FAQ |
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When do we sign up for camp?
Registration for most of our summer programs begin on January 1st. Our programs fill up quickly so we highly recommend signing up as soon as possible. When a program is full, we start a waitlist. Students are accepted off the waitlist based on class availability and housing.
Student Travel Information
Click here to see student travel information and requirements.
How can my student get the most out of camp?
The single most important aspect in getting the most out of camp is to attend classes well rested and healthy. Students should get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, and make healthy eating decisions. Parents and guardians can prepare their child before arriving by reminding them that camp is a place to have new experiences and challenges. A big part of the camp experience is learning to have success in a new and different setting. It helps to arrive with an open mind and great attitude. We have found that students are most successful when given space from home and cell phone/screen use so that they are able be present in their learning and creativity.
What if my student is homesick?
It is not unusual for students of all ages to miss home and family in the first few days of camp, especially if it is a student’s first extended time away from home. Camp staff are trained to recognize homesickness and work especially hard to keep students busy and engaged in the camp atmosphere. When homesick campers are able to engage with new friends and activities at camp, they discover that camp is fun and safe, providing them with a new, profound sense of independence and discovery. We recommend that parents allow their child to work through homesickness with limited contact with home (parent/friends), so it is easier to engage in the camp environment.
What is the camp cell phone policy?
Can friends and family members visit students at camp?
Family and friends are welcome at the evening art share performances and the final performances.
Can my student be checked out from the campus during camp?
Residential students can be checked out through the counseling office by a parent/guardian or a pre-approved adult, 18 years of age or older. Our counseling office must be notified when the student is expected back and have a contact phone number for the adult. We ask that students not be checked out during class time as this can be very disruptive. Also, to allow your child to have the full-camp experience, we strongly advise limiting their absences. We recommend sign-outs to be during recreation time or dinner. Students are required to be back to attend evening art share performances.
What is the dormitory like for dorm students?
Residential students are housed in dormitories on the Sitka Fine Arts Camp Campus. A shared bathroom is a short walk down the hall. Students are housed on floors by gender. Students may submit the name of one friend on the roommate request portion of the registration form. Lights out is at 9:30 pm for middle school camp and at 10:00 pm for high school camp and intensives.
What if my student has dietary restrictions?
Our dining hall offers a variety of healthy choices at all meals. SFAC is able accommodate most dietary restrictions - be sure to include any dietary restrictions and allergies on the Health History form during registration, as this allows our staff to plan for the summer. If you are concerned about your child’s dietary restrictions at camp, please contact the camp office.
What kind of adult supervision do students have?
The primary responsibility of all camp staff is the safety and well-being of each student. The counselor to camper ratio is 1:10. Students must check in twice a day with their counselor and attendance is taken for each class period. Counselors live on student residential halls and provide supervision and guidance for students throughout camp. .
Who are the counselors?
Our counselors are students or recent graduates from various colleges and universities throughout the country. Prior to camp they participate in intensive training on supporting student health,safety, and well-being. The counseling staff are supervised by our highly experienced residential administrative team.
Do dorm students have the opportunity to do laundry at camp?
Yes, dorm students have the option to do laundry. Students should bring quarters and soap is provided. The cost is $2.50 per load which includes washing and drying.
Can my student receive mail at camp?
Yes, please address mail to:
Student Name and Session (example: Mary Smith, Middle School Camp)
c/o Sitka Fine Arts Camp
110 College Drive Suite #111
Sitka, AK 99835
SFAC is unable to forward camper mail that arrives after the recipient’s camp session.
What Health Services are on site?
A registered nurse is on call 24 hours a day to provide health services to students. In addition, the nurse’s office has open hours during all meals and after evening Art Shares.
How does my student take their medication at Camp?
Medication should be brought in its original packaging inside a ziplock bag labeled with the student’s name, medication name, dosage directions, and the name and phone number of the prescribing physician. Medication should be turned into the Camp nurse upon arrival and students are expected to go to the nurse’s office to receive their medication.
What is the process for assigning classes?
The class catalog is released in mid-January and students have until February 1 to submit their preferences. There are five class periods a day, and each student will select their top 5 choices for each period. Student priority for classes choice is based on when students sign up for camp. Students who do not turn in required forms by February 1 will lose their priority status.
Does my student need to bring his or her instrument to camp for music classes?
