Parent FAQ

Culver Summer Schools & Camps is a residential summer program in Culver, Indiana, offering leadership-focused camps for students ages 7–17. It combines traditional summer camp activities with structured personal development and leadership training. 

Culver offers three summer programs: 

• Junior Woodcraft Camp (ages 7–9, 4 days) 

• Woodcraft Camp (ages 9–14, 6 weeks) 

• Upper School (ages 14–17, 6 weeks) 

Culver stands out for its leadership development system, large 1,800-acre campus, and unique combination of military based organization, outdoor adventure, and vast class offerings. Campers also participate in a technology-free environment that encourages independence and real-world social growth. Culver is comprised of campers from 40 states and 30 countries making it a diverse summer program.

Campers develop leadership, teamwork, discipline, time management, and self-confidence through structured activities, leadership roles, and group living experiences.

Culver is best suited for children who want to build confidence, independence, and leadership skills while participating in a wide range of activities such as sailing, athletics, aviation, horseback riding and more. 

Missing family, pets and home is natural for children. Our staff is trained to work with campers on how to deal with their homesickness.

It is common for the first letters home to indicate traces of sadness. Several campers experience a short adjustment period at the beginning of camp. However, once they get into the routine, campers focus on the excitement of new friends, activities, and achievement. Your support of this normal process is critical to your child's success.

How can you help your child adjust to being away from home?

• Begin at home and build up his/her excitement and pride about his/her independence. Review Culver’s website and videos to reinforce his/her excitement and interest. Explain the normal process of homesickness.
• Set the goal of staying all six weeks. Do not tell your child that he/she can choose to come home or that you will pick him/her up if he/she is homesick – it sets him/her up for failure instead of success.
• Practice overnights with family or friends to help first-time campers adjust to being away.
• Send pictures of family and friends with your child to camp.
• During camp, send upbeat, cheerful letters focusing on how much fun he/she is having and less on what he/she is missing at home.

You may find it difficult to be away from your child for six weeks. Here are some tips:

• Before your child leaves, make a list of goals you want to accomplish while he/she is away at camp, such as things you never had time for before now.
• Write your child an encouraging letter or Bunk note.
• Remind yourself about why you chose Culver – browse the website and watch the videos to remind you of the growth, development, and independence you want for your child.
• Talk with another parent who has experienced the same feelings when their child left for the first time.
• Take time for yourself. Just like your child is broadening his/her horizons, be sure to do the same so you can be re-energized when he/she arrives home with all of his/her stories.

Eastern Daylight Time - same as New York, Miami, and Indianapolis. Chicago observes Central Daylight Time and is one hour behind Culver.

Woodcraft is well-marked on the south side of Indiana 10, about 2 miles east of the four-way light at the intersection at Indiana 17. Woodcraft is just east of Indiana 117. It is about 7 miles west of U.S. 31 and roughly 3 miles north of Indiana 110.

Yes, it is better to be prepared. Bring any special sports equipment (hockey, golf, tennis, lacrosse, etc.) you may think your child will need.

Yes. Your child’s address will be provided to you at registration. Please feel free to send letters, pictures, magazines, books and other non-food items to them while they are at camp.

Not required, but helpful include: a flashlight, bug spray, sunblock, a container to take toiletry items to and from the showers, a journal, a baseball or other type of hat, a disposable camera, nail clippers, and ping pong paddles or other low-tech entertainment items such as books.

Absolutely, but if the clothing does not fit and cannot be altered by our Uniform Department, you will have to purchase new uniforms.

Please bring the item to Registration on opening day. Our Uniform Department staff will look at it and determine if it can be altered. Regardless, all awards and patches will be transferred to the new item if necessary.

Campers must wear the proper uniform, have an appropriate haircut, wearing minimal or no jewelry and adhere to other guidelines established by the Directors.

For a full list of these guidelines, please visit the Rules and Regulations sections of the Parent Guidebook for either Woodcraft Camp or Upper School.

No. Laundry services are included in the price of tuition. Laundry is collected and washed once per week.

This is all available to purchase at Culver. Please remember that sheets and pillowcases will be included in the Linen Services and do not need to be brought to camp.

Yes. Information about the medical insurance is available in your camper's Parent Guidebook under Health Center.

Culver has one automatic teller machine (ATM) on campus, maintained by 1st Source Bank. The ATM machine is currently located on the bottom floor of the Lay Student Center just outside the entrance to the Campus Store. For non-customer use of the ATM, 1st Source Bank charges $3.75 per transaction. Check and cash deposits are accepted, and cash deposits can be any US bill denomination. The ATM disburses bills in $10 and $20 increments. Please note that Culver ID cards are not accepted by the ATMs. 

It is important to note that we strongly recommend that campers not bring cash to camp. For more information, visit the Spending Money at Culver dropdown on the Parent Guidebook.