Staff Training, Pre-Camp Checklist, Transportation, and More
Dear friends,
Session 1 begins in just about one month! This email is lengthy and full of information — please read carefully for a number of important updates. We're sharing information about your pre-camp checklist — forms, pre-camp training modules, direct deposit, and more. Read below as well for a staff training overview, information about travel to camp, and our staff opening number.
In our staff training overview, we'd like to share an important note about an area of focus in advance of the summer.
Within the next week, you can expect the following additional communications:
- Paychex/setting up direct deposit (see more below)
- Non-cabin staff: continued communication about classes from Monica
- Lifeguards: welcome message from Alexa
Keep your questions coming — we're always happy to connect and chat about anything on your mind.
Your friends,
Alexa & the Ghostlight Team
🗓️ Staff Training Overview
Staff Training is an exciting beginning to our summer. We get to meet each other, establish how we will work together, and prepare for our campers' arrivals.
Overview: Our days will be busy and full, and they will be a combination of training sessions (designed to hone specific skills for working with campers), work time (in the cabins, on shows, etc.), and camp set-up. There will also be plenty of time for getting to know fellow staff members. Training sessions include:
- Safety at Camp
- Safety Drills Practice
- Supporting Campers' Social and Emotional Well-Being
- Creating an Inclusive Camp
- Supporting Neurodivergent Campers
- Self-Care for Staff
There will be a fair amount of camp set-up this summer as we work to make our new space at Mountain Lake Park feel like home.
Big Questions: During staff training, we'll be particularly exploring the following questions as we embark on our first summer at MLP. We've been frequently discussing these questions as a team this year, and we look forward to hearing your ideas and insights, too.
- At Ghostlight, we're dedicated to creating a welcoming, inclusive, creative community. How can we foster this feeling of community in our new space?
- How can we bring new campers and staff into our Ghostlight community while also holding space for returners missing elements of our previous site?
- In our new home at Mountain Lake Park, residents of the Town of Warwick will use some parts of the campus, which may feel different to returners. What does a tight-knit Ghostlight community look like within the broader Warwick community?
An Important Note: We wanted to share a note about something our returning campers (and staff) may be navigating this summer. In December, we lost a member of the Ghostlight community. Trey Boucher, who was a camper during Session 1 of 2025, passed away unexpectedly. Trey was a new camper last summer; in his time at camp, he made many strong connections and a meaningful impact on our Ghostlight community. During staff training, we will have a specific session about supporting campers through grief, and we are here as a resource for any returning (or new) staff who would like to connect about this prior to the summer. Members of the leadership team have been having pre-camp calls with close friends of Trey's who are returning this summer, and we'll share more in person about specific strategies for supporting these folks. We want to thank you in advance for working with us to support children who may be navigating grief this summer.
📋 Pre-Camp Checklist
Thank you for working on your Ghostlight forms — your forms help us prepare for a great summer together! Please see below — any items marked "No" still need your attention! Forms can be completed or edited on the Staff Dashboard.
| General Forms |
Signed Contract: 2026 > Signed Contract Upload: Submitted? Photo Upload: Photo (upload here): Submitted? Disclosure Statement and Background Check: 2026 > Disclosure Statement and Background Check: Submitted? Staff T-Shirt Size: 2026 > Staff T-Shirt Size: Submitted? Staff Travel Confirmation: 2026 > Staff Travel Confirmation: Submitted? Immunization Record: Immunization Record Instructions (upload here): Submitted? |
| Medical Forms |
General Health History: 2026 > General Health History: Submitted? Allergies and Dietary Information: 2026 > Allergies and Dietary Information: Submitted? Health Care Providers & Insurance Information: 2026 > Health Care Providers & Insurance Information: Submitted? Emergency Contacts: 2026 > Emergency Contacts: Submitted? Authorization for Care: 2026 > Medications and Authorization for Care: Submitted? |
| Pre-Camp Training |
Staff members are required to complete pre-camp training modules located here. If "No" is listed for your respective training modules (new vs. returning), please return back to the page to ensure you've completed the required elements. All staff must upload their mandated reporter certificate and take All Eyes on You and All Eyes on the Road (if applicable). New staff must complete all elements, including the accompanying quizzes. New Staff Training Modules: First Year Training Returning Staff Modules: Returning Staff Modules |
| Paychex |
New Staff or Pre-2024 Staff: Within the next week, you’ll receive an email invitation from Paychex to fill out tax and direct deposit information. Please create your account and fill out all necessary information by the end of this week. Check your spam folder, just in case!
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✈️ Transportation to Camp
Your forms indicated that you are arriving to camp by 2025 > Staff Travel Confirmation: How will you be arriving at camp for Staff Training? (if this is blank or incorrect, see above for more information about forms!). If you are arriving by plane, train, or bus, see below (or in the respective transportation forms) for details. We will share more closer to arrival day about the meeting spot and day-of contact information.
Bus/Train: pick-up time in Suffern, NY is 11:00am.
You can travel to the Suffern, NY Station from New York City by:
- Taking New Jersey Transit (Northeast Corridor, Morris & Essex, Raritan Valley Lines) from Penn Station to Suffern (~1 hr)
- Taking New Jersey Transit (PATH train to Hoboken, Main/Bergen Line or Port Jervis Line) from World Trade Center to Suffern (~1.5 hrs)
- Taking a Shortline Hudson bus from the Port Authority Bus Terminal to Orange Ave — Suffern (~50 min)
Plane: pick-up time at Newark Liberty International Airport is 3:00pm.
If you'll be driving to Ghostlight from the New York area on June 18 and are interested in carpooling, respond back here. Alexa can connect you with other staff in the area!
Returning Home: If you'll be traveling home by plane, train, or bus at the end of the summer, a van ride will also be available back to Newark. Full summer staff, please book a return trip home no earlier than 10:00am on August 11.
🎶 Opening Number
The first night of Session 1 brings a huge rush of energy. This summer will be especially exciting as we mark our opening day at Mountain Lake Park. We celebrate the first night with an Opening Ceremony full of introductions and welcomes. This will be the sixth summer that we perform a surprise opening number for our campers. We'll learn it together as a fun activity during staff training, but if you'd like to familiarize yourself with the song we'll be singing, click here!
🗂️ Message Archive
Just joining? You can easily find all our previous emails on the Messages and Updates page here.