What is and is not included in camp fees? back to top
Camp Fire USA Alaska Council provides transportation from Anchorage, all meals and activities and constant adult supervision. Basic souvenirs, T-shirts, stuffed animals, key chains, water bottles, disposable cameras, batteries, stamps, stationery, are available at the camp store. We recommend that campers bring not more than $20 for the camp store. You may decide to transport your camper to Kushtaka on your own. If so, please indicate that on your transportation form. If you are bring your camper by float plane or boat, please land on Kushtaka’s beach only after approximately 5:00 pm on the Sunday that camp begins.

What’s a typical day at Camp? back to top
Camp Kushtaka has a program schedule that provides consistency and structure to the residential experience. A typical day schedule includes:
7:15 Good Morning
7:45 Hoppers (kitchen assistants) to Lodge
8:00 Breakfast
9-9:30 Kapers and Ready for the Day
9:30-12:15 Morning Fun with Activity Groups
12:15 Lunch
1-2:00 Cabin quiet time "Me Time"
2:15-4 p.m. Afternoon Activity Group Time
4:00-5 p.m. Afternoon Choice
5:00-5:30 Free Time
5:45 Hoppers to Lodge
6-7:15 Dinner, Songs, Announcements
7:15-8:30 Evening Activity
8:30 Quiet Time - Gather as a Group
9:00 p.m. Ready for Bed
10 p.m. All Quiet

Where do the children sleep? back to top
Camp Kushtaka has capacity for 64 campers. 16 campers (separated by gender) are housed in each cabin with 2 camp staff. The campers live in wooden frame cabins, typically with 2 stories of bunks and a mattress for each. Campers share the space under the bottom bunk for their personal items. The cabin unit is the primary social unit at Camp Kushtaka. Camp counselors are always present in the cabin when the campers are there for afternoon rest hour or in the evening.

Are children separated by age? back to top
Yes, Camp Fire keeps the same age group together in activities and housing units. However, some activities include children from across age groups. These are pre-planned as leadership building activities, and generally provide an opportunity for older campers to mentor or assist younger campers with adult supervision.

What are the counselors like? back to top
Residential Camp staff are carefully screened to ensure that they 1) love and respect the needs of children and know how to have fun 2) have first aid and other appropriate certifications and 3) are prepared for the unique demands of a residential camp setting. Our staff frequently return to work at Camp Kushtaka. They are most often college students from the lower 48 states who are studying education, psychology, sociology, recreation or other related fields to youth development. All camp staff are required to be at least 18 years old.

What training do counselors receive? back to top
All camp staff are required to have their first aid and CPR certificates, a completed background check, 2 interviews and three excellent references completed before working. Camp Fire USA Alaska Council hosts ten days of training before the beginning of the summer. Camp staff are oriented in the Camp Fire program philosophy, safety and emergency procedures, group and behavior management, roles and responsibilies, and child development. The Camp Director facilitates a weekly staff meeting. Each staff person is evaluated through the summer and receives an end of season evaluation that determines their eligibility for re-hire.

What facilities are available at Camp Kushtaka? back to top
Camp Kushtaka was constructed in 1966 by a dedicated team of volunteers. The main lodge and some of the cabins were donated by the US Forest Service. The camp has running water, showers and latrine style vault toilets. The camp does not have electricity; the kitchen is operated solely with the use of propane. Our neighbors, Hamilton’s Place, provides freezer space for use at Camp.

What heath and safety standards are maintained at Camp Kushtaka? back to top
Camp Kushtaka has clearly defined policies around health and safety including facilities, water supply, kitchen and lodge procedures, food and garbage, an evacuation plan and an annual maintenance plan. During camp sessions, The Camp Director performs a daily inspection of the facilities, including kitchen, latrines and cabins. Our water supply is checked monthly by the Department of Environmental Conservation. Campers are required to wash their hands before each meal. Due to the camp’s remote location, our staff are particularly diligent about the need to prevent accidents and illness. The Camp is equipped with a satellite phone that is used to contact the Camp Fire office each day for a daily check in, and is also available for emergency use. The Camp Director also carries a cell phone for voice mail messages.

Can my child be in the same program with his or her friends? back to top
Yes, if your child has a preference for a cabin mate, please mention it on the registration form. Camp Fire can keep friends together as long as they are the same age. If they are not the same age, then we always move the older camper into the younger camper group. It’s important that the older child knows this prior to camp so they are not frustrated by not being with their own age group. We also like campers to make new friends while they are at camp, so we limit the number of friends you can request for bunk mates to one choice. Give us a call to discuss your situation.

What is ACA? back to top
Camp Kushtaka is accredited by the American Camping Association(ACA). As a leading authority in child development, the ACA works to preserve, promote, and improve the camp experience. The association is committed to helping our members and all camps provide:
• safe camp communities
• caring, competent adult role models
• healthy, developmentally-appropriate experiences
• service to the community and the natural world
• opportunities for leadership and personal growth
• discovery, experiential education, and learning opportunities
• excellence and continuous self-improvement

What does ACA Accreditation mean? back to top
Camp Kushtaka and Camp Si-La-Meo both maintain an ACA Accreditation. The following is a quote from the American Camp Association website.

“The 2,400+ camps accredited by the American Camp Association have met or exceeded the highest nationally recognized standards for health, safety, staff training and program quality in camps. You can be assured that up to 300 questions have already been asked and appropriately answered. ACA demonstrates a commitment to excellence that makes your job of choosing the right camp much easier. When camps display the ACA-accredited camp logo, they are showing that they have earned a true mark of distinction within the camp community.

