Frequently Asked Questions
Q: This is my child's first time at an overnight camp. Are counselors in the cabin with the campers and how do they handle home-sickness?
A: Yes, counselors stay in the cabin with campers. We deal with home-sick campers all of the time at camp. First, we do our best to keep campers active all day in the various activities that we have at camp. We try to distract them by having as much fun as possible! By the time it is time to go to bed, most campers are usually tired enough to fall asleep rather quickly. For those who still have some anxieties, counselors talk them through the emotions that they are feeling and try to help them focus on other things, like all of the fun they have had, and have yet to have, and reassure them that it is very natural to feel home-sick while at camp. If campers are still pretty upset, the counselors may involve the Camp Director, Mr. McDonald, who is always available to help a camper in need, regardless of the time.
Q: My child is in 7th grade. Should I have them attend Session 2 or Session 3?
A: Current 7th graders can attend Session 2 or Session 3. They would be the oldest campers at Session 2, or the youngest at Session 3. Attending Session 3 as a 7th grader is for the student who is more advanced or has been taking private lessons for a year or more. Session 3 will be more of a musical challenge. Additionally, if your 7th graders has already attended Session 2 as a 6th grader, they could try moving up to Session 3 for a change of pace and increased challenge musically. We recommend Session 2 for the 7th grader who is still working on their skills and is looking for a more comfortable level of music making. Also, if they have not attended MASTA Camp before, or attended Session 2 previously and felt it was a good level of challenge, then Session 2 is a great fit for them. The best person to ask for help deciding, if you and your child are unable to decide, is your child's Orchestra teacher or private lesson instructor.
Q: Can I list your camps as a deduction on my taxes?
A: The MASTA String Camps do not qualify as child care for tax purposes. Therefore, we cannot provide our tax ID information to parents for the purpose of a tax deduction. We have encountered problems with this in the past and do not wish to have those same problems in the future.
Q: When are check-in and check-out times?
A: Please visit the Parent Info page for check-in and final performance times for each session.
Q: After registering, when can we anticipate receiving camp information?
A: The Camper Information Packet will be emailed to you in early May. This information will include Camp Guidelines, detailed information about drop-off and pick-up, recommended packing list, etc.
Q: Is it OK if I arrive early on check-in day?
A: We work very hard to make sure that everything is perfect and ready to go for your arrival and for your camper. We ask that you do not arrive early on check-in day as we will not be able to begin check-in early and cannot accommodate families that may arrive early. We thank you in advance for your understanding.
Q: Is it OK if I arrive early on the day of the final performance?
A: On the day of pick-up, we know you are so excited to see your child again and they are so excited to see you, but please do not plan to arrive any more than 15-30 minutes early. We have activities running for campers all the way up until the start time of the final performance and we cannot accommodate families that may arrive early and it can be a distraction to campers as we wrap up our final activities at camp. We also cannot have our staff direct traffic until 30 minutes before the start time due to their involvement in daily activities. We thank you for your understanding with this. Your cooperation with this makes things run much smoother for everyone involved, and means you don't have to stand around in the heat waiting for the performance area to open up :).
Q: If we put down a roommate request on the application, what are the chances that my child with be placed in a cabin with that person?
A: We do our best to honor ALL roommate requests. We have a running record of honoring almost 100% of the roommate requests that we receive. The only time it becomes difficult is when there are several names on the roommate request.
Q: What if I need to get in touch with my child because of an emergency?
A: If there is an emergency or pertinent information that you need to get to your child (someone else will be picking them up, they left something at home, etc.) you are welcome to send us an email at [email protected] or you can call the camp phone number and we can take care of the communication for you. For more information about communication with your child while they are at camp, please see the Parent Info page.
A: Yes, counselors stay in the cabin with campers. We deal with home-sick campers all of the time at camp. First, we do our best to keep campers active all day in the various activities that we have at camp. We try to distract them by having as much fun as possible! By the time it is time to go to bed, most campers are usually tired enough to fall asleep rather quickly. For those who still have some anxieties, counselors talk them through the emotions that they are feeling and try to help them focus on other things, like all of the fun they have had, and have yet to have, and reassure them that it is very natural to feel home-sick while at camp. If campers are still pretty upset, the counselors may involve the Camp Director, Mr. McDonald, who is always available to help a camper in need, regardless of the time.
Q: My child is in 7th grade. Should I have them attend Session 2 or Session 3?
A: Current 7th graders can attend Session 2 or Session 3. They would be the oldest campers at Session 2, or the youngest at Session 3. Attending Session 3 as a 7th grader is for the student who is more advanced or has been taking private lessons for a year or more. Session 3 will be more of a musical challenge. Additionally, if your 7th graders has already attended Session 2 as a 6th grader, they could try moving up to Session 3 for a change of pace and increased challenge musically. We recommend Session 2 for the 7th grader who is still working on their skills and is looking for a more comfortable level of music making. Also, if they have not attended MASTA Camp before, or attended Session 2 previously and felt it was a good level of challenge, then Session 2 is a great fit for them. The best person to ask for help deciding, if you and your child are unable to decide, is your child's Orchestra teacher or private lesson instructor.
Q: Can I list your camps as a deduction on my taxes?
A: The MASTA String Camps do not qualify as child care for tax purposes. Therefore, we cannot provide our tax ID information to parents for the purpose of a tax deduction. We have encountered problems with this in the past and do not wish to have those same problems in the future.
Q: When are check-in and check-out times?
A: Please visit the Parent Info page for check-in and final performance times for each session.
Q: After registering, when can we anticipate receiving camp information?
A: The Camper Information Packet will be emailed to you in early May. This information will include Camp Guidelines, detailed information about drop-off and pick-up, recommended packing list, etc.
Q: Is it OK if I arrive early on check-in day?
A: We work very hard to make sure that everything is perfect and ready to go for your arrival and for your camper. We ask that you do not arrive early on check-in day as we will not be able to begin check-in early and cannot accommodate families that may arrive early. We thank you in advance for your understanding.
Q: Is it OK if I arrive early on the day of the final performance?
A: On the day of pick-up, we know you are so excited to see your child again and they are so excited to see you, but please do not plan to arrive any more than 15-30 minutes early. We have activities running for campers all the way up until the start time of the final performance and we cannot accommodate families that may arrive early and it can be a distraction to campers as we wrap up our final activities at camp. We also cannot have our staff direct traffic until 30 minutes before the start time due to their involvement in daily activities. We thank you for your understanding with this. Your cooperation with this makes things run much smoother for everyone involved, and means you don't have to stand around in the heat waiting for the performance area to open up :).
Q: If we put down a roommate request on the application, what are the chances that my child with be placed in a cabin with that person?
A: We do our best to honor ALL roommate requests. We have a running record of honoring almost 100% of the roommate requests that we receive. The only time it becomes difficult is when there are several names on the roommate request.
Q: What if I need to get in touch with my child because of an emergency?
A: If there is an emergency or pertinent information that you need to get to your child (someone else will be picking them up, they left something at home, etc.) you are welcome to send us an email at [email protected] or you can call the camp phone number and we can take care of the communication for you. For more information about communication with your child while they are at camp, please see the Parent Info page.
