These are the main questions that parents have asked us since we started summer camp, 37 years ago
Mary Seppi founded camp in 1993, as her daughter Elisa Sepúlveda grew up, she became her partner along side her husband Augusto Roncagliolo. Together they have been running camp for over 30 years. Each season different teachers are invited to teach a specific activity. We also have a cunselor trainning program where older campers are carefully selected to help guide children in the river and other fun activieties.
Youngest children and girls sleep grouped by age and sex in our log bunk house each room has its own bathroom and older boys sleep in large bunk house tents and they have an out door bathroom.
You will be welcome!
We pay special atention to how children integrate, our team is trainned to help this process be fluid and easy. Usually children find they are not the only ones that have come alone and they make fast friends.
If parents worry, we can give a whatsapp update to let you know how your child is doing upon request.
When completing the registration form, you must inform about the medication and its dosage. We assign one person to be in charge of meds and there is no problem keeping on schedule.
Yes, usually parents of children with allergies send some additional food to complement their dietary requirements.
Some children bring snacks and they are allowed to eat them at a specific time of day, after lunch before river time. However, we provide plenty of healthy home made snacks and abundant food at meal time as we understand how much growing children need to eat.
Las Mulas is in the achibueno river canyon at km 65, east bound from Linares in the Maule region.
We travel from Santiago to Linares in a private bus around 7:00 am on start day. From Linares we take a separate bus to the mountains. During the last 5 km, the children hike to Las Mulas accompanied by our team of counselors, while their luggage is transported by truck.
On travel day children bring a packed lunch from home and are received with watermelon and cookies at camp.
No, it is very difficult for parents to come visit us, our camp is located in a remote area.
Our priority is to stay focused on our children 100% of the time and hosting parents can be very distracting.
Children are usually ashamed of their parents showing up and for others it is unfair.
We recommend that you schedule a visit to Las Mulas outside of camp dates, we are open all year and you and your family can share the beauty and entertainment that Cajón del Achibueno has to offer.
Our motto has been for almost 30 years “No news is good news”.
The kids at the camp usually have such a good time that they forget to miss home. However, in the event of an emergency, it is possible to reach your child by contacting Mary.
If anything out of the norm happens to your child, like a head ache or other minor difficulties we will contact you to discuss how you would prefer we handle the particular situation.
We assign one person to be in charge of meds and there is no problem keeping on schedule.
Please send your EPI pen and inform us of ALL possible allergies.
We have not had a problem in over 30 years: there are bees although no hives. If your child has a serious bug or grass allergy, please remind them not to go barefoot.
Nobody is obligated to ride horses, activities are voluntarily chosen each day. Usually they ask to ride before camp ends and it is a momentous occasion with lots of cheering for overcoming fears.
We do give some swimming lessons and also take inner tubes to cross the river and practice kicking.
River time is highly supervised and organized so that no children are in the water unattended at any point. We always have beach supervision where children who do not swim can play safely.
It is very important that you tell us the swimming level of your child in the application form.
We slather gallons of sun screen on children but ask the parents to remind the children before camp.
We also ask the parents to buy mineral based, non-toxic sunscreen as this is not a regulated cosmetic and studies have shown some ingredients to be as dangerous as the sun. Please send protective swim wear as this is the best way to protect your childs skin. Check the EWG (environmental working group) website to inform yourself on the latest research about cosmetics and their toxicity.
We do our best to check their teeth brushing, especially at night. Each room has two assigned counselors and they make sure that all kids follow through with their teeth brushing routine. And remember that they bathe in the river every day.
We are an inclusive camp. From the first day we explain what inclusion means and how important it is. During the week a lot of progress is made in understanding the meaning of friendship and taking care of each other.
Our team has daily meetings where we discuss how children are relating to one another and we have many strategies to help children feel seen, included and entertained.
We are a bilingual camp. We mostly speak English but all instructions are given in both english and spanish.
The ideal age to come to camp depends on each kid.
