Payment & Cancellation

• A $500 per-camper, per session deposit is required to secure your spot at camp. This deposit goes towards your camp tuition. In addition, a one-time $30 processing fee is due for each camper at the time of registration. All deposits and registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable
• There are three options to pay the remaining tuition balance:
  • Pay full balance at time of registration
  • Pay the balance in equal installments, with full payment due May 1
  • Pay full balance any time by May 1
• Full payment is due by May 1 for registrations made prior to May 1
• Full payment is due at the time of registration for all registrations made after May 1
• Summer at Madeira reserves the right ot charge the credit card on file for any outstanding balances

Cancellations & Withdrawls

• If a registration is withdrawn prior to May 1, all payments except the deposit and registration fee will be refunded. Refunds will not be given for withdrawals or changes in status after May 1
• Summer at Madeira reserves the right to cancel any camp. Should this occur, registered families will receive a full refund for the canceled camp, including their deposit.

Health & Medication

Forms

• All campers must submit the appropriate health and medication forms prior to their arrival at camp. Campers who arrive at camp without these forms may be asked to return once their forms are completed. There are no refunds for days missed due to insufficiant or missing forms.
• All camper forms and forms from doctors offices must be submitted to the Madeira health team in English. At this time, we are unable to accept forms in any other language. 
• International campers must meet Virginia immunization requirements in order to participate in Girls First. If campers arrive who are underimmunized, the Madeira health team will take them to recieve these immunizations. Parents assume all cost associated with immunizing international campers. For more information on require immunizations for international campers, email summer@madeira.org

Medications

• If your child has been prescribed medication she will need to bring onto the Madeira campus, you must complete the appropriate Care and Consent form, located under the forms tab.
• All prescription medications must come to camp in their original pharmacy container, with the prescribing label attached. Please make sure your medication has not expired, as it will not be accepted.
• The Madeira Health and Wellness Center is stocked with over-the-counter medications; therefore campers should NOT bring medications such as Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol), Ibuprofen (e.g. Advil), Diphenhydramine (e.g. Benadryl), Antibiotic Ointment (e.g. Neosporin), and TUMS to camp. The Health Center will contact the parents/guardian directly to obtain permission to dispense over-the-counter medications to the camper if necessary.
• No camper may carry, keep, or dispense for herself or any other camper any prescription or over-the-counter medications.
• Non-compliance with this policy may result in dismissal from camp.

Lice

• Even though school is out and camp is on, head lice do NOT take a vacation. Please continue to be vigilant and check your child’s head prior to their arrival at camp. Campers will complete a head-lice check on the first day of camp. 
• If your child has lice, she may not return to camp until treated and all nits are removed. Upon returning to camp, the camp nurse must verify that there are no nits in order for the camper to return to camp. Refunds are not issued for days missed due to head lice.

Sick Camper

• Campers should not be sent to camp if she is sick, including but not limited to: eye infection, diarrhea, vomiting, severe sore throat, bad cough, fever and/or skin rash. If a camper develops any of these symptoms while at camp she should not come to camp (day camper), or will be sent to the Health and Wellness Center (residential campers). 
• Campers may return to camp no sooner than 24 hours after last episode of diarrhea, vomiting, or fever.  Fever is defined as 100.0 F.  Temperature must be taken 24 hours after last dose of fever-reducing medication.  
• A camper requiring any form of antibiotic treatment must refrain from attending camp programs for the first 24 hours of this treatment.  We reserve the right to require a note from your camper’s healthcare provider indicating she is no longer contagious prior to your camper’s return to camp programs.
• For the safety and well-being of our camp community, campers presenting with any indication of communicable illness are forbidden from participating in camp-related activities and are required to be immediately picked up from camp (day campers), or are sent to the Health and Wellness Center (residential campers). Refunds are not issued for days missed due to illness.

Behavior Expectations

• Campers' attitude and behavior are critical for the sucess and enjoyment of summer camp. It is important that all campers agree to abide by the following:
  • Innaprorpriate language or behavior will not be tolerated at camp. This includes but is not limited to: the use of swear words, derogatory statements or gestures, refusing to follow safety instructions as outlined by the camp staff, defacing or inappropriately using Madeira property including buildings, supplies, and equipment, and any other behavior that could cause harm to onself, another camper, or Summer at Madeira staff.  
  • Intentionally harming or bulling another camper either physically or emotionally may result in immediate dismissal from camp. Parents will be notified by phone to assist in helping the camper to make more positive choices. If behavior does not improve, the child will be asked to leave camp. If a child is dismissed from camp as described, families understand that they are not entitled to and will not receive a refund.
  • Any use of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs will result in immediate dismissal from camp.
  • Cell phones, laptops, tablets, electronic games, MP3 players, etc. are not allowed at camp. Our goal is for girls to disconnect. Camers should leave their phones at home, however, should they need to bring them, they will need to check them in with the program office at the beginning of camp (residential) or daily (day campers). Phones will be stored in a locked, safe location. Campers who take classes that require the use of computers, will have access to Madeira computers and laptops to be used for educational purposes only. If a parent or guardian needs to get in touch with their girl, please contact the program office. Summer at Madeira is not responsible for any belongings that are lost, stolen or damaged. It is our recommendation that you ensure these items are left at home.
• In the event that a camper violates these terms, we reserve the right to dismiss the camper. As a result, the camper would forfiet all registration fees. 

