Travel

Travel - Alpengirl Girls Summer Camp Travel Information

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Campers will be traveling from all over the world to attend Alpengirl adventure camps for girls this summer. For some girls, this will be their first time to adventure camp and perhaps their first time flying without a family member. The detailed information provided here will assist parents and teens in making travel to camp a positive adventure before the real adventuring begins in the great outdoors at summer camp. Parents, please be sure to read and review this information with your Alpengirl prior to travel.

Montana Trips

All MT Alpengirl campers will arrive on the first day of camp and depart on the last day of camp.
All Alpengirl MT trips (except the Montana Horse Adventure Camp) will start and end at Gallatin Field Airport (BZN) in Bozeman, MT. Montana Horse Adventure Camp will start and end at Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) in Idaho Falls, ID.
Book flights to arrive at the designated airport between 11 am - 3 pm on the first day of camp, aim for arrival closest to 1 pm to reduce airport hang-out time.
Book flights to depart from the designated airport before 12 pm on the last day of camp, aiming for a time closest to 10 am to reduce airport hang-out time. Flights departing at 6 am are “ok” but we’d like to avoid them if possible.
You are welcome to arrange air travel outside of these arrival/departure windows if our staff is available to accommodate your itinerary; however, a $50 fee will be charged for the special arrangement departure service. You MUST call Alpengirl before booking your flight if you'd like to request special travel arrangements.
If arriving by car (or by air with a parent or other adult), plan to meet at 2 pm inside the airport at baggage claim at the designated airport on the first day of camp.
If departing by car (or by air with a parent or other adult), plan to meet at 10 am inside the airport at baggage claim at the designated airport on the last day of camp.

Washington Trips

All WA Alpengirl campers will arrive on the first day of camp and depart on the last day of camp.
All Alpengirl WA trips will start and end at Seattle-Tacoma Intl’ Airport (SEA) in Sea-Tac, WA.
Book flights to arrive at the designated airport between 11 am - 2 pm on the first day of camp, aim for arrival closest to 12 pm to reduce airport hang-out time.
Book flights to depart from the designated airport between 12 pm - 3 pm on the last day of camp, aiming for a time closest to 1 pm to reduce airport hang-out time.
You are welcome to arrange air travel outside of these arrival/departure windows if our staff is available to accommodate your itinerary; however, a $50 fee will be charged for the special arrangement departure service. You MUST call Alpengirl before booking your flight if you'd like to request special travel arrangements.
If arriving by car (or by air with a parent or other adult), plan to meet at 2 pm outside the airport in the “over-height” parking lot at the designated airport on the first day of camp.
If departing by car (or by air with a parent or other adult), plan to meet at 10 am outside the airport in the “over-height” parking lot at the designated airport on the last day of camp.

Hawaii Trips

All HI Alpengirl campers will arrive on the first day of camp and depart on the last day of camp.
All Alpengirl HI trips will start and end at Kona International Airport (KOA) in Kailua-Kona, HI.
Book flights to arrive at the designated airport before 5 pm on the first day of camp, aim for arrival closest to 12 pm.
Book flights to depart from the designated airport before 9 pm on the last day of camp, aiming for a time closest to 1 pm.
You are welcome to arrange air travel outside of these arrival/departure windows if our staff is available to accommodate your itinerary; however, a $50 fee will be charged for the special arrangement departure service. You MUST call Alpengirl before booking your flight if you'd like to request special travel arrangements.
If arriving by car (or by air with a parent or other adult), plan to meet at the designated airport on the first day of camp. Exact times and locations will be determined as we receive camper flight itineraries and will be confirmed with parents just before camp starts.
If departing by car(or by air with a parent or other adult), plan to meet at the designated airport on the last day of camp. Exact times and locations will be determined as we receive camper flight itineraries and will be confirmed with parents just before camp starts.

Alaska Trips

All Alpengirl AK trips will start and end at Anchorage International Airport (ANC) in Anchorage, AK.
Book flights to arrive at the designated airport between 5 pm - 9 pm on the first day of camp.
Book flights to depart from the designated airport between 9 pm (on the day before camp ends) and 12 pm (on the last day of camp). Please avoid middle of the night departures.
You are welcome to arrange air travel outside of these arrival/departure windows if our staff is available to accommodate your itinerary; however, a $50 fee will be charged for the special arrangement departure service. You MUST call Alpengirl before booking your flight if you'd like to request special travel arrangements.
If arriving by car (or by air with a parent or other adult), plan to meet at the designated airport on the first day of camp. Exact times and locations will be determined as we receive camper flight itineraries and will be confirmed with parents just before camp starts.
If departing by car (or by air with a parent or other adult), plan to meet at the designated airport on the last day of camp. Exact times and locations will be determined as we receive camper flight itineraries and will be confirmed with parents just before camp starts.

