Outside With Your Kids Since 1974

Gloucester Adventure Camp

Outside with your kids since 1976...

GMS Adventure Camp fosters a sense of wonder, environmental stewardship, and critical thinking skills. The open spaces of Essex County serve as a living classroom for campers to learn, appreciate and understand the natural resources of the greater Cape Ann area.

Island Dory Row

Gloucester Museum School Adventure Camp – Daily Details

What to Bring – Museum School Adventure Camp 

Please remember we are an outdoor, adventure camp – this means we are outdoors every day in all kinds of weather conditions. The only time we will not be outdoors is if the weather poses a physical danger to the campers and leaders. This means we are out in hot, cold, dry and wet weather, so please dress your child accordingly.

Gloucester Museum School Adventure Camp
The Best Aquarium on Cape Ann

Please be sure that everything fits into one backpack. No glass or breakable items, please!
Please be sure to label all items so that we can return anything that gets left behind.

Campers must wear appropriate footwear:
We recommend appropriate, sturdy, closed-toe footwear for beach and mud walks that will protect your children from broken glass and shells. Sneakers are perfectly fine but please remember that the kids and their feet will get wet during the day. Keen sandals, LL Bean water sneakers, water shoes, or other similar footwear have worked well in the past.

We suggest the following as a baseline for daily camp wear:

  • Sunscreen SPF 30+ Please apply before camp every morning.
  • Each camper should bring a bottle of bug spray to camp every day. The decision of whether or not to use DEET free products belongs with the parents.
  • Shorts
  • T-shirt – a UV top/ rash guard is recommended
  • Girls must wear swimsuits under clothing (where we go there are no changing rooms). Boys must wear their swim shorts and pack a spare pair of shorts or swim shorts in their bags.
  • Hat or visor
  • Sunglasses
  • Raincoat or poncho as needed for inclement weather
  • Sweatshirt or fleece and long pants or sweat pants if temperatures are cooler
  • Socks in a plastic bag, especially if blisters are present
  • Towel – optional for older campers
  • If you have a Coast Guard approved life-jacket that fits your child, please have them wear it on Stone Pier drop-off days

On Rock Climbing Days:

  • Long Pants are suggested, but not required
  • Long sleeved shirt to go over a t-shirt – again, suggested but not required
  • Closed-toe shoes

Lunch & Snacks

  • Filled water bottle (we will refill throughout the day)
  • Insulated lunch bag with a nutritious lunch and beverage, (no soda) if desired. Two snacks (no candy). Non-perishable items are recommended since no refrigeration is available.

Medications

  • Do not pack medication with lunch or snacks.
  • If your child requires the administration of medications during camp hours, you must complete the “Authorization to Administer Medication to a Camper” completely. Specify “Not applicable” where appropriate, and be sure to sign the form.
  • Medication that will be administered at camp must be provided by the parent/guardian to the camp in the original container bearing the pharmacy label with the following information:
    • the date of filling
    • the pharmacy name and address
    • the filling pharmacist’s initials
    • the serial number of the prescription
    • the name of the patient
    • the name of the prescribing practitioner
    • the name of the prescribed medication
    • directions for use and cautionary statements contained in such prescription or required by law
    • if tablets or capsules, the number in the container
    • All over-the-counter medications must be kept in the original containers containing the original label, which shall include directions for use
  • Medications will be stored in a secure location at camp
  • When the session ends, we will make every effort to return all remaining medications to the parents. If this is impossible, they will be properly destroyed.
  • If your child is insulin dependent or has an allergy that requires an epinephrine prescription, you may grant your child permission to self-administer if you deem this appropriate. The camp Health Care Supervisor will be present to oversee self-administration.
  • Please see our director if you require a written copy of our policies for the administration of medications, the name of our Health Care Consultant and Health Care Supervisors as well as our storage and record keeping procedures.

What needs to stay at home?

  • Toys
  • Personal listening devices
  • Portable game devices
  • Trading cards
  • Stuffed animals
  • Money

Cell Phone Policy

Children can bring their cell phones if their parent deems it imperative. It must remain off during camp hours and in the camper’s backpack, we are not responsible for damage to the phone.

Cell phone use is not allowed during camp!