MONROE COUNTY YMCA GYMNASTICS CENTER 2018 Camp Parent Guide. Michelle Stroud, Gymnastics Center Coordinator

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1 MONROE COUNTY YMCA GYMNASTICS CENTER 2018 Camp Parent Guide Michelle Stroud, Gymnastics Center Coordinator

2 Welcome to Monroe County YMCA Gymnastics Camp! Camp operates on the MCCSC calendar. If MCCSC must make up a snow day, camp will not start until students are out of school. Camp programming will end on Friday, August 3. If you have any questions regarding the information provided in this packet or regarding camp in general, please contact Michelle Stroud at or at mstroud@monroecountyymca.org. YMCA Mission: To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. Table of Contents: General Information Page 2 Staff/Evaluations Page 3 Pick-up/Drop-off Procedures/Camp Schedule Page 3 What to Bring/Not Bring/Lost Articles Page 4 Sunscreen Page 5 Emergency Information Form Page 5 Extended Day Page 6 Discipline/Financial Assistance Page 6 Form Information/Camper Readiness Page 7 Emergency Preparedness Page 7 General Information for Gymnastics Camps The Monroe County YMCA Gymnastics Camps focus on the four core values that influence everything we do: caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Our summer program is based on educating our campers about these values through the sport of Gymnastics. We will challenge our campers physically, mentally, and emotionally by setting goals both in their skill building in gymnastics and their relationship building through the camp experience. We will have busy and down time in order to allow our campers a chance to rest their bodies, while challenging their minds with crafts and games. 2

3 Pick-up and Drop-off Procedures: Camp sign in is at the Gymnastics Center located at 1917 S. Highland Avenue right next to the Bloomington Montessori School. There is parking at the center. A parent or legal guardian MUST accompany each camper on the first day of camp. There are two liability waivers that MUST be signed by a parent or LEGAL guardian in order for the camper to participate in Gymnastics activities. All waivers must be signed by the person legally responsible for the child. Parents must fill out a camper emergency information form BEFORE leaving their child at camp. It is the parent/ guardians responsibility to keep the form up to date with new information, such as who can pick up the child and emergency contact information. All forms will be available at the Gymnastics Center. List of forms for parents/guardians to complete: Emergency Information Form Informed Consent Form Release Form and Waiver of Liability Photography Release Form The Gymnastics Center will open at 8:45am daily. Morning Extended Day is offered at the Southeast YMCA location if you need care before 8:45am. Gymnastics Camp staff will walk the children from the SE YMCA to the Gymnastics Center who are in AM care. Afternoon Extended Day is offered at the Gymnastics Center until 6pm daily. To ensure the safety of our campers, photo ID will be required upon sign out. Staff: Michelle Stroud is the Gymnastics Center Coordinator and will oversee camp planning and activities. Matt Osgood is the Youth and Adult Sports Director who is in charge of all Sports Camps including Gymnastics. Each counselor is required to participate in over 20 hours of training. Certifications and trainings include team-building skills, YMCA child abuse prevention, emergency procedures, character development, behavior management, special needs training, Universal Precautions, basic first-aid, and CPR. We take pride in the high expectations we set for our summer camp staff and evaluate them and the programs regularly throughout the summer. Evaluations: Evaluations will be ed out to parents periodically throughout the summer. These evaluations give parents and campers an opportunity to give the staff suggestions and comments regarding the camp sessions. The results of the evaluations are reviewed and have a large impact on the overall review of the summer program. Although critical input is important and is taken very seriously, it is also good for us to hear what you and your children enjoy about our camp. This feedback helps us to prepare for the future and develop a program that best meets the needs and desires of our participants. We believe our close connection with our parents helps us to improve our programming each year. 3

4 What to bring and what not to bring to camp: Bring: Lunch (we can refrigerate/will not heat) Ice pack Morning/evening snack for extended day kids Afternoon snack for full-day and afternoon campers Water bottle Sunscreen/bug spray Shoes that children can easily put on and take off Clothing appropriate for gymnastics (leotard/elastic waist shorts/t-shirt) Your happy camper! Don t Bring: Inappropriate clothing for gymnastics (dresses, pants that button/zip, skorts, skirts, tights that cover the feet, ballet slippers, leotards with skirts attached, tutus) Shoes that are difficult for your camper to get on and off themselves Cell phones Small accessories Toys from home ipods/ipads Electronic gaming devices Valuables Jewelry Gum Trading cards Soda/candy While we do have themed weeks, please remember to pack gymnastics clothing for your child to change into. Lost Articles: LABEL EVERYTHING! Please inform your child s counselor of any lost articles, and we will make every effort to help locate them. We will have a lost and found table set out each Friday during camp pick up as well as during Camp Family Night. Items not taken by the end of the summer will be donated to charity. Please be sure to remind your kids to be responsible for their belongings. 4

