Camp O.P.P - 2024

Our Pal’s Place offers fun-filled, week long camp programs June-July where kids play with orphaned puppies, dogs and sometimes cats housed in our Pet Adoption Facility, participate in activities that help homeless pets and learn about solutions to the problems they face.

Camp O.P.P. is offering 4 camp programs this summer (click on the camp below for more information):

1. Pet Companions 

   What better way to learn about dog and cat companions than through hands-on activities! Our Pet Companion camp combines the fun of playing with dogs with learning how to care for a pet companion including …

   • Dog Language: How pets communicate through their body language
   • Dog Breeds: Which breed is right for you?
   • Shopping for a Pet Companion: Nutrition and general care
   • Training: Learn how to train dogs and participate in a talent show

   Pet Companions (rising 4th-8th graders)
2. Rescue & Adopt! 

   This camp combines fun, hands-on activities with the dogs of Our Pal’s Place with learning how rescue organizations operate. Campers will team up to create their own rescue organization which they will operate for the week.  Through hands-on activities, they will experience intake operations and care-for their rescued dogs including playing, walking and bathing them. At the end of the week, each rescue will pretend to “adopt” their dogs into homes through a hilarious role-play by their camp counselors.

   Rescue & Adopt (rising 4th-8th graders)
3. Kindness & Compassion for All Animals 

   This camp is the signature program of Camp O.P.P.  Campers learn about rescued dogs, cats, rabbits, horses and birds through hands-on activities with these orphan pets. This camp includes an off-site visit to Bearfoot Ranch where campers will have the opportunity to ride and on-site visits from Papayago Bird Rescue House and possibly Georgia House Rabbit Society.

   Kindness & Compassion for All Animals (rising 4th-8th graders)
4. Helping Animals 

   This camp is for youth interested in an animal-related career or who want to become animal advocates! Campers will receive a lot of time with the dogs housed in our Pet Adoption Facility while learning about these animal related professions …

   • Small Animal Veterinarians: A site visit to North Roswell Vet Clinic will allow campers to learn about small animal veterinarians. Dr. Shepherd will demonstrate how he examines dogs and what he is looking for to ensure they are healthy. Campers will receive a clinic tour as well.
   • Service Dogs: Guide dogs and police dogs are just a few of the ways dogs serve our society. Campers will learn how dogs are trained and what roles they perform. We hope to host Cobb County K9 Officers for a visit with our campers this year pending their schedule.
   • Law Enforcement & County Shelters: Campers will visit Cobb County Animal Control where they will talk with animal control officers who enforce animal-related laws. After touring the county shelter, campers will experience what it is like rescuing dogs from the county shelter and bringing them back to O.P.P.’s Pet Adoption Facility.

   Helping Animals (rising 7th-9th graders)

To determine if Camp O.P.P. is appropriate for your child and for camp logistics such as location and start/end times, click on the links below:

1. Is Camp O.P.P. right for your child? 

   The dogs and cats in our Pet Adoption Facility who campers interact with are carefully selected by Our Pal’s Place Executive Director and Director of Training. However, interacting with any new dog or cat naturally poses risks of getting scratched, jumped upon, knocked over, bitten, etc. For this reason, Camp O.P.P. is not a safe environment for children with physical, behavioral and/or emotional challenges or for those who are scared of dogs. The animals at Our Pal’s Place and our partner rescues are not therapy animals, but rather orphan pets who have their own needs. If you have questions whether Camp O.P.P. is appropriate for your child, please call Executive Director, Gigi Graves, to discuss: 678-361-7623.

   Is Camp O.P.P. right your child?
2. Camp Location 

   The Learning Center and Pet Adoption Facility of Our Pal’s Place are located at 4508 Canton Road in Marietta.

   Camp Location
3. Camp Hours 

   Camp O.P.P. hours are 9am–4pm. Campers may arrive to camp between 8:30-9:00am. Because each day begins with learning safety, campers must be present by 9:15 am. If not present by 9:15, the camper will forfeit the camp day and monies. Campers can be picked up between 4:00-5:00pm. Camp activities end at 4:00pm, but parents have until 5:00pm to pick-up.

   Camp Hours
4. Attire 

   We spend a lot of time outdoors! Campers should wear comfortable, cool clothing that is ok for getting dirty. Tennis shoes are required. No sandals, crocs, or flip flops allowed for safety reasons.

   Attire
5. Lunch / Snacks / Drinks
    

   Camp O.P.P. does NOT provide food and/or drinks to campers. Each camper is responsible for bringing her/his lunch, snacks and drinks. Refrigeration will be provided for food and drinks.

   Lunch / Snacks / Drinks
6. Safety 

   Day 1 of each camp program is dedicated to teaching campers how to safely interact with dogs. Activities to practice safety are used to ensure campers understand before moving into the week’s activities.

   For hands-on activities with the animals, campers are divided into smaller groups usually based on grade level. Each group has an assigned Camp Counselor who is responsible for conducting the hands-on activity and ensuring the campers are practicing safety.

   Campers are required to follow safety rules at all times. Any problems will be communicated and discussed with the camper’s parent. Campers who consistently break safety rules will be asked to leave camp, and camp fees will not be refunded.

   Safety
7. Camp Refund Policy 

   Camp O.P.P. provides youth the opportunity to learn about the animals through hands-on activities. It also provides funding for our rescue operations. For this reason, camp fees are non-refundable unless there is a waiting list for the camp and the seat can immediately be filled.

   Camp Refund Policy
8. Questions 

   If you have questions regarding Camp O.P.P., please contact Executive Director, Gigi Graves: gigi.graves@ourpalsplace.org or (678) 361-7623

   Questions

All proceeds from camp fees go to housing homeless dogs and cats in the Pet Adoption Facility of Our Pal’s Place.
To Register: Click on Register, enter camper information, add to your shopping cart then checkout. You will receive an email after payment is processed confirming the registration.