Some Camp Policies

We know it’s easy to tune out when we’re talking about “the rules,” but part of having a great summer at camp is knowing what we expect from you. Then when you get here you can just focus on what you’re here to do - love these campers and have a lot of fun!

This is not a comprehensive list, and we will go over many more specific policies in Orientation, so don’t stress about remembering every detail. We know this is a lot, but please read through and familiarize yourself with these policies!

Nights and Mornings Out and Leaving Camp:

You will be a better counselor if you take care of yourself, and that can include doing fun things from time to time! Not sure what “nights off” and “patrol” are? We explain them on the New Staff page!

During your nights off, once Patrol is in place, Cabin Staff may leave their cabins and enjoy some time off, and Program Staff will also be off during this same time. You can stay in camp (go to White Hall, a Great Day Group, or check your phone in the Counselor Hut!) or leave camp. No matter what, everyone must be back in bed by midnight, if not earlier!

You may also leave your cabin in the mornings as well, with a few important caveats. Cabin Staff, you must be back in your cabin by the time Reveille is blowing - this is not a time to push it and be late! Everyone is welcome to enjoy the camp property and grab coffee, exercise, or have your quiet time.

If you are out of camp and are running late for any reason, we expect you to call your Group Leader or another Head Staff member so that we can make sure your cabin is covered.

We do have occassional “all in” mornings or nights, and during these times, Cabin Staff needs to stay in their cabins. We ask that Program Staff and Men Staff stay on camp property as well. Your cabin porch counts as “in,” so Cabin Staff are always welcome to read or have a quiet time on their porch in the morning or at night, even when it is “all-in”.

Attendance:

Meals: EVERY meal is to be attended! Sickness, the Health Hut, trips out of camp, or other approved leave time are generally the ONLY valid excuses for being absent from a meal. You must let us know if you are missing any meals for one of these reasons. Counselors are excused on their Day Off from breakfast (after the blessing) and will be off the rest of the day (including lunch and dinner).
Meetings: ALL STAFF are required to be at Staff Meetings unless otherwise stated. We have staff meetings on Sunday nights, and they are always a highlight of the week! We also have a daily staff huddle after lunch. Cell phones and computers are not allowed at Staff Meetings on Sunday nights!
Assemblies: Every morning we start the day off with Morning Assembly. This year, there will be Morning Assemblies where we offer something different for our staff, whether that’s a counselor devotion or a personal development session. This means it’s even more important for you to attend all Morning Assemblies with the campers other than those days! Please do NOT bring personal reading or crafts to Morning Assembly (this includes knitting); set a good example for the campers!
Evening Program: Evening Program is held every evening after supper. ALL STAFF are expected to attend! It is a fun time spent with campers, and your presence adds a lot. Many times you will participate in the Evening Program - this is lots of fun! Please do NOT bring personal reading. If you are engaged in the program, your campers will be too.

Camp Facilities:

All staff members are responsible for the proper care and protection of Greystone’s physical facilities and property. In activity areas, you are expected to treat equipment as if it were your own. We try to make it last as long as possible, and replacing equipment because of unnecessary abuse becomes expensive. In the event you notice a problem with, or damage to, camp equipment, especially in the event that it could or does create a safety issue, you must immediately report the issue to a Director.

Staff members who intentionally or negligently damage Camp property may be required to reimburse camp.

Camp Vehicles:

Staff members may not use camp vehicles for personal use. If a vehicle is needed for a camp purpose, it must be cleared by a Director.

Campers out of Camp:

Counselors and other staff members may NEVER take a camper out of camp unless it is a specified camp trip. Campers are also not allowed to leave camp with parents or guests during the session, unless it is for an approved mid-camp travel reason.

Cars:

All cars should be parked in the counselor parking lot. Greystone is not responsible for any damage that could occur to parked cars on property. If you have a car, you will be given a pass to get through the camp gate to keep in your car - please don’t lose your pass. You will turn it back in at the end of the summer.

Cell Phones:

ALL phones must stay in the Counselor Hut at all times, unless it is your Day Off and you are off camp property.

Cell phones are NEVER allowed in camp - this includes counselor hang-out spots at night and all Program Staff housing. We want you to be completely focused on staff and camper relationships and be completely in “the bubble!”

If found with your phone in camp, you can either turn your phone in for 3 days, or forfeit half of your day off. On the second offense, you can either turn your phone in for 2 weeks, or forfeit your entire day off.

Cell phones and computers are also not allowed at Sunday night staff meetings.

Counselor Areas:

Counselor Hut: The Counselor Hut is a staff-only area with individual lockers for your electronics, laundry machines, and craft supplies. Please be sure to have your food and drink items clearly marked with your name so that there is no confusion as to whose they are. PLEASE DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING THAT IS NOT YOURS. The Counselor Hut is the only building in Camp where cell phones are allowed. You may use the area immediately outside the Hut or go to the Fort when using your phone, but you may not go into other areas of camp. The Counselor Hut closes at 11:45 pm.
The Gritz: This is our counselor Day Off house located across the street from camp. Unless otherwise noted, it is open for you to use on your mid-session Days Off (not on nights or mornings off). Please help us keep it clean for others to enjoy after you! The Gritz closes at 11:45 p.m.
The Bodega: The Bodega is our counselor-only snack hut that is located behind the Health Hut, right in the middle of camp. We provide some snacks and drinks here for you to grab, but you are also welcome to leave your own items here for easy midday access. Make sure they’re labeled with your name! This is also where Cabin Staff stores their medication. Please be discreet when you are grabbing items from the Bodega; campers should not know it exists!
White Hall: This program area becomes a counselor hang-out area on many nights. Some nights, we may have an event happening in White Hall, and some, it may just be open for you to enjoy the air conditioning and relax. No matter what, please leave White Hall better than you found it; it is someone’s program area and campers will be coming in after you! No phones are allowed in White Hall, and it closes at 11:45 p.m.
Men’s and Women’s Living Quarters: Women are not permitted in men’s living quarters. Males are not allowed in women’s living quarters or in Tentalow, Bungalow, and Cabin areas above the road with the following exceptions: Opening & Closing days and trips to the Health Hut and Riflery Range.

