THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING CAMP FERN
AS YOUR EAST TEXAS SUMMER CAMP!

2021 Arrival And Departure Schedule

Transportation

We encourage parents to bring their child to camp on Opening Day and to pick them up on Closing Day. If parents or guardians choose to have their campers travel by air to our East Texas camp, we provide pick ups from Longview and Shreveport airports. If your child is to arrive by plane or bus, notify the camp of the time of arrival to ensure we have the correct itinerary for your child. Pickup or delivery of campers to or from Shreveport will be $30; for Longview, $20; and for Marshall, $10 per trip. Tickets home may be deposited at camp, and we will see that campers get on the plane or bus, and both parents will be notified of their time of arrival to camp. If luggage will arrive separately from the camper, please send it by UPS. There will be no charge for baggage pickup unless a special trip is involved.

Opening day

Opening Day goes much more smoothly for families that have turned in all paperwork ahead of time.

We want to provide the safest environment for your camper, so we ask that all campers have a head check before entering into the main camp gates. Checks begin at 1:00pm at Fern Retreat for all sessions except for Girls Camp (head checks begin at 12:00pm for Girls Camp only), and they run throughout opening day. If you arrive after 4:00 PM, please go to the infirmary for the head check. Your child will receive a wristband after he/she has been checked. We thank you ahead of time for your cooperation and patience. Counselors, games, music, and refreshments are awaiting your arrival at Fern Retreat.

Families are greeted by the CF Counselors along the Ferny road. Your camper will receive his/her nametag and, if we have received all your paperwork, you will get a packet that includes your camper’s cabin assignment, a map of how to get to your cabin, and a brief history that tells you all about your camper’s cabin counselors. Parents who have not fully completed the health certificate will need to check in with the nurse at Fern Retreat before moving into the cabin.

At 2:00pm, the gates open!!! Go to your cabin and get settled – as long as you have been given your green camper’s packet. At the cabin, you will be greeted again by your camper’s counselors, draw for a numbered bunk, select a cubbyhole for toiletries and a shelf for sheets and towels, and you’ll probably unpack a few items. All counselors are wearing staff shirts, and they look forward to helping you in any way. It is very important that we have all the necessary paperwork before you leave. Please remember to bring your health form, permission form, application, and payment if you haven’t already mailed them in.

From 2:00pm – 4:00pm (2-3pm for GC2. Coed, & BC2) there will be an Open House on the Campgrounds - Feel free to walk around camp on your own or with a guide, take a boat ride around the lake, and enjoy refreshments in the Dining Hall. Old scrapbooks are there for you to browse as well. Margaret Lee, the Owner of Camp Fern, would love to greet you personally and learn more about your expectations for your camper this summer. Don’t forget to check out our new Camp Fern merchandise and other Camp Fern goodies.

At 4:00pm, (3pm for GC2, Coed, & BC2), the camp session officially begins! Parents will have departed by this time, and all campers and counselors will meet at the Council Ring (near the waterfront) for our opening Pow Wow. During this Pow Wow, the counselors introduce themselves to the campers and get them pumped up about the summer activities we have to offer. After the skit, the kids are dismissed to their cabins for scheduling and the raft swim. We have Sunday night Cookout for dinner and then an evening activity.

Closing day

The schedule listed below is for the closing day of Girls' and Boys' camp. Schedules for the 2-week sessions and coed sessions may vary in times.

9:30am Gates Open! Check out in the Recreation Hall in order to…

• Receive store balances or handle overages

• Sign Up Early Bird

$300 (discount for cash or check) or $310 deposit required, refundable until March of the following year.

Open House/Visitors

Open House

This is a time for you to visit with counselors, campers, friends, and families you might have met on opening day or when you were a camper/counselor. Margaret is also available to visit and looks forward to visiting with you. You can also pick up crafts projects in Crafts House and watch your camper ride a horse or climb the Power Pole.

• 10:30am 1st War Canoe Race for next season (4-week sessions only)

• 12:00pm Camp Fern session officially closes

Visitors

Parents, relatives, and friends are requested not to visit campers during the session. Campers are not permitted to leave camp during the session with parents or friends. Please help us uphold this policy as it is for the safety and well being of the campers.

Off-season visits are available upon request. We would love to see you and show you around our summer camp. Please contact us in advance to schedule a date and time.