Camp FAQs

Your child should bring:

• Comfortable, closed-toed shoes
• One snack for half-day campers, two for full-day campers
• Lunch for full-day campers
• Water bottle and hat/sunscreen for time outdoors

Remember to label all belongings with the family name and phone number. Storage is available for bags with appropriate contents. Please keep ALL communication and entertainment devices at home.

Except during severe weather (which includes thunderstorms, extreme heat and Ozone Alert days), each day will include outdoor activity time. We recommend sending a hat and/or sunscreen for protection.

Yes. We feel that there are many ways of learning about science, including through the arts. We will integrate music, literary traditions and visual arts when appropriate.

Many of our camps build on knowledge from past days. However, we understand that some campers may have illnesses or obligations that cause them to miss camp time. We will do our best to keep all campers up to speed.

We are fortunate to be a part of a rigorous academic environment in UNC-Chapel Hill. We select undergraduate and graduate students with backgrounds in science and education to serve as counselors. Many of these counselors also work at Morehead throughout the year, giving school shows and developing curriculum-based educational tools. All of our counselors are trained extensively through a proven program focused on classroom management, inquiry-based education, and creating a safe, inviting space for all young learners.

Drop-off and pick-up for camp is conducted in the Morehead parking lot and is supervised by camp staff. An adult must sign the camper in with a camp staff member.

All camp families are invited to attend a Camp Open House in late May or early June (Morehead will email details, including date and time, to camp parents in May). During the Camp Open House, Morehead staff members will guide families completely through the drop-off and pick-up process. For those who are unable to attend the Camp Open House, Morehead will provide detailed instructions.

As an important safety measure, Morehead will only release campers at pick-up to authorized adults. As part of the Camp Contract, you may authorize up to five adults to pick up your camper with the presentation of valid photo identification. The contract also requires your contact information so we can contact you in the event that an unauthorized individual arrives to pick up your child.

Campers are supervised by counselors during extended care times, and their activities depend on their interests. Tabletop games (Connect Four, Jenga), active games (Tag, Four Square) and toy-based play (Frisbee, Hula Hoop) are popular activities with Morehead campers during extended care.

We rarely experience serious disciplinary issues and keep campers thoroughly engaged to maximize learning and minimize “acting out.” We will handle discipline issues on a case-by-case basis. Talking with campers is our first response; “time out” is utilized when necessary. We will relay all discipline issues to parents as they occur and will work in partnership with families to develop effective solutions.

Each camper’s Medical Release Form authorizes Red Cross certified Morehead staff members to administer first aid. In case of emergency, camp staff will obtain care at UNC Hospitals and contact the child’s family.

We encourage parents to visit only during the lunch period, if the child is enrolled in both morning and afternoon camps and is participating in lunch care. This helps us keep each camper focused on their camp activities. Please notify camp staff if you’d like to check your camper out during the lunch period. Photo ID is required to do so.

Should you need to visit with your child during camp, please notify the Morehead camp office, located on the second floor. Because camp activities are in various locations (classrooms, planetarium dome, outdoor play areas), the camp staff will help you locate your child quickly.

If your child is enrolled in a camp for Grades K-1, each session has 18 campers, two counselors and at least one teen volunteer to assist the counselors.

All other camps have 20 campers with two counselors in each session. In some of these camp sessions, a teen volunteer assists the counselors.

On the Tuesday before the first day of the camp session.

No. Lunch care is only for campers who are attending camp all day.

Only members at the Solar level and above are guaranteed space, as long as they complete “concierge registration” within the designated window.

However, all Morehead members are guaranteed priority registration – a “members only” registration period that opens one week before registration opens to the general public.

Space is available within each camp until all of the camp’s spots have been filled, in this order: concierge registration, early registration, general public registration. Morehead cannot guarantee that all members will have space in all camps of their choice because there may be more members who want to reserve spots in a camp than the number of open spots in that camp (for example, if 24 members want spots in a camp that can serve only 20 children).

Child development is a major consideration in creating our programs. Our camps are designed to provide age-appropriate educational content and social interaction. We have also taken into consideration that many children who attend specialized camps come with great interest and knowledge in scientific topics. Given our experiences and our emphasis on age, and developmentally-appropriate programs, we do not accept younger children into programs for older students.

We pride ourselves on catering to the educational needs of each child who visits Morehead and are happy to talk with you about your camper’s needs. We prefer to know about all needs before camp begins to assist with planning and staff training. We ask you to provide detailed information about special needs in the Health Profile on our registration platform.

If you would like to coordinate with us in addition to this form, please contact the camp coordinator at mpsc_camps@unc.edu and indicate you have special camp needs in the subject line. You may also call the camp office directly at 919.843.7334.

The Medications tab in the Health Profile affords you the chance to provide detailed instructions. ALL medication MUST be kept in Morehead offices and administered by the camp coordinator. These policies include ALL over-the-counter drugs as well as prescribed medication.

No. The child’s parent or guardian can fill out this form and return it to Morehead.

Morehead’s Federal Tax ID number is: 56-6001393.

Camp Office 
(camp registration, forms, payments, special needs)
919.843.7334 
mpsc_camps@unc.edu 

Membership Office 
(priority registration, discounts and other member benefits)
919.843.3475 
mpscmembers@unc.edu

Box Office
(general questions about Morehead)
919.962.1236