We have had children as young as 4 and 5 accompanied by a sibling, as well as children aged 6-7 who have come alone or with a friend.
Usually parents know if their child is ready and it is very important that your children want to come and are excited about the idea of a sleep away camp.
We thank you for telling us ahead of time if your child is extremely curious or has wondering attention.
We have had excellent results with children who are challenged with listening skills.
We are very focused on safety and often parents will write and tell of the great progress in maturity that happened during camp.
We really like to be informed previously if this is the case, we apreciate when you send two sleeping bags and a bed cover sheet.
We quietly work with the child to make sure they do not drink too much at night and get to the bathroom before they fall asleep. We may even check their bed early and get them up.
If the sleeping bag gets wet, we surreptitiously take it out back and hose it off and dry it in the sun. Often times, kids become so conscious that they overcome the problem at camp.
Yes, we have had sleep walkers and we really appreciate knowing this before camp begins.
We will make sure they are in a lower bunk. There is always at least one adult in the house and it has not been a problem. Usually they are so tired at night that they sleep straight through.
Yes, they do exist and we would like to be informed before camp so that Mary and Elisa can have a conference with the parents and possibly the therapist.
It has never been a serious problem. We sometimes need to spend extra time with the child but the power of the peer group experience and the health benefits of nature and natural foods have worked wonders on countless children over the years.
Many, many children have overcome issues that they arrived with; it is not at all shameful, children are supportive of each other and it is a growing experience for all.
Yes. Besides Chileans we have had campers from: Norway, New Zealand, Australia, Holland, Japan, Belgium, Canada, France, England, Italy, Argentina, Mexico and the United States.
It is a rich mix of countries, ages, customs, religions etc.
Student and parent/guardian acknowledge that if student is dismissed or departs for any reason, or chooses to return home early from the program, no refunds can be granted. Further, student and parent/guardian are responsible for any and all costs of early departure whether for medical reasons, dismissal, personal emergencies or otherwise. These costs include, but may not be limited to medical evacuation and costs, medical treatment, plane, train, taxi or bus fare, meals, accommodations, and compensation and expenses for staff that may be required to accompany student.
Parent/guardian should understand that staff might not be available to accompany students leaving early for any reason on any part of their trip home therefore must acknowledge that parent/guardian must accompany the child. In addition, if parent/guardian cannot be reached when and if their child returns home early, the Emergency Contact Person designated on your Las Mulas Camp application will be contacted for notification and communication purposes.
Payment Policy, Deposit, Tuition & Refunds:
A non-refundable, CLP$50.000 deposit, deducted from tuition, is required to secure a spot in Las Mulas Camp’s Summer Programs. The final tuition balance is due three weeks before camp start date. If we have not received payment by this date, Las Mulas Camp reserves the right to cancel unpaid applicants with no return of fees. For students who apply after the two week date, payment is due in full with application. If Las Mulas Camp does not accept a student who has completed their application, all fees will be returned. However, if an applicant does not complete their application and make payment by due date, and this results in Las Mulas Camp cancelling their registration, the applicant forfeits the $50.000 deposit and fees as per the below timeline:
Prior to three weeks before camp, all tuition, except the $50.000 deposit, is fully refundable.
For cancellations 2 weeks before camp, we will refund 50% of the tuition less the $50.000 deposit or give the equivalent in camp credit less the 50.000 deposit towards any of our summer 2026 programs transferable to family members with the same last name.
In the case that camp credit is issued for any of the above, the amount of camp credit will be the amount paid to Las Mulas Camp less a $50.000 cancellation fee.
The seasonal nature of the program precludes any refund, camp credit, or reduction for late or non-arrival, early withdrawal or student cancellation within two weeks of the program for any cause.
Students sent home in violation of our rules, for medical reasons, or at the discretion of the student, family, or Las Mulas Camp will receive no refund.
Registrations for any camp session may be transferred to other sessions with no penalty while space is available at the discretion of Las Mulas Camp.
