Additional Things to Know about Summer Camp at Mo
Opening and Closing Days
Opening day
Please be aware that the procedures for our Opening Day & Closing Day programs have changed based on recommendations of the CDC for camper, parent and staff well-being. Any future changes will be communicated through our office manager/registrar Nicole Conner.
Registration window: 2-4 p.m.: Mo-Ranch Summer Camp will require all campers to be transported by personal vehicle with their parent or guardian to verify health history and cover our screening procedures.
- Once you enter the gate, follow the signs to Check-In and our staff will help you through our registration process. You will receive a specific timeframe to bring your camper based on their age and group from our camp registrar between 2 and 4 p.m. Campers who have siblings will be allowed to check-in together, based on the oldest camper’s timeframe. Vehicles that arrive early will wait in line on the road between the tennis courts and the Youth Plaza entrance. Signs and staff will direct vehicles starting at 1:45 p.m. Bathrooms are available at the River Pavilion.
- Parents and children will stay in their vehicles throughout the registration process.
- Your first stop will be with our health assistant as they log your camper’s temperature.
- The parents/guardians will be asked to pull ahead to wait while each camper is checked by our health care staff for head lice. Once your camper is confirmed as being ready to go, staff members will then load their belongings in a truck/trailer to take to Loma Linda.
- If by chance your camper has head lice, they will be required to go home for treatment and/or approval from a medical professional before coming back to camp.
- Next, each camper family will go through a screening process with general questions about the camper/s’ health with our health manager.
- Please pack medications separate from the camper belongings, as our health manager or health assistant will take medications during this check-in. Remember that all medications must be in their original bottle or box and be prescribed specifically to the individual child.
- Our registrar will then work with each parent to ensure that all camper forms have been completed and submitted prior to arrival. All forms can be found on our Forms dashboard in CampMinder.
- Once the screening and registration process is complete, our staff will then unload and disinfect your camper’s belongings. We kindly ask that family members stay in their vehicles to say goodbyes during the screening and unloading process to minimize contact with staff and other campers.
- Campers will congregate with their counselor to start their name games as the rest of their group arrives.
- Once all campers from the specific group have arrived, they will then walk towards Loma Linda with their counselors.
- Additional counselors will be waiting at Loma Linda to help your camper set up their living space. If by chance your camper may have forgotten something in the vehicle, please drop the item off at the front desk in the Mabee Lobby, and our leadership staff will deliver it to your camper.
Closing day
Closing Ceremony: 9:30 a.m.: We will be having a brief closing day ceremony at the end of each session. The ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Riverfront Pavilion, however, early attendance is encouraged. There will be a staff member at the front gate directing traffic and signs along the way to the ceremony. This event will summarize your child’s experience at Mo-Ranch and celebrate the winners of our various awards that were given out during our closing campfire. Once the ceremony ends, camper parents will get in line to check out their campers with our office manager and retrieve any medications that were given at arrival from our camp nurse. When your child is checked out, you will get back in your car and follow signs to the Youth Plaza where counselors will be waiting to help retrieve luggage.
Don’t forget to register for the following summer to get an Early Bird gift for your camper! Check with our registrar, Nicole Conner to complete the paperwork before your camper departs and ensure a smooth process.
Alternative transportation
Due to CDC Guidelines and ACA Recommendations, Mo-Ranch requires a parent/guardian to drop off or pick up campers at this time. For any alternative transportation needs, please check with our registrar about available options.
Packing List
Remember to label all personal items!
All medications, including over the counter medications, will need to be turned in during registration. Please do not pack them.
Clothing:
- 8 T-shirts. No spaghetti straps, please!
- 8 pairs of shorts
- 8 sets of socks and underwear
- 1 pair sandals with heel strap/water shoes/old tennis shoes for playing in the water
- 1 pair sturdy tennis shoes/day hikers to be worn at all times except in the water
- light jacket or sweatshirt
- pajamas
- rain jacket
- swimsuit: modest one-piece for girls, modest trunks for boys
Toiletries:
(Remember to bring something to carry them in!)
- soap & soap dish
- shampoo & conditioner
- toothbrush & toothpaste
- brush/comb
- non-aerosol deodorant
- sun screen
- insect repellent
- shower shoes (flip flops)
Miscellaneous:
- dirty clothes bag
- basic backpack
- two sturdy water bottles (VERY IMPORTANT!!)
- ball cap/cap with brim
- flashlight with new batteries
- ground cloth for campout (shower curtain liners work well)
- fun stuff (crazy hats, big sunglasses, robes, silly costumes, etc.)
