FAQs

Trout recommends each camper pack their belongings in totes no larger than 34"x20"x15".

These totes will be dropped off at your campers' cabin by our staff. Each tote should be tagged with the camper's name, home address, parent cell phone number and email. 

Trout has found it is easiest to deliver luggage to campers via totes. Because of this, we highly recommend using a tote for packing; however, it is not a requirement for drop off.

"Store Account" is what we call our money system at Trout. Money can be deposited for a camper during or after registration. Parents can add money to their camper's Camp Store or view what they are purchasing at any time by logging into their Trout account. To add money in your Trout account, click on the menu to the top left of the screen, Camp Store, then store deposits or call the office at 218.543.4565.

This money can be used at any camp area that costs money (Store, Canteen, Soda Fountain, etc.). The staff member will ask for their first and last name to pull up their account. They may ask for their cabin to confirm they have the correct account for common names. All remaining store account money over $5 will be refunded to the original method of payment at the end of the week, unless the donation option has been selected. Any amount less than $5 will be left on their account for next year. 

Trout offers a variety of optional activities and items for campers to enjoy. They may choose to buy snacks, ice cream, or soda from the canteen or soda fountain; small gifts, T-Shirts and sweatshirts are available in the camp store. Some activities such as horseback riding ($12), craft shack projects and certain skills class ($12) also have additional fees.

The amount of spending money brought will vary. Last year the “average” camper brought around $50. Their spending money can be placed in their camper bank online and spend it electronically.

Wild Woods – Wild Woods campers do a little bit of everything and all activities are included (with the exception of the camp store, Spumoni Solano and Candy Shoppe)

The Point – Arts & Crafts (Free - $15), Trail Rides ($12), Horsemanship ($99)

Timber Ridge – Arts & Crafts (Free - $15), Trail Rides ($12)

Senior High Camps – Arts & Crafts (Free - $15), Trail Rides ($12)

For a list of all activities click here.

Our camp stores have everything from clothing to toys to stuffed animals. Store items can cost anywhere from $5 to $15 for small toys to $14-$25 for T-Shirts or $40-$60 for sweatshirts. Campers will have scheduled times throughout the week to visit the camp store. 

We'll have a kiosk available with select store items during check-in and check-out.

While your camper is at camp you can track what they are spending money on as well as add money to their account if they are getting low. Log in to your Trout Account from our website. Once you are in, click on the Additional Options tab at the top left of the screen, select Camp Store, then Store Deposits. From there you can view purchase history and add money if you want to.

Summer Camps start and end at The Gateway. 
Click here to view The Gateway in Google Maps 

The address to our main office is: 10173 Trout Lake Drive, Pine River, MN 56474
Click here to view in Google Maps

Closing Show and Pickup

Check-out for all camps will take place at the entrance located off of County Road #134 on the right hand side. Turn right onto Gateway Drive. There will be signs posted on the road and staff directing you.

Closing show is on the last day of camp at 10:00 AM and is about 30 minutes long. We recommend parents arrive 15 minutes before the closing show to get parked and get a spot in the field before the show begins. Most camps end on Saturday or Friday, but some Wild Woods camps that are short weeks will end on Wednesday. Please be aware of the day your camp ends. If you have questions, you can find this information in your confirmation email or call our office at 218.543.4565.

Check-in takes place at Trout Lake Camps at The Gateway from 3:00–4:30 p.m. on Sunday and will be divided into check-in time slots. If you have multiple campers that are given different time slots, you may arrive at the earliest time slot. You will receive your check-in time on the Thursday prior to arrival, please wait until this time to arrive. This is when campers move into their cabin, meet their cabin leader and get acquainted with their new home for the week. 

When it comes to clothing it is best to remember that a week at Trout is like a weeklong gym class. Campers should pack items that are modest. To us this means that swimwear should adequately cover your body, pants should stay up around your waist, and necklines should not be low or revealing. For girls, spaghetti straps may be inappropriate depending on the garment. Low riding or very short shorts will not be allowed. Girls should pack a more "sporty" swimsuit (one-piece swimsuit or a tankini). Two-piece swimsuits (bikinis) do not work well in the active life of camp. Clothing that advertises alcohol or tobacco products are not allowed. If you don’t think something will be right for camp, you should leave it at home. If you’re wearing something that is inappropriate, staff will discretely ask you to change or throw a t-shirt over it.

