We understand you may have some last minute questions about your child's 1st Incomparable Camp Ozark experience.  Camp Ozark 1st Year Camper Coffees provide a great opportunity to meet and greet some of our full-time staff members, meet other 1st Year Camp Ozark families from your area, and receive some last-minute information and helpful hints.  Invitations will be sent to all 1st Year Camp Ozark Campers enrolled by April 1st.  You may also check our website in April for dates and locations.

In 2012, Camp Ozark will be offering 14-day, 7-day and 21-day sessions. All Session Dates may be viewed by clicking here. As summer draws near, waitlists become common for most, if not all, sessions. Therefore, we encourage parents to enroll their campers as soon as possible. For specifics regarding application policies and procedures, please see our "Policies" section. For questions regarding session availability, please don't hesitate to contact our office at 870-867-4131.

Tuition for each 14-day camp session is $2,395.00
Tuition for each 7-day camp session is $1,295.00
Tuition for each 21-day camp session is $3,690.00

The tuition for all sessions includes a $225.00 deposit/registration fee per session. The $200.00 deposit is refundable until February 1, 2012. After February 1, 2012, the deposit is non-refundable in the event of cancellation for any reason. The $25.00 registration fee is non-refundable.

A deposit and registration fee of $225.00 must accompany all applications for each term. The $200.00 deposit is refundable prior to February 1, 2012. The $25.00 registration fee is nonrefundable. After February 1, 2012, the deposit is nonrefundable and nontransferable for any reason. Fee is all inclusive - all camp activities, camp shirt and shorts, equipment and supplies, color photo of cabin group, and regular arts and crafts activities.

Final payment is due no later than April 1, 2012.

No additional funds are requested except for personal items - stamps, souvenirs, toothpaste, extra craft activities, etc., all of which are available at the camp store. ($150.00 is suggested for a 14-day session and $100.00 for a 7-day session.)

No discounts are allowed for late arrivals or early departures. Should withdrawal be advised by the camp physician due to illness, up to one-half of the unexpired term may be refunded on a pro-rated basis at the discretion of the Camp Director.

Families may register their campers, pay the required deposits, and complete the required application online by clicking on the "Register Now" graphic found throughout this website.

When registering their campers, families will create an online "My Ozark" account, which will allow families to manage their camper information, make payments, save Store items and Summer Photos for future purchase, and much more.

All campers are required to purchase low-cost, no-fault, major medical insurance. The fee for this coverage is minimal, but purchase is a requirement for enrollment at Camp Ozark.

Many campers desire to experience Camp Ozark for more than one session. The fee for two consecutive 14-day sessions is $4,790.00. Campers are fully supervised between sessions. There is a small fee for this service.

Each session is generally limited to 780 boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 17. All applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Waiting lists are common for all sessions. Acceptance requires a fully completed application, signed and accompanied by the $225.00 camp deposit and registration fee.

Upon acceptance of a camper's application, he or she is placed in the proper grouping and cabin according to age, development and school grade. Every effort is made to place campers according to their cabin preference, but final placement is at the sole discretion of the Camp Director. Campers may request to be placed in the same cabin with up to two other campers. All such requests must be submitted in writing and must be made by both campers. Requested cabin mates must be no more than 12 months apart in age. No more than four campers from the same school or social group will be placed in the same cabin.

Also, please understand that clear communication with a requested cabin mate is very important.  We recommend that all parents involved openly communicate with one another so that all campers may have the best possible start to their Incomparable Camp Ozark experience.

One of our core values at Camp Ozark is Friendship.  Learning how to be a friend, make a friend and keep a friend. Making new friends is a rich component of the cabin experience and many of our campers choose to not make requests for this reason. We encourage campers to attend without concern for cabin requests, but we will make every effort to accommodate cabin requests in compliance with our cabin placement policies.

There are four options for traveling to Camp Ozark: 1) Arrive via private automobile; 2) Ride a Camp Ozark sponsored chartered bus; 3) Fly into the Little Rock Airport to then be transported to camp via chartered bus; 4) Fly into Bearce Airport, the local Mount Ida airport, to then be transported to camp via camp shuttles.