What’s behind this hard-earned sign? Take a look at the following facts:
- Accreditation is an educational process of voluntary self-examination and peer review
- ACA’s standards program is continuously evaluated. At least once every three years, teams of two or more trained camp professionals observe a camp’s operation while in session and compare its practices with the standards of the industry.
- Although many state and federal laws and regulations may address basic sanitation and food service concerns, ACA’s standards go a step further in addressing the specific areas of programming, personnel, and management practices that relate specifically to summer camp. Separate standards are applied to activities such as aquatics, horseback riding, and travel and trip programs.
- The ACA accredited camp logo indicates that a camp is owned and operated by camp management committed to the highest standards for the camp industry. These camp owners/operators care enough to put themselves to the toughest tests in the camp profession."

I have a 12 year old and an 8 year old, can they be together? back to top
No, we group our campers by age and find that they have the best experiences when they are with campers of their own age. All campers eat meals together every day and kids sit where ever they want. Siblings typically will sit together for meals. We also have evening activities where the whole camp is together and they would have an opportunity to be together then as well.

What if my child has special needs? back to top
We are generally able to accommodate most children, but reserve the right to make determinations on a case by case basis. Our kitchen can accommodate most food allergies, and we have a camp nurse and a wilderness first responder available for medical emergencies. However, the camp is difficult for physically challenged individuals to navigate. Please give us a call to discuss your child’s needs.

What’s the best way to prepare for homesickness? back to top
It is not uncommon for campers to experience this while they are at camp. Our staff work very hard to insure that campers remain busy and have a great time but, parents can help with this before their children come to Camp.
1) Spend time talking about how much fun camp will be, the activities, the songs and how they can tell you all about it when they get home. Try not to say things like "I will miss you so much...", or spend a lot of time talking about all the things they will miss while they are gone. We want campers to anticipate the fun, not the "missing part".
2) Write some cheery, short cards to your children. The mail delivery is undependable, so we suggest you pre-write them and drop them off with staff on departure day. In doing this your children will be guaranteed mail.
3) Plan a special "together time" when your child gets home so they have something to look forward to.
4) Try not to say; "if your really homesick call me, and I will come and get you". Instead encourage them to talk to staff when they are feeling sad and the Camp Staff and child will come up with a plan to make them feel better.
5) Sometimes a picture of loved ones helps, so send one. (This could go either way, so use your judgment).
6) Stop by Camp and visit with your child before their session begins. Sign-up for a Spring work weekend.
7) Let us know about potential "homesickness" problems on the Camp Medical Form or write a note to the counselor.

Can I contact my child at Camp? back to top
In the event of an emergency, you can call the Camp Fire office to pass along a message to your child. If there is not an emergency, then we strongly recommend that you do not attempt to speak to your child during the week they are at camp. Camp can be a life-changing event around a child’s adventure into independence, autonomy and community building. Having a conversation with a parent can jeopardize a camper’s sense of belonging to their camp unit, and may increase their level of homesickness or worry.

What should my child bring to camp? back to top
We provide a parent guide that details a specific packing list when you register. Campers should be prepared with adequate clothing and a good positive attitude! Please remember that there is no electricity in the cabins. Candy, gum, food, matches, lighters, weapons, fireworks, cigarettes, illegal drugs, alcohol, pets, blow dryers, curling irons, cell phones and other electronic devices are not allowed at Camp Kushtaka.

What’s the refund policy? back to top
The $35 per child registration fee and $25 deposit per session are non-refundable. All requests for changes of dates or cancellation of camp sessions must be completed 14 days in advance (when your payment is due.) Contact us in the event that a family emergency prevents your child from going to camp.

Is financial assistance available? back to top
Camp Fire USA Alaska Council provides limited support for children whose parents have financial difficulty paying the participant fees. Any youth having completed Kindergarten may apply for a Campership. Current participation in a Camp Fire program is not required. Camperships are awarded based on need and available funds. The application process is simple, and confidential. The application process must be completed in full. All requests are reviewed by members of the Camp Fire management team. The campership process has a few guidelines:
• Campership applications must be complete with the amount parent/guardian can pay.
• The parent/guardian will pay the amount stated on the campership application or 20%, whichever is greater, for each camp session.
• The camp session fee less the deposit fee and registration fee paid and campership amount awarded equals the balance due.
• Camperships will be awarded for no more than 2 sessions at Camp Si-La-Meo and 1 week at Camp Kushtaka.
• Balances must be paid 10 days prior to the session starting.
• All other accounts must be in good standing with Camp Fire USA before a campership will be awarded.

Can I take my child to camp instead of taking the bus? back to top
Yes. You may decide to transport your camper to Kushtaka on your own or pick them up. The camp is located about 4 miles down Snug Harbor Road on the south side of Kenai Lake. If you do drop off your child, please indicate that on your registration form. If you are bringing your camper by float plane or boat, please land on Kushtaka’s beach by 11 am on the first day that camp begins. You may pick up your child at 3pm of the departure day. The bus will be leaving camp after lunch.

What is the refund policy? back to top
Deposits and registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Changes in enrollment, including withdrawl, must be submitted in writing to our camp registrar 14 days prior to the beginning of the session changed.

One change of enrollment per camper is processed free of charge. Additional changes will result in a $15 per change fee.

Lastly, The balance due must be paid 14 days prior to session start date. Balance must be paid in full if registering within 14 days of a session.