WELCOME PARENTS

Dear Parents,

With over 30 years under our belt, High Cascade Snowboard Camp has been on the forefront of innovation in coaching techniques and snowboard park design. Our mission is “Life improvement through people, place and passion” and we promise our campers, “The best 7 days of your life.”

Many parents ask, “What makes your camp different?” I know your time as a parent is precious and even though this list is long, I wanted to share a few of my favorite things about High Cascade.

1. 100% real snow all-summer long – We have never, EVER had to cancel a session thanks to Mt. Hood’s unmatched snowfalls.

2. All abilities welcome – Whether you are an adult or a grom, spinning fives or perfecting toeside turns, we have the perfect coaching group for each camper’s needs.

3. High Cascade Snowboard Camp is all-inclusive – Arrive at PDX airport and we take care of the rest.

4. Friendly staff – All staff are CPR and first aid certified and must pass stringent pre-employment background and drug screening.

5. Full-time registered nurse supported by full time EMT’s

Choosing a summer camp is a big decision, so I encourage you to call or e-mail me, personally. I’m sure you have lots of questions, and I would love the opportunity to speak with you. I would also encourage you to explore our website, especially the parent-specific tabs, below.

If you would like to contact a parent who has sent their child to High Cascade, we have a list of parents from all over the country on our website; just click the “Parent References” tab, below.

The more information you gather about High Cascade, the more likely you’ll become enthused about sending your child to our camp. I hope to get the opportunity to tell you why I love this place.

Yours Truly,

Gregg Janecky
High Cascade Camp Director

P: 503.206.8520
E: office@wearecamp.com

The Big 6™

In order to be the amazing place that HCSC is, we rely on a set of very basic, yet very important rules. We lovingly refer to these six rules as The Big 6™. These rules are imperative to the safety and well being of your child, as well as other campers at High Cascade.

HCSC Fun Facts:

Staff Return Rate:

Annually, over 80% of our staff are return employees! Consistency = a knowledgeable, professional staff ready to show campers the time of their lives!

HCSC’s Mission:

Life Improvement through people, place and passion.

Operational Goals:

Fun, Safe, Professional & Educational

Authorized Awesome?

Yes!

What makes OUR Camp so Awesome?

We know that you have many choices when it comes to summer camps so we want you to know what sets High Cascade Snowboard Camp apart from the rest . . .

Our People

When you are in the human experience business, your people are what make the difference and that could not be more true than at High Cascade Snowboard Camp.  We have hundreds of applicants each year, selecting only small percentage to work for us.  Then we train them better than any of our competitors.  People are a point of pride for High Cascade.

Real snow in June and July!

We have never cancelled a session due to lack of snow. EVER.

The Biggest Snowboard Parks

It’s not so much that we have the most jumps, rails, freeride terrain and North America’s only 22′ Superpipe for snowboarders, it’s that they’re purpose-built for snowboarding and snowboard coaching (which means your rapid, safe progression).

All Mountain Summertime Riding

Mt. Hood is the only mountain in North America where you can freeride on over two miles of groomed trails in the summertime.  And Timberline’s two high-speed express quads making getting back to the top quick and easy.

All Inclusive

We don’t tack on extra fees for airport transportation, food, or activities.  Simple and straight forward.

Camper Packing List:

Summer in Oregon is usually very sunny, dry, and warm. There can, however, be unexpected weather conditions at times. To make the most of your camp experience, we encourage you to be prepared, and to bring a variety of clothing for warm and cold weather. Packing lists are the same for both Day and Overnight campers (except for toiletries and bedding).

Youth Campers:

- Snowboard (mandatory, though Demo equipment will be available at no extra charge)

- Snowboard boots (mandatory, though Demo equipment will be available at no extra charge)

- Snow jacket/pants (mandatory, we do not Demo outerwear or apparel)

- Gloves (mandatory, we do not Demo gloves)

- Goggles

- Sunglasses 

- Helmet for snow/skate (Mandatory)

- Lightweight jacket

- Sunscreen and lip balm (SPF 30+) Face mask (neck tube, bandana, ect.)

