frequently asked questions
About Adventure Links
While we are new to Miami, Adventure Links has 23 years of experience in summer camps, outdoor education, team building, and leadership development. Founded in 1997 by Anna and Austin Birch in Northern Virginia, Adventure Links has grown to host nearly 1,000 campers ranging in ages from 7-17 each year. We are trusted by multiple school districts and park authorities as a preferred summer camp provider; and host numerous companies, scouts, and non-profits each year through our exciting team building programs.
We are extremely proud of our history, and excited to bring our years of summer camp excellence to Miami! As of December 2016, we have a five star rating on Yelp and a 4.7 star rating on Facebook. You can learn more about Adventure Links on our corporate About Us page here.
Adventure Links has 23 years of experience in summer camps, and our original location in Northern Virginia is accredited by the American Camp Association - a nationally recognized certifying body. The accreditation process is very lengthy and our new Miami location is currently in the process of obtaining our accreditation.
All of our policies and procedures are in line with guidelines set by the American Camp Association.
Our instructors must be over the age of 19 and hold minimum current certifications in Wilderness First Aid and CPR. All instructors must also pass a pre-employment Federal Criminal Background Check and drug screening, and are subject to random drug screenings throughout their employment.
All of our instructors are selected based on their skills in outdoor leadership and a high degree of commitment to working with youth. Instructors also undergo an extensive training process to ensure a high degree of proficiency in all activities and must be signed off by a senior staff member prior to leading any activity.
We maintain a ratio of at least one instructor per four campers. This is in line with recommendations set by the American Camp Association.
Throughout our company's history we have maintained a commitment to the betterment of our environment and the people in it. We encourage all staff members to follow the Seven Principles outlined by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics ensuring none of our programs have a lasting negative effect on our environment. We hold annual river clean-ups and other events to better the environment at our location in Northern Virginia and look forward to expanding those programs to our new location in Miami. We also work with several charities and organizations to provide free or discounted camp experiences for low income families and at-risk youth.
We are actively seeking non-profit organizations to partner with in Miami. Should you have a charitable request or are a non-profit looking to partner with Adventure Links, please email chase@adventurelinks.net.
Preparing for Summer Camp
Participants do not need to be skilled athletes to be successful in our programs. Some of the activities may be more difficult for a child who is less physically fit. To best prepare for any active camp program, it is helpful for a child to consistently exercise and maintain good health.
Our programs are designed at mainly an introductory level. A large percentage of campers are trying at least one activity for the very first time. The structure and philosophy of the program allows for personal growth and development at a variety of skill levels.
The unique quality of adventure activities is that each child can choose their challenge level. If a child has had exposure to any of the activities in camp, they approach the week with an increased level of confidence.
It is common to see campers sign up as a part of a group of friends, and every effort is made to keep these campers in the same group. It is also very common to see groups of campers that are all meeting each other for the first time, as Adventure Links is a great place to meet new people and make new friends.
Please contact the Adventure Links office at your earliest convenience, preferably the evening before. We can then relay such messages to the staff departing early each morning.
Yes. We require that a child has had an examination within 24 months of the camp program.
Campers must be prepared to bring the items listed on the pack list for their specific camp. This may include specific items such as backpacks, or certain types of clothing. All other adventure equipment such as personal flotation devices and paddles will be supplied by Adventure Links.
Attending Summer Camp
In the event of an emergency, you may contact the Adventure Links office and we will relay the message to your child. Instructors are equipped with cellular phones but due to the nature and location of Our Activities, the phones may be out of service and we rely upon messages.
Participants are transported in 15 passenger vans. All drivers are screened and must be approved by our insurance company. All of our drivers are required to complete a supplemental Adventure Links driver training program. Adventure Links strictly adheres to regulations set forth by the Florida Department of Transportation.
Minor injuries and illnesses will be documented and reported to parents at the end of the camp day. If a major injury or illness occurs during camp, Adventure Links will attempt to contact the parent or guardian utilizing the emergency contact information provided on the medical form. Included on each medical form is the authorization to provide advanced medical care in the event of a major emergency.
Our camps run in a variety weather conditions. Adventure Links reserves the right to make changes to the scheduled itinerary as necessary to ensure the safety of our campers, and refunds will not be provided for activities that are altered or replaced due to inclement weather. Please see our Summer Camp Policies for a detailed description of our inclement weather policies.
In the morning, staff members are instructed to wait 15 minutes past the pickup time. If you do not arrive within 15 minutes, you may contact our office to arrange to drop your child off directly at the activity site for the day. In the afternoon, we stay with all children until each parent or guardian arrives. Parents have historically been courteous and timely to avoid holding Adventure Links’ staff members late. Please see our Summer Camp Policies for more information on the topic.
Our activities are located throughout South Florida. Please refer to the specific itinerary for the program or inquire with the Adventure Coordinator who will check your child in on the first day of camp. If you have specific questions about a location you can call the office and we would be happy to address all your questions.
We have convenient sites located throughout Miami-Dade County; please refer to the Pickup Locations page for further details.
No. We like to involve and communicate with parents openly about their child’s camp experience. However, we have found that having a parent present during the camp day has a detrimental effect upon a camper’s ability to fully immerse and focus on the experience.
No. The Adventure Links camp program is designed to immerse campers into the natural environment and dynamics of the group experience. The use of camper cellular phones or other electronic devices is severely disruptive to maintaining this atmosphere. In the event of an emergency, it is the responsibility for the staff to maintain contact with the Adventure Links office and the parents of the camper.
Have more questions? Email your question miami@adventurelinks.net and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.