Staff Packing List & Tips

Driving directions to camp

Arrival instructions for counselors:

If you are arriving by car, plan to arrive at Hosmer Point on Friday, June 6 at 5:00 PM.

Drive through the entrance to the top of the hill. Staff will be waiting to greet you. We will have dinner for you when you arrive

Arriving by Bus, Train, or Air

Please contact us before buying tickets so we can coordinate picking you up. We are at least two hours drive from all major transportation hubs.

You can either fly into Burlington International Airport or fly to Boston Logan International Airport and then take a bus to Hanover, New Hampshire.

If you are taking the train, you can take Amtrak to Waterbury, Vermont or Burlington, Vermont.

Staff lounge wifi password: nokidsinternet

When & Where You Can Use Phones/Computers

Hosmer Point is a technology-limited area. You will be able to check your phone and use your computer while in the staff lounge during your daily off period, after 9:30 PM, and during time off. You will not be able to use your phone the rest of the time, and there is no cell service in the cabin areas. Let your friends and family know that you won’t be immediately available during the day.

Phone Info for International Staff

• There is wifi in a few places at camp, so you can use WhatsApp or another wifi calling app to make calls home.

• If you want ho make calls when you go places in the USA, you may need a SIM card from a US provider. It is cheapest to get a pre-paid SIM card in advance (you can have it shipped to here if needed).

• There are multiple phone networks in the USA. The GSMA (also known as AT&T) network has the best coverage here, so try to get a GSMA or AT&T SIM card.

• This plan from Red Pocket is a good value.

Food

-Blackbird Bistro (sandwiches, cocktails)

-Parker Pie (pizza, beer)

-The Genny in Craftsbury (sandwiches, pizza, snacks)

-The Genny in Albany (burgers, fries, creamies, poutine)

-C Village Store (Creemies)

-Whetstone Wellness (smoothies, juice, bowls)

-Village Restaurant (Hardwick Diner)

-Dusit Thai Cuisine (Newport - Thai and sushi)

Activities

Walking distance:

-North Beach (camping spot)

-Craftsbury Outdoor Center Gym (check with office for hours and yoga/cross fit class schedule)

-Craftsbury Outdoor center mountain biking trails

Biking distance:

-Craftsbury Farmer's Market (Saturdays)

-Craftsbury Public Library

Half-hour drive:

-Explore Hardwick or Morrisville (thrift shops, coffee, book stores, and more)

-Caspian Beach, Greensboro VT (popular sandy beach for swimming and people watching)

-Movie Theaters: Bijou Cineplex 4 in Morrisville or City Cinema in Newport

-Bread and Puppet + Museum of Everyday Life("super weird and super cool" - Carrie)

-Highland Center for the Arts (in Greensboro -performing arts venue and art gallery with coffee shop - check hours before you go)

Hour Drive:

-Elmore State Park (hiking and swimming)

-Hike Mt. Pisgah and swim at Lake Willoughby (there is also a nude beach)

-Ben and Jerry's Factory Tour

-Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, St. Johnsbury (fun for science nerds and people who like weird Victorian taxidermy collections)

-Jay Peak Tram Rides (ride a tram for epic mountain views)

-Sutton, QC (just across the Canadian border - cute walkable village with food and shops)

2 Hour Drive:

Head to the big city! Burlington and Montreal are within 2 hours.

Staff Guide (all the most frequently needed info in one place)

Employment Agreement

Employee Handbook

Counselor Handbook

Log-in or download Gusto Wallet app

Your Mailing Address at Camp:

Your Name c/o Hosmer Point Camp

76 Hosmer Point Lane

Craftsbury Common, VT 05827

Camp office number: 802-586-2090

Camp email: office@hosmerpointcamp.org

Carrie’s Cell (in case of emergency): 814-442-0663

Arrival: Plan to arrive by 5:00 on June 6. The first day of camp is June 15.

Time off:

The following days/times are session breaks which will be off for everyone (you'll have an additional day off and an additional evening off each two-week session, but those won't be scheduled until during the summer):

• Afternoon of June 13- morning June 15

• Afternoon of June 27 - morning June 29

• Afternoon of July 11 - morning July 13

• Afternoon of July 25 - morning July 27

If you anticipate needing additional days or times off, please let us know as soon as possible!  The more notice we have, the more likely we are to be able to accommodate your request.

Departure:

Last day of camp is August 8, and last work day is August 9. Staff should plan to depart the morning of August 10.

Kitchen and garden staff may have a slightly different schedule.

If you are age 21 or older and have a few years of driving experience, you may be able to drive camp vehicles as part of your job or for time off.

• If you want to drive in the USA, you will need an International Driver's Permit, as well as your driver's license from your home country.

• An International Driver's Permit is a translation of the information on your driver's license into several major languages.

• You can get them from auto associations or government offices (it is different for every country).

You will need a US bank account in order to get paid. If you are from a country that uses the Euro or from the UK or Canada, the easiest way to do this that we’ve found is to set up a WISE bank account and request a US routing number. More information here: https://wise.com/us/account/. If you want to have a debit card to access the money, you should set up the account well in advance so that you can receive the debit card before you leave home. Alternatively, you can transfer money from the WISE account to your home bank and use your existing debit card. Check your bank’s fees and the WISE fees for your country to see what is the best option.

If you’re not from the UK, Canada, or a country that uses the Euro; you’ll need to open a bank account here in the US after you arrive. In order to do this, you will need a US phone number. You can order a US sim card before you arrive which will also allow you to make calls while you’re here. Newer phones use a digital card which you can get before you leave home. Older ones require a physical card which you can have shipped to camp. We recommend this $10 plan from RedPocket as a low-cost option.

You will also need a US Social Security Number in order to get paid in the United States. You can only apply for a number after you arrive in the US, and it will take around six weeks to receive the number. Generally, we are able to pay international staff before the number is received, but in some cases a social security number is required to set up a bank account.

You should plan to be able to access spending money from home during the 2-6 weeks it will take to get your banking set up. Before you leave home, check to see if your bank card from your home country can be used in the United States, and check that exchange rates and fees are reasonable. All of your meals will be provided at camp, but you may wish for smaller amounts of money to go out to eat a few times or buy small items during your time off.