- Several pairs of socks

- Sweatshirts, long and short sleeve shirts

- Sweats, long pants

- Bathing suit

- Skateboard

- Day pack to carry lunch, water, and extra clothing

- Water bottle

- Sleeping bag and pillow

- Toiletries and towel

- Go pro, Cell phone camera, Disposable camera, or other way to capture all the good times at camp to share with your friends and family!

- Credit/ Debit card, or Camp Store Gift Card (we also take Apple Pay or Google Pay at the Camp Store)

Adult Campers:

Same as youth campers, but also make sure to bring your ID and some extra spending cash for nights on the town!

PARENT REFERENCES

Questions, concerns, or just want to talk to another parent?

Please explore the map to read parent quotes and get references from all over the world.  These are experienced HCSC parents who know the drill so if you have more detailed questions, feel free to email them (just send us a note so we can put you in touch: office@wearecamp.com).

Nobody understands your concerns more than these parents . . . and we hope that by this time next year, YOU will be a parent reference too!

SUPERVISION™

SuperVision™

• Our SuperVision™ ratio for campers under 15 years-old is one experienced adult counselor for every eight campers.

• For campers over 15, there is one experienced counselor for every 10 campers.

• Campers are supervised on-hill by their coach, in their coaching group of 8 or less. Campers are not permitted to leave on-hill facilities without being accompanied by a staff member.

• All camp lodging, facilities, and activities are supervised. Adult counselors live-in and provide around-the-clock supervision in cabins. When a cabin is unlocked and campers are permitted inside, a counselor is supervising the area.

Grom™ Campers (ages 9-12)

Our youngest group at camp needs a little more SuperVision™, structure and TLC than our campers ages 13 and up. For these up and comers, we have at least one designated Grom cabin each session. Groms are free to roam our private campus within a more intensely supervised structure than older campers.

How is camp different for Groms?

Groms need a little more help with structure, since it might be their first time away from home. Their counselors give them extra help and guidance throughout the day. If a Grom is skateboarding and wants to run over to the trampolines, then he or she will first let their counselor know.

Although we prefer our Groms not bringing personal cell phones to camp, if they do, phones are kept with the counselors at bedtime. We’ve found that ‘lights out’ works best when Groms do not have their cell phones in bed with them. Texting and talking to parents during evening ‘down time’ when campers are tired can feed feelings of homesickness. In addition, cell phone usage can be very disruptive to other campers camp experience, especially when trying to catch some Z’s!

SAFETY

YOUR CHILD’S SAFETY IS OUR #1 PRIORITY.

If you’re injured, you can’t snowboard.  With that in mind, safety in all aspects of our camp is fundamental to HCSC’s over 30 years of operating snowboard camps.

Staff

Each year the managers at High Cascade have hundreds of applicants to choose from when building their “perfect team”. All staff must pass stringent pre-employment background and drug screenings. When we say “all staff”, we mean everyone; from the cook preparing your child’s food, to the Executive Director. Once hired, all staff members must become CPR and First Aid, and USOC Safe Sport certified, as well as go through extensive staff training prior to the start of Camp. All staff are drug tested prior to camp starting with random drug testing throughout the summer. High Cascade is proud to boast over an 80% return rate for staff members.

Injuries

While injuries are inevitable in action sports and camp activites, our camp rules, protocols, and staff exist to enforce safety and mitigate injuries.  The percent of injuries which occur at camp is less than that the national average at ski areas in North America.  This is largely due to our coaching group structure. Campers spend their time in small coaching groups which are matched with their respective ability level.  All campers fill out a snowboard ability form before arriving to camp.  The information provided in the ability form is used to place campers into small coaching groups based on ability.  High Cascade coaches are prepared to coach their respective coaching groups’ ability level, as well as ensure campers are not attempting tricks and features beyone their ability.  As a parent, it is important that you do your best to help your child honestly fill out their abiltiy form to the best of your ability. In addition, campers are not let loose on Mt. Hood without supervision.

Since kids often tune out lectures on safety, we like to tell them that if they get hurt they can’t snowboard anymore.  This line, repeated daily by our coaches, usually gets the young campers’ attention!

Medical

High Cascade employs a full-time Registered Nurse who is on-call 24 hours a day. In the event of an injury, High Cascade’s nurse will assess the situation and determine if outside care may be needed. In addition, we staff several full-time EMTs (emergency medical technicians) and utilize Timberline Ski Area’s Ski Patrol for on-snow injuries.  In the event a camper must be transported to a medical facility, you will be notified as soon as practicable.