Norway Trips

All Norway Alpengirl campers will arrive on the first day of camp and depart on the last day of camp.
All Alpengirl Norway trips will start and end at Gardermoen International Airport (OSL) in Oslo, Norway.
Book flights to arrive at the designated airport between 10 am - 2 pm on the first day of camp. Note: if traveling from the USA, you’ll depart from the USA on the day before camp starts and arrive to Oslo on the following day, the day that camp starts.
Book flights to depart from the designated airport before 12 pm on the last day of camp. Note: if traveling to the U.S.A., your flight will depart from Oslo on the last day of camp and arrive into the USA on the same day.
You are welcome to arrange air travel outside of these arrival/departure windows if our staff is available to accommodate your itinerary; however, a $50 fee will be charged for the special arrangement departure service. You MUST call Alpengirl before booking your flight if you'd like to request special travel arrangements.
If arriving by car (or by air with a parent or other adult), plan to meet at the designated airport on the first day of camp. Exact times and locations will be determined as we receive camper flight itineraries and will be confirmed with parents just before camp starts.
If departing by car (or by air with a parent or other adult), plan to meet at the designated airport on the last day of camp. Exact times and locations will be determined as we receive camper flight itineraries and will be confirmed with parents just before camp starts.
Norway ONLY Special Notes: This Alpengirl trip is operated under Crossing Latitudes, a Bozeman, MT (USA) / Sweden based international travel and trip operator. One Alpengirl guide will be matched with one Crossing Latitudes guide to lead the trip. If you need assistance shortly before departure or while traveling to Scandinavia, you may call the following number for Crossing Latitudes in Sweden: 070-670 11 53 (within Sweden) or 46-70-670 11 53 (from outside Sweden). Please leave your name, a message and a number where we can reach you. Crossing Latitudes voice mail will be checked regularly on arrival and departure days and at other times during this session. There may also be an opportunity for Crossing Latitudes staff to check email during camp: info@crossinglatitudes.com Travel Insurance for Norway: We HIGHLY recommend that you protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances while traveling. The Travel Guard "Adventure Travel" insurance plan protects you in the event that you have to cancel your trip for a variety of reasons. It covers you for everything from your cancellation to Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Lost, Stolen or Damaged Luggage, Baggage Delay, Medical Expenses, Emergency Medical Transportation and more. This plan is ideally suited for adventure travel. When you sign up with Travel Guard please enter the CODE: 50435 CROSSING LATITUDES INC www.TravelGuard.com/Adventure Pre- and post-trip accommodations for Norway: We recommend our friend "KJ" Stoulil at Travel Leader in Lynnwood, WA. She specializes in travel to Scandinavia. Call: 1-800-622-3342. Email: kj@cwtlynn.com

Alpengirl Travel Form

The Alpengirl Camp Travel Form is due May 1 and is required for every camper regardless of mode of transportation.

If your travel plans are unknown before the May 1, complete as much of the form as possible (including the required camper photo) and submit the partially complete form to arrive to Alpengirl before May 1. We’ll complete the rest of the form for you after May 1 when your plans are known.

Alpengirl camp staff will use the information you provide on the Travel Form to make group specific and coordinated camper arrival and departure plans. So, if your travel changes, please be sure to let Alpengirl know about the changes as they occur.

Upon camp departure by car (or with parent/adult by air) Alpenguides are authorized to release campers only to legal Parents(s)/Guardian(s) or persons that are listed on a campers Travel Form. These persons should be prepared to present ID for camper release. Changes to the Alpengirl Travel Form names must be made in writing and approved by the Alpengirl camp director prior to the day of camper departure; making last minute changes will be difficult to approve.

Alpengirl Travel Agent

Alpengirl advises using a professional travel agent when making flight arrangements for camp ~ Montana Travel has been selected by Alpengirl to assist you. Call or email Ciretta Green, our travel consultant at 800-247-3538 or ciretta@mttravel.com Ciretta and her team are familiar with Alpengirl travel times, dates, locations, airlines, baggage fees and the special needs of unaccompanied minors traveling without an adult. Ciretta can book your tickets for any of the Alpengirl trips and locations and assist you with any travel needs you have before, during and after travel happens.