Campers should pack enough clothes to make it though a week of camp. Laundry facilities are not available to campers. Of course, in emergency situations, cabin leaders are happy to wash sleeping bags or other clothing. Be sure your camper’s clothing and a bag for laundry are labeled with your name and phone number. The single largest lost and found item we have at the end of camp is an unmarked garbage bag full of dirty clothes.

In a world of instant communication, it can feel like your camper is a million miles away when they are at Trout. For some campers, that’s perfect. For others it’s a hard thing to get used to. It's the same way for parents.

From our standpoint, part of the Trout experience is being away from home. Campers that are dependent on calling their parents while at camp are typically unable to participate in the full Trout experience, and may cause issues for other campers in their cabin. For this reason we do not allow campers to have cell phones or call home.

The best way to communicate with your child when they are at camp is through writing letters or by sending messages - TroutLakeCamps.org/message. If you wish to send a letter to your camper, we would encourage you to do so sometime during the week prior to your camper’s stay. This will allow for plenty of time for it to arrive in the mail. We also encourage campers to write letters home throughout the week, and we give them time to do so. (That does not mean, however, that every camper will take that time to write home.)

Of course, there are some cases where we wave this rule. An example of that would be if something unexpected happens back home, or a relative becomes sick, or a death in the family.  Bottom line is, we will never prevent you from communicating with your child. We simply want to be sure that we are providing the best situation for you to communicate with them.

If there is an emergency and you need to get in touch with your child, please call 218.543.4565 and our office staff can help you. If you call after business hours a detailed message will instruct you on how to reach someone.

HINT: Never tell your camper that they will get homesick at camp, or promise them what you or Trout will do in the event that they are homesick. Every case is a little different and we promise to contact you quickly if we are having issues in this area.

Trout’s medical staff consists of volunteer adults currently employed as Nurses, EMTs or Doctors. These are health-professionals who volunteer a week of their time at camp. Typically three or more medical staff are on duty 24 hours throughout the summer. Our nursing staff follows standing orders that are established by a Physician. We also have a Trout Health Lodge team that reviews policies, procedures, and supply needs with our Executive Director who oversees the program. In addition, part of our Trout staff are trained in emergency medical response.

Daily medications are dispensed according to printed instructions given. All medication must be turned in to the camp nurse upon arrival (look for the nurses table at check-in). Prescription medication must be in the original pharmacy labeled container complete with dispensing instructions. Medication is dispensed by our volunteer nurses at meal times and before bed.

To edit, add, or remove medications under your campers registration, login to your Trout account, click on the camper's name, go to the "medications" drop down then select "manage medications". It will then walk you through adding, editing, or removing medications for your camper.

Yes, over the counter (OTC) medications are available at the Health Lodge at each camp. Campers are only allowed OTC medications within the supervision of Trout Medical Staff (see above). If questions or concerns arise our Medical Staff will contact parents as needed. 

Any number of health issues can occur during a week at camp. From scratches that need a band-aid, to poison ivy, to any number of headaches, fevers, or bruises, twists, and in rare cases breaks. Our Health Lodge staff is trained to call home to report anything beyond the most common issues to Mom and Dad.

If a camper needs to go to the clinic, hospital, or we are considering an ambulance call, parents or camper emergency contacts will always be contacted ASAP. An emergency 911 call would always be made just prior to calling parents.

Camp is not a fun place to be when you are sick. If a camper becomes ill, our staff will monitor them closely. If the camper is too uncomfortable to stay, or does not improve in 24 hours, arrangements will be made for the child to return home. Typically parents have already been heavily involved in treatment discussions and would be aware of the possibility of their camper returning home. 

At Trout, we welcome and embrace all kids. If your child has special medical concerns, we ask that you make camp aware of these needs, and help us to understand how we are to respond. Some needs are easy, such as having a cabin leader keep track of or carry a camper’s epi pen. Other needs may require much more attention or special staffing adjustments.

Please let us know you have concerns by e-mailing Registration@TroutCamps.org. The better we understand your camper’s needs prior to the camp week, the better experience they will have. In some cases we will put you in contact with our Director prior to your child arriving at Trout. Please call our Registrar if you have questions 218.543.4565.