Camp Nurse

    RN Greg Kerwin
    HCSC Staff Member Since 2003
    Hometown: Marquette, MI
    RN since 1986
    Certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Advanced Pediatric Life Support
    Ski Patroller, named Ski Patroller of the Year for the State of Michigan in 2005
    Snowboarder
    Parent of two snowboarders

Helmets

All campers and staff are encouraged to wear helmets.  Campers under the age of 18 are required to wear helmets when snowboarding. All campers are required to wear helmets when skateboarding.

WANT TO STAY FOR MULTIPLE SESSIONS?

WHAT IF MY CAMPER WANTS TO STAY FOR MORE THAN ONE SUMMER SESSION?

No problem! A lot of HCSC campers choose to stay for multiple Summer Sessions. Rest assured, we’ve got your camper covered! There is a short break between each summer session, but we don’t take a break from having FUN!

The Weekends are a chance to rest and have some fun before the next session. On Saturday, campers get off campus to go adventuring around Oregon, which can include: skate tours at all the North West skate parks, hiking through gorgeous Oregon trails, exploring, a trip to the coast, all the while still having time to do laundry (our counselors can help) and get any personal items they may need from the store.

Multi Session campers are supervised on campus, off campus, and overnight with a medic on call at all times.

PAYMENTS & CANCELLATIONS – SUMMER CAMP

Payment Terms

A deposit equal to 25% of total purchase is due at the time of registration. Payment must be received in full by May 15. Any registrations made after this date must be paid in full at the time of sale with a VISA or MASTERCARD. Sorry we do not accept AMEX or Discover.

Payment Plans

Paying for camp shouldn’t be a burden, so we’re offering easy payment plans to let you pay for camp in installments. Want Grandma and Grandpa to pitch in for camp? Easy – let them cover one of the installments. Start your payments in the fall or winter and have camp paid off by Spring!

• Setup monthly payment plans – taken out on the 15th of every month

• Auto deductions from your checking account

• Standard 25% deposit due at time of registration

CANCELATION POLICY

Our goal is to show you the time of your life.  Not to keep your money.

If you cancel:

30 Days or more before your session starts you have two choices: Refund or Credit.

Refund- 100% of what you’ve paid minus $250 and applicable credit card fees.
Credit- 100% Camp Credit (Good for 24 months, non-transferable. Unused or expired credits are non-refundable.)

Less than 30 Days before your session starts you can receive a Credit.

Credit of what you’ve paid minus $250. (Good for 24 months, non-transferable. Unused or expired credits are non-refundable.)

If the Gods Cancel:

We’ve only had to cancel once (thank you COVID-19) due to force majeure (uncontrollable events) but in the rare instance we need to cancel camps due to force majeure (pandemics, earthquakes, terrorist acts, etc.), we will give you a 100% credit on what you’ve paid, minus credit card fees.

WEATHER ISSUES

Our goal is to go out and complete our programming each day weather permitting. In the even that we a prevented from doing so due to weather we will do our best to coordinate other activities. There are no refunds due to weather. 

Please keep in mind:

There are no exceptions to the above cancellation policies (even in the extreme cases of emergency, injury or sickness).  High Cascade strongly recommends that you purchase travel insurance to protect yourself from any such losses as well as lost airfare and transportation fees. 

If you need to cancel your session please call 503.206.8520 to discuss your options, however a formal cancellation request must be made by completing the following process.

All cancellation requests must be emailed to office@wearecamp.com and include:

    •    NAME

    •    High Cascade + SESSION TO CANCEL

    •    CHOSEN CANCELLATION OPTION (CAMP CREDIT OR REFUND LESS CANCELLATION FEE)

    •    REASON FOR CANCELLATION AND ANY OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The date the email is sent notes the official cancellation date. Once a credit is chosen, there will be no refunds issued at a later date. Camp credits are good for any We Are Camp summer camp within a two-year period, but are non transferable or refundable.

