Completing camper forms in a timely manner is one of the most important things parents do prior to sending their children to camp. We use the information on these forms to prepare for your child and ensure that they have the most successful camp experience possible. For 2010, all were due by March 1. If you registered for camp after March 1, please submit them to us as soon as possible. Campers without completed forms will not be able to board the buses for camp in June or July. Do not send these forms, including the medical form, on the bus with your children.

All forms and instructions can be found on our website at www.campchi.com/camperforms.

Importance of Camper Forms

Over the years, we have received questions from parents who are concerned about the types of personal information we request on our forms. Some parents are reluctant to share certain information with us because of a concern about confidentiality or stigmatizing their child.  After all, camp can be a “fresh start,” and some parents worry that by disclosing personal information, it may create bias against their child.  In some cases parents have told us their child has sworn them to secrecy because they are too embarrassed and don’t want anyone to know about things like bed wetting, a tic disorder, ADD, or an IEP they are on at school. We understand and respect those concerns, but emphatically believe that it is better to share the concern with us than to keep it a secret.

When you entrust your child to our care, we want you to think of us as your partner in your child’s well-being.  We can keep our end of the partnership only if we have the information to prepare our medical staff and counselors to ensure your child is well cared for and free to have the best summer.  There have been times when, because we didn’t know about a particular child’s needs, we could not respond to their behavior properly and they were not able to remain at camp.  The better prepared we are before camp, the better we can help your child be successful once they are here. Once you share information with us, our promise is to share it only with the people who will have direct contact with your child.  This may be our medical staff, social workers or your child’s village leader and counselors. 

We believe that working together is the best chance we have of helping your child have a safe, happy and memorable time at camp.  Please call us to discuss anything in greater detail or if you would feel more comfortable talking to us rather than putting it down on paper.

Beginning in 2008, Camp Chi instituted a policy of reducing the amount of paper mailings sent to families throughout the year.  We have made great strides in moving towards increased electronic communication with parents and campers. We have seen an increase in the quality and efficiency of communications we send as a reduction in paper purchasing and waste. 

Parent Email Addresses

Approximately 80% of our communication with families comes through email or via our website – www.campchi.com. We must have a valid email address for each family of registered campers.  This is the only way to guarantee that you receive important announcements and updates from us. Also, please add This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to your address book or safe list to ensure that our emails will not be blocked as spam.  If you are not certain that we have a correct email address for your family, please call our office at 847.763.3551 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for verification.

JCC Emails

Both JCC Chicago and Camp Chi use a system called Constant Contact to send emails to large numbers of people or groups.  By having campers at Camp Chi, your family is part of the JCC community, and will receive emails from both Camp Chi and JCC Chicago.  It is important that you do not “opt out” of receiving these emails. Opting out of these emails will prevent you from receiving important information regarding Camp Chi programs, updates and news.  If you have opted out, please email Melissa Krisztal at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to have this reversed. 

Items on this list will be confiscated and may be returned at the end of camp:

• Electronics, including Cell phones, Video I-Pods and I-Pod Touch, PDAs, Blackberries, any device that can connect to the Internet, Talk-a-bouts and Walkie-Talkies, Televisions, Computers, DVD players
• Tobacco, alcohol, controlled substances, illegal drugs*
• Flammable materials, including Hot Pots, marches, fireworks, lighters, butane, incense and candles*
• Food items, including bottled water and other beverages
• Knives or weapons of any kind*
• Money

We see camp as a healthy escape from the instant communication and technology overload that bombards our campers on a daily basis. For many campers (and their parents), separating from cell phones, video iPods and the internet is challenging. However, we expect parents to fully support our mission to keep these things out of camp and to ensure that Chi remains a wholesome, outdoorsy and safe place for all kids.

*Bringing any of these items will result in immediate expulsion from camp with no refund of tuition or fees.