Parents FAQ Where do Marimeta campers come from? About 75% of our campers come from the Chicago area. We have campers who are from California, Florida, Kansas, Texas and as far away as Mexico, Japan and Israel! And we have a return rate of over 90%! What makes Marimeta special? We like to say Marimeta is more than a camp, it is a feeling! We have an incredibly nurturing and caring family atmosphere at camp that is obvious from the outset. We know each and every one of our campers and their families and are proud to provide a warm, loving environment for our girls. Our girls leave camp being proud of who they are as young ladies and sharing the Marimeta spirit with all those around them! How will my daughter get to camp? We provide transportation in luxury coach buses from Highland Park. For our campers who are from outside of Illinois there are several different options that we will be happy to co-ordinate with you. Rhinelander’s airport is a common option and Eagle River airport has limited service too. We use a fantastic company for the girl’s luggage called Camp Baggage Express. If you live outside of IL we suggest shipping the duffels FedEx or UPS. Please call us with any questions or assistance regarding luggage or transportation. How does my camper select her activities? With so many activities to choose from this may seem like an overwhelming task… we try to make it as simple as possible! Our girls will choose their activities when they get to camp and will be able to make changes to their schedule during the session too! This way they can try out a huge range of activities during their time at camp! Can you tell me more about the counselors at camp? Our counselors are truly the best available! They are hand-picked out of thousands of applicants each year and come from around the world! Our counselors training begins well before camp and then continues for 8 days at camp before the campers arrive. Rest assured that they are going to be experts before your daughter arrives at camp! Your camper will get the chance to meet people from Australia, England, Scotland, Ireland, South Africa, Mexico, New Zealand, Columbia…the list goes on and on. We are so proud of our staff and are also incredibly proud to say that we have return rate of over 55% each year! Our ratio of counselors is 1:3, so there is always a counselor nearby to lend a hand or give a hug! We are confident that your daughter will come home raving about her counselors! My daughter is going to camp not knowing anybody. How can I reassure her she will make friends? Nobody comes to camp not knowing anybody. Your camper will have at least 2 ‘big sisters’ who she will hear from in May, before camp starts. These girls will have been going to camp for 3 years or more! Also, there is a New Camper party scheduled each year where campers can meet each other. In addition, we will have been to your house to visit and spend some time with each of you, so your daughter will already know her summer family!! And from the moment when the girls are on the bus, or arrive at camp, they are with their counselors and fellow campers and making new best friends is already well under way! What happens if my daughter gets sick whilst at camp? In our health center we always have 2 camp nurses and a doctor close by. We have health call 3 times a day. Our counselors are all trained in First Aid and CPR too. If your daughter has to spend the night in the health center we will contact you and let you know! Eagle River Memorial Hospital is also conveniently located close by. How often should I call to check in with camp about my daughter? Rest assured that your daughter is in the best hands during her stay at camp! You can call as often as you would like to check in and we will get back to you right away. We spend a lot of time with your children and her counselors. With our communication system we know up-to-the minute information about your child and can let you know exactly how she is doing. You will also hear from your camper at least twice a week, as the girls are required to write home on Mondays and Thursdays. You can write and email as often as you like- we encourage this! Remember to keep checking the website too, for daily Blog and camp photo’s! What is Parent’s weekend all about? This is when you get to come to see all the exciting activities your daughter has been up to at camp! It is also a great way to meet her counselors and fellow campers. We serve an incredible lunch on the Saturday of Parent’s weekend that is literally the talk of the town! You can spend Friday and Saturday afternoon and evening with your daughter, but we do require the campers to sleep at camp on Friday night. The only campers who sleep out are our Senior Cabin. This is the best way to prevent homesickness from occurring mid-session!