Injuries While at Camp

In the event that a camper is injured while at camp and does not get clearance from the Camp Nurse or physician to snowboard, there are two options for the camper:

1. Stay at camp and partake in an ‘off-hill’ activity while everyone else snowboards. In the afternoon and evening there are plenty of non-physical activities to keep an injured camper entertained. If you choose this option, no credits or refunds will be given.

2. Leave camp ASAP, and receive a pro-rated camp credit for days missed. You’ll be missed but we’ll get to ride with you again soon as Camp Credits are good for two years but are non-transferable.

Please keep in mind there are NO exceptions to the above cancellation policies (even in the extreme cases of emergency, injury or sickness).  High Cascade strongly recommends that you purchase travel insurance to protect yourself from any such losses as well as lost airfare and transportation fees.  Please contact Assurance Solutions at 502-762-9185 or your preferred provider for insurance information.

SUMMER CAMP TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

Flights Must Arrive and Depart PDX Between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Please book a flight into the Portland International Airport (PDX) on Sunday your session starts between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Please book your departure flight out of PDX between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday your session ends. There is no snowboarding on the first or last days; they are designated travel days. Any flights on arrival day or departure day that are not between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. will be charged $100-$175 per camper, per trip, depending on the time of the flight. There is a 30 minute grace period for this window, i.e; if your flight is scheduled to depart at 7:30 a.m. we will not charge a fee. Please contact us directly if you are unable to book a flight in our requested window and we will discuss your flight options and pick-up/drop-off fees.

Campers Flying as Unaccompanied Minors (UM)

Each airline has different age requirements and additional fees for flying unaccompanied minors. Campers flying under the status of an UM will be met at their gate by a High Cascade staff member upon their arrival at PDX.

Name of the Person Picking up UMs at PDX: If at all possible, when the airline asks for the name of the person picking up your UM, please give the airline ‘A HCSC Representative’ and our phone number 503.206.8520. If they will not accept this, please give them the following names, airline dependent:

• “Darcy Saint” - Alaska, Jet Blue, Frontier

• “Luke Williams” - United, Southwest, Delta, Spirit.

One week before the start of your campers session we will be emailing you with the exact name of who will be meeting your child at the gate. After providing you with this information, it’s crucial that you update the information for the airline. If they need an address, it is 59550 US-26, Sandy, OR 97055.

Youth and Adult Campers NOT Flying as Unaccompanied Minors (UM)

All campers not flying as UMs will be met outside the security gate by a High Cascade staff member and will be assisted with their baggage and checked in for their High Cascade shuttle near baggage claim #2. If a camper cannot locate a HCSC representative they should go to an airport paging telephone and page “A HIGH CASCADE CAMP REPRESENTATIVE” to wherever the camper is standing. They can also call the High Cascade office at 503.206.8520. 

Purchasing Tickets

Please look further into the airline of your choice as you get ready to purchase your ticket. Before purchasing your ticket, please be sure to visit the airline’s respective website for up-to-date unaccompanied minor information.  You may find that if your child requires an UM ticket, you may not be able to purchase your ticket via the internet.  Because each airline has different policies on booking UMs flights with layovers, last legs of the day, etc, booking on the internet may not be the best route.

For more airline specific in-depth unaccompanied minor information, please click on the airline.

Airline     UM Age Requirement

Air Canada - 11 and under

Alaska/Horizon Airlines - 12 and under

American Airlines - 14 and under

Delta Airlines - 14 and under

Frontier Airlines - Does not allow UMs (Under 15)

Hawaiian - 11 and under

JetBlue Airways - 14 and under

Southwest Airlines - 11 and under

Sun Country - Does not allow UMs (Under 14)

United - 14 and under

* Visit airline website for most up-to-date & accurate information

Departures

Please be sure to pay for your unaccompanied minor fees for both legs of your child’s trip.  In a lot of cases, airlines do not make this easy for you; making it easy to overlook paying for your returning UM Fee.  Please send your child with receipt of payment if at all possible to avoid double charges. If you are unable to pay the fee prior to your child’s camp, please arrange for your child to pay cash for his or her UM fee when they check-in at the airline counter on their departure day.  If this has not been arranged, we will cover any applicable fees the airline requires in order to obtain a boarding pass for your child.  Your credit card on file will be used to reimburse any fees covered by High Cascade.