Parents are encouraged to personally pick their campers up at the close of camp; however, campers may travel home to selected cities via bus or be transported to Little Rock to board commercial flights home. Transportation fees are charged for these services.

Charter buses run to and from Camp Ozark for most sessions from the following cities:

Fee for the bus is based on the city of departure.

Campers who wish to fly either to or from camp via commercial airline can be met at or transported to the Little Rock airport. Because a large number of our campers come from Texas, we arrange for specifically designated flights between Houston/Dallas and Little Rock to be staffed by Ozark staff members. To view a list of 2012 flights accompanied by Camp Ozark staff, click here.

There are many places to stay near Camp Ozark. We suggest you make your reservations well in advance. First-class hotel facilities are available in Hot Springs, Arkansas, 40 miles east of Camp Ozark. In addition, there are several nice lodging, cabin and camping options within 20-30 minutes of Camp Ozark

For more information, refer to the lodging list found here.

You may also visit the Chamber of Commerce websites for Mount Ida and Hot Springs, or any online travel review guide, such as Trip Advisor.

Camp Ozark is located 6 miles west of Mt. Ida, Arkansas (40 miles west of Hot Springs, Arkansas) in the scenic Ouachita Lake and Mountain region of west-central Arkansas. Our ideal setting provides easy access to the Ouachita River, the Ouachita National Forest, and Lake Ouachita.

The two Health Centers are staffed by a camp physician and up to 8 registered nurses. Additional physicians and a full-service medical clinic are located in Mt. Ida, 6 miles away. It is the camp policy to notify parents of an illness, accident or injury in the event the camper is seen by the camp physician. Should medical bills be incurred, parents are fully responsible for payment.

Camp Ozark will facilitate the mandatory service of pre-packing campers' medications in preparation for camp. Camp families can either send their medication(s) directly to Camp Ozark, or have their doctor provide a prescription to the Camp Ozark partner pharmacy. There is a fee for this service.

All pills/capsules (prescription and non-prescription) taken on a routine basis will be individually packaged and sorted according to day and time of administration. If prescription medication is not in pill/capsule form (liquids, eye drops, topical, etc.) they will be dispensed as indicated.

All medication or prescriptions must be delivered to camp at least 3 weeks prior to the camper's arrival.

Campers that have any type of allergy, whether food, drug, environmental or other, must notify Camp Ozark via the Health Form or in writing before the camper's session begins. All allergies are entered into the camper's database. The "Camp Ozark Allergy Form" must be filled out indicating the allergen, the reaction and the treatment if exposure occurs. If the camper has a potentially life threatening allergy, a black band will be placed on their wrist on their arrival, with their allergy written on the band. Food allergies must be discussed with the Food Services Director in advance of the session and alternatives planned for the session. Supplemental foods are usually requested.

Camp Ozark takes water safety very seriously and has developed water safety policies in accordance with guidelines issued both by the American Red Cross and the American Camping Association.

Before participating in any water activity at Camp Ozark, each camper must complete a mandatory swim test supervised by our waterfront staff. At that time, all campers are fitted for life jackets under the supervision of the waterfront staff. Life jackets are color-coded by size. Campers are required to wear a life jackets when participating in all waterfront activities. The only two exceptions are limited to the water slide area where the camp ratio of swimmers to lifeguard never exceeds 2 to 1 and our EDGE program, a daily exercise program where the campers, on a volunteer basis, can choose to swim laps for twenty consecutive minutes while being monitored by a lifeguard.

Campers who pass the swim test receive a permanent "swim bracelet," which assist the lifeguards in assessing swim ability in each of our areas. Those who do not pass the swim test do not receive a swim bracelet and must wear a life jacket when participating in all waterfront activities, including the water slides and the EDGE swim. In addition each camper is issued a "buddy tag" that is required for admittance into our main waterfront area and wacky world, our youngest campers' swim area. Camp Ozark implements the "buddy system" in both of these areas, requiring all campers to participate in waterfront activities in pairs or groups of three. The buddy system is used to assist in camper monitoring and water safety.