Unaccompanied Minor (UM) Airline Tickets

Many airlines require a special "Unaccompanied Minor" (UM) ticket to be purchased for minors traveling without an adult. Even if this special ticket is not required by your airline of choice, you may elect to purchase an unaccompanied minor ticket.

Before buying a campers’ ticket to camp, camp parents need to make sure to check with their airline (and any subsidiary airlines used) and understand unaccompanied minor (girls traveling without an adult) ticket rules, policies and procedures unique to each airline or airlines used.

Some campers have traveled a lot on their own, are of proper age to fly without an UM ticket (check all airlines, even subsidiary airline rules) and do not need assistance. These campers are able to check themselves in for a flight, go through security lines, find gates and baggage claims, and are prepared to handle travel delays, emergencies or flight cancellations on their own.

Campers that are required to (or elect to) travel on a UM ticket will be fully supervised throughout their travels and do not need to navigate airports, deal with travel issues or make decision on their own.

A good start to camp is so important. Airline travel should be a positive experience before and after camp. Before booking flights or deciding on UM tickets, camp parents should be familiar UM ticket rules, Alpengirl airport pick-up and drop-off procedures, and consider airport size, direct vs. connecting routes and assess their campers (as well as their own) comfort level with solo travel.

Note: It can take a surprisingly long time to check-in a minor traveling on a UM ticket, so plan accordingly.

Alpengirl Staff Names - UM Airline Tickets

Alpengirl staff names for unaccompanied minor tickets will be provided to you in our Alpengirl "Pre-Camp Letter" mailed to you with camp t-shirt and waivers in May. If you are making your flight reservation before May and are required to provide a staff name upon making the flight reservation, use Alpengirl contact information and the Camp Directors name, Alissa Farley.

IMPORTANT: you MUST change to the correct staff names before your daughter's flight. If you don't change the name, it will be a big problem as Alissa Farley is not guaranteed to be at the airport and the airline will refuse to release the camper to anyone else. Parents, it is your responsibility to provide the correct names to your airline, so, please double check at airport check-in to see that the correct names are listed BEFORE allowing your camper to fly.

Airline Baggage Fees & Unaccompanied Minor Ticket Fees

Campers can avoid carrying extra cash with them during camp if the return bag fee and the return unaccompanied minor ticket fee are pre-paid in advance of camp.

If you are able to pre-pay, make SURE to ask for, and include, a receipt of your payment and add it to camper Ziploc #1 for Alpenguides to collect from camper upon arrival. If no receipt is provided, add a parent note to camper Ziploc #1 indicating that the return bag fee and/or return unaccompanied minor ticket fee was paid AND ask the person who took your payment to add a “computer note” that indicates you paid. This will reduce the possibility of being charged again upon return flight. In some cases, airlines have made mistakes and not made a note that you have paid already in full and your camper will be charged again when we check her in for her flight home. To avoid this, please be sure to include a receipt of payment and ask that a “computer note” be made to show that payments were received.

If you are unable to pre-pay, add a parent note to camper Ziploc #1 indicating this and supply cash for the return bag fee and return unaccompanied minor ticket fee for your campers return flight home.

Additional Camp Insurance Coverage

Alpengirl is not responsible for (and Alpengirl's insurance will not cover) costs incurred, or tuition refunds due to trip delay, cancellation, interruption or early termination, (as discussed above), medical treatment or evacuation on program or otherwise, or costs incurred from lost baggage, or lost, stolen or damaged personal belongings. You are required to pay for unaccompanied minor tickets (if applicable) for flights to/from camp as well as baggage fees required by your air carrier. You are required to have medical/health insurance on your child. We highly recommend that parent/s consider purchasing additional medical and trip cancellation and/or travel insurance to cover these costs and/or losses, as well as reviewing their own personal insurance to check and understand their coverages. Note: If you are traveling with us to Norway, your personal medical insurance may not cover your child's medical expenses while on program.

Travmark A+ Summer Camp Protection Plan includes coverage for program cancellation, program interruption, medical expenses, emergency evacuation and baggage/personal effects at very competitive rates. Call Travmark at 888-420-5378.

