Stay in Touch
First, a quick note on our philosophy! The Aloha Foundation is proud to provide fully supportive, engaging, and interpersonally enriching camp programs for children (and adults). We curate our camp communities through things like the restriction of access to technology and media, the implementation of a uniform policy, and a return to the simplistic, nature-based lifestyle. We apply similar principles to our policies around mail, packages, visits, phone calls, and photo albums.
In support of this simple and organic community of active individuals, there are ways in which we seek to limit the intrusions of the external world and we ask for your help in following our guidelines.
Read Our Photo Philosophy.
Photo Philosophy
We love great photos! It’s a joy to share images of the people, places, and activities that make our programs meaningful. We know you love them, too. Perhaps they remind you or your camper of fun memories or generate excitement about joining us in the future. Seeing your camper smiling in a photo can feel reassuring, too—they ARE having a wonderful time, just like you thought!
In our line of work, it’s not unusual for families to tell us they want to see more photos of their campers. “You posted 100 terrific photos from camp this week and somehow my camper is not in a single one!” We understand completely. Many of us have been there, too—week after week, leaning in to stare intently at a photo and trying to determine if that’s the tip of our kid’s sneaker, or the back of their head.
In all Aloha Foundation programs, our primary focus is on real-time, face-to-face relationships and community building. We intentionally disconnect from technology and immerse ourselves in nature, an opportunity that is increasingly rare in today’s world. Our photographers work within this carefully cultivated environment. They are as unobtrusive as possible and selective in the events they capture. As a result, and by design, we share fewer photos than some other camps. Our purpose in sharing photos is to offer families a glimpse into camp life and activities. We believe photos are important, but should not distract from the camper experience—or from our focus on relationships or being fully present in the moment.
In the 3,000+ images we do share each summer season in our password-protected galleries or on social media, our goal is to capture in high-quality photography a diverse array of activities and people that represent the essence of the camp experience. We take group photos (all camp, units, tent, or shack families, etc.) to make sure every camper is included. With 1,600 campers and 350 staff across five different programs and five campuses, however, we are realistic about what we can and want to accomplish with the resources we have available.
In the photos we select for Aloha Foundation publications or share via other media throughout the year, our objective is the same: to include a wide variety of people and activities in quality photos that best represent our programs. We engage in a multi-step photo review process that includes staff members from across our organization to ensure we capture the depth and breadth of the Aloha community.
We are always seeking to grow and improve. If you have feedback to share, please email Communications Director Jeff Stander: jstander@alohafoundation.org. Thank you!
Read Our Package and Mail Policy.
Packages and Mail
Campers LOVE getting postcards and letters at camp! People from home (parents, friends, extended family, etc.) should feel free to send it frequently and enthusiastically. Written correspondence creates excitement and when done properly, provides a healthy connection to home. Campers love to hear how their beloved pet is doing, how their local sports team is faring in July, or what is happening with a sibling or grandparent.
What we encourage: We strongly encourage parents to send correspondence that fits in standard envelopes, postcards, or flat mailing envelopes. There is nothing more enjoyable than a long letter from a parent, snippets of news from home on the back of a postcard, or a photo of the family dog.
What we discourage: We discourage you from sending items that will distract from the camp experience of your child or other campers. Magazines and newspapers risk bringing the outside world back into camp—and we do receive newspapers at camp for older campers who want to catch up on world events. Certain magazines bring product advertisements or topics poorly suited for the wide age ranges found at camp. And while it is certainly normal to imagine the pleasure your children will have from receiving toys, games, or special items (e.g. Pokemon cards, markers, trinkets, a cool new flashlight), it is also highly distracting and creates a culture of competition or “want” with other campers. We have seen instances where a child receiving a toy or some “cool new thing” stimulates other kids to ask their parents for similar items—to the point where it becomes disruptive and detracts from the camp environment and our philosophy that “we make our own fun.” Please do not send these things to your child so their focus can remain on the transformative experiences we have prepared for them.
What we do not accept: We cannot accept food of any kind, or packages containing items that are not essential to the camp experience. If the package does not fit in a flat envelope, or is not somehow essential, we will probably not accept it. If you are unsure, please ask! And certainly there will be some miscellaneous forgotten items that are allowed, such as a favorite stuffed animal that was mistakenly left at home, or a pair of hiking boots for a camper that will be going on a five-day trip. Any packages that are in clear conflict with our policy will be held safely for your child until the end of the session or summer.
News from Camp
Notecards & Letters from Counselors: During your child’s time at camp, you will receive a notecard and a letter from their counselor to update you on your camper’s adjustment to camp, their tent or shack family, favorite activities, and more. This detailed, personalized correspondence is a differentiator between Aloha Foundation camps and our peers—often the notecards become special keepsakes for camp families. Notecards and letters will be emailed to get them to you quickly, and we’ll drop the notecards in the mail so you have the original to keep if you wish.
Photo Galleries: New photos will be uploaded to each camp’s album on Tuesday and Friday evenings. Email us if you need help accessing the photos. Don’t forget to follow the Aloha Foundation on Facebook and Instagram for more news and photos from camp!
New Camper Families: If you have a camper who is new, a staff member will reach out to you by phone within the first few days of camp to let you know how your camper is doing.
Staying in Touch with your Camper
Camper Mail: Mail for your camper should be addressed to your child at their camp address (not the Aloha Foundation Office):
- Aloha: 2039 Lake Morey Rd, Fairlee, VT 05045
- Hive: 3295 VT Route 244, Fairlee, VT 05045
- Lanakila: 2899 Lake Morey Rd, Fairlee, VT 05045
**A Note to our International Families: International families (and those unable to send or receive US mail during the summer) may send camper mail via email to the camp offices. These letters will be printed for campers and put in their mailbox with regular mail delivery. Please use the subject line: Camper Mail for <insert your child’s full name>. To reply, campers may handwrite letters and bring them to the office for scanning back to family at home. See our Key Contacts page for the right email address to use.
Phone Calls: Especially if you are a first-time camp parent, we understand your wish to hear your child’s happy voice at the end of the phone. However, phone calls do not always contribute to a child’s happiness or to their adjustment to camp. Sometimes the sound of a parent’s voice can alter the experience of even the most content and enthusiastic camper, interfering with their adjustment. So, in most instances, we urge you to communicate with your camper by mail and restrict calls to birthdays and other special occasions. In both cases, arrangements should be made ahead of time with the camp office, so that your camper will be close to a phone. We spend most of our time outside, so please anticipate the need to leave a message in order to make these arrangements in advance.
Visiting your Camper: To schedule a visit with your camper, please email or call your child’s camp office. All visits should take place at least 10 days into your camper’s session. We want to be sure your camper has made significant connections and will be less likely to feel the pangs of separation when family leaves after a visit. Visits usually happen between 12:00 pm and 2:45 pm. Please bring a nut-free picnic lunch to share with your child—all of our campuses are nut-free. If you need to visit at another time, please check with the camp office for assistance. Campers may not leave camp property at any time.
Camp Offices: During the summer, our camp office staff are available to help you schedule visits and phone calls. They can also address most questions and concerns.
- Aloha Office: 802-333-3410 or campalohaoffice@alohafoundation.org
- Hive Office: 802-333-3420 or camphiveoffice@alohafoundation.org
- Lanakila Office: 802-333-3430 or camplanakilaoffice@alohafoundation.org