Camp Ozark lifeguards are certified by the American Red Cross. In addition. Backboards and AED's are both available to the waterfront staff should a situation arise requiring their use.

Camp Ozark maintains an excellent safety record in all waterfront activities and reviews its water safety policies on an annual basis.

Sun Protection is taken very seriously at Camp Ozark. In addition to dispensation and application of sunscreen prior to participation in all waterfront and lakefront activities, Camp Ozark trains its staff to encourage sun protection through consistent application of sunscreen. Protective clothing, such as UV rated swim shirts, are also encouraged. While Camp Ozark encourages campers to bring their own sun protection, sunscreen is available in most program areas and UV rated protective clothing is available at the camp store.

In addition, Camp Ozark employs a monitoring system through its restriction protocols that assist summer staff in identifying and caring for campers who are particularly sensitive to sun exposure.

Camp Ozark strives to provide delicious food options that kids enjoy, while recognizing the importance of nutrition and healthy eating. At every meal, campers have the option to eat from the main hot food line or an always healthy breakfast bar in the morning or soup, salad and potato bar at lunch and dinner. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and fresh fruit are also available during most meals.

All activity, medical and dietary restrictions are reviewed once submitted during registration. All campers enrolled at Camp Ozark must comply with the "Essential Functions of a Camp Ozark Camper" (found in registration materials). While many of these restrictions are effectively managed during the camp session, final approval for enrollment is at the sole discretion of the Camp Director.

Parents, relatives and friends are requested not to visit campers during the session. Campers are not permitted to leave camp during the session with parents or friends. We ask your full cooperation in this policy as it is for the well-being of the camper and camp.

In order for campers to have an Incomparable Camp Ozark experience, cell phones, MP3 or other music players, video cameras, radios, laptops, video games, and other similar electronic items should not be brought to camp. If these items are brought to camp, they will be taken up and held in a secure location in the camp office. Expensive cameras and watches should be left at home due to the risk of breakage or loss.

Food, candy, water balloons or silly string should not be brought or sent to camp

Fireworks, guns, ammunition, and knives are strictly prohibited.

Telephone calls from parents or friends to campers should be limited to an emergency basis. Please feel free to call the Camp Director if you need to discuss something relating to your child. Campers are not allowed to use the telephone during their stay at Camp Ozark except for radical emergencies. Campers are allowed to receive faxes and/or e-mail messages. There is a $1.00 charge per event for this service.

No extra money is needed at camp except for personal items such as toothpaste, shampoo, stamps, camp t-shirts, canteen/snack items, extra craft items, etc. A deposit should be made in the camper's store account; $150 is suggested for two and three week sessions, and $100 is suggested for one week sessions.

The Camp Store operates in similar fashion to a checking account and the unused balance is refunded. In the event your camper's store balance falls below $25, you will be notified.

All money must be turned in to the office on the first day of camp. No money is allowed to be kept in the cabins.

Morning Activities are primarily designed for campers to learn or improve upon a skill from one day to the next. Camp Ozark creates a personalized Morning Activity schedule for each camper. These personalized schedules are created using your camper's preferred activities, which are selected online prior to their arrival at Camp Ozark.

Each scheduled Morning Activity generally meets once daily, Monday through Thursday, with a total of three activity periods each day.

All areas of camp are staffed and open recreationally every afternoon during our camp-wide free time known as Mish Mash. Campers are able to participate in as many activities as they'd like. Qualified staff is assigned to supervise each activity, while those not assigned are free to take kids to different activities of the camper's choosing. Organized Tournaments and Clinics are advertised and offered each Mish Mash allowing campers to benefit from instruction in a specific areas, as well as participate alone or with a group in structured play.

Mish Mash is often referred to as the camper's favorite time of the day because all activities at Camp Ozark are open, with campers having the opportunity to do "whatever they want" at this time. Mish Mash lasts about 2 hours each day.

No regulation uniform is required. All clothing and equipment must be marked with camper's first and last name. Each camper should bring a standard size footlocker. A complete list of what to bring is forwarded to all campers upon receipt of their application.