Arrival To Camp

Campers must be wearing their Alpengirl t-shirt upon arrival to camp (t-shirts are mailed to campers in May). Once with the Alpenguides, campers that arrived by air to camp will call home to let their parents know they are with us. Campers are officially "checked-in" to camp while we wait in the airport for all group members to arrive. Check-in includes: making sure essential gear is packed, conducting health screening, and collecting medications, activity waivers, food, magazines, cell phones and personal music players. Once the entire group has arrived, we'll talk about van rules and basic camp rules, and drive to our first campsite for dinner and to set up tents and sleep.

Note To Camp Parents: Please try not to worry too much if you don't immediately receive a call from your camper upon flight arrival. We typically call you shortly after greeting your camper, however, this call may be delayed up to 2-hours if Alpengirl has many campers to pick-up at the same time in many different locations at the airport. Our staff's first priority is collecting all campers and gathering them in one place so that we can provide direct Alpengirl supervision in the airport. Calling parents is a very close second priority.

Campers flying to camp without assistance (no UM ticket)

Once your flight has landed, go directly to your baggage claim and stay there until an Alpenguide is there to greet you and introduce you to the rest of your group. Most of the time an Alpenguide (wearing Alpengirl t-shirt) is there to greet you as you arrive at your baggage claim at the time listed your Travel Form (provide Alpengirl with updated travel information in advance of your camp arrival date). If you don't see an Alpenguide right away at your baggage claim, don't panic, don't wander, we know that you are waiting for us and we are on our way to get you ASAP, you are our first priority. Our delays in getting to you may be caused by having multiple campers to pick-up at the same time at different baggage claim carousels in the airport, last minute baggage claim carousel changes, or other unforeseen circumstances. But, rest assured, we are on our way, and most of the time, we are able to greet you as you arrive at your baggage claim.

Campers flying to camp with assistance (UM ticket)

Airline personnel will directly supervise you until the Alpengirl staff arrives to greet you. Once the Alpenguide is there, she’ll present ID to the airline and sign the airline supervision release paperwork. Then, you’ll meet other arriving members of your camp group and we hang-out together until all members have arrived. So, once your flight has landed, airline personnel will take care of you, you don't need to make any decisions or find anything in the airport. Most of the time the designated Alpenguide (wearing Alpengirl t-shirt) is there to greet you at your arrival gate as you walk off the plane at the time listed your Travel Form (provide Alpengirl with updated travel information in advance of your camp arrival date). If we are not at your arrival gate when you walk off the plane, the airline personnel will either continue to wait with you at your arrival gate until the designated Alpenguide is there to greet you, or they may walk with you to your baggage claim or to the airline check-in counter area to meet us. In some cases, you'll need to wait in the airline supervised "waiting room" for unaccompanied minors until the designated Alpenguide arrives to sign away for you. Again, most of the time we are able to greet you right away, but, if Alpenguides have many campers to pick-up at the same time in different locations at the airport, they may be delayed in getting to you. There is no need to worry, you are being supervised by airline personnel and don't need to do anything except wait and tolerate the kiddie TV in the "waiting room" if necessary. We know that you are waiting for us and we are on our way to get you ASAP. Our delays in getting to you may be caused by last minute gate changes, unexpected high-volume security lines, other campers with unexpected flight schedule changes, or other more urgent needs that staff must attend to first, such as gathering campers without unaccompanied minor tickets waiting alone at baggage claim. There are a variety of unforeseen circumstances that may prevent us from greeting you as you walk off the plane, but, rest assured, you'll always be attended to on an unaccompanied minor ticket, that is what you are paying for, and most of the time, we are able to greet you as you walk off the plane.

Campers arriving by car (or by air) with a parent or other adult

If arriving by car to Alaska, Hawaii or Norway Alpengirl camp sessions, plan to meet Alpengirl at the designated airport. Exact times and locations will be determined as we receive camper flight itineraries and will be confirmed with parents just before camp starts.
If arriving by car to Washington Alpengirl camp sessions, plan to meet Alpengirl at 2 pm outside the airport in the “over-height” parking lot of the designated airport.
If arriving by car to Montana Alpengirl camp sessions, plan to meet Alpengirl at 2 pm inside the designated airport at baggage claim.
Parent (or other adult) must stay with their camper until the Alpengirl staff is there to greet them. Alpengirl will wait up to 1 hour for campers arriving by car or by air with a parent (or other adult). We make every attempt possible to contact parents before departing without a camper.
If a camper arrival delay causes a disruption to the scheduled camp and/or Alpenguide itinerary, Alpengirl may charge fees to cover extra costs associated with the extended delay. This fee could cover additional transportation costs (car rental/fuel), food, hotel, and additional employee wage payment if an overnight is warranted.

