Overnight at Band Camp

Overnight at Band Camp

Thank you to all the parents volunteering for an overnight shift at Band Camp. While it can be tiring, it can be a really rewarding experience and we truly appreciate you taking it on!

For a detailed timetable and task list please see here: Saturday overnight timetable and tasks

For an overnight reference sheet, please see here:  Saturday Overnight Crew information

For parents staying overnight on Jazz Band (Friday) night, you can find information here: Jazz Band Overnight Crew information

Bedding & Sleeping Arrangements

• You will be allocated a room within a cabin with bunk beds and an ensuite bathroom. Cabins typically have four separate rooms: children will occupy three of these, and the parents will share the other room. 

• We recommend bringing your own pillow and sleeping bag, or alternatively, sheets, blankets and pillow.

• Powerpoints are available in the cabins, so please feel free to bring chargers for your phones (note that reception can be a bit spotty at CRU)

• You will share the ensuite bathroom with the other parent, but if these are occupied, there are separate toilet blocks near Band Camp Central and attached to the Dining Room. 

Food and Coffee

• Dinner and breakfast will be provided

• If you have special dietary requirements, please reach out ASAP to medical-bandcamp@tps-pandc.org.au, so we can arrange this with CRU Galston for you.

• There is tea and coffee available in the Dining Room (open all hours) for parents to help themselves, with hot and cold filtered water. There is also a small drinks fridge if you need to keep anything cool, but there is no food or drink facilities in cabins. There will also be various members of the Band Committee making occasional coffee runs to Galston. So if you are desperate for real coffee, please let us know (and bring some small change unless you are willing to pay for a full round for everyone with a $50 note!!)

• If you prefer to bring along your own food or drink or snacks, please feel free to do this, but it must be kept out of cabins. Parents can safely leave bags, small cooler bags and/or drink bottles at Band Camp Central during the day.

• We do ask that you maintain a nut free policy, in line with CRU Galston, and for the safety of all at the camp

• We also ask that you do not bring any alcohol to site, this is a CRU Galston requirement, and again, is for the safety of all at the camp

 Saturday evening 

• The best part of the overnight shift is that you get to participate in the Disco with the kids. Students should be encouraged to get ready in their outfits before dinner, if possible, as there is only limited time after dinner before the start of the Disco/evening activities. If some students don't wish to participate in the Disco, they can play outside the gym or in the Quiet Room BUT please don't allow children to roam from the Disco area, and the Oval is OUT OF BOUNDS after dinner.

• Feel free to dress up for the Disco, if you wish!

Sunday morning

• On Sunday morning, the students need to fully pack up and vacate their cabins before heading to breakfast. 

• Unfortunately this means that there is no easy way after breakfast for students to brush teeth/hair/apply sunscreen/finalise outfits for the day before the activities get started, so please encourage brushing teeth etc, BEFORE breakfast just for this one day! A reminder to refill water bottles at breakfast is also helpful.

• On Sunday morning, your shift finishes at 8am, there will be extra parents arriving from 7.30am to help pack up cabins and take the children into breakfast. Please feel free to head off or hang around as you wish.

Will the Kids Sleep?

• This is probably the scariest question - yes they will! We recommend that you use a lot of encouragement for the kids to remain quiet and to allow them to get to sleep, reminding them that they have a full day of activities on Sunday that they don't want to miss out on or be too tired to enjoy. 

• Please try not to allow 'free for all' chaos in the cabin when the students return to cabins from the Disco, instead set out a clear routine with making beds, brushing teeth, into PJ's, then 10-15 minutes quiet time for either reading or quiet conversation. Perhaps try to stick to a similar routine that you might use at home with your own child if they are over-tired and reluctant to go to bed! Taking a gradual approach counting down to 'lights out', giving 30 min, then 15 min, then 5 mins warnings, can be helpful.  

• A reminder to avoid situations with one adult and one student - make sure the students have a buddy, or there is a second parent

• Try to avoid disciplining students on your own, please ensure you have a second parent

• For any super-disruptive, very poorly behaved, or for any upset children in your cabin, please reach out to any of the Band Committee who are on site. They will be moving around all the cabins, and enforcing 'lights out' after 9.30pm. Mobile contact details are on the parent sheet if you need another set of hands at any time.

• Most importantly, you will not be left on your own through this process. There are lots of parents around to help support you and help convince the kids to get to sleep.

Overnight Medical

• A member of the Medical team will be available at all times throughout the weekend. 

• If medication or medical assistance is required contact the Band Committee members on-site and they will come to your cabin.