F.A.Q.’s
MAGIC FOR MUGGLES – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
-WHAT ARE THE AGES FOR YOUR CAMP? Our core group is between 8-11. We have campers 12 and 13 and we’ve had 7 year olds who know a little bit about HP or attend with older siblings.
- DO THE SESSIONS FILL UP? Since we moved to St. John’s Church four years ago, we have filled every session offered. The week that fills the fastest is always the first week.
- ARE THERE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AGE GROUP DIFFERENCE? We’ve never seen it. The children are randomly divided into the HP Houses and one of the neat things about our camp is how well these groups bond and work together. The children become very supportive of one another during the week and the older ones really help the youngsters in all of the activities.
- DOES ONE HAVE TO HAVE READ THE HP BOOKS? No. Our activities are designed so all can participate without having read a book or seen a movie. Our hope is that those who haven’t read the books will be inspired to begin the series. Often times it starts with parents reading the books to younger children.
- WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 4 DAY CAMP WEEK OF JULY 4TH AND THE FIVE DAY SESSIONS? Very little. Campers will participate in the same activities in four days as they do in five, but each activity will have a slightly shorter amount of time.
DOES A CHILD HAVE TO HAVE A HARRY POTTER ROBE TO PARTICIPATE? Absolutely not. (Though we have had some children tell their parents that!) Campers are encouraged to wear their HP robe, hat, t-shirt, etc. – it definitely adds to the atmosphere.
- DO YOU HAVE BEFORE AND AFTER CARE? Sorry, we don’t. Our doors open at 8:45 a.m. and there’s an adult outside to see the children in. Likewise, we dismiss at 1 p.m. sharp, again, under adult supervision. (We have families too and have a ways to go to see them.)
- IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUY LUNCH? No, students must bring their own. We take a short break at noon for students to eat, sit with their friends from another House and watch a few minutes of an HP film or special. Students can also bring an extra drink or snack.
- DO YOU HAVE AIR CONDITIONING? No, we don’t, but we’ve found that St. John’s Assembly Hall has been quite comfortable during the summer. Its brick walls and ceiling fans help us stay cool on the hottest days. (Wait till you see the inside. It looks like a setting right out of the HP movies!)
- WHO IS WORKING THE CAMP? Kevin McCarthy and Adam Scribner are long time teachers and Harry Potter fans. This is their seventh year running Magic For Muggles. This year, we are also adding two college- age staff (sorry, no high schoolers due to insurance reasons).
- ARE THERE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES? Definitely. We go outside at least three days during the week to a small park by the ice skating arena (aka “The Magic Forest”). We do not use computers at any time!
- HOW EXACTLY DOES THE CAMP WORK? Students are grouped into one of the four Harry Potter Houses of Hogwarts School. For one week they follow a daily schedule of activities. They earn group points for completing tasks. At times, special guests drop in – a real magician, a reptile specialist, maybe a HP personality- to entertain us. No House EVER gets too far ahead in the point totals. In fact, somehow it always comes down to the last activity on the last day to determine a winner. But we think that about all the children so everyone is recognized and goes home with a certificate of wizardry!
- IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A CHILD TO SIGN UP FOR MORE THAN ONE WEEK? Definitely, though we think two is just right. And even though the same activities are repeated in the next session, the majority of the campers are new, there are totally different sorted Houses and the outcomes of each activity will be different. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun to go through the week again!