Communicating During Travel

At a minimum, campers need to travel with camp and parent phone numbers and a calling card that they know how to use (see Girls Camp Packing List). Campers traveling by air without assistance should carry a cell phone (and wall charger) in addition to a calling card (used as back-up in case cell phone is lost or fails). All campers are welcome to bring a cell phone (with wall charger and/or vehicle charger) to camp for use during travel (phones will be collected and stored during camp), however, Alpengirl cannot replace or be held responsible if the phone is lost, stolen or damaged. Call Alpengirl voice mail at 800-425-1841 if there are delays or changes in your travel schedule and parents should call at anytime for any reason during camp. Our camp staff will be checking the Alpengirl voice mail regularly during camp. Personal staff cell phone numbers are not provided to parents or campers. You may call the Camp Director, Alissa Farley, on her cell phone (406-570-6312) at anytime, but, be aware, cell phone's are not always reliable, so, if a message is urgent, always leave a message on the 800 # as well as on Alissa's cell phone.

Departure From Camp

Campers flying from camp without assistance (no UM ticket)

Our hugs and goodbyes to you will take place inside the airport at the correct flight check-in area about 1.5-2 hours in advance of your departure time. You’ll need to check yourself in for your flight and continue through to security and to your departure gate on your own. If Alpenguides have the ability, they’ll help you check-in and stay with you until you are in the checkpoint security line, however, this is not always possible due to other campers departure schedules.

Note To Camp Parents: It is important to understand that once a camper is guided by Alpenguides to her correct check-in area in the airport, Alpengirl no longer assumes supervision of her, she’ll be responsible for herself and will need to get checked in, board her plane, and make connections on her own. She will be responsible for calling you and being in touch with you during her travels home. If camp parents are not comfortable with this, purchasing an Unaccompanied Minor (UM) ticket is strongly suggested.

In the extremely rare case of an unforeseen delay that would cause a camper to miss her scheduled flight back home due to a late airport arrival by our camp staff, our staff will be making new reservations for her to be on the next possible flight and calling to advise you of her new flight itinerary.

Campers flying from camp with assistance (UM ticket)

A designated Alpenguide will check you in for your flight about 1.5-2 hours in advance of your departure time and she will wait with you until airline personnel have completed their paperwork and have assumed supervision of you from Alpengirl. Once the airline has officially assumed responsibility for you, you (or the Alpenguide) will make a call to your parents to let them know you are on your way home. With a UM ticket, you won't need to make any decisions or find anything in the airport, you'll be constantly supervised until you are greeted by your parents as you walk off the plane back home.

Campers departing by car (or by air) with a parent or other adult

If departing by car from Alaska, Hawaii or Norway Alpengirl camp sessions, plan to meet Alpengirl at the designated airport. Exact times and locations will be determined as we receive camper flight itineraries and will be confirmed with parents just before camp starts.
If departing by car from Washington Alpengirl camp sessions, plan to meet Alpengirl at 10 a.m. outside the airport in the “over-height” parking lot of the designated airport.
If departing by car from Montana Alpengirl camp sessions, plan to meet Alpengirl at 10 a.m. inside the designated airport at baggage claim.
If the parent (or other adult) listed on a campers Travel Form are not there to pick up their camper within 1 hour of the scheduled departure time, Alpengirl staff will not leave the camper; they'll plan a different pick-up arrangement depending on what the situation demands.
If a camper departure delay causes a disruption to the scheduled camp and/or Alpenguide itinerary, Alpengirl may charge fees to cover extra costs associated with the extended delay. This fee could cover additional transportation costs (car rental/fuel), food, hotel, and additional employee wage payment if an overnight is warranted.
Alpenguides are authorized to release campers only to parent(s)/guardian(s) or other person(s) that are listed on a campers Travel Form. These persons should be prepared to present ID for camper release. Changes to the Alpengirl Travel Form must be made in writing and approved by the Alpengirl camp director prior to the day of camper departure; making last minute changes will be difficult to approve.