Swimming Pool

• Each camper is tested at the beginning of the session and will wear a wristband color-coded according to ability.

• Camper health and safety are our top priority.
• We have a 14 bed Health and Wellness Center staffed by nurses who are available on call 24-hours a day when the Health Center is closed.
• 24-hour campus security and a gated entrance.
• For Health Forms and Medication information click here

A Typical Day

Morning 

• Wake up, get ready for the day!
• Breakfast in the Student Center (optional for day campers)
• All-camp Morning Meeting
• Morning Classes

Afternoon

• Lunch
• Girl Power Academy (speaker, team challenge, activity, or workshop)
• Afternoon Classes
• Afternoon Activities (high ropes, archery, hiking, arts and crafts, and more!)

Evening

• Community Dinner
• Day Campers depart
• Evening Activities (spa night, dorm karaoke, arts & crafts, movie night, etc.)
• Lights Out

Residential Campers

• All Resident Campers live on campus in one of our air-conditioned dormitories.
• Girls share bathrooms on each floor and have a free laundry facility in the dorm. 
• RAs and Junior RAs provide a welcoming environment where staff and girls get to know one another quickly through organized dorm activities.
• Cost include housing, meals, activities on and off campus, instruction, most supplies, and field trip transportation.
• Please note that there may be some activity overlap between Session 1 and Session 2.

Day Campers

• Day Campers attend GirlsFirst Monday - Friday, as well as Opening Day from 1:30 - 8:00 p.m.
• A Day Camper may begin her day as early as 8:00 a.m. by joining her friends for breakfast, or as late as 8:45 a.m. when she arrives for Morning meeting.
• Day Campers depart camp each day at 6:00 p.m.
• Cost include breakfast (if the camper arrives between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.), lunch, dinner, afternoon activities, instruction, and most supplies.
• Please note that there may be some activity overlap between Session 1 and Session 2.

Bridge Weekend

• Resident Campers staying for both sessions have the option to add Bridge Weekend to their registration. This allows them to stay on campus between sessions instead of being checked out by a parent or guardian on Friday and checked back in on Sunday.
• During the bridge weekend, typically girls use that time to relax. There are group activities in the dorms on Friday evening, dinner, and then Saturday is spent on an off-site trip to DC, to one of the local National Parks, or another type of adventure. We offer some relaxing activities in the evening before and after dinner. Sunday is spent getting ready for the next session to start. 

Educators & Staff

• Our staff are highly trained both in the classroom and in their respective fields. They serve as mentors to help girls achieve their full potential.

Educators

• Represent the achievement of women in their academic field, helping girls see the many contributions of women in that area of study
• Passion for their subject matter goes beyond the classroom - Instructors lead girls out into the world on unique field trips

Resident Staff

• Live in the dorms with the girls and are responsible for the social and residential components of the program
• Our residential staff is largely made up of Madeira alumnae

Dining

• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in the registration fee for day and residential campers. Girls eat gourmet meals in Madeira's spacious Dining Hall.
  
• Vegetarian options are available at every meal.
• The Madeira School is not a nut-free campus.
• Please contact the camp director to discuss any dietary needs your camper might have.

• Girls focus on one area to study through experiential learning, hands on discovery, and real world challenges. Each class is a mix of individual and small-group projects, under the expert guidance of one of our trained educators. Each class will take at least one off-campus trip to meet women working in their chosen field of study. 
• For more detailed information on the 2019 Course Offerings, click here. 

• Every year girls from around the world attend Girls First. We hope thi syear it will be you! 
• International Campers who are not US Citizens have additional requirements they must meet in order to participate in our program. 
• For more information on attending Girls First as an International Camper, click here. 

• Airport transportation to and from Girls First
  • Round Trip : $180
  • One-Way: $100
• We offer an airport shuttle to our GirlsFirst Resident Campers who need help getting to and/or from Washington Dulles International Airport or Reagan National Airport.
• Campers may not arrive to camp earlier than the published start date of camp. If your camper is attending from out of state, and arriving prior to the start of camp, please make additional accommodations for her visit. Pre-camp supervision on the Madeira campus can not be provided.
• All campers must depart the Madeira campus by the last day of camp. 
• You can purchase airport transportation through the registration portal. 

To find answers to some of our most frequently called about questions, click here.