HCSC staff members are at the Portland International Airport (PDX) from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on departure days.  Campers will be shuttled to the airport by our trained High Cascade staff approximately three hours prior to their departure time. It takes about an hour to get to the airport and we schedule in some extra time for any unexpected delays. Upon arrival at PDX, campers will be met by High Cascade staff to assist with luggage and airline check-in procedures. Unaccompanied minors will be escorted to their gate by a High Cascade staff member.

Please note: Once checked in at the desk, campers NOT flying as unaccompanied minors will not be accompanied to their gate or supervised while waiting to board.

Baggage Fees

All airlines have different baggage policies. When bringing your snowboard to camp, you may find that certain airlines will charge extra due to the size and or weight of a board bag. For those bringing their own gear, generally speaking, the best way to fit everything you need would be to put your snowboard, boots, helmet, outerwear, skateboard and sleeping bag or blanket in a board bag, and then pack your remaining items in your suitcase and carry-on bag.  You may find that you can carry on your skateboard.  Be sure to shift things around so that neither your board bag or suitcase will exceed the weight capacity (if you would like to avoid extra fees). If you are in need of a good snowboard bag, check out Dakine.

We also have a very limited amount of next year’s demo snowboards, boots and bindings for campers at no additional cost. If you would like to use our demo shop, please confirm with the office (503.206.8520) that we will have something for your camper.

Van / Bus Travel at Camp

All campers being transported inside of Camp vehicles are expected to follow general safety rules along with any additional vehicle specific rules.  These include but are not limited to the proper usage of all safety equipment (ie. seat belts), keeping all limbs inside the vehicle at all times, keeping all pathways clear and unobstructed by bags or equipment, no distracting the driver from focusing on the road, and no noisy or disorderly behavior.

In the Event of Last Minute Changes or Emergencies

If for some reason a flight is delayed, cancelled, or if you miss your scheduled departure flight to Camp please contact the HCSC office (503.206.8520) as soon as possible with the updated arrival information including the new time of landing and flight number, if applicable.  If there are any changes to your child’s return flight information prior to take-off we will be contacting you directly with any updated information.

Arriving and / or Departing by Car

Please arrive on campus between 12:00 PM and 4:00 pm on the first day of your camp session.  Campers departing by car must be picked up between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm (between 9:00 am-11:00 am is ideal). There is no snowboarding on the arrival or departure days. On the arrival day there is check-in, camp tours, welcoming barbecue and camper orientation.

Driving Directions

High Cascade Snowboard Camp / Windells Camp ( All youth Campers)

Please use Google Maps or any other form of space-age navigation to get specific instructions from where you’ll be driving from.  The drop off/pick up address is :

High Cascade Snowboard Camp(shows up as Windells Camp on apple maps)

59550 E HWY 26

Sandy, OR 97055

Adult Camp Drop Off:

Please use Google Maps or any other form of space-age navigation to get specific instructions from where you’ll be driving from.  The drop off/pick up address is :

High Cascade Adult Snowboard Camp

30544 E Olive St.

Government Camp, OR 97028

SPENDING MONEY AT CAMP

Camp Outpost Gift Cards

A gift card for Camp Outpost™ may be bought online in your Active account prior to your arrival. This cuts down on the need to carry large amounts of cash at camp.

The Camp Outpost™ carries custom High Cascade t-shirts, sweatshirts, backpacks, spring gloves, hats, beanies, stickers, snacks and more.

The Staff Sale™

Each session High Cascade’s staff and visiting pros sell their new and used gear at the legendary Staff Sale™. The Staff Sale is like a snowboard flea market deals on new and used boards, boots bindings, goggles, clothes and accessories can all be found at this once-a-session event. Since this is a flea market setting with individuals selling their personal items, payment is via Venmo, PayPal, CashApp, etc., and all sales are final. In addition, the gear does not come with any warranties.

Personal Debit/Credit Cards

If campers have their own card they will be able to use it at The Camp Outpost. If you trust your child’s spending this is the best method for being equipped for any and all potential purchases at camp.

THE Registration FORMS

Your Registration Forms are located in your Active account!

Please Print off, Fill out, & UPLOAD back into your online account by May 15 (for any of our Summer Camps) and Dec 1 for our Winter Camps.