Food and Packages:

We have GREAT food at camp, but when eating at the same place, 3 times a day, for a whole summer, you can get tired of even really good food. We expect all staff to maintain a positive attitude about the food in the Dining Hall and to model that for the campers.

Packages with food are NOT allowed for campers (campers are not allowed to get packages of any kind.) Staff cannot bring food back to campers from your Days Off.

We also ask that staff members DO NOT chew gum or drink sodas in the campers’ presence, as they are not allowed this privilege. Counselors should save their sodas, gum, and other snack food to be kept and enjoyed in the Counselor Hut at the appropriate time.

The only exception to this rule is the food and drinks that you get out of the Bodega (our counselor food and drink station next to the Health Hut!). We will keep a small variety of simple food and drinks in there for you to help yourself to any time - you are also welcome to keep your own items in the Bodega to grab when you need a pick-me-up. However, the Bodega is a counselor secret! If you carry food or drink out with you, it needs to be tucked away in your bag or in an opaque container. Be subtle!

Counselors and other staff members can have their packages and mail sent to: YOUR Name, Camp Greystone - STAFF, 21 Camp Greystone Lane, Zirconia, NC 28790. Counselor packages should be picked up in the Counselor Hut.

Dating

In order to protect our camp community and keep the focus on our campers, staff cannot engage in any form of romantic relationship or sexual contact on camp property. If you are in a relationship or start one during the summer, the relationship must be disclosed to Ellen-Anne. As always, you can never talk about romantic relationships with campers - we do not want it to be a focus at camp!

Department areas:

It might be tempting to enjoy our different class areas outside of class time, but for your safety and to protect our property, you should never go into a department area other than your own unless specifically invited. You should also never take supplies out of a department - those counselors are counting on them, and if you need something, we can help you find it elsewhere.

Many of our department areas have highly specialized and expensive equipment, so even within your own class, please treat them with care and respect.

Guests:

We have a No Visitor policy for the campers throughout the summer months, and this applies to staff members as well. The only exception would be on your Day Off. You are welcome to bring your family around camp on a tour during your Day Off, as long as they check-in at the Hostess Cabin like a regular camp tour.

Intruders, Visitors, and Safety:

Camp is a VERY safe place - we have no visitors so it’s easy to spot those that don’t belong. We have security cameras and hire a security officer to patrol at nights. If someone isn’t familiar, walk up and introduce yourself! We will go over more safety protocols and procedures during Orientation.

Dress Code:

Women must wear one-piece bathing suits only at camp - this includes your Day Off and in between sessions.
No t-shirts with alcohol references or inappropriate themes.
When wearing a tank top, make sure you can’t see your whole sports bra.
Men should wear shirts at all times, unless teaching in water for their department area. No tank tops. Facial hair should be neat, a quarter inch or less, long hair should be pulled back above the collar, and no earrings.
Women can have one earring per ear in the lobe.
All tattoos must be covered.
All shorts must have at least a 2 inch inseam.

Personal Conduct:

All conduct should be fitting of a Christian; this includes speech, actions, and attitude.

This also includes online profiles and social media for the total time you’re employed by Greystone - remember that your campers will be looking at your posts and photos! Your pictures should not include any images that would distract or otherwise taint your example as a Christian representing Greystone.This includes images with alcohol, tobacco products, or immodest clothing. If you wouldn’t want your campers doing it or wearing it, don’t post about it! We ask that your online profile represent camp and the Christian example you have agreed to uphold while employed at Greystone.

Personal Property:

Camp cannot take any responsibility for lost or stolen valuables and personal items, or damage to anything you bring on camp. This applies to anything and everything. If you’d be devastated if an item got lost or damaged, don’t bring it to camp!

Pets:

Camp people are often animal people, but please don’t bring your pets without explicit permission! If you get a pet while you’re at camp, you’ll have to send it home.

Social Media:

We take lots of great pictures at camp, and you may want to share them, but staff are not permitted to post pictures of campers during the session. If you’re posting after the session, you may not tag campers in your posts.

Smoking, Drugs, and Alcohol:

Staff should have absolutely nothing to do with any of the above while you are working at Greystone. These are fireable offenses and are taken very seriously.

Running and Exercise:

We want you to take care of yourself while you’re on staff!

You are welcome to run in camp, on the River Trail, or on the Lake Road. On the Lake Road, you must run with a friend.
You can use headphones with a camp Firefly music player while running in camp in the morning before Reveille, Rest Hour (if on Program Staff), or at night. Please don’t use headphones while running on the road.
You may use the Fitness Room in the morning, during Rest Hour (if on Program Staff), and at night.
Swimming is allowed when the pool is open and there is a lifeguard present.

Workman’s Comp:

This covers you from injury while you’re working on the job or performing an essential duty required by the job.

Your claim must be filed within 24 hours, and you can get a form from the office. We will explain more about Workman’s Comp during Orientation.