Powdermill Nature Reserve Camp Procedures
- Campers must be the appropriate age on the date the selected camp begins.
- Children who turn 6 after July 11, 2024 are too young for Powdermill Summer Camps.
General Information
Public Health
We’re following all recommendations by the PA Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Campers will be expected to adhere to the public health guidance and Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh procedures in place during the time of their camp.
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility at Carnegie Museums
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh summer camps celebrate differences of race, gender, orientation, ability, national origin, religion, appearance, and more. We firmly believe that we are strengthened by the unique qualities, backgrounds, and experiences each camper, staff member, and volunteer brings to our community. This approach fosters a sense of belonging—enabling everyone to feel valued, respected, and free to be their authentic selves. By centering our values of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion, we create an enhanced camp experience that reflects the richness of the world around us.
Behavior Expectations
Camp provides a wonderful opportunity to create new friendships, explore lots of activities, and build a safe and positive community of peers. All campers are expected to follow basic rules of behavior, including respecting themselves, others, museum property, and camp materials. Each camp will review the rules with all campers at the start of the week. We will not tolerate disrespectful behavior, foul language, or violence of any sort. These behaviors include, but are not limited to, hitting, kicking, biting, sexual harassment, and/or possessing weapons or illegal substances. We reserve the right to ask campers to leave the program without a refund.
Clothing
Your camper will be participating in a range of indoor and outdoor activities that may include paint, markers, glue, mud, grass, water, and other fun items. Please dress your camper accordingly. Campers spend most of the day outside, rain or shine, and camp activities include hikes through forests, streams, and meadows.
Each child is provided a cubby for personal items. Please be sure to label all items clearly. Items campers might store include a change of clothes and shoes in case they get wet, a rain slicker, sweater or light jacket, and insect repellent.
Camp includes an investigation of a stream called Powdermill Run. The water level is low, and no swimming is necessary. Sturdy, closed-toe shoes with, at least, a heel strap are required in the stream. Children may wear bathing suits under their camp clothes. Send a complete change of clothes and a towel for stream day. You will be notified in advance of stream day when it will take place.
Footwear
Closed shoes such as sneakers are required. For safety, campers are not allowed to wear flip flops, sandals, open-back shoes, or Crocs. Children without proper footwear will not participate in some activities. If a child arrives at camp with unsafe footwear, an adult must provide appropriate footwear before the camper will be permitted to participate fully in camp activities.
Lunch
All children attending must bring a packed lunch and drink each day. Refrigeration and microwaves are not available. Campers should bring their own refillable water bottles marked with their names. Snack time is not provided, and campers are not permitted to share food with other campers due to dietary/medical restrictions. You will be notified if camp activities involve food.
Snacks
Powdermill Summer Camps do not provide or permit snacks.
Food Allergies
Please list your child’s food allergies on the Carnegie Institute Programs Permission Form, including any accommodations your child may require because of the allergy. Special seating areas during lunch will be provided for campers with allergies. Campers will wash their hands before and after lunch.
Medication
Staff may not dispense medications. If medication must be taken during camp, arrangements must be made for an adult to come and dispense medication. If an adult is unable to come and dispense medication, you must complete a Consent for Self-Administration of Medication Form allowing your camper to carry and administer their own medication. Contact Program Registration at least one week in advance of camp.
Epinephrine Policy
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh staff and volunteers are not professional medical personnel. However, basic epinephrine auto injector administration training is offered for key staff. Children who must carry epinephrine are permitted to bring and use an epinephrine auto injector on themselves in the event of an emergency. If a child cannot administer the medication to themself, appropriately trained Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh staff may administer the child’s epinephrine auto injector, provided that the child’s parent/guardian has previously provided permission via the Epinephrine Auto Injector Policy and Consent Form. If an epinephrine auto injector is administered, 911 and the parent/guardian of the camper will be notified immediately.
If the child is bringing an epinephrine auto injector to camp, the parent/guardian must complete the Epinephrine Auto Injector Policy and Consent Form, which can be obtained from Program Registration.
Sunscreen and Insect Repellent
Sunscreen and insect repellent are encouraged for outdoor activities. Staff may not apply sunscreen or insect repellent for campers, so please be sure to apply in the morning before arrival. Campers may apply sunscreen and/or insect repellent to themselves.
Personal Property
Please leave toys, electronic games, music players, cell phones, cameras, etc. at home. These items may be a distraction to camp, and we do not have a secure location to store valuable items. If personal items do become a distraction, camp staff will confiscate the property and return it to a parent/guardian at the end of the day. Powdermill is not responsible for lost items.
Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures
The reserve is located in Rector, PA, 55 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Parents or guardians must provide transportation. Summer camps take place at the nature center. Signs will be posted to direct you to the registration site. View the Nature Center on Google Maps.
Parking
Free parking is available in the gravel and paved lots around the Nature Center.
Sign-In/Sign-Out Procedure
Parents/guardians must sign campers in and out every day. Campers ages 11–13 only may sign themselves in/out of camp if indicated on the Camper Safety Information form. Individuals other than a parent/guardian may pick up a camper only if they are listed on the Camper Safety Information form.
Anyone picking up a camper will be asked to present identification every day.
Sign-in: 8:45–9 a.m.
Sign-out: 3 p.m.
Late Pick-up Policy
A late fee of $20 applies for each 15-minute period past the designated pick-up time, beginning at 3 p.m.
Program Registration will reach out as soon as possible to complete payment of all late pick-up fees. These fees must be paid within three business days. If payment of late pick-up fees or post-camp care fees is not received within three business days, you will receive an invoice with an additional $15 late fee.
Post-camp is not available at Powdermill Summer Camps.
You may call Program Registration at 412.622.3288 or e-mail programregistration@carnegiemuseums.org with questions or to submit payment.
Accessibility: Features For All
Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History welcome all visitors. We work to assist visitors with disabilities in obtaining reasonable and appropriate accommodations, and in supporting equal access to our websites, services, programs, and activities. Please note that requests for accommodations at our museums should be made at least two weeks prior to your visit. For specific questions about wheelchairs, strollers, or other programmatic or equipment needs, see Visitor Services at the museum information desk or e-mail visitorservices@carnegiemuseums.org, or call (412) 622-3131. The four Carnegie Museums are committed to keeping their websites compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. We welcome any feedback on how to improve our sites’ accessibility for all users, and we strive to develop websites that are accessible to all.