Yes, students should bring their personal instruments to camp with the exception of: percussion, drums and piano. Rock band students should bring guitars but camp will provide amplifiers. Percussionist/drummers are required to bring sticks and mallets. If your student plays an instrument that is difficult to transport to camp, contact the camp office during registration to see if any rental instruments are available, drew@fineartscamp.org. The cost to rent an available instrument is $75.00 per camp session.
What type of camera will my student need for photography class?
For digital photography class students should bring a modern digital camera.
For dark-room photography class students will be provided with a camera.
See class description for more information.
If my student has previously attended camp, does he or she still need to turn in a teacher’s recommendation form this year?
Yes. We do not keep the Teacher’s Recommendations forms year to year.
What should I do if I cannot access my camp account or forgot my password?
Call the camp office 907-747-3085 or email drew@fineartscamp.org. Please do not create a new account.
Is there a camp lost and found?
The counseling staff does its best to reconnect students with their missing items during camp. Families are responsible for the shipping and handling expenses should an item need to be returned after the session is over.
What is the refund policy?
Students who cancel their registration by June 1st will be refunded the full amount, less the non-refundable deposit. Tuition is non-refundable after June 1st. Please let us know as soon as possible if your student intends to cancel so we can make your slot available to another student.
Can I get school credit?
University of Alaska Southeast offers ART S093, which is considered a college preparatory class. The 093 designation does not count toward a college degree, but can be applied toward high school graduation (if the high school allows). Be sure to contact UAS before the Camp session to make arrangements. Contact UAS for details at 907-747-7700. Registration Form
Is financial aid available?
Need-based financial aid is available, submit this form for consideration.
What is the weather like?
In Sitka, it can rain for days on end or be sunny for the entire camp. Be prepared for both extremes. Summer temperatures can range from 40-80 degrees. Dressing in layers is recommended. The average temperature is in the 50s.
Registration for most of our summer programs begin on January 1st. Our programs fill up quickly so we highly recommend signing up as soon as possible. When a program is full, we start a waitlist. Students are accepted off the waitlist based on class availability and housing.
Student Travel Information
Click here to see student travel information and requirements.
How can my student get the most out of camp?
The single most important aspect in getting the most out of camp is to attend classes well rested and healthy. Students should get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, and make healthy eating decisions. Parents and guardians can prepare their child before arriving by reminding them that camp is a place to have new experiences and challenges. A big part of the camp experience is learning to have success in a new and different setting. It helps to arrive with an open mind and great attitude. We have found that students are most successful when given space from home and cell phone/screen use so that they are able be present in their learning and creativity.
What if my student is homesick?
It is not unusual for students of all ages to miss home and family in the first few days of camp, especially if it is a student’s first extended time away from home. Camp staff are trained to recognize homesickness and work especially hard to keep students busy and engaged in the camp atmosphere. When homesick campers are able to engage with new friends and activities at camp, they discover that camp is fun and safe, providing them with a new, profound sense of independence and discovery. We recommend that parents allow their child to work through homesickness with limited contact with home (parent/friends), so it is easier to engage in the camp environment.
What is the camp cell phone policy?
- Middle School Camp: Like many schools and camps around the country, Sitka Fine Arts Camp is transitioning to a cell phone-free camp model for its middle school camp. A cell-phone free camp allows our students to be present and engaged in their experience and allows camp staff to provide safe supervision of camp students. Students are welcome to bring their cell phones to camp, but they must check in their phones to counseling staff at the beginning of camp. Students may check out their phones to call home during the evening phone hour.
- High School Camp and Intensives: Students are welcome to bring their cell phones to camp, but are expected to approach cell phones as would an artistic professional. Students may use their phones as required by their teacher for class and practice/outside of class work as well as during evening free time. Dorm students may use their phones to make calls from after Art Share until lights out (excluding hall meetings). Students who use inappropriately or outside of these parameters will receive a warning, and afterwards may be confiscated for the remainder of camp. Students should leave other wifi-enabled and gaming devices at home unless needed for travel. Devices brought to camp will be treated with the same policy as cell phones.
- If there is an emergency at home, parents can contact their child by calling the Camp office 907-747-3085.
Can friends and family members visit students at camp?
Family and friends are welcome at the evening art share performances and the final performances.
Can my student be checked out from the campus during camp?
Residential students can be checked out through the counseling office by a parent/guardian or a pre-approved adult, 18 years of age or older. Our counseling office must be notified when the student is expected back and have a contact phone number for the adult. We ask that students not be checked out during class time as this can be very disruptive. Also, to allow your child to have the full-camp experience, we strongly advise limiting their absences. We recommend sign-outs to be during recreation time or dinner. Students are required to be back to attend evening art share performances.
