Make sure you’re ready for camp with your pre-camp checklist. Before your application is passed onto our Nursing and Wellbeing team for assessment, you will need to ensure you have completed the following page – www.otw.org.uk/hc-checklist

Introducing Beach Patrol

Our highly experienced and skilled Clinical Team are referred to as the Beach Patrol, and clinical care is provided in the Beach Hut – our beach themed clinical room.

We try and make camp as de-medicalised as possible, however a safe and dignified environment.  Our Beach Patrol wear bright pink t-shirts and the team is made up of volunteer doctors, nurses and paramedics. The Beach Patrol are on hand to provide any routine care your child needs. We may also have student nurses who work under the supervision of a qualified member.

The role of the Beach Patrol commonly includes the giving of medication, including oral chemotherapy, PEG, NG and NJ feeds, central lines and portacaths, dressings, stoma and catheter care and much more. This is done in a child-friendly, fun (although safe) environment. The Beach Hut is the only ‘clinical’ area at camp; however, a doctor, paramedic or nurse is on call for overnight emergencies at camp meaning that families at home can rest assured.  They will also have presence throughout all the fun activities, but don’t be alarmed if they are wearing face-paint and joining in with the rest of the team. They are there to encourage, put campers at ease and ensure their wellbeing.

The Beach Patrol are supported at camp under the direction of our Nursing Team and are equipped to give basic first aid and emergency care, however, we do not have the same facilities as a hospital.

For more information on medical care at camp please click here.

Dining Hall

All of camp comes together every mealtime in the Dining Hall. Campers eat with the rest of their teams and their volunteers, and at the end of every meal the OTW Support Team will give any necessary announcements and read out challenges set between the teams. At lunch and dinner, we finish our meals with a Dance Party and sing some camp songs!

Please be aware that the Dining Hall is very noisy – if you feel your camper will find this challenging or won’t be able to cope in this environment, please contact the team to discuss.

Allergy Awareness

We are very proud to serve children and families affected by life-threatening allergies at our camps. We also cater for a range of dietary restrictions and special diets. Please do not bring any type of food or drink to a Camp unless this has been discussed with our Nursing Team. Failure to meet this expectation may impact on any future applications to attend camp.  For this reason, the use of vending machines is prohibited.

Sample Menu

The camp menu will look different at every camp this year, but below is an example of the sort of food that will be served. If you have any concerns that your camper can’t or won’t eat enough from this menu to keep them energised for a week at camp, please get in touch as soon as possible.

If your camper has specific dietary requirements or allergies, these must be discussed with us prior to arriving at camp.

Please note that campers can only eat food which has been prepared by the chefs on site, and it will not be possible for parents/carers to provide specific food or meals throughout the week and the OTW Support Team are not able to prepare separate meals outside of the Dining Hall.

We recognise that camp can be a very busy and active environment, so each camp schedule is designed to provide an appropriate mix of high and low energy activities, alongside our designated Rest Hour every day after lunch. If you think that your camper may find the schedule challenging, or that they may need more breaks than are allocated, please speak to them.

Therapeutic Recreation
We offer a wide variety of engaging and fun activities at our camps, all of which are specifically designed to develop confidence and self-esteem. The activities we offer vary from camp to camp, and all activities are adapted to be accessible for all campers. Some of our activities will be led by Over The Wall staff and volunteers, whilst others may be led by trained site or Third Party activity providers, such as Climbing and Archery. All our activities are built around our model of Therapeutic Recreation – a four step process of Challenge, Success, Reflection and Discovery.

Campers
There will be around 80 other campers at each camp, all aged between 8 and 17 years old and in a similar position to your camper. Our campers are divided into smaller, all-gender teams of around 15 campers of a similar age. Teams will spend their time at camp together; participating in activities, at mealtimes and creating shared memories and experiences. For some activities, the teams may join together, creating the opportunity to form positive relationships with peers in their own team and beyond.

Volunteers
Each team is supported by dedicated and skilled volunteers who will support them throughout their entire camp journey, ensuring they have the best experience possible. Our volunteers spend the entire week with the campers in their team; supporting them in activities, encouraging them to challenge themselves, and facilitating a positive and inclusive environment. All our volunteers are recruited following safer recruitment procedures and receive full training prior to camper arrival.

Beach Patrol
Our Beach Patrol are clinical professionals, such as nurses, doctors and paramedics, who support with the medical care of our campers.

OTW Support Team
The Over The Wall Support Team are staff who work year-round to make sure the camp experience is full of mischief and magic! This includes, our Camp Director and Director of Clinical & Recruitment, our Nursing and Wellbeing team, Activity Leaders and our Volunteering team.

Please ensure you pack enough clothing to last for the duration of camp (we strongly recommend packing a few spares too!).

Some activities at camp can get messy, so please don’t bring your best clothes. There is a range of indoor and outdoor activities, so expect to pack for all weathers. We may spend more time outside, so please pack warm clothes, such as a jumper and coat (even in the summer months), just in case!

All camper belongings must be labelled clearly to allow us to make sure they return home with them.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO PACK ALL MEDICINES REQUIRED.

