Frequently Asked Questions about NEOC

General Camp Info

Where is NEOC located?

Our campus at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Gardens at Elm Bank — Elm Bank, for short — offers campers a picturesque, nature-based environment. The Elm Bank address is 900 Washington Street, Wellesley. Learn more about our campus

Who are the NEOC Counselors, and who hires and trains them?

The NEOC team is made up of dedicated professionals with a wide range of backgrounds. Our team includes educators, social workers, scientists, gardeners, and outdoor survivalists to name a few! In addition, we have graduate and undergraduate college students, internationals, and high school students, many of whom have child-centric career goals. Our Leadership Team is composed of veteran leaders from LINX Camps and outdoor camps and programs throughout the United States. An exciting number of our team bring a love of camp gained from their own childhood camp experiences!

Our summer staff is hired, trained, and supported by our year-round team who dedicate twelve months a year to ensuring a safe, enriching, and fun summer camp experience for campers.  Our year-round team also focuses on supporting our seasonal staff, whether working at NEOC is their first job or they are professionals in their year-round work.

What are your camp hours?

NEOC runs from 9:00am - 4:00pm. We also offer additional services to support the needs of families: Early Drop-Off, drop-off between 8:00-8:30am, and Extended Day, pick-up between 5:00-6:00pm. During these times the office is always staffed.

Do you offer a lunch service?

As the Elm Bank Reservation does not have a commercial kitchen or dining hall, a lunch service is not offered. In packing a lunch for your camper please know:

  • All food brought from home by staff and campers is required to be nut free. Soy butter and sunflower butter are allowed. If you pack a lunch containing soy butter or sunflower butter, please label the item(s) so that counselors can easily identify the food.
  • All lunch boxes / bags need to be labeled with your campers name.
  • Reusable lunch boxes / bags and food containers are appreciated, as they support our conservation culture.

 

Should campers bring a snack, in addition to lunch?

We provide campers with a nut-free, individually packaged snack each day. All snacks provided by NEOC are peanut and nut-safe. We offer an allergen-safe substitute for those campers who need it.

At no time are campers permitted to share snacks with one another.

Campers may choose to bring their own snack each day. It must be an allergy-safe snack.

Examples of the types of snacks we offer:

  • Annie's Organic Cheddar Bunnies
  • Snyder's of Hanover Pretzels
  • Pepperidge Farm Cheddar Goldfish
  • Pirate's Booty
  • Kellogg's Bug Bites Grahams Crackers
  • Hippeas Organic Chickpea Puffs (allergen-safe substitute)
  • Snyder's of Hanover Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks (allergen-safe substitute)
Is there continuity between weeks?

NEOC was designed to maintain continuity when a family does multiple, or even all, weeks of the summer! Our staff is trained to maintain consistent standards of behavioral excellence from week-to-week. Our weekly themes and rotating choice periods keep each week fresh for campers. The overall of structure within the days and weeks is similar so campers feel at home and are comforted by knowing what to expect!

Will my camper's counselors change from week-to-week if they are signed up for several weeks?

We review the number of weeks each camper is registered for and match the campers up with other campers who have similar schedules. We then match them up with counselors to provide them with as much continuity as possible.

What do I do if my child is going to be late to camp, or needs to be picked up early?

Early pick-ups requests must be made by 10:00pm on the day before. Advance notice is important for allowing us to support your family with minimal disruption to our activity plans and staff coverage expectations.

To tell us about a late drop-off or early pick-up, go to your personalized schedule. Then click the date you want to make a late drop-off or early pick-up and follow the directions you see.

How do you assure my child only goes home with an authorized adult?

Pick-up cards serve as authorized IDs at NEOC. Only give your pick-up card to those you approve to pick up your camper, whether that is by car or at a bus stop. If you do not have your pick-up card, please have your driver's license so we can make sure you are an authorized pick-up. Our staff members are equipped with technology connected into our custom database so they can also easily access your account to see who is authorized to pick-up your camper!

How do you handle bullying behavior?

We proudly maintain a zero tolerance policy for any acts of meanness, cruelty, or bullying of any kind. NEOC works to build positive group dynamics that ensure all campers are in an emotionally safe place and that they are surrounded by caring and inclusive staff and campers. If bullying behavior is identified, the staff members act swiftly and remove the aggressor and work with parents to address the issue immediately. In the event a parent learns of a problem within a group, we strongly advise that you call the camp office immediately so it can be addressed. Our staff members work to build trusting relationships with each camper so the campers know they can count on the staff to be there for them as needed. We train our staff to know, "We will remove 10 campers from a group by our choosing, before we will lose a single camper by their choosing when it comes to negative behavior affecting the group or individual." All staff members know we are serious about positive character development!

What do the counselors do to make sure my child makes friends and has a good experience?

