FAR OUT IV

Yes! Groups with ten or more youth campers can be discounted by providing full, non-refundable payment for all campers and chaperones up-front. Those details are provided in the packet.

Yes! Individuals need a chaperone. Siblings in one family can come with one parent or legal guardian as their chaperone, regardless of number of youth, as long as the youth are in the 11-13 age group. Related non-siblings must have their own parent or legal guardian.

Yes. We trust that you can handle the details of that arrangement within your organization. If it is an individual registration, we can transfer to a new camper with a notarized authorization from the original payer.

We trust that our campers and chaperones are meeting their diocesan requirements. Holy Owned and Operated does not have any COVID-related requirements. All FAR OUT™ staff are vaccinated. We simply ask that if you are sick you do not attend, much as has been and is required at public schools for illnesses. Masks and social distancing are not required unless expected by venues we visit (masks will be on the official equipment packing list for campers and chaperones). Campers and chaperones are welcome to wear masks and social distance at anytime. Much of our program takes place outdoors, and participation in group discussion and reflection, as well as Mass, is integral to the camper experience.

Youth who will be 11, 12, or 13 on or before the day camp starts may attend.

To accommodate everybody, we provide nutritious meals in a group camping environment. Any allergies should be noted on the registration forms and appropriate precautions and medications are the responsibility of the camper and chaperones. We do not make specific arrangements for individual dietary needs, but campers are invited to bring along any supplemental food or snacks. Our final menu is planned after receiving all registrations, so some taking into account of food needs happens at that tume.

No. Generally campers and chaperones take a day or two (or more) prior to and after camp to travel. When going from base-camp to any number of sites, up to two hours away, chaperones and staff caravan in staff and personal vehicles. One of the reasons for chaperone registration being considerably less is because of this arrangement, as chaperones will provide for their own fuel and other vehicle expenses (many times reimbursed by the sponsoring parish).

We hope so! We work on this every time and often get donors, but we do not know at this point. Please remember to check with your parish and other local groups (Knights of Columbus, Altar Society, Kiwanis, etc.) for fundraising and scholarship donations.

Phones are welcome and are expected to be policed by chaperones. They can be used for picture-taking, and youth are given an opportunity halfway through camp to call home. Chaperones are asked to keep phones while youth are in camp and while traveling to and from locations. Mobile phone service/signals are not always available. Youth with medical needs that use phones or whom parents request have their phone with them at all times for emergency purposes are certainly allowed that privilege and are asked to not abuse it. Other devices (tablets, music, games, etc.) are not permitted and will be confiscated until camp is over. They detract from the outdoor experience for campers and distract others from the same.

Yes! Except for an occasional impromptu hike by small groups, everywhere we go is accessible to wheelchairs and other mobility assistance devices. FAR OUT™ staff are not equipped or trained to help with all of the mobility challenges possible, so we ask that a chaperone the youth is familiar with who knows how to accommodate the movement of the youth attend.

Please come! As with a mobility-impaired camper, we require that a chaperone familiar with the needs of the camper be in attendance. Some staff know some ASL and Kristofer is blind in one eye, so there is no hindrance to others attending.

Pink. Blue. No Purple! Part of learning the coexistence of Faith and Reason is understanding each other, which is why FAR OUT™ is co-ed. However, we restrict campers with a no-tolerance policy that boys and girls cannot, individually or in small groups, be alone. Tents, bathrooms, and all other gender-restricted areas are strictly enforced with no members of the opposite sex being allowed. Any violation of this is cause for immediate removal from camp at the camper parent/guardian and/or parish expense. For FAR OUT™ we designate gender by the assigned gender at birth.

As Catholics we are sensitive and compassionate toward the needs of our youth. With heightened awareness in the media, we cannot make a blanket statement, and there is no solution, only trade-offs. In this trade-off, we ask that youth and adults who are experiencing gender identity challenges or who have changed or would like to change the gender God gave them at conception refrain from attending FAR OUT™. We are not equipped to minister to individuals in that situation.

We do not ask children or chaperones if they are gay or straight, but if they have declared themself homosexual, the Church and Holy Owned and Operated and FAR OUT™ welcome them. They are subject to the same rules as heterosexual or undeclared campers and chaperones. They will be required to have their own tent, as they would not be permitted to tent with the opposite sex or of their same gender. While that situation is not “Purple,” it is still inappropriate and unfair to both the gay camper or chaperone and those they might otherwise tent with. We do require that a chaperone who is familiar with the youth’s situation attend FAR OUT™ and be attentive to the youth’s needs during the week.

Great! Please use the FAR OUT™ form to ask!