Overnight Camp FAQ
General
Meals
We'll eat at the Northwestern Dining hall with breakfast around 8am, lunch around noon, and dinner around 5pm. Dining is all you can eat with multiple options for vegetarians or other dietary restrictions.
Snacks will be available throughout the day (or night) - campers can simply ask a counselor. In addition, we'll occasionally offer snacks to the entire group.
Allergies or specific food preferences can be accommodated at all meals if we are notified in advance of the camp. If we don't have that information ahead of time, we'll still take care of kids, but food options may not be as complete or thorough.
First & last meals provided at camp:
- Players arriving on Sunday evening should arrive having already eaten dinner.
- Players arriving on Monday should arrive having already eaten breakfast.
- At the end of camp (Thursday or Friday) players will eat lunch before the pick-up window, but dinner will not be provided.
Drop off & pick up
- Check-in on Sunday is 6:30-8:00pm.
- Check-in on Monday is 9:30-11:00am.
- Check-out on the Thursday is 3:00pm-4:30pm.
- Check-out on Friday is 2:30-4pm, but families are welcome to stay for the Union game at Martin Stadium
- Call/text Jake if alternate arrangements are needed.
Be aware of increased traffic during the holiday weekend.
Day campers: should eat breakfast prior to arriving, lunch is at ~12:00, and pick up is between 4-5:00pm. Specific times tba. We are planning evening activities that will end by 9pm. We suggest dropping off during/after breakfast and picking up before dinner. Call/text Jake if alternate arrangements are needed.
Cell phones
Cell phones will remain in the bunk rooms during the day and will be accessible to players right before/after meal times, when we have scheduled breaks at the dorms, and just before bed.
However, coaches may use discretion and determine a different approach with devices. For example, they may be time periods when coaches ask campers to put their phones away away during time periods when the group gathered in in the bunk room.
We will ask all campers to not use their phones after 10pm and if individuals are on their phones at night we may confiscate them until morning. Exceptions made upon request.
Safety / other
One or two camp staff will sleep on the dorm floor with the players.
All staff have passed background checks and the majority are first aid & CPR certified. There will always be at least one first aid & CPR certified coach with campers throughout camp.\
No smoking, alcohol, firearms, fireworks, candles, illegal substances or pets allowed (with assistance dog exceptions).
Medications
Medications are stored in the “staff room” where there is a kitchen space & fridge available. Bags/containers must be clearly labeled with the name of the camper and any relevant notes about the medication schedule.
During meal times (8am, noon, 5pm) and/or at bed time (9pm) a counselor will access the staff room and assist a camper with their medications; we’ll establish whether said camper or a specific counselor will be responsible for reminding that it’s medication time.
Camp director Jake Rubin-Miller (347-461-0838) will be the primary back-up for reminders and accessing the staff room as necessary.
Contact Info / Emergency Numbers
Contact camp director Jake Rubin-Miller for specific player arrangements, registration issues, questions about programming, logistics, coaching, or other.
- Jake Rubin-Miller
- youth@gochicagounion.com
- 3474610838
Urgent Care is available at Northwestern Medical Immediate Care, approx 2 miles from the fields/dorms. Open 24/7.
Divisions?
When we do the ultimate trainings, we’ll start players in divisions according to what Grade they're in and what Experience level they registered with.
Our goal is to have players in groups based on skills, experience, and athleticism and so we may make adjustments along the way.
When we are doing other activities (off the field), we’ll divide players into groups - sometimes by age/grade, and sometimes by other means.
If a player is starts off a division that does not seem like a good fit (in the eyes of the coaches), then we will move them up/down in order to improve the experience for all the players.
Which Experience level should I choose?
Players new to ultimate should indicate this by choosing Beginner when registering.
If your player has similar experience compared to their classmates, choose Intermediate.
Choose Advanced if your player is a top performer in their grade, and perhaps competes on a USA Ultimate YCC team.
If you’re not sure which division to register for, choose Intermediate and don't stress about it too much. We also also use Grade to organized divisions, and once we see how kids are doing on the first day, it's easy to rearrange kids if need be.
Can I sign up with friends or teammates?
For starters, players who are in the same grade and who register with the same Experience will default to the same group.
If it's important for your kid to be buddied with a player in a different grade or Experience level, we can support that. -> Use the "Friends or Teammates" field when you register to describe the situation.
We'll do our best to honor these requests, along with with the divisions that each kid is registered for. In the the event that these two factors contradict, we will use our best judgement and we may also ask players, "would you rather be with your friends, or in a division that's a better fit for you?"
In order to make the experience good for everyone, we reserve the right to separate players if they're being a distraction to the group.
Grade limitations?
Can I sign my kid up if they just finished 3th grade and they’re heading into 4th grade? …NO.
Can I sign my kid up if they just finished 5th grade and they’re heading into 6th grade? …YES.
Can I sign my kid up if they just finished 12th grade and are heading into college? ...NO
Mixed vs "Single Gender"?
Our on-field divisions will generally be mixed gender, while our bunk room arrangements and some other activities will be arranged by genders.
We may also have players participate in drills or scrimmages according to Bx division or Gx Division groupings. We'll do this more and more so with the older grades.
When we arrange by genders we'll use the information in player registrations, notably the gender pronouns indication. Our goal is to have an experience that is inclusive, safe, and fun for all genders - including trans and non-binary players. To this end, feel free to ask questions or make requests with our camp director, Jake.
Do you have another question? —> Ask us!
Jake Rubin-Miller <youth@gochicagounion.com>