Frequently Asked Questions
 

Yes, costs are generally less for children and teens than for adults.

We are hoping to know actual costs by mid September 2025.

Most workshops are included in the cost of camp. However, some require special materials (like art workshops) and so a small fee might be required. Some excursions may require an advance payment (if there is an entry fee at the venue). Others, for example Beer Choir, may simply require the purchase of food and drink at the brewpub where the event is held.

We will open Workshop/Activity registration April 2026. Sign up will continue through the month.

The original deadline for workshop proposals has passed, please submit your proposal next year.

It depends on how many days the workshop is scheduled. A discount on your MUUSA registration is usually offered to leaders of 3-5 day workshops. Some workshop leaders choose to “donate” their discounts back to MUUSA, but it is up to you.

Yes, but there are some restrictions. Every child or teen must have at least one associated “sponsoring” responsible adult. This could be a parent, adult relative, church leader, etc. Even though middle and high school campers stay as a group with their own counselors, an adult must be registered at camp who can make decisions on their behalf and who is available in case of emergency.

Yes! We would love to include your youth groups at MUUSA! A sponsoring adult who is also attending MUUSA is required for every 4 campers–the sponsor does not have to be related to sponsored youth campers.

Yes, there are several hotels, etc. in Ripon where you may choose to stay. Everyone who registers for camp receives 3 meals per day as part of your basic camp fee, even if you are housed somewhere other than the Ripon campus dormitories.

Like most college dormitories, people living on each floor will have to share bathroom facilities. We are confident that campers will be considerate of shared living resources just as they are with food, etc. elsewhere at camp.

Yes, although most people who work at MUUSA volunteer their time, there are several positions at MUUSA that offer fee reductions. These positions include counselors for middle and high school campers who stay with their campers throughout the week of camp. Other positions include work throughout the year in areas like planning and promotion. Contact Karen Seymour-Ells, MUUSA secretary, at karenseymourells@gmail.com who can help you connect you to the right person.

Yes, MUUSA works very hard to make sure that all campers feel safe and respected. While we cannot regulate the behaviors of non-campers, our camp “Omsbuddy” and Executive Committee have created camp policies for camper behavior. The campus is located in the middle of a small town, so anyone who leaves campus may encounter non-campers who do not necessarily share our values and who are not subject to our policies. For this reason we encourage campers to let people know where they are going and when they will return, to explore in groups and to report any problematic event to the Omsbuddy.

Until early November you may "hold your spot" by making a deposit on our website. Simply enter information about you, your family or group and use our secure payment system to make your deposit. Once registration opens, you will be able to sign up for housing.

It depends. We have tried to keep costs as low as possible while providing the greatest amount of comfort and exciting opportunities. MUUSA costs for adults are similar to most UU summer camps around the country (although some UU camps exclusively employ bunkhouses or tent camping to lower costs). Costs for children and teens are far lower than most “sleep-away” camps throughout the country. According to sleepawaz.com the average cost of sleep-away camp for children and teens runs between $800 and $2000 per week. The average cost for MUUSA is about $600 per child or teen per week.

Again, it depends. Young adults receive substantial discounts on fees (mainly because many are college or graduate students). But the cost for all adults depends on a number of factors. The two biggest contributors to cost are housing and food. MUUSA provides 6 nights of housing and 18 full meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Other costs covered by fees include stipends and housing for staff, theme speaker, meeting spaces, music purchase, etc. We believe MUUSA offers a great value in consideration of the comfort level, food quality and programming provided.

MUUSA has a scholarship fund that can provide some cost assistance. Applications for scholarships can be found [here]. We can also provide promotional and advertising materials which you can use in your home churches to raise funds in support of congregants, children, teens and youth groups to attend MUUSA. We can also provide “SpokesMuses” who can come to your church to provide details about MUUSA.

Most campers will drive to Ripon, WI. There are airports in Milwaukee (about 1.5 hours away); Madison (about 1.25 hours away) and Oshkosh (about 30 minutes away). There is no direct shuttle to Ripon, but there is one from Milwaukee to Oshkosh.

While we hope that campers can take time away from their work life during MUUSA, we realize that is not always possible. Those who have to work at MUUSA should find it easy to do so. The WiFi connection at Ripon is excellent. There are several spaces at Ripon specifically designed for quiet work or zoom meetings. The library will also be available for MUUSA camper use.

Ripon features a large, multi-station food court with several choices always available, including vegan and gluten free options.

Children participate in morning and afternoon activities led by our creative and dedicated children’s program staff. Middle and high school youth live on separate dorm floors with their peers and counselors for the week, deepening their connections with each other and our shared UU values and traditions. Adult campers can choose from a wide variety of activities. On many days, there will be an early morning activity.