FAQ
What to bring to WOLF camp
Students should refer to the provided Packing List to help prepare for their trip. Some of the most essential items to bring are a Sleeping Bag, a Pillow, and Two Pairs of Closed-Toe Shoes, such as sneakers or hiking boots. Parents might check the forecast to anticipate the need for warmer clothes, jackets, or rain gear.
Students are encouraged to pack light. A medium-sized duffel is often the most practical means for your WOLF trip. Students should also take heed of the items not permitted by the school on their trip, which may include cell phones and electronic devices, food, and items not ordinarily allowed on the school campus.
Finally, students should bring a Small Daypack like the one they carry at school with a Water Bottle inside to accompany them on the trail.
Are we staying in tents or cabins?
Our Residential Camps, such as Brandeis, Gilmore, and El Capitan, have cabins with Bunk Beds, Indoor Bathrooms and Showers, and typically serve meals in the Indoor Dining Hall. Check out your Camps page to see Cabins & Accommodations!
Adventure Trips vary by location and include the excitement of Tent Camping in a beautiful outdoor setting. Camping trips such as Joshua Tree, Santa Cruz Island, the Russian River, or Catalina may include special items on the packing list specific to the trip. WOLF brings all Tents, Food, Supplies, and Camping Equipment necessary for an outstanding adventure.
Do I need to apply a deposit? When do I pay?
After selecting your program with the WOLF team, your school will return a Signed Agreement and Deposit to secure the trip. The Deposit is typically 20% of the contract amount and is usually refundable in full or in part should you change your plans. The remaining balance is due 14 days prior to the event.
WOLF mailing address:
How far in advance do I need to book our trip?
WOLF is equipped with the resources to organize trips very quickly. Often, when schools are in need of a fast program solution or have just decided to undertake a trip, WOLF can provide a five-star camp experience in as little as one week.
Most schools, however, return year after year to WOLF and have developed specific camp, programming, and date preferences. To re-book each year, schools should submit their camp dates immediately following their program for the following year. This is the best way to secure first-choice dates, as many of our most popular locations fill up fast, particularly in prime months at the beginning and end of the school year.
When is the best time to go on a trip?
Trip options are available year-round. Residential Camps tend to be most busy at the beginning of the School Year (Aug-Oct) and again at the End of the School Year (March-June). Holidays and spring break are also busy. November and December are excellent times for camp programming and often get overlooked.
Look for better Availability, Affordability, and Off-Season Discounts during December through February, and call WOLF to help point you in the right direction. Consider also the goals of your trip. Some programs are held early in the year to help new students bond. Others may be at year's end as a means of celebration. Regardless of when you schedule your trip, the students and teachers will remember the experience for a lifetime.
Does WOLF work with small groups? Large groups?
Yes! WOLF provides Outdoor Experiences for groups of all sizes. Whether organizing LAUSD’s 2,400-student Angel Gate Program or Rafting with eight high school students, WOLF is happy to accommodate. Call WOLF to learn about trip options and prices for your School District or Small Group.
What about trips for my other grades?
It is very popular for schools to have WOLF design different trips for each grade that build on one another from year to year. For example, a remarkable sequence might be a 3-day residential science at Malibu or Brandeis in 6th grade, a camping trip to Santa Cruz Island in 7th grade, and a 4-day First Aid Rescue Adventure in 8th grade. This sequence would introduce a 2-night science experience, promote self-reliance and bonding among 7th graders, and foster community responsibility and celebrate class unity in 8th grade. Each location is different, the content is challenging and diverse, and the programs are among WOLF’s best. Look to WOLF to help you design a sequence of programs that foster your students’ development from grade to grade.
Does WOLF provide standardized district-wide Programming?
Yes. WOLF designs and implements top-quality standardized outdoor education programs for school districts throughout California. Programs are customized to meet the objectives of each district and generally include instruction in state standards, Environmental Science, Outdoor Skills, Teamwork, Cooperation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Wilderness First Aid, and Character Development. Along with this, WOLF offers Leadership courses on Anti-Bullying, Self-Reliance, Self-Confidence, Class Bonding, School Unity, Motivation, Leadership, and Environmental Stewardship. All WOLF programs are designed to be safe, meaningful, and fun.