Each counselor is trained extensively to help campers feel right at home and make friends. From ice-breakers and getting-to-know-you games every Monday to pairing campers throughout the week, the campers can't help but get to know and appreciate each other for their differences and similarities.

How do I reach the camp office or my child's counselor?

You can reach the camp office by calling or texting 781-235-8765, using the chat box on our website, or emailing info@campneoc.com. If you have a question for your child's counselor or need to give them information, please don't hesitate to call the camp office.

What is your sunscreen policy?

All campers should come to camp fully sunscreened. Counselors will not be able to apply sunscreen on campers or assist campers with their sunscreen application. Counselors will remind and encourage campers to reapply sunscreen at approximately 10:30am, 12:30pm, and 2:30pm daily.

All campers are asked to bring sunscreen, labeled with their name, to camp with them for reapplication through the day:

  • Campers under the age of 10 are encouraged to bring bottled sunscreen.
  • Campers 11 and older may use spray sunscreen.
Do you require campers to be potty trained?

All campers must be able to independently use the bathroom while at camp. This includes:

  • The ability to communicate to their counselors that they need to go to the bathroom before they are about to have an accident
  • Postpone going if they must wait for another camper who is using the bathroom
  • Pull up/down their clothes without assistance
  • Get on/off the toilet by themself
  • Wipe and clean themselves after using the toilet
  • Wash and dry their own hands

Campers are to be dressed for camp in clothing that they can easily change in/out of independently.

Campers are not permitted to wear diapers or pull-ups at camp, even as a preventative measure. Additionally, campers who rely on swim diapers are not permitted to use them in the pool.

We realize that accidents may occur. For this reason, we recommend that all campers bring to camp a full change of clothes, including underwear and socks, in a Ziploc bag that is labeled with their name. Parents will be notified by telephone by a NEOC staff member if an accident does occur.

NEOC reserves the right to cancel the registration of any participant who has repeated bathroom accidents at camp. After three accidents within a one-week period, a child will be asked to take a break from camp for the remainder of the week. Upon returning to camp, and if appropriate, the child may be reduced to a half-day schedule. After three more accidents, the child will need to take a break for the rest of the summer and we will then apply 100% of their unused tuition paid as a NEOC credit on the family account in the hopes that they will be ready next year. This credit will never expire and can be used by any child in the family for future camps. These policies are in place to ensure a safe and sanitary environment for all.

Health & Wellness

Do you have a registered nurse on campus?

We have a registered nurse who is trained to deal with a wide array of medical needs. They can handle anything from small scrapes and bumps, all the way to administering and monitoring diabetes.

What is your attendance policy regarding campers who show signs of illness?
  • Campers with a fever of 100.0 degrees or higher, or symptoms of being ill such as, but not limited to, cough, sore throat, nausea, dizziness, aches, or chills, must stay home.

  • Campers who exhibit a fever or signs of illness while at camp and as a result, either go home early or stay home entirely, may not attend NEOC the next day.

  • Campers may only return to NEOC after they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the aid of acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) and/or have completed any required quarantine period.

NEOC does not issue credits or refunds for sick days.

Allergies

What snacks are camper's given?

We provide campers with a nut-free, individually packaged snack each day. All snacks provided by NEOC are peanut and nut-safe. We offer an allergen-safe substitute for those campers who need it.

At no time are campers permitted to share snacks with one another.

Campers may choose to bring their own snack each day. It must be an allergy-safe snack.

Examples of the types of snacks we offer:

  • Annie's Organic Cheddar Bunnies
  • Snyder's of Hanover Pretzels
  • Pepperidge Farm Cheddar Goldfish
  • Pirate's Booty
  • Kellogg's Bug Bites Grahams Crackers
  • Hippeas Organic Chickpea Puffs (allergen-safe substitute)
  • Snyder's of Hanover Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks (allergen-safe substitute)
Are you nut-free and what do you do if a child brings in nuts?

NEOC is peanut and tree nut-free, to create a safe environment for all campers and staff. No one is allowed to share food and absolutely no peanut and tree nuts are allowed in camp (that includes foods that may have been processed in a factory that contains peanut and tree nuts). Our staff is very vigilant and we confiscate all peanut and tree nut products should they arrive to camp and notify parents immediately. Learn more

My child requires an EpiPen for allergies. How will it be handled?

Campers who come to camp by car hand their EpiPen to a camp nurse at drop-off on Monday. Their EpiPen is housed at the health center and is returned to them at the end of their camp day on Friday.

Campers who come to camp by bus hand their EpiPen to their Bus Captain each morning and receive it back from their Bus Captain each afternoon. During the camp day, the EpiPen is housed at the health center.

What happens if my camper forgets their EpiPen?

Campers who require EpiPens are required to have one at camp in order to be able to participate.