5 Important: A Word about Sunscreen! YMCA day camp participants spend a lot of time enjoying the outdoors and are exposed to the sun s rays. It is our commitment to promote healthy spirits, minds, and bodies and have established the following policy regarding the use of sunscreen while at camp: All campers and staff must wear sunscreen of at least 15 SPF on all exposed skin. Parents are responsible for the initial application prior to morning drop-off as well as supplying each camper with his/her own bottle of sunscreen. Counselors are responsible for supervising the reapplication of sunscreen throughout the day. Please explain this to your child prior to camp. We will re-apply several times each day (dependant upon the length of the camp). A second shirt is suggested for sun-sensitive campers for outdoor water day activities and field trips. The YMCA reserves the right to disallow any camper from participating in the program for failure to observe this policy. Staff have been trained on this subject and understand the responsibilities and consequences for failure to observe this policy. Emergency Information Form! (This is really important!) The lead counselor of your child s camp will ask you to fill out an Emergency Information/ Sign-out Form on the first day. This form must be filled out completely before your child can be left at camp. By filling out the form, you will provide our staff with general information about your child, including allergies, special interests, and emergency numbers where counselors can reach you if necessary during the day. There is a place for you to list who you have authorized to pick your child up from camp. As a safety measure for every YMCA camper, anyone who picks up a child from camp MUST be listed on this form. Photo identification will be required if the person is not recognized. The camper will not be allowed to go with the person until he or she is added to the list by a parent or guardian. Each camper must be signed out we do this for the safety of your child. If your child is 10 years of age or older, they must have a signed waiver if you would like for them to sign themselves out of camp. 5

6 Extended Day: Extended Day is available for campers from 5-13 years of age before camp (7:30-9:00am) and after camp (until 6:00pm). MORNING EXTENDED DAY Gymnastics Camp offers morning Extended Day through the Southeast YMCA. All campers may register for Extended Day at the Southeast YMCA, and Gymnastics Camp staff will walk them up to the Gymnastics Center before camp begins. At the end of camp, Gymnastics Camp staff will walk campers down to the Southeast YMCA who are registered for afternoon Extended Day. AFTERNOON EXTENDED DAY Gymnastics Camp offers afternoon Extended Day at the Gymnastics Center. Campers who are not picked up by 4:15pm will automatically be enrolled in our aftercare program and your account billed. If you have any questions regarding the Gymnastics Camp Extended Day please contact Michelle Stroud at or at $ Financial Assistance The YMCA doesn t want any child to miss out on the opportunity to go to camp. YMCA camp scholarships are available. If you know anyone who would benefit from this experience or would like to apply for financial assistance, please request a camp scholarship application at the Welcome Center or online at MonroeCountyYMCA.org/financial-assistance starting March 1 through March 29. Discipline Policy Please remember that we have an obligation to all campers to exercise a degree of discipline. We will contact parents if their child refuses to participate, won t stay with his or her camp, or is uncooperative with staff. Our staff and directors will work closely with the camper and their parents to make it a successful camp experience, but we cannot adequately staff one-to-one supervision for campers. If oppositional or disruptive behaviors continue after our sincere efforts, parents will be notified and campers may be dismissed. This will be done at the discretion of head counselors and the Camp Director. If you, as a parent, are aware of possible or impending difficulties with your child, please alert us in advance so that we can all prepare and work together to make this a successful camp experience for everyone. As in all behavior management, we will adapt the techniques to fit the appropriate age of the child. 6

7 Forms to be completed by the first day of camp: Emergency Information Required Release Form and Waiver of Liability - Requried Informed Consent - Required Photo/Media Waiver - Requried 10 and Over Sign Out - Required if your child is 10 or older. If your child has a special need, please notify the Camp Coordinator and/or the head counselor. If you would like to schedule a conference with the Coordinator and your child s head counselor before camp, please contact Michelle Stroud, The more information that you share with the camp staff, the more we can assist your child in having a fun, safe, and positive camp experience. Camper Readiness All campers registered for Gymnastics Camps are required to be completely self reliant in all restroom needs. Children who are prone to accidents or who have multiple accidents at camp in a week may be dismissed from camp. Emergency Preparedness In the event of a severe storm or tornado warning, we follow these procedures: A weather radio keep us informed of the threat of storms. In cases where we have time and it s not yet raining, we will walk our campers to the main facility to the deisgnated storm shelter areas. In cases where the storm does not allow us time to move, we will send all campers into the pit with staff, and in some cases the two restrooms. Staff will pull large mats over the top of the pit and are trained in techniques to keep campers calm until the threat has passed. Please understand that if you call during this time, staff will be tending to campers and unable to answer the office phone. 7