What about the food? Check out our Food page!
WOLF has the best food service of any outdoor provider in operation!
Students enjoy three hot meals daily and afternoon snacks at all WOLF events. The meals at Residential Camps are prepared in camp kitchens by professional cooking staff who work with WOLF to provide customized student-friendly menus that are substantial, healthy, and appealing to school students. With numerous options and special preparations, we ensure that every child is happy with every meal. Breakfast, for instance, might include pancakes, sausage, cut fruit, a cereal bar, orange juice, coffee, tea, and more. A typical lunch might be a taco bar, chicken patties or hamburgers, salad, and watermelon with dessert. Dinners range from chicken stir fry with pineapple and Hawaiian rolls to Spaghetti and meat sauce, garlic bread, salad, and brownies.
Students with Special Dietary Needs will indicate these requirements on their Medical Form and Inform the School's Teacher-in-Charge. WOLF can accommodate Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, Kosher, Nut-Free, Lactose-Intolerant, and other diets with prior notice.
My child takes medication
When you send your child to camp with medication, please keep Medications in the Original Package, in a plastic bag, label it, and give it to the Teacher in Charge at school before the Trip. Do not pack medication of any kind in a student’s luggage. Write the Student’s Name on both the medicine and bag, and include Dosage Instructions.
The teacher or medical supervisor will administer the medication at camp. When bringing an EPI-PEN or Inhaler, it is advisable to provide two. One remains with the medical supervisor, and the other travels with the student or trail group leader.
Can I visit my child at camp?
Yes, but only under certain circumstances. WOLF camp is a private facility/event. Parents are not permitted to visit their child at camp except with Prior Authorization from the school. If authorized, parents should notify the WOLF staff or teachers upon entering camp and then again upon leaving.
What if I need to pick up my child and return later?
Parents may make prior arrangements with the school to pick up their child from camp and/or bring their child to a camp in progress. Parents should notify the WOLF staff upon arrival and again on departure.
Can WOLF conduct programs at my school?
Yes! There are many excellent opportunities to enhance the curriculum or school experience with WOLF programs conducted at your school. Some of the most popular one-day events include Primitive Skills/Native American Day, Colonial Times Day, Frontier Skills Day, Team Building, Science Experiments and Outdoor Labs, Solar Boats, Character Development Days, and more. Experiences might include period costumes, equipment and supplies, hands-on crafts and activities, and first-rate instruction from the fun staff at WOLF. Give your students a day to remember—book a day with WOLF at your school!
What about my special needs students?
Residential camps are equipped to host students with special needs, and WOLF works diligently to ensure that every student can enjoy a fantastic adventure with their peers. Consult with teachers at school and with the directors at WOLF to plan a strategy that provides all students with special needs have the best camp experience.
Tell me about the cabins. Check out our Camp pages!
When participating in a residential camp program, students stay in cabins. All WOLF camp locations feature nice, fully enclosed cabins with heat, windows, and bunk beds, accommodating 10-14 students each. Many of these cabins feature contemporary bathrooms and showers inside; some have them on the adjoining deck or nearby. Please review the Camps page to view the accommodations available in your specific location.
What about showering?
All camps have contemporary bathroom and shower facilities in or near the cabins. Students may shower at their discretion in the morning, during free time, or in the evening. Please consult the Camps page to see the accommodations specific to your location.
How can I buy a WOLF T-Shirt or sweatshirt? Check out our Store!
You’re in luck! Those great WOLF T-shirts and sweatshirts are available for purchase via the WOLF online store, as well as gifts and useful items suitable for your next WOLF program or outdoor adventure. Groups attending a WOLF program may wish to collect checks and submit an order form in advance, such that all items will be delivered to the students at the onset of their program. Call WOLF if you have questions or need immediate assistance to order shirts or sweatshirts for your students or faculty.