- Camp Wildcat is structured into seven single week session formats. Participants can now enroll in one of the seven or all.
- No field trips to sites outside of UNH occur. Camp Wildcat travels to Mendums Pond in Barrington, NH as it is still part of UNH's property. Travel to Mendums Pond will occur on Wednesday each week.
- The Hamel Recreation Center serves as "home base" for Camp Wildcat. This location offers the following advantages:
- Proximity to the UNH Outdoor Pool for open swim
- Proximity to Scott Hall Lawn to enhance sports and adventure programming
- Pending planned activities, Camp Wildcat may travel to other locations on campus including; the MUB, Campus Rec Fields, Swasey Indoor Pool, animal barns, Northeast Passage, and College Woods
- Drop-off and pick-up will take place at the entrance of the Hamel Recreation Center.
- Group swim lessons are available as an extended care option from 4:45pm-5:30pm at the end of each camp day. Parents/guardians must pick up their child(ren) no later than 5:45pm. Current maximum enrollment for extended care swim lessons is 40 campers per session.
- Camp Wildcat Campers will be grouped into pods of approximately 10 campers and 1-2 counselors based on age.
- Large group gatherings take place during free play and morning announcements, mealtimes, pool time, and assembly style activities such as a talent show.
- Camp Wildcat weeks: This week offers campers entering grades 1-7 an action-packed week of sports, arts & crafts, free swim, hobbies and adventure activities held at the UNH fields, and UNH Outdoor Pool. Each session will be themed. Campers are required to provide their own lunch. Current maximum enrollment is 140 campers.
- Snacks: Campers receive one snack per day. Campers should plan to pack additional snacks, as they will be active throughout the camp day.
Camp Wildcat is an seven-week program. Registration opens in February.
The camp day officially starts at 9:00 a.m. Drop-off begins at 8:15-8:45 a.m. and normal pick-up is from 4:15-4:30 p.m. Complementary care will be provided from 8-8:15 a.m. and from 4:30-4:45 p.m.
An additional fee of $2 per minute for every minute after 4:45 will be added to your account for late parents or guardians picking up campers not enrolled in the swim lesson extended care program.
- All campers must pass a swim test at the UNH Outdoor pool during the 2024 pool season. If unable to pass a swim test, the camper is required to wear a coastguard approved PFD.
- The swim test involves, swimming one lane in the lap pool without touching the bottom and immediately treading water for 20 seconds
- Swim tests are completed with Campus Rec Aquatics during pool time.
Camp Wildcat does not have a scholarship program through Campus Recreation. However, Camp Wildcat offers three free sessions through the Oyster River School District (one per school - Mast Way, Moharimet, and ORMS). These compensated sessions are coordinated through the nurse’s office at each school. Parents are encouraged to contact the nurses’ office if interested.
We offer a 10% discount to military families. Email Kayode Lewis or contact by phone at (603) 862-7062 for additional information regarding the military discount.
If your child is eligible to receive funding from the NH Department of Education Rekindling Curiosity program, review this document before enrolling your child: NH DOE Rekindling Curiosity
Camp Wildcat employs a diverse group of counselors with extensive experience working with children. Counselors are UNH undergraduate students majoring in education, early childhood, social work and other related areas of study. The camp staff is also comprised of teachers, graduate students and child care professionals.
Camp Wildcat staff must be certified in CPR, first aid and AED use. A basic water safety training is also included in staff training. Each employee must also pass a criminal background check through the State of New Hampshire prior to being offered a position. Staff must also complete an extensive week of training on emergency procedures, behavior and risk management.
The University of New Hampshire seeks to create a welcoming and inclusive youth program experience for all participants. Reasonable accommodation, consistent with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended, Section 504 and applicable state law, may be requested to support participation of individuals with disabilities in youth camps and other youth activities.
A parent/guardian can request additional support or accommodations for their child within the UNH-CampDoc registration questions. An additional Support Needs Request Form can be downloaded from the student’s CampDoc account and returned to the email address provided on the form.
The Support Needs Request Form should be submitted immediately following enrollment, and by May 1 at the latest. This ensures time for appropriate follow-up, if needed.
Questions can be directed to Kayode Lewis via email kayode.lewis@unh.edu or phone (603) 862-7062.
- On Mendums day, camp is split into two groups, Cubs and Cats. Cubs are campers ages 8 and under; Cats are campers ages 9 and up.
- Cubs travel to Mendums in the morning and participate in two activites. Cubs travel back to the HRC for a cookout lunch and enjoy extended swim at the Outdoor Pool.
- Cats travel to Mendums in the afternoon and enjoy two planned activities, swimming and cookout lunch on site
- Certified lifeguards are present during swim time
- All campers must pass the swim test. If unable to pass a swim test, the camper is required to wear a coastguard approved PFD.
UNH has partnered with CampDoc to quicken the enrollment process. Within a few days of enrolling, the email provided in the Student/Family Account will receive an email prompting completion of the registration questions.
It is important that a parent/guardian respond to the CampDoc email and complete the registration questions promptly. Families who enrolled a child through our current enrollment system in 2023 will likely already have a CampDoc account. A parent/guardian still needs to log into the student’s account and complete any necessary questions for this program/year. A participant’s CampDoc profile must be 100% complete before they can attend the program.