Camp Ozark firmly believes that all campers deserve to have an "incomparable" camp experience, and any camper behavior that negatively affects the experience of others should be addressed in a decisive and timely fashion. Camp Ozark has developed a system of Camper Monitoring designed to prevent, identify and resolve camper behavior issues. Components of Camper Monitoring include:

Monitoring of Camper Behavior
Camp Ozark employs a system of camper monitoring that involves cabin counselors, senior summer staff ("Top Staff" - older Camp Ozark "veterans" who oversee a small group of cabins), and Permanent Staff. One of the primary goals of our camper monitoring system is to be in a position to quickly identify and resolve any camper misbehavior. Our cabin counselors are the first line of "defense," but all staff members, including the Top and Permanent Staff, are trained to work together to attempt to eliminate misbehavior of any kind.

Permanent Staff
Certain members of the Camp Ozark Permanent Staff are tasked with designing, implementing and evaluating our camper monitoring program. These Permanent Staff members try to stay current on recent trends and thoughts on preventing, identifying and resolving behavioral issues, including bullying. In addition, these Permanent Staff are proactive during the summer in responding to behavioral issues that arise among campers. As issues come to their attention, whether through formal or informal channels, one or more of these Camp Ozark Permanent Staff members becomes involved.

Training of Summer Staff
Camp Ozark trains our Summer Staff in efforts to help them recognize, prevent and resolve camper misbehavior issues, such as bullying. This includes training prior to camp, during our Staff Orientation (required of all summer staff member with very few exceptions), as well as ongoing training and evaluation during summer.

Camper Supervision Rules
Camp Ozark has developed policies and guidelines aimed at adequate supervision and monitoring of campers. For example, we go to great lengths to avoid situations where campers are not directly supervised by staff members at all times. Since most campers who bully or otherwise misbehave tend to do so in the absence of adult supervision, we strive to eliminate those situations.

Opening Day Meetings
On the first night of camp, Camp Ozark conducts age- and gender-specific meetings with all campers. During these opening day meetings, a member of the Permanent Staff reviews our behavioral policies and guidelines and outlines the consequences of misbehavior (ranging from a meeting with Permanent Staff, to loss of camp privileges, to expulsion from camp in extreme cases). A Permanent Staff member will also review the formal and informal ways a child may report misbehavior by another camper or staff member. We want campers to feel safe and empowered to stand up for themselves, and to know they have options for dealing with difficult situations.

One-on-One Meetings and Daily Checks
We conduct "Camper Evaluations" once per week, during which members of the Top Staff meet with the counselors in their assigned cabins and documents a formalized report for each camper. The primary purpose of this meeting is to identify any behavioral issues that might be causing problems in the cabin. These reports are then reviewed by members of the Permanent Staff. In addition, Top Staff members are tasked with informally checking with each of their assigned cabins each day. Again, this helps keep us informed as to how the campers in a cabin are getting along, and if the counselors are having any difficulty managing behavioral issues.

Camp Moms, typically former Ozark staff members, serve as a mom away from home and strive to help make the experience of sending a child to camp as smooth and worry-free as possible for both the camper and parents. Camp Moms have a network in place that enables them to meet camper's needs, address issues such as homesickness, and give 1st time camper status reports to camp families a few days into their camper's session.

Cabins at Camp Ozark are arranged by age group and gender, and are strategically located throughout Camp Ozark. The Summit is an area set apart for our older campers and is serviced by a separate dining facility and Health Center. The typical cabin arrangement is 10 campers with 2 counselors. The cabins are rustic (screen doors, screen windows, ceiling fans), and campers sleep in bunk beds. Each sleeping area has a shelf and access to an electrical outlet (for fans or clocks). Most campers use bath houses, although some cabins do have their own facilities.

Campers with birthdays while at Camp Ozark are recognized in a variety of ways: their birthday is announced and celebrated during the Morning Show; the entire cabin gets a bag of birthday decorations, hats and other fun items; and the birthday boy/girl receives a birthday cake at lunch to share with the cabin. In addition, parents may purchase a Birthday Package via the Camp Ozark store for delivery on the special day.