Frequently Asked Questions
who are instructors?
We want your children to have the best, safest experience at camp possible! All our instructors have undergone an application, interview, and training period. We have everything from current teachers, college students, and high school students. Our youngest leaders, grades 6-9, participate in the camp assistant program and get to shadow counselors at camp. Because there is a variety in ages, we ensure that there are always staff above the age 18 present at all times.
what safety precautions are in place while kids are in public spaces?
If your child is registered for a program (flex Fridays) where kids are off-site, there are various safety precautions in place. First, all children are asked to wear their La Senda t-shirts so that they are easy to see in a crowd. Secondly, we make sure the number of staff members on the trip is based on the number of children in attendance, and each member is aware of the specific number of children that must be present at all times. The number of staff members present is based on the number of students as well as based on the location being visited. And finally, each student is given a wristband that has the La Senda phone number. This way, if a child does get separated from the group, they are able to easily get in contact with our staff members. All children watch a safety presentation before leaving for the field trip, informing them of how to find a staff member at each location.
Where can i see photos of camp?
Head to your UltraCamp account to view photos from each camp session. You will only be able to see photo albums for the sessions that your children attend.
What is my child learning?
We have various different aspects of La Senda, and learning curriculum is different for each area!
Spanish Camp during the summer is focused primarily on speaking Spanish, so there is no set curriculum! Instead of focusing on grammar, we allow students to hear Spanish throughout their day, encouraging them to speak Spanish themselves so that they build a love for it! For more information on how we do that, check out our Parent Resource Guide!
Tutoring is up to you! What do you want your student to be getting extra support in right now? Work with your personal tutor to come up with an individualized lesson plan so that student needs are being met!
For Spanish Club classes, we follow a set curriculum based on level. To see more on this, visit our Curriculum page under the About menu!
Spanish Camp during the summer is focused primarily on speaking Spanish, so there is no set curriculum! Instead of focusing on grammar, we allow students to hear Spanish throughout their day, encouraging them to speak Spanish themselves so that they build a love for it! For more information on how we do that, check out our Parent Resource Guide!
Tutoring is up to you! What do you want your student to be getting extra support in right now? Work with your personal tutor to come up with an individualized lesson plan so that student needs are being met!
For Spanish Club classes, we follow a set curriculum based on level. To see more on this, visit our Curriculum page under the About menu!
how do you enforce spanish in immersion environments?
A crucial aspect to consider is fostering intrinsic motivation in kids. We define this as “actions that are driven by internal rewards. The motivation to engage in a behavior arises from within because of the inherent satisfaction of the activity rather than the desire for a reward or specific outcome.”
Ways to encourage this self-motivation include staff sharing why they are passionate about Spanish, why it is valuable to speak Spanish, or helping them understand their own reason why they love Spanish.
Don't worry, we know some students know a lot more than others at camp and in all immersion environments! So we give encouragement for just trying! Don't know the word exactly or not sure how to form a full sentence? That's ok, we love that you're trying! Here, have a silly band!
Ways to encourage this self-motivation include staff sharing why they are passionate about Spanish, why it is valuable to speak Spanish, or helping them understand their own reason why they love Spanish.
Don't worry, we know some students know a lot more than others at camp and in all immersion environments! So we give encouragement for just trying! Don't know the word exactly or not sure how to form a full sentence? That's ok, we love that you're trying! Here, have a silly band!
How do check in and check out work?
For all of our programs, we use Ultra Camp to track check in and check out! Staff check-in each child when they arrive for a program! This ensures that we know exactly which students are present. Then, at the end of camp or a class, we use the same system to check students out! If you do not have your photo in our system, we may ask to see your ID.
What is the best way to get constant updates from camp each week?
Check our our Facebook Group: La Senda Families! In our group, you can see daily camp updates from our Site Directors, ask questions of us as well as other parents, and get any weekly reminders! It is also the best way to access pictures from camp.