Frequently Asked Questions for all Camps
What are the Rules and Regulations?
All camps abide by the St. Stephen’s Episcopal School general rules found on pages 24-27 of the student handbook, and a set of additional summer camp rules found in all three Summer Camp Handbooks on the right column of this page.
What happens if my child gets sick?
St. Stephen’s has qualified personnel to handle campers if they are ill. For emergencies, we take campers to a nearby emergency center. Campers must have complete medical history and health forms on file prior to the start of camp.
Is there storage for valuables?
St. Stephen's Episcopal School is not responsible for lost or stolen items. We suggest that campers leave valuables at home.
How many staff do you have and what are their qualifications?
Staff members are a combination of local, regional and national educators, coaches, athletes and artists. All staff members undergo a thorough background check and must take a seminar mandated through the Episcopal Diocese titled, "Safeguarding God's Children," which is an educational program for preventing child sexual abuse. Many staff members are certified in CPR and First Aid.
What are the facilities like?
St. Stephen’s 428-acre campus near Austin in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, offering breath-taking views and state-of-the-art facilities.
What kind of food is served?
Meals are provided 3 times daily. Please check the specific camp pages for. There is standard fare for each meal and a featured daily dish. Standard breakfast includes scrambled eggs, a waffle station, toast, bagels, a cereal bar, oatmeal, coffee, milk and juice. Standard lunch and dinner includes a deli sandwich station, a salad bar, peanut butter and jelly and fruit. Featured dishes range from lasagna to chicken stir-fry to burgers to fajitas. Dishes are always accompanied by a vegetable and a starch side dish. There are vegetarian options available.
Frequently Asked Questions for Boarders
Where do I send mail and packages?
TO SEND ANY PACKAGES OR MAIL VIA FEDEX/UPS/USPS
[CAMPER’S NAME]
C/O ST. STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
ATTN: [CAMP DIRECTOR] & [CAMP NAME]
2900 BUNNY RUN
AUSTIN, TX 78746
Do the campers have access to laundry?
There are laundry facilities either in the dorm or in a nearby dorm.
When can I talk to my child?
There are phones located in the dorms. We suggest you send your camper with a calling card and be sure he or she knows how to use it. TAP parents should feel free to call the Residential Director if you have any questions or concerns during camp. Please do not call the Residential Director to reach your child unless there is an emergency. Send an email requesting that he or she call you.
Does my child need spending money?
If you would like to send spending money with your camper, we suggest no more than $100. The only times campers might have the opportunity to make purchases are at off-campus outings, the campus concession stand, and soda and snack machines.
What are the dorms like?
St. Stephen's is a boarding high school during the school year. The summer camps are fortunate to use those dorms. The dorms are equipped with full kitchens, common areas with television and comfortable lounging and community bathrooms with showers. The dorm rooms each have either one or two sets of bunk beds, accommodating between two and four campers. Each camper has access to closet space, dressers and shelves. Many dorm rooms have a sink and a mirror. Showers are located in the bathrooms at the end of each hall.
Can my child request a roommate?
We do our best to honor all reasonable roommate requests. It is very important that ALL of the campers involved make the same requests. Requests should be made upon registration.
How do we make arrangements for travel to and from camp?
Parents have the option to bring campers to camp or send them on an airplane. At no additional cost, a staff member will pick up and drop off campers at the airport. When making flight arrangements, we ask that you do your best to fly in before camp check in and fly out after the conclusion of the camp session. All travel arrangements must be entered online.
What if my child becomes homesick?
Homesickness is a normal experience in the process of growing up, and every counselor is trained to help a homesick camper through encouragement, lots of activity and building new friendships. Parents can help by writing frequent letters. Refrain from making a fuss over your departure or suggesting that your child might get homesick. So long as you encourage your child to stay at camp, he or she will be in good hands and will have a wonderful experience.
Frequently Asked Questions for TAP Campers
How many campers attend Texas Arts Project?
Senior Camp is expected to have approximately 50 campers. Junior Camp is expected to have approximately 25 campers.
Can my camper check and send email?
You may email campers at tapcamp@yahoo.com. Please put the camper's first and last name in the subject line. Camper emails will be delivered at lunch along with the snail mail. Senior campers will have access to personal email beginning the 2nd week of camp. During camp, counselors will send email to the parents which will include camp photos.
When can we visit during camp?
Senior Camper's parents are welcome to visit camp on the first Saturday and the second Sunday between 10am and Noon. Campers may leave campus for the designated two hours so long is the appropriate paperwork has been completed by the accompanying parent/guardian. Please set up visits in advance by filling out the visitation information online during registration. To ensure safety, we will not release a camper unless the proper forms have been completed. There is no visitation day for any other camps.
Can campers use cell phones?
We realize that many of our campers are used to having cell phones. However, we must implement a new system in order to maintain productivity and a healthy lifestyle during the camp weeks. We ask that you leave your cell phones at home. Our goal is to avoid obvious intrusion that can be caused by cell phones - talking late at night and keeping roommates awake, ring tones during classes and rehearsals, focusing on old friends instead of new ones, etc. We understand there may be extenuating circumstances that require your camper to have his or her cell phone. Please contact us to inquire about special permission.
What is the camper to staff ratio?
The camper to staff ratio is approximately 3:1. To ensure an enriching experience, each camper is assigned a counselor. Our counselors are college students who are experienced artists and leaders. Counselors are also around during classes and rehearsals as teaching assistants, dance captains, and stage managers. With the Residential Director, they lead activities and monitor campers during non-class times. The camper to counselor ratio is 8:1.
Do you go on trips?
Junior Campers go to see one theatre production. Senior Campers go to two theatre productions. Senior Campers may also go to Barton Springs pool, a dance clothing store, and a tour of a theatre or studio. When campers leave campus for theatre outings or other trips, they are either transported by St. Stephen's driving personnel in a school bus or by a staff member in the school suburban. If it is a very small trip, a staff member might use his or her personal vehicle.
Is Texas Arts Project affiliated with a certain religion?
No. Texas Arts Project is not affiliated with any religion. Our campers come from all different backgrounds and there are no religious activities at camp.