Frequently asked questions about BT Camps.
Our summer camp is located in Owings Mills/Reisterstown Area near Exit 7B, Franklin Boulevard West off of I-795.
During the off-season, we conduct tours of our campsite by appointment. Please call us at 410.517.3451 to schedule a tour.
If they’re in the same grade and program, you may list the request on your camper’s application. We do our best to honor up to 3 requests for bunkmates.
Most often a group of about 12-16 children who are in the same grade and program. Bunks are usually not coed, but many activities are.
Each bunk has a minimum of two counselors, one of which is the Head counselor, many of whom are college graduates or college upperclassmen. The head counselor is assisted by college students or sometimes a high school upperclassman. The staff-camper ratio is 1:4.
The sole responsibility of the counselors is each child’s general welfare, and they spend all day with their bunk. Each of the day’s activities is led by a different team of specialized instructors, highly trained and certified in that activity.
Both Big Camp in Reisterstown and Nursery Camp in Pikesville offer Extended Day, allowing families the flexibility to pick up their campers as late as 5:00 p.m. A late pickup fee of $1 per minute, per camper, applies after 5:00 p.m.
Though we find most folks don’t like their lawn getting torn up by a bus coming all the way to the door, the bus will stop as close as it can get! We do our best to provide convenient bus service for all camp families! While many campers receive door to door service, others may need to use a centralized stop near their home for safety, routing, or efficiency reasons. Centralized stops may be added or adjusted as needed. Door to door service cannot be guaranteed for campers enrolled for fewer than two weeks, and bus transportation is not guaranteed for campers who register after May 1.
Bus rides average approximately 40 minutes each way, although ride times vary depending on a camper’s location, the route, traffic, and other circumstances outside of our control. Some rides may be shorter or longer than others. We continually review and adjust our routes as needed to help minimize ride times while ensuring safe and efficient transportation for all campers.
Times usually fall between 8:00-9:00 AM and 4:20-5:15 PM depending on routes and bus stop locations, as well as traffic on any given day. Exactly where your stop falls on the route cannot be determined before sometime in early June. Detailed bussing information is emailed to enrolled families about a week before the start of camp. Some families choose to drive their camper(s) to and from camp each day. Our Extended Day Program is another alternative to riding the bus.
We always have a Registered Nurse on duty at our Health Suite who can administer medication, give first aid, and follow doctors’ instructions. For anything out of the ordinary, we contact the parents or, if necessary, the emergency contacts you list for us.
The counselors are in the water with the kids and our large, certified, aquatics staff is teaching and guarding at all times. At the lake, everyone wears life jackets at all times and our certified lifeguards are on duty. Our pools are designed to meet the needs of all ages and swimming abilities, from the more timid through expert.
Yes, however, we cannot guarantee bus service for campers registered after May 1st nor can we guarantee door-to-door service for campers registered for less than 2 weeks. Campers enrolled for 1 week may need to go to a nearby stop.
The campers follow a near regular schedule if it’s just drizzling. If rain is torrential, the instructors from activity areas come to the campers in their respective bunk houses or covered program facility areas. We have rainy day activities, games, and other projects available for our campers to still enjoy a fun-filled day with their friends here at camp.
Even though we are an outdoor summer camp, lots of activities take place in covered, open-sided pavilions and in the shade of our hundreds of trees. On especially hot days we shift to a “hot day schedule” where we limit strenuous activities and exposure to sun. We add extra free-swim time, set up sprinklers and misting stations and make sure campers and staff drink often from our many ice-water stations. Camp will remain open regardless of the temperatures and/or air quality warnings. We will only close if we are mandated to do so. We understand and respect your choice should you decide to keep your camper(s) home on any given day(s), regardless of the reason, and we look forward to welcoming them back upon their return. For any missed days of camp, please call our office at 410-517-3451 to let us know that your child won’t be attending camp that day.
There is a gatehouse located at the summer camp entrance that is always staffed. All visitors must sign in by presenting photo ID, receive permission to enter, must wear a visitor tag, and must leave their car keys with the gatehouse staff while on the campgrounds. Camp has extra security on site throughout the camp day as well as video surveillance cameras to help monitor campus safety.