What is the dormitory like for dorm students?
Residential students are housed in dormitories on the Sitka Fine Arts Camp Campus. A shared bathroom is a short walk down the hall. Students are housed on floors by gender. Students may submit the name of one friend on the roommate request portion of the registration form. Lights out is at 9:30 pm for middle school camp and at 10:00 pm for high school camp and intensives.
What if my student has dietary restrictions?
Our dining hall offers a variety of healthy choices at all meals. SFAC is able accommodate most dietary restrictions - be sure to include any dietary restrictions and allergies on the Health History form during registration, as this allows our staff to plan for the summer. If you are concerned about your child’s dietary restrictions at camp, please contact the camp office.
What kind of adult supervision do students have?
The primary responsibility of all camp staff is the safety and well-being of each student. The counselor to camper ratio is 1:10. Students must check in twice a day with their counselor and attendance is taken for each class period. Counselors live on student residential halls and provide supervision and guidance for students throughout camp. .
Who are the counselors?
Our counselors are students or recent graduates from various colleges and universities throughout the country. Prior to camp they participate in intensive training on supporting student health,safety, and well-being. The counseling staff are supervised by our highly experienced residential administrative team.
Do dorm students have the opportunity to do laundry at camp?
Yes, dorm students have the option to do laundry. Students should bring quarters and soap is provided. The cost is $2.50 per load which includes washing and drying.
Can my student receive mail at camp?
Yes, please address mail to:
Student Name and Session (example: Mary Smith, Middle School Camp)
c/o Sitka Fine Arts Camp
110 College Drive Suite #111
Sitka, AK 99835
SFAC is unable to forward camper mail that arrives after the recipient’s camp session.
What Health Services are on site?
A registered nurse is on call 24 hours a day to provide health services to students. In addition, the nurse’s office has open hours during all meals and after evening Art Shares.
How does my student take their medication at Camp?
Medication should be brought in its original packaging inside a ziplock bag labeled with the student’s name, medication name, dosage directions, and the name and phone number of the prescribing physician. Medication should be turned into the Camp nurse upon arrival and students are expected to go to the nurse’s office to receive their medication.
What is the process for assigning classes?
The class catalog is released in mid-January and students have until February 1 to submit their preferences. There are five class periods a day, and each student will select their top 5 choices for each period. Student priority for classes choice is based on when students sign up for camp. Students who do not turn in required forms by February 1 will lose their priority status.
Does my student need to bring his or her instrument to camp for music classes?
Yes, students should bring their personal instruments to camp with the exception of: percussion, drums and piano. Rock band students should bring guitars but camp will provide amplifiers. Percussionist/drummers are required to bring sticks and mallets. If your student plays an instrument that is difficult to transport to camp, contact the camp office during registration to see if any rental instruments are available, drew@fineartscamp.org. The cost to rent an available instrument is $75.00 per camp session.
What type of camera will my student need for photography class?
For digital photography class students should bring a modern digital camera.
For dark-room photography class students will be provided with a camera.
See class description for more information.
If my student has previously attended camp, does he or she still need to turn in a teacher’s recommendation form this year?
Yes. We do not keep the Teacher’s Recommendations forms year to year.
What should I do if I cannot access my camp account or forgot my password?
Call the camp office 907-747-3085 or email drew@fineartscamp.org. Please do not create a new account.
Is there a camp lost and found?
The counseling staff does its best to reconnect students with their missing items during camp. Families are responsible for the shipping and handling expenses should an item need to be returned after the session is over.
What is the refund policy?
Students who cancel their registration by June 1st will be refunded the full amount, less the non-refundable deposit. Tuition is non-refundable after June 1st. Please let us know as soon as possible if your student intends to cancel so we can make your slot available to another student.
Can I get school credit?
University of Alaska Southeast offers ART S093, which is considered a college preparatory class. The 093 designation does not count toward a college degree, but can be applied toward high school graduation (if the high school allows). Be sure to contact UAS before the Camp session to make arrangements. Contact UAS for details at 907-747-7700. Registration Form
Is financial aid available?
Need-based financial aid is available, submit this form for consideration.
What is the weather like?
In Sitka, it can rain for days on end or be sunny for the entire camp. Be prepared for both extremes. Summer temperatures can range from 40-80 degrees. Dressing in layers is recommended. The average temperature is in the 50s.