Summer Parent Information Handbook

Transcription

1 Summer 2017 Parent Information Handbook For the 2017 camp season, Camp Steel-Away is open to dependants and grandchildren of ArcelorMittal Dofasco employees and retirees, and non-arcelormittal Dofasco friends (associates). Children must have turned 4 years old before registered week and cannot turn 14 years old before end of registered week. Parents of 4 year olds, please review the behaviour guidelines posted at the end of this handbook. All 4 year olds need to be toilet trained and can follow the camp rules. Please remember that this is a Day Camp. The groups are made up of 10 children to 1 counselor (ages 4-13). Groups are arranged according to age to ensure age appropriate activities. Safety is our number 1 priority and guidelines are in place to ensure the safety of all campers and our youngest campers. Since our Counselors are responsible for 10 children (ages 4-13), during offsite trips we will have High School volunteers that have Police Checks available to assist the counselors with all the children. On our away trips, we will have 4-5 children per counsellor. There are several other safety guidelines put in place to ensure the Safety and happiness of everyone. Please speak to Shannon (Camp Steel Away Director), or any of the counsellors or anyone on the Executive if you have any concerns. Parents are NOT allowed to participate in offsite trips (unless deemed necessary by the Camp Director). Camp will run for 9 weeks (July 4, 2017 to September 1, 2017 inclusive). Offsite Trips offered on the Registration form can be subject to change. There is no limit to the number of weeks a camper may register. Registration is for full weeks and single days Single days will be offered again this year. Please fill out the see the registration form to add single days. There is a limit of 70 Campers per week. Registrations are accepted on a first come, first serve basis until each week is full. Waiting Lists will be made to fill spots available due to cancellations. REMINDER Although your child may not need one-on-one care, it is very important that you inform Camp of all special needs or conditions your child has; in order for the Counsellors to ensure your child has an enjoyable experience at Camp. We only have additional counsellors to supply one-on-one support to 1 child per week. First come, first serve basis. ( 1 )

2 REGISTRATION FEES Camp fees also include a Special pizza lunch every Friday. The last day of camp (September 1, 2017), we will hold a Carnival with Jump n bounce, dunk tank, cotton candy, hot dogs, carnival games, etc. Weeks 6 - $150 per week per child for ArcelorMittal Dofasco dependants and grandchildren. Associate fees are $160 per week per child. This is a 4-day week. Week1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9 - $185 per child for ArcelorMittal Dofasco dependants and grandchildren. Associate fee is $195 per child. Single Days can be requested for any single day(s) at a cost of $40 or $45 or $50 per child for ArcelorMittal Dofasco dependants and grandchildren. Associate fees are $45, $50 or $55 per day per child. Price is dependent on day selected and events happening on that day. PAYMENT INFORMATION Please make cheque(s) payable to ArcelorMittal Dofasco Camp Steel-Away. FULL FEES are due at time of registration. Camp is tax deductible; therefore, income tax receipts will be issued to the person making the payment and will be ed or mailed in February 2018 to the camper s address(es) as provided on the application form. MOVING? Please let us know your new address and/or telephone number, so we may send you your Income Tax Receipt (as we do not have access to the corporate database). If you have a change of address or telephone number, please notify us at Ext Confirmation of registration will be mailed to your home if you register at least 2 weeks prior to the start of that week. Confirmation letters will be mailed at the end of March, April, May & June. If there is insufficient time to mail a Confirmation Letter, a Camp Steel-Away Executive Member will contact you. If a week becomes full, a member of the Executive Committee will contact you by telephone. CHANGES TO REGISTRATION A firm cut-off date has been set (Thursday prior to the session start date). No changes will be allowed after these dates. In the previous years, we have been lenient with this rule. However, starting this year, no changes will be allowed after Thursday of the previous week. This rule is needed to alleviate past administrative problems, which have occurred prior to the start of each session. The Counsellors and Director have all their activities and crafts for the week planned and dependent on the number of children that have registered. The Committee must provide the Camp Director with accurate information as early as possible to plan the best program possible for your child(ren). Thank you for your cooperation with this. This includes Single day registrations. We must receive registrations by the Thursday prior to the session start date. Registrations must be brought to the Rec Park Office, counsellors cannot accept registrations. REFUND POLICY An administration fee of $10.00 per child per week will be held back on ALL refunds. Short notice refunds will be issued at the discretion of the Camp Executive Committee. If you cancel after the start of the camp week, there will be NO refund. (- 2 - )