- Bible (All campers are encouraged to have their own Bible. If your child does not have one or chooses not to bring theirs, Bibles will be available at Mo-Ranch.)
Linens:
- twin sheets
- pillow & pillow case
- sleeping bag (use as a blanket and for the camp out)
- bath towel & washcloth
- beach towel
Optional Items:
- camera
- sunglasses
- bandana
- books
- stamped stationary/ postcards
- favorite stuffed animal
Do not bring any of the following items to camp; they will be confiscated:
Money, Apple watch series 3, iPod, cell phone, tablet, iPad, television, electronic games, jewelry, illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco, fireworks, firearms, knives (including pocket knives), inappropriate reading material, snack foods, candy, drinks or pets.
All personal items brought to camp by campers, staff or parents are the responsibility of the owner.
Mo-Ranch will not be responsible for damaged or lost items.
Mo-Ranch will attempt to locate items left behind, but cannot guarantee retrieval of lost personal belongings.
Please notify us immediately of lost items.
Communication
Campers are not permitted to make or receive phone calls.
We have found that phone calls promote homesickness and inhibit your camper’s growth toward independence while at camp.
We ask you respect our judgement on this issue and communicate with your camper through letters, or e-mails. Your campers will be writing home to you as well. However, remember that in a one-week session, you will probably receive their letters after they have returned home. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at any time.
By Phone: (800) 460-4401
Camp Director MaryAshley McGibbon- Extension 249
The camp director is often away from the office on camp business or working with your children. Feel free to leave a message and the camp director will always get back to you.
Associate Camp Director Billy Abbate – Extension 252
The assistant camp director is often away from the office on camp business or working with your children. Feel free to leave a message and the assistant camp director will always get back to you.
Office Manager Nicole Conner – Extension 234
The office manager will be in the office Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. The office manager can answer most registration and payment questions for you and is your daytime emergency contact to the director, counselors or campers. To contact the office manager directly by email, email naconner@moranch.org.
After Hours
In case of emergency after hours you may call (800) 460-4401 and our answering service will contact the staff member on duty immediately.
By Email:
This is where you will be able to email your child. To send emails you must have CampStamps (see below). Stationery, word games, photo attachments and eLetters each cost one extra camp stamp. If you add a stationery and/or word game, they will not show up until you preview your email.
All emails are limited to 50 lines. Stationery and word games further limit the amount of lines you can type as well. Please make sure to add any stationery or word games BEFORE you start writing your email. If you do so after, your email letter may be cut off.
CampStamps
■ CampStamps are used to send emails to your child. 1 CampStamp = 1
email. You can also use your CampStamps for stationary and word
games, if you so choose.
■ Different CampStamp packages are available for purchase with a credit
card. The packages are available in USD currency. You should know that
stamps rollover from year to year.
Weather
Texas gives us many different types of weather, but one thing we can be sure of, is that it will be hot! Our counselors are trained to keep in mind how weather can affect your camper, however as a parent you can help, too.
We ask that you send you camper with hats, sunglasses, two water bottles and any other clothing that would shield those Texas rays.
Throughout the day we experience rest in the shade, and are always being reminded to drink more water. We have water monsters around camp to make hydration a priority.
In case of light rain, activities will continue as normal. In case of heavy rain or thunderstorms, we will have alternative activities planned inside.
Flooding can also be an issue in the Hill Country. When the low water crossings to the east are flooded, there is a clear route to the west that connects with Hwy 41 and Interstate 10. Mo-Ranch facilities are all safe in times of flooding.
Photo Albums
Mo-Ranch Summer Camp has protected photo albums through Waldo. New photos will be available the following day so you can enjoy camp right along with your camper. If you lose the login information, contact us by email sumvideo@moranch.com, and we will verify your address and send the password back to you by email. Passwords will not be given over the phone.
Gift Shop
Visit our Mo-Ranch gift shop on opening and closing days! New items for 2023! Our shop will have numerous summer camp shirts and other souvenirs and keepsakes for memories made at Mo-Ranch Summer Camp. During the camp session, campers will visit the Mo-Ranch gift shop for a chance to purchase souvenirs, toys, games and other camp goodies. If your camper runs out or forgets an essential item such as toothpaste or other toiletries, they will be available for purchase in the store. At check-in on arrival day, deposit at least $25 directly into your camper’s store account. Campers are not allowed to bring cash into their dorm. Any funds not used from the camper’s store account at the end of the camp session will be donated to the camp scholarship fund. If you have any questions, you can call the bookstore at 800.460.4401 ext. 226