Here is a suggested list of things your camper should bring to camp. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

Modern Accommodation

All campers and volunteers live in modern residence-style accommodation at each of our sites (we don’t sleep in tents!). Depending on the site, our rooms sleep between 1-8 campers of the same age group and gender. At Over The Wall, we strive to be as inclusive as possible and meet the needs of every camper, so please get in touch if you have any questions or queries about this.

Our volunteer bedrooms are always close by, and at least two volunteers will be on Night Duty should campers need any support during the night.

We use a number of different sites across the UK as the base for our camps, including activity centres and private schools.

Any site-specific information such as the address, directions and specific arrival and departure times will be sent to parents/carers prior to camp.

Homesickness

Whilst camp is an incredibly fun and exciting place to be, it is not uncommon for campers to become homesick during their time with us, especially if they have never been away from home before, are particularly shy or anxious, or are unaware that they are coming to camp.

There are a few things you can do at home to prepare your camper for their time with us:

• Bring sentimental items e.g. cuddly toy, photo of family/pet
• Discuss what they can do at camper to feel better, e.g. play card games, read a book
• Reassure them that adults at camp are there to look after and help them
• Let them know how proud you are of their independence
• Do not promise that they can call home or leave camp early

Wellbeing Support

Our volunteers are incredibly experienced at supporting campers who are homesick and will keep them entertained with games and help them write a letter about their achievements at camp to show you once they return. Our Camper Wellbeing Coordinator has lots of resources to support with this.

It is unlikely that your camper will call home if they are feeling homesick as it is often the case that hearing a familiar voice can make them feel worse. Most campers adjust and settle into camp after their first couple of days, but if you think that your camper will be severely homesick, please contact us so we can discuss support that we can put into place to support them.

When to contact camp

Examples include:

• Changes to who will be collecting your camper at the end of the week
• If a significant family event has occurred

When we will contact you

Examples include:

• Text to let parents/carers know that all campers have arrived safely
• Phone call or text if we have any concerns about your child, whether that be emotional, physical or behavioural

Camp is a phone-free zone!

We ask that campers don’t bring their phones, or any other electronics, to camp. This is to help them get into the magic ‘camp bubble’ but don’t worry! You can still get in touch with the OTW Support Team by: 

• Calling our head office on +44 (0)2392 477 110, Option 1, and our team will contact Camp Support who will be in touch
• Calling our head office and press 9 for out of hours

Camp is a busy place and we might not be able to answer the phone immediately, but the team will be in touch as soon as they can.

There are occasions in which members of Over The Wall staff may need to contact parents/carers. We expect all parents/carers to ensure their contact details are up to date, including those of any emergency contacts. We expect all parents/carers to be contactable for the full duration of camp, and to be able to arrange for the collection of their child from camp at any time, in the event of any circumstances requiring a camper to leave early.

Safeguarding and Rule of 3 Policies

Over The Wall’s Safeguarding Campers and Rule of 3 policies are designed to fully protect both children and volunteers/staff. Whilst at camp, a volunteer or Over The Wall staff member will never be left alone with a child. For each camp we also have a Independent Safeguarding Advisor to provide advice and guidance on safeguarding-related issues.

Photographs

Over The Wall allocates specific volunteers to capture photos and video images at our camps. These volunteers (our designated Camp Recorders) undergo additional training for this role. The Camp Recorders, Over The Wall staff or individuals identified by Over The Wall will be the only people permitted to take photos or videos at camp. These images will be used for an end of camp slideshow and will be shared with families after camp.

Contact outside of camp

We recognise that very strong friendships are formed between campers during camp. In response to camper and parent feedback, campers are given the opportunity to share their contact details with other campers on the last day of camp. There is absolutely no expectation that campers share these details if they do not want to, or do not have permission to. We ask that parents/carers discuss this with their child prior to camp. We do not allow our volunteers to have any contact with campers or their families outside of camp (including on social media platforms).

OVER THE WALL POLICIES 

Whilst our aim is for all campers to remain at camp for its duration, there may be times where we ask campers to leave early.

Medical Reasons

If a camper is ill or injured, we may need to send them home or take them to hospital. This is to ensure that they receive the right care, and that in the case of an infectious illness, other campers do not become unwell.

Challenging Eating

Campers are expected to eat from the menu offered (unless otherwise discussed with our Nursing Team). In the event of a camper not being able to eat from the choices they are offered, or where concerns are raised that they are not eating enough to sustain themselves, they may be asked to leave camp.

Behavioural Reasons

If a camper becomes disengaged from the programme (such as wanting to stay in their room, sitting out of activities or is unable to eat with the rest of camp in the Dining Hall) and does not respond to strategies to engage from volunteers, or is displaying behaviour which is putting themselves or others at risk of physical or emotional harm, then the staff team will speak to the parents/carers to discuss an action plan to support their child.

Sending a camper home is the last resort, when all other options have been exhausted. We have zero tolerance for bullying at camp – any camper displaying this behaviour will be asked to leave.

Alcohol and illegal substances

Anyone found in the possession, or under the influence, of alcohol or illegal substances will be immediately asked to leave camp and may be reported to the police.

Smoking and vaping

We do not tolerate any camper under the age of 18 smoking or vaping at camp. Any camper found smoking/vaping will be asked to leave.

At family camp, adults will need to go to the Designated Smoking Area at every site. Anyone found smoking outside of this area will be asked to leave.