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Summer Camps FAQ2022-10-04T19:22:51-04:00

Summer Camps FAQ

Excited about summer camp? We are too! We know that heading off to overnight camp can be a big adventure and we’re here to make it a blast! To help you feel more at home while away from home, here are a few of our most-asked questions. Still have a question? Contact us!

Will my child ever be left unattended during the program?2020-04-01T14:58:38-04:00

No. Tremont faculty will always be with your child, and no faculty member will ever be alone with your child. During activities, your child may participate in a ‘solo-sit.’ This is a time when the group spreads out in a fixed area to spend a few minutes sitting quietly and observing nature. During a solo-sit, campers are still being watched over by faculty. During all-day hikes, your child may participate in a ‘solo-walk.’ This is a time when each camper has the opportunity to spend a few minutes walking quietly and observing the beauty of the park. There will always be a faculty member in front of and behind the campers during the solo-walk.

Do I need to buy a parking pass?2023-04-20T10:51:57-04:00
It depends! A parking pass is not required during camp drop-off and pick-up. However, if you choose to do other activities in the park, you may need a parking pass. Valid parking tags are required on any vehicles parking for longer than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park as part of the Park it Forward program. We highly recommend purchasing your parking tag in advance. Click here to purchase your daily or weekly pass online.  All revenue will stay in the park to provide sustainable, year-round support focusing on improving the visitor experience, protecting resources, and maintaining trails, roads, historic structures, and facilities. Learn more about Park it Forward.
If I have to cancel my registration, when can I expect a refund?2022-10-04T19:42:50-04:00

We will do our best to process refunds within two weeks of your request.

What steps is Tremont taking to manage risk of COVID-19 transmission?2021-10-01T09:24:46-04:00

We are following guidelines provided by the CDC and American Camping Association to minimize risk of COVID transmission in our programs. Our practices include: 

  • Encouraging vaccination of staff 
  • Use of face masks when appropriate
  • Physical distancing
  • Frequent handwashing 
  • All outdoor activities 
  • Contact tracing and isolation procedures

Visit our COVID-19 response page for the most up-to-date information.

For Firefly and Family Camps, where will families be sleeping?2021-05-20T09:47:44-04:00

Firefly and Family camps will also use our dorm for sleeping. It is important to know that we cannot guarantee single-family sleeping quarters. Our dorms will allow space for families to physically distance, but please know that you will be sharing space and bathrooms with other households. The bathrooms include multiple stalls, showers and sinks (similar to what you might find at a campground). They are not single occupancy. There may be times when you will be sharing the bathroom areas others. 

We will be assigning sleeping quarters for families prior to arrival.

What will happen if my camper gets sick while at camp?2021-05-20T09:54:22-04:00

We have areas set aside for the isolation and quarantine of sick campers. If your camper is showing signs and symptoms of a COVID-19 infection, we will immediately separate them from other campers and begin the process of getting them evaluated and potentially picked up to go home.

Please ensure you or another emergency contact will be available in case an early pickup is necessary.

What is Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont?2020-04-01T14:59:29-04:00

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is a not-for-profit, residential education organization that provides 3- to 10-day programs for 90 schools and hundreds of summer campers each year. Tremont has a mission of “connecting people and nature.”

Where is Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont?2020-04-01T14:59:37-04:00

Tremont Institute’s campus is located within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, just 3 miles from Townsend, Tennessee, and a 45-minute drive from Knoxville.

Where will my child be staying?2022-10-04T19:34:16-04:00

For most camps, your child will be staying in a communal wing of our safe and comfortable dormitory. Start thinking now if you’d prefer a top or bottom bunk! There are separate quarters for boys and girls, as well as separate private bathrooms and shower stalls. The dorm is heated and cooled with central heating and air. During summer programs, Tremont’s faculty chaperone the sleeping quarters at all times.

Girls in Science campers will be sleeping in our tent village, and our backpacking adventure camps will be in the backcountry – of course!

Learn more about our facilities.

Who will be working with my child during the trip to Tremont?2021-10-01T09:23:31-04:00

Tremont has an incredible professional teaching faculty that specialize in teaching outdoors and caring for youth in a residential setting. Many hold graduate degrees in education. All of Tremont’s full-time teachers are trained medical first responders, have passed a background check, live on-site in private housing, and are available to assist participants 24 hours per day. Learn more about Tremont’s faculty.

Do I need to send food with my child?2022-10-04T19:36:38-04:00

Please don’t! Food can attract critters, and there are a lot of critters in the national park! Your child will be served 3 hot meals per day in our family-style dining hall. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available – be sure to let us know if you have these or any other dietary restrictions. Occasionally, students will pack a sack lunch to enjoy during an all-day lesson or hike. Learn more about food at Tremont Institute.

What if I don’t have everything on the packing list for my child?2022-10-04T19:38:47-04:00

We probably have extras! We have a great stock of rain ponchos, sleeping bags, water bottles, backpacks, and shoes/boots available for kids to borrow throughout their stay.

Will I be able to contact my child while they’re at Tremont?2022-10-04T19:41:20-04:00

There is no cell phone service at Tremont. Prior to the trip, you will be provided an emergency phone number to contact Tremont and reach your child. Tremont has landline and internet phones throughout campus that can be used to call home if needed. Typically, Tremont restricts calls home unless there is a behavioral issue or a camper becomes ill – if you don’t hear from us, it means your child is having a great time!

What is the wildlife in the area?2020-04-01T14:56:54-04:00

Tremont is a great place for exciting wildlife viewing opportunities. We often see river otters, owls, bats, salamanders, wild turkeys, deer, and great blue herons. When groups are out on trails for lessons, we occasionally see black bears in the summer months. Tremont’s faculty is well-trained to help participants respect wildlife and observe safely.

What happens during bad weather at Tremont?2020-04-01T14:57:46-04:00

Tremont programs take place outside unless unsafe weather conditions are expected. Lessons will continue outdoors during rain, cold weather, etc. Before each outdoor lesson, Tremont faculty will ensure that each participant has the appropriate clothing and gear for the expected weather conditions. If lightning, high wind, or other dangerous weather is predicted, the program schedule will be altered to keep all participants safe.

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