Frequently Asked Questions for Parents

What is Coleman Cross Country? Who is it for?

Coleman Cross Country is a teen travel program designed to take the spirit of camp -- community, respect, and a sense of belonging -- and bring it on the road! Our motto is "Discover the Planet," and our teen travelers do just that as we journey to fun and fantastic places all over the country. In 2005, teens will visit amazing attractions like Mount Snow in Vermont, Universal Studios in California, and even Disneyland!

Coleman Cross Country is for teens in the Long Island and metropolitan New York areas who are currently in seventh to tenth grades.

What are the facilities like? Where will my child be staying?

Our Cross Country adventurers travel on air-conditioned, video-equipped, restroom-equipped motorcoaches for a comfortable ride! Along the way, we use only top-quality, major hotel chains like Holiday Inn, Radisson, and Hampton Inns.

What's the trip format?

Coleman Cross Country is proud to introduce a new trip format for the Winter of 2005! Now the summer camp fun can stretch all the way into colder months, fitting in to school breaks. In 2005, campers can choose from two trips tailored to meet individual tastes. Whether your camper wants a winter weekend at Mount Snow in Vermont, or a sunny five-day adventure exploring our country's Golden Coast in California, Coleman Cross Country has something for everyone!

What kinds of sights will my child see?

We make sure to tailor our tours to teens' interests, showing them the kind of exciting and fun sights they want to see! On past tours, we've taken our campers to fantastic theme restaurants like Ed Debevic's and the Hard Rock Cafe, major league baseball games, whitewater rafting, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Broadway shows like The Lion King, and more.

How can I keep in touch with my teen?

Every day, there is phone time for teens who want to call home. Families have the opportunity to purchase phone cards to give their teens calling time. Our directors are in constant contact with the camp office via cell phone, so messages left by parents get to us quickly.

How will I know my child is safe?

Our teens always travel in groups with counselors -- no more than ten campers to a counselor, so there is always ample supervision. Program director Lisa Silkowitz is a certified EMT, and one of our counselors is a certified lifeguard. We are accredited by the American Camping Association -- the only accrediting organization in the field. And, best of all, Coleman Cross Country is a Coleman Family Camp -- the Colemans oversee all aspects of the tour and constantly evaluate destinations in the context of our current world situation. Coleman Cross Country is truly "camp on the road" -- we give our teen travelers all the attention to safety that we do at our day and resident camps. Nothing is more important than the safety of our campers!

Who's behind all this?

Herb and Lisa Silkowitz, our seasoned program directors, are both middle school educators, so they know just how to cater to the needs and interests of teens! Between them, they have a total of thirty years of experience with Coleman Family Camps. Herb and Lisa devote a great deal of time to hiring enthusiastic, experienced upperclass college students and graduates for the Cross Country staff!

Coleman Cross Country is a part of Coleman Family Camps. The Colemans oversee every aspect of our tours to truly make Coleman Cross Country "camp on the road!" We create the same feeling of community and belonging that we strive for at our resident and day camps. We show our spirit as we "Discover the Planet!"