Frequently Asked Questions about Marian Camp

Can multiple daughters be registered at once?

Register using one form per camper, even if in the same family. If registration ends prior to the other immediate family member(s) being able to register, please add the girl(s) to the waitlist.

What should I expect?

Marian Camp is a 4 day, 3 night experience put on by the Marian Sisters. Campers are placed in a cabin group with 12 other campers and three well vetted and trained counselors. They will do most of the activities and eat meals together throughout camp. The day is filled with a variety of prayers and activities such as Mass, archery, crafts, Liturgy of the Hours, and water games. The evening activities are either bonfire or skits! It is a great opportunity to make new friends and deepen old friendships all through forming relationships with Jesus and Mary.
Take a look at the website to see pictures from last summer!

Can I request cabin mates for my daughter?

Camp Group Cabin policy: At Marian Camp we believe that creating new friendships and building up current friendships is crucial to the campers' experience and personal growth. To foster new friendships we do not take cabin group requests. Additionally, siblings are in separate cabins unless parents believe that staying together is the best interest of the campers. Campers will not have a counselor that is a direct relative.

What should I pack?

• Bring enough clothes for 4 days and 3 nights, plus some extras.
• All clothing, bedding, luggage, toiletries, etc. should be marked with the camper's name using a tag or permanent marker.
• Medications in original containers T-shirts
• Shorts (see guidelines below)
• Pants (no leggings) at least one pair
• Underwear pack extras
• Socks more than you would think!
• Pajamas
• Jacket or sweatshirt
• Swimsuit (see guidelines below)
• Shoes x2 (see guidelines below)
• Shower shoes
• Rain jacket or poncho
• Wash cloth
• 2 towels
• Pillow, sleeping bag or blankets with sheets
• Sunscreen
• Lip balm
• Bug spray
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Hair brush
• Body wash, shampoo, conditioner
• Caddy or bag to bring toiletries to the bathhouse (optional)
• Deodorant
• Feminine Products
• Bible and a Rosary
• Watch (optional)
• Small backpack (optional)
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Water bottle (at least 20oz) make sure your name is on it
• 2 plastic trash bags for wet and dirty clothes

Please DO NOT bring to camp

Items on this list will be confiscated. Makeup, expensive jewelry, and fancy clothing are not recommended

• Cell phones
• Radios/Stereos/ipods/electronic games Firearms/Knives
• Matches/Lighters Tobacco/drugs/alcohol Fireworks

• Food & Drinks

What can be worn?

Guidelines for Modesty and Safety

Marian Camp and the Camp Kateri grounds require everyone to respect their own bodies and those of others as temples of the Holy Spirit. All campers, counselors, and volunteers are required to adhere to our modesty guidelines.

• No tank tops or crop tops – shirts must cover your stomach and chest. Please make sure your shirt covers your entire stomach and back while sitting and with your arms raised above your head.
• Please do not wear tights, leggings or any style of form-fitting workout pants.
• Swim attire consists of a t-shirt and shorts over any swimsuit, even a one-piece bathing suit.
• Sandals: flip flops and crocs can only be worn for showering. Sturdy sandals with a heel strap (such as Keens, Tevas, and Chacos) can be worn for all activities except water games and the obstacle course.
• Water activity shoes: Tennis shoes, swim shoes, and sandals (excluding crocs) with a closed toe and heel strap are the only acceptable shoes to wear during water activities.
• Shorts must have a minimum five inch inseam. If you prefer to wear your shorts high waisted ensure that the inseam is a few inches longer.
• Skirts must be three inches above the knee or longer. Please wear shorts with skirts.
• Biking and yoga shorts are not allowed.
• At the discretion of the director, a participant will be asked to change her clothing if it is not modest.
• If modesty is in question, err on the side of caution and do not bring the item to camp.

Cancellation Policy

Refunds are given if cancellation is prior to May 1st. There are no cancellation fees. To cancel please email marianscamping@gmail.com. 

Arrival and departure

Check in is between 1:30 – 2:00. Please wait in the parking lot until this time when the doors to Noah’s Ark will be opened (the quonset building). Medications will be turned in at this time. You can bring bags in during the check in process or leave them in the car and bring them to the cabin once the assignment has been received.

Check out for campers officially begins at 11:00 am.
All campers need to depart by 11:30.
Pets are not allowed on camp property!

Where is Marian Camp held?

