contain larger number of stars, they retain the thirteen stripes in recognition of those same original colonies. |
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For comments,
criticisms, and suggestions, contact the administrator.
Or call
us Toll-Free at 866.354.6856.