3 LOCATION OF CAMP Camp is located at the F.H. Sherman Recreation and Learning Centre. We expect to have one trip/guest/special activity per week (African Lion Safari, Emerald Lake, Movies, Carnival) We have use of mini-putt, driving range, beach volleyball courts gym, rink floors, ball diamonds, soccer fields, and tennis courts, Pavilion, Sprinkler and we have an endless supply of sports equipment. A typical day includes: singing of the National Anthem at the Flag Pole, followed by morning announcements. Campers break off into their groups and get underway with arts and crafts, games, songs, special guests, water activities (water balloons, sprinklers, slip n slide), Special Events Days and sports. We have tried to design our camp program taking into consideration age and the fact that older boys and girls may want to have different experiences from each other. HOURS OF CAMP & EXTENDED HOURS Hours of camp are 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. Early drop-off in the gym at the Recreation Park starting at 7:30am (Counsellor in attendance). During the extended hours, the children will be watching movies in the gym until camp starts and after camp ends. Children must be picked up between 4:30 and 5:30 pm at the Rec. Park. If you arrive past 5:30pm to pick up your child, there will be a $10.00 fee charged per child per 15 minutes late payable to the counsellor at time of pickup. Since we do not charge in the registration fee for extended hours, please ensure you pick up your child(ren) before 5:30 pm. SPECIAL NEEDS Please advise us when registering if your Child has any special needs. We will make every effort to accommodate Campers with special needs in our programs. This includes Attention Deficit Disorder, physical mobility or mental challenges, visual and hearing impairments, allergic conditions, asthma, etc. Although your child may not need one-on-one care, it is very important that you inform Camp of all special needs or conditions your child has in order for the Counselors to ensure your child has an enjoyable experience at Camp. If your child requires one-on-one care, please ensure you check the Special Needs box on the registration form and fill in the additional information. Unfortunately we can only accommodate one Special Needs Camper requiring the Special Needs Counsellor each week of camp. Weeks may be limited at the discretion of the Executive Committee. An interview will be held with the family and camper requiring Special Needs assistance to review details and get full disclosure of the care required for the camper. If you require more information, please leave a message on the Camp Steel-Away Info Line at , ext IF YOUR CHILD IS GOING TO BE ABSENT OR LATE Please advise our Director, Shannon at , Ext. 227 as soon as you are aware that your child will be late arriving or will be absent from Camp. This helps us keep track of all our campers! (- 3 - )

4 COUNSELLOR TO CAMPER RATIO Our Campers are placed by age in groups of not more than ten campers to one counselor. COUNSELLOR TRAINING Prior to the start of Camp, our Counselors have received in-depth training in First Aid and CPR, Team Building, and have obtained a successful police screening. LUNCH AND SNACKS (Campers are to bring their own snacks and lunch) NO PEANUTS PLEASE! Lunch is scheduled for 11:30am (30 minutes) with two breaks provided (1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon) SPECIAL LUNCH DAY We will continue with Special Pizza Lunch on every Friday this year. The cost of the Special Lunch Day is included in the registration fee. ALLERGIC CONDITIONS Camp Steel-Away is being designated as a Peanut Safe Zone. At times we could have Campers enrolled who might have this allergic condition. Please refrain from sending any peanut products to Camp. WHAT TO BRING TO CAMP (RAIN OR SHINE) Please ensure that your Child brings the following items to Camp. Lunch, drinks and additional snacks Comfortable running shoes Sun hat, sunscreen, insect repellant Bathing suit and towel (every day) Using a permanent marker, please mark your Child s name on all articles. Please advise your Child not to bring valuable things to Camp. Camp Steel-Away will not be held responsible for any lost or stolen items while at camp. SUNSCREEN AND INSECT REPELLENT POLICY Please send sunscreen, a hat, and insect repellant with your child every day. We will monitor the length of time spent under the hot sun. Counselors will check periodically to make sure campers are wearing sunscreen and repellant. Please note that due to potential allergies, we will not provide sunscreen or insect repellant and discourage campers from borrowing it from someone else. PROGRAM EVALUATIONS In an ongoing effort to make Camp Steel-Away the best that it can be, we ask that you complete an Evaluation Form distributed each week your Child is registered. We would appreciate hearing any comments that you may have. (- 4 - )

5 PARENT INVOLVEMENT If you have any comments or suggestions regarding games, crafts, Special Guests, activities, etc., we welcome you to share these with us. Please contact our Director Shannon at (905) Ext Parents are welcome to attend camp activities at the Rec Park during the day if they wish, however, please keep in mind that the counsellors are responsible for their group of children. If you wish to stay and observe, please let Ashley (Director) know your intentions. Please do not take your child away from his/her group without speaking with your child s counselor. LOST AND FOUND There is a Lost and Found Box in the corner of the lobby by the gym doors. Any items left by Campers will be placed in this box. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION You may obtain additional information by phoning the Camp Steel-Away Info Line at , Ext Please leave your name, phone number and a detailed message and a Member of the Camp Steel-Away Executive Committee will return your call at the earliest possible time. CAMP STEEL-AWAY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President - Janice O Hoski Rec Park Liaison - Gemma Di Giovanni (x4391) Rec Park Coordinator - Mandy Johnson (x4391) BEHAVIOUR GUIDELINES It is the goal of ArcelorMittal Dofasco Camp Steel-Away to provide a healthy, safe, secure and respectful environment for all campers and staff. All campers are expected to follow the behaviour guidelines and interact appropriately in a group setting. Please read and review the following Behaviour Guidelines and Program Rules with your child(ren). Your co-operation is greatly appreciated, and will help provide a safe, fun, and respectful environment for all campers and staff. Summer Camp Behaviour Guidelines and Program Rules Campers are expected to participate in camp activities, follow the directions of the camp staff and stay with their camp group at all times. Campers are responsible for their actions. Campers must be respectful, honest and considerate of other campers, staff, volunteers and guests. Campers must be respectful of ArcelorMittal Dofasco Camp Steel-Away property; property of other campers, staff or guests; the environment and offsite locations. (- 5 - )

6 If a child does not follow the behaviour guidelines, the camp staff will take the following steps: 1. Counsellors will redirect the child to more appropriate behaviour. 2. The child will be reminded of the behaviour guidelines and program rules. 3. If the behaviour persists, a parent will be notified of the problem by the Camp Director and the incident will be documented including what the behaviour problem is, what provoked the problem and the corrective action taken. 4. If the child s behaviour at any time threatens the immediate safety of themselves, other campers, staff or guests, the parent may be notified immediately and may be required to pick their child up. (- 6 - )