On the grounds of Camp Kateri Tekakwitha
1305 Rd 3, McCool Junction, NE 68401
If coming on Interstate 80, take the York exit (Highway 81). Drive south on Highway 81 and continue past McCool Junction. Turn left on County Road 3 (approximately 1 mile south of McCool Junction). There will be a sign for Camp Kateri. Continue east on the gravel road; Camp’s entrance is 1/4 mile further on the south side of the road.

How can I contact the Sisters before and during Camp?

Prior to camp, the best way to communicate with the sisters is through email marianscamping@gmail.com. During the time that the sisters are at camp (June 23-June 26) call the number listed on the email that will be sent on or shortly before June 23nd.

Receiving or placing phone calls to campers during the session disrupts the program and often makes homesickness worse, so we do not allow them except for emergency circumstances. Therefore, you will probably not hear from the Camp or your camper during the session, and remember, “no news is good news!” If your camper requires off-camp health services or an illness in which a fever lasts for more than 24 hours you will be contacted. Personal cell phones found in a camper’s possession will be held in a secure location until the end of the session.

Minimize Homesickness

Almost all first-time campers and many returning campers experience some level of homesickness. These feelings are natural, extremely common, and very real. Most cases of homesickness are mild. Some cases are challenging. Our counselors are trained to help campers work through these feelings and as a result, homesickness usually subsides within 24 hours of arriving at Camp. When preparing your child for Camp, you will minimize the likelihood of a serious case of homesickness by using the following parenting strategies:

• Do not tell your child that you will pick them up if she does not like Camp right away. Though parents who give this message have good intentions, their daughters have an extremely hard time getting better when homesick. Be very honest with your child about what it means to sign up for something and follow through with it. Leaving Camp early is an absolute last resort.
• Involve your daughter in planning for Camp. While doing this, focus on the fun that will be had.
• If you sense that your daughter is nervous about going to Camp and will miss home, talk about it. Use an encouraging approach and supply her with ideas that will help her work through it. You know your daughter better than anyone. What has helped her handle stressful situations in the past? All conversations about this subject will help if encouragement is at the forefront.
• Discuss what Camp will be like and read the “What to Expect” section. Focus on the positive aspects of Camp. Talk about the fun activities, the idea of “growing up,” the independence, and adventure of it all. Visit our website to look at the photos together.
• Establish realistic expectations. Camp, like life, has high points and low ones. Not every moment will be filled with wonder and excitement. Encouraging your daughter to try new things and make new friends will help the experience be a positive one.
• Be aware that as a parent, you may need to prepare for this as much—if not more—than your camper!
• In the event your child does have a bout with homesickness, please be assured that she will receive individual counseling directly from sisters and counselors trained for that purpose. If your daughter is having a particularly hard time, a Camp representative will contact you directly for support. Otherwise, no news is good news.

Can my child arrive late or leave early?

Arriving late and leaving early is highly discouraged. Extreme circumstances will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Will medical needs be taken care of?

A trained medical professional will always be present when campers are on site.

All medications (including over-the-counter) must be turned in and stored in the nurses station.

You do not need to send Tylenol and ibuprofen with your child*. The nurses station will have a supply on hand. The camper’s consent form will be referenced and contact with the parent will be made prior to administration of either pain medication.

*The medications are in pill form. If your child cannot swallow a pill and you anticipate the need for pain medicine, please send the liquid form.

How can I update my child’s consent and liability form?

Check the bottom of the confirmation email sent by Jotform upon completing the form. By clicking on the “edit submission” button you will be able to change anything as you need! Tip: search your inbox and junkmail “We have received your consent form for (your child’s name)”

If the confirmation email cannot be found, send an email to marianscamping@gmail.com with the information of the content in need of an update. We will internally make the changes.

Is financial aid available?

Marian offers scholarships! We do not want the cost to deter any campers from attending. Scholarship applications open the month prior to registration and usually remain open for a few weeks.

Is this a nature camp?

While most Marian Camp  activities are outdoors we do not consider this an “nature camp.” A walk along the banks of a creek is the nearest experience to hiking a person will find!

Where can I submit feedback to the sisters?

God is always encouraging growth! After the session ends each family will receive a survey. Most of the questions are directed towards the camper’s experience. A section towards the end provides a place for parent comments. Information needing immediate action can be sent to marianscamping@gmail.com.

How can I view pictures from Marian Camp?

After a few weeks of each session pictures are posted to the Marian Camp page of the Marian Sisters website. These will remain online for about a year.

Some of the information in this handbook came from Camp Kateri and Camp Ondessonk.