All of these forms are MANDATORY in order for you to come to camp! We need this information for your safety, so we can make sure you get in a great coaching group, cabin with your friends and to make sure you have THE MOST FUN while you are here!

Questions? Contact the HCSC Office at 503.206.8520 or email us at office@wearecamp.com

Sign into your Account here!

*Don’t have access to a scanner? You can take a clear picture of each form and upload that instead! Super easy!

MY HCSC ACCOUNT

Already registered?

Log into your online account

Here is where you can upload your Travel Itinerary, Pay off your balance, purchase Gift Cards, and fill out your Snowboard Ability!

Log in and start packing your bags for the Best Snowboard Camp in the world!

OUR CAMPUS

Wy’east Mountain Academy Campus – Welches, OR

Located a short ride from the mountain, Wy’ East Academy Campus in Welches, Oregon is tucked away snugly  at the base of Mount Hood. Cabins on campus are furnished and renovated, each sleeping 8-20 campers, and feature hardwood floors throughout. Each cabin on campus overlooks the courtyard, with tons of skate-able features, slack lines, tether ball, fire pits, and so much more.

Live-in Counselors

Responsible adult counselors live/stay in our Wy’ East Academy Campus Cabins. Can’t remember when dinner is? Don’t know what time dodgeball starts? Who are the Signature Session™ pros? They know the answer to everything (yes, everything). Your counselor is like your Mom/Dad/big brother/big sister/friend/mentor during your time at camp. Hand picked, and screened from hundreds of applicants, our counseling staff is the best in the business. Certified in First Aid and CPR, USOC Safe Sport, criminal background checked and drug tested. The chosen few who become High Cascade Snowboard Camp Counselors are an impressive bunch and we choose them because we know you’ll find them to be pretty darn like-able and helpful as well.

ADDITIONAL LODGING OPTIONS IN GOVERNMENT CAMP

The High Cascade Chalets are located in the quaint little village of Government Camp. Below is a list of lodging options for those interested in the ‘Everything But Accommodations’ or ‘Coaching Only’ packages.  The following lodging options are in the village of Government Camp, and are Authorized Awesome™ by High Cascade for Adult Camp.   Any of these options will put you within walking distance of the rest of camp (listed in order of proximity to camp facilities). If you are would like to stay in an accommodation not listed below, please email or call us to discuss logistics before making reservations.

The Lodge at Government Camp

If you’re looking to stay right smack in the middle of Government Camp, the newly constructed luxury condos at The Lodge at Government Camp is your best option. Staying at The Lodge puts you in the heart of Government Camp, right on the main loop drive.  Guests can enjoy swimming pool and hot tub privileges at the Timberline Lodge, 10 miles away, slopeside the ski area.  The Lodge is approximately $199-$325/night. (Fees vary during seasons, days of the week and number of guests.)

The Huckleberry Inn

The Huckleberry Inn is also right smack in the middle of the Village of Government Camp. The Huckleberry Inn is a great hotel style option for families and groups (many rooms are bunk-style hotel rooms). Enjoy The Huckleberry’s 24-hour diner and a basic place to put your body to rest. Approximately $85-$155/night. (Fees may vary during seasons, days of the week and number of guests.)

Collins Lake Resort

Collins Lake Resort is another great spot to be and is less than a 5 minute walk to meet up with the rest of adult campers.  It has an outdoor heated pool and hot tub and would be great for small groups.  These deluxe multi-level condos have full kitchens, garages, laundry facilities and much more.  Condos ranges from approximately $199-$389/night and during your time at HCSC they generously offer a 10% discount (Fees vary during seasons, days of the week and number of guests.)

Thunderhead Lodge

Staying at the Thunderhead Lodge puts you just outside of the village of Government Camp. Thunderhead is across the street from the Grand Lodges.  These older, more affordable condos are approximately a 6-8 minute walk from the main loop in Government Camp.  Pool on site (heated with geothermal energy) Approximately $85-$155/night. (Fees vary during seasons, days of the week and number of guests.)

BEST WESTERN Mt. Hood Inn

The Mt. Hood Inn is about a 8-10 minute walk from the main Government Camp loop. Approximately $159-$179/night. (Fees may vary during seasons, days of the week and number of guests.)