Dorms, dining and student needs

Note: Due to coronavirus concerns, our Summer 2020 session will be online only, June 29 to July 11. Please click here to apply for NBTB Online.

The information below is for our on-campus program at Stanford University:

Staff and students attending Newsroom by the Bay’s on-campus program are housed in university dorms for the duration of their stay. Students will be within walking distance of Tresidder Student Union and the Stanford University Bookstore, with easy access to ATMs, student dining halls and the free Marguerite campus shuttle. Students under 18 years of age are housed in doubles; students who are 18 years old as of the date that camp begins are housed in singles or doubles with another student over 18 years of age.

Click here for a campus map, including the location of Tresidder and the Stanford bookstore.

For more on our dorm and location for our upcoming session, please see our residential FAQs.

Dining

NBTB students and staff enjoy Stanford’s award-winning dining program,  the first university food service to be certified green and to receive an “A” grade in food and recycling by the Sustainable Endowments Institute.

Residential staff and students eat three meals a day at our assigned cafeteria, Arrillaga Family Dining Commons; commuters also eat lunch with us. Commuters who wish to stay for dinner can purchase meal cards at the camp office. More dining options are at Tresidder Student Union.

Click here for more on Stanford Dining, including information on halal and vegetarian/vegan options plus allergies and special dietary needs.

Athletic facilities

NBTB students have access to Stanford athletic facilities by purchasing a day pass. Access to the Avery Aquatic Center costs $5 per person per day. Taube South Tennis Courts are available to students when they are not in use by tennis camp. Hiking, jogging and biking are free. We typically reserve beach volleyball courts, soccer field space and basketball courts for use by our students during afternoon downtime. Equipment is free for checkout at the camp office.

Students with disabilities and/or special needs

Room assignments will be made by the program, but please let us know if you have special needs. Students who require special arrangements to accommodate a disability,  an unexpected injury (such as a sprained ankle prior to camp) or wheelchair access may request such accommodations by contacting us at newsroombythebay@gmail.com.

Youth program guidelines

In line with Stanford summer workshop requirements, we maintain a ratio of one staff to 10 students at all times. At least one staff member is accessible by pager or cell phone (on a 24/7 basis) for emergency contact for the duration of the program. Program directors stay at our assigned dorm overnight for the duration of the program.

Staff accompany and supervise participants at all times, especially during walks to and from university facilities, while participants are in the academic buildings or in the dining halls and on field trips off campus.

Commuter students may leave the program at 4 p.m. when afternoon downtime begins but are welcome to stay until 11 p.m. Residential students are required to be in their bedrooms by 11 p.m.; staff conducts nightly bed checks to make sure students are getting ready for bed and to address any final needs. Residence quiet hours are between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

There is zero tolerance for the use of alcohol, drugs or illegal substances, as well as damage to property or disruptive behavior. Students and parents/guardians must sign NBTB’s code of conduct including behavioral rules prior to participation in our program. Violation of this code is grounds for immediate dismissal from our program. Students/parents or guardians also must sign Stanford’s Individual Liability Waiver prior to coming to camp. A copy of NBTB’s conduct code and the Stanford waiver will be included in the registration packet that goes out in April.

Emergency care

Emergency medical care is available at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation or at Stanford University Hospital. However, there is no coverage for visiting students, so paying for emergency/medical care is the student/family’s responsibility. Students and families will be asked to provide information on health insurance coverage and payment preferences in the registration package that goes out in April.