In the very rare case that a bus-riding camper arrives at camp without their EpiPen, the camper must sit in the office until one is brought to camp to ensure their safety is maintained.

Absences

What do I do if my child is going to be absent?

If your child will be absent, please give as much advance notice as possible! To report an absence from camp, please go to your personalized schedule. Then click the date your camper will be absent and follow the directions you see.

Bus Service

Can I sign up for busing by day?

Our bus service is only offered on a weekly basis.

What time should I arrive at the bus stop?

Please plan to arrive to your bus stop 10 minutes early each day, both in the morning to drop-off your child(ren) and in the afternoon to pick-up your child(ren). Your promptness ensures efficiency and timeliness for all of our camp families.

Do buses run on time?

Drop-off and pick-up times are target times and subject to change based on traffic conditions. You can not leave your child or children at the bus stop unattended. Buses will not leave prior to their scheduled time unless all campers have gotten on or off the bus at the designated stop. Buses will not wait past their scheduled times, so please be prompt

What should I do if I am running late to pick-up my camper(s) from bus stop?

In the event you will be late to your stop to meet your child for pick-up, please call or text the NEOC Office ASAP at 781-235-8765. If you are not prompt for pick-up, typically the bus will proceed to the next stop on route. If you are close behind, you may be advised to meet your child at the next stop.

What if I need to pick-up at camp instead of having my child(ren) take the bus home as scheduled?

If you need to pick-up your child at camp, and you are not going to have them ride the bus as scheduled, we ask that you let us know no later than 10:00pm on the day before. Schedule an early pick-up. Please remember to bring your pick-up card.

Do I need a pick-up card at the bus stop?

Bring your pick-up card each day — it is required! Your pick-up card serves as your identification, and you should have it present both when dropping your child(ren) off for the bus and when picking your child(ren) up from the bus. Even though you might get to know your child(ren)'s Bus Captain over time, we ask that you present your pick-up card each day. To print your pick-up card, visit the Family Dashboard. Please note that if you do not have your pick-up card, you can use your driver's license.

Who is supervising the campers on the bus?

We hire and train counselors to serve as Bus Captains and Bus Monitors. Bus Captains greet families at each stop and work hard to make your child(ren)'s bus ride an extension of the camp day by incorporating games and songs along the way! At the end of the day, Bus Captains ensure that each child is safely delivered to their designated stop and that campers are picked up only by authorized individuals. Each bus also has at least one Bus Monitor, who helps supervise camper behavior.

How does NEOC handle behavioral issues on the bus?

Riding the camp bus is a privilege. Our Camp Director has the sole discretion to ban a camper from riding our bus service if it is determined that the camper has behaved in a way that puts the bus, the bus staff or the other campers at risk.

How long are the bus rides?

Typically, bus rides are between 15 - 60 minutes depending on the bus stop location. Check pick-up and drop-off times on your specific schedule for estimated times.

Rates & Promotions

What are your rates/prices for camp? How much does each week cost? What is the pricing for extras like bus?

We offer multi-week and ACH (pay by bank) discounts. You can see all of our rate information on our pricing page which includes a camp calculator to determine your cost.

Will I get a partial refund if my child's school is in session during part of their camp week?

By April, every school has set their last day of school for the current school year and the first day of school for the next school year. We will reach out, by the end of April, to all families who are registered for the first and last weeks of camp. Any family who has a school and camp overlap will then have the choice of canceling the week(s) in conflict (credit or refund) —OR— keeping the full week registration(s) even if their camper(s) will only attend a partial number of days (no partial credit or refund).

Do I get a refund if I cancel?
How do I cancel a camp registration?

We understand that summer plans may change. Should you need to cancel a week(s) of camp, please complete a cancellation form, which is also found on your Family Dashboard.

All cancellations will be processed according to our cancellation policy.

Will I get a credit or refund if NEOC is closed due to dangerous weather?

NEOC is designed with a 100% outdoor curriculum. Our campus includes ample shelter space to keep campers safe during thunderstorms, and to give them breaks from constant rain or extreme heat. If dangerous weather, such as a tropical storm, is forecasted, the Leadership Team may close camp for the day. Families will be notified, by text, no later than 6:00am that camp is closed for the day. Families will receive credit equal to a day of camp.

Donations & Scholarships

Do you offer scholarships?

The LINX Companies has extended discounted or free summer camp experiences to families throughout the greater Boston areas, who were in need of financial assistance, since 2009. The company has always strived to maximize the reach of its donations and to maintain an inclusive view of which children would gain the most positive impact from a summer camp experience. Learn more

Will you make a donation to my organization's event or fundraiser?

We are proud to support many local organizations. Please give at least six weeks lead time for donation requests, as we are not always able to accommodate last minute requests. Learn more