Residential Life

Housing

Participants are required to live on campus for the duration of the program. All sessions are residential programs only. Living on campus allows campers to form lasting friendships with other campers and their engineering counselors. If there is a medical reason for which staying on campus is not a possibility, please let EPIC know.

Dorm Assignments

All students will be assigned to a red brick dorm. The dorm building has three floors; each floor has two wings separated by a central sitting room. Campers will be assigned to gender-specific wings. EPIC counselors will be chaperoning students and staying in the dorms with a 1:10 ratio (1:8 ratio for campers under 14). Campers will be placed in a double-occupancy or a triple-occupancy room.

What to Bring

Please be sure to pack the following items along with your clothes. See the EPIC Dress Code below for specifications on appropriate camp clothing.

NOTE: There are NO elevators in the dorm building and all items will have to be carried as far as the third floor depending on room assignment. 

• Water Bottle (Please label the water bottle with the student's name.)
• Hand sanitizer
• Closed-toed shoes
• Sneakers for hiking
• Long pants (some labs require long pants)
• Sweatshirt or light jacket for night activities (it gets cold at night in SLO)
• Bathing Suit/Swimming shirts (please see dress code)
• Beach Towel
• Sunscreen
• Toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, soap, face wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.

Optional Items

• Shower Shoes
• Snacks (Rooms have refrigerators in them and all items must fit in the mini-fridge. Keep in mind you will be sharing the room with at least one more camper.) DO NOT BRING CANDY OR SUGARY ITEMS AS THEY CREATE A HUGE ANT PROBLEM IN THE ROOMS. 
• Cell Phone and Charger (Only allowed during free time. Any misuse will cause EPIC to take away the phone and return it until the end of the week.)
• Spending money for snacks, Starbucks, arcade, and University Bookstore.
• Earplugs
• Small fan for dorm
• Flashlight for a night hike

Items provided by EPIC

• Bed sheets, blankets & pillows
• Cinch bag to carry items
• Camp t-shirt
• Lanyard

EPIC Dress Code

All apparel should promote a positive learning environment. Clothing should cover cleavage, midriff, chest, and buttocks; undergarments should be covered and not visible. Attire that is see-through, strapless, or backless is prohibited. Shorts/skirts must extend to the end of the fingertips and pants should not sag. Apparel that depicts illegal substances, profanity, or other offensive language is forbidden. Students will be asked to change clothes if what they are wearing is inappropriate. Swimsuits must be modest.

What Not to Bring

Please do not bring candy, soft drinks, energy drinks, computers, tablets, or valuables. EPIC and Cal Poly are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.

Meals

Students are served three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) in addition to two snacks. Meals are catered by University dining services and off-campus vendors. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available at every meal. Other reasonable accommodations may be made for other special dietary needs that are reported to EPIC.

Activities

A variety of evening activities are planned daily. Activities range from hikes, bowling, movie night, talent show, scavenger hunt, and team sports (basketball, volleyball, and baseball).

Staff and Safety

All EPIC staff go through extensive training and are CPR/First Aid certified. EPIC rules and regulations are put in place to ensure each camper is safe at all times. Please refer to the Rules and Regulations (PDF) for more information. These rules apply to all campers regardless of their age or "freedom" allowed at home.

Please refer to South Mountain Residence Halls for additional information.