Camp KangaZoo and Teen Camp. Parent Handbook

Transcription

1 Camp KangaZoo and Teen Camp Parent Handbook

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3 Camp KangaZoo Parent Handbook Contains information about: Camp KangaZoo (grades 1-6), Teen Camp (grades 7-9) and the camp overnight Drop off and Pick up Camp policies KangaCare Battle of the Biomes Activities Animals In Action Activities Teen Camp Activities and Field Trip Please watch your mail for: Color-coded forms needed for pick-up and the overnight Important Phone Numbers Registration Information (314) (option 6) Camp Office (314) Eve Cooney, Camp Director (314) Eve s Cell phone (314) Bridget Ebert, Co-Director (314) Bridget s Cell phone (314) Chris Blair, Inclusion Specialist (314) KangaCare Cell phone (314) Education Dept fax (314) Zoo Switchboard/Security (314) answered 24/7 3

4 Contents Important Phone Numbers... 3 Camp Drop Off... 9 Camp Pick Up... 9 KangaCare AM Drop off KangaCare PM Pick up Camp Overnight Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures KangaCare Friday Drop off and Pick up Camp Basics Trash-Free Lunch Tips! The Overnight Camp KangaZoo Policies KangaCare Before and After-Care Program Battle of the Biomes Daily Themes and Activities Animals in Action Daily Themes and Activities Teen Camp Daily Activities and Content

5 Spring 2018 Dear Camp Family, Congratulations! Your child(ren) will spend four fun-filled days and one fabulous night at the Saint Louis Zoo with Camp KangaZoo! Again this year, two different Camp sessions will be occurring simultaneously. Battle of the Biomes: Campers will compare similar animals and habitats in different parts of the world. How are vultures in the Ozark Mountains like the condors in the Andes Mountains? Are all rainforests and rainforest animals the same? What animals are keystone species? Campers will find the answers through active Camp games, activities, crafts and our amazing Zoo animals! Animals in Action: Campers will explore the fascinating world of animal behavior. In-depth observations will reveal what animals do, how they move in their Zoo habitat, how they get along with the other animals and how they learn. Active games, creative crafts, fun science activities and awesome Zoo animals will help uncover the mysteries of animals in action. This handbook is color coded to help you navigate, with general info on a white background, Battle of the Biomes on a green background, Animals in Action on an orange background and Teen Camp on a blue background. WHAT S NEW? Specialty Camps This year, we are offering 12 sessions of 4-day camp for older students (4th 12th gd), including a new Conservation Leaders Camp for high school students. Check our website to see if spaces remain in Jr. or Sr. Marine Biologist, Jr. Zoologist, Zoo Careers or Conservation Leaders. If you have questions about your Camp registration, please call the Education Department at (314) To share information about how we can best meet the needs of your child, please call the Camp office or one of the Camp directors using the phone numbers on the cover page. We are looking forward to a great summer at Camp! Sincerely, and the Camp KangaZoo Staff 5

6 Camp Check List IMMEDIATELY Check your registration report to determine the week of Camp for which you are registered and the session (Battle of the Biomes or Animals in Action.) You may have received your 2nd choice. The registration report was ed to you when you registered, and will be mailed to you with your pick up and overnight forms. Do you need before or after-care Monday Thursday or on Friday? Please call (314) (option 6) for registration information. These sessions do sell out. BEFORE CAMP Read this handbook and the session information and review pertinent information with your child. Make sure to familiarize yourself with our drop-off and pick-up procedures. Give the color-coded Camper Car ID cards (which will be mailed to you) to people who will pick up your camper(s). DAILY Pack and bring a trash-free lunch everyday (see page 13-14) If applicable, bring a note or send an or text with any changes to your Camp Health Information or contact information Complete your color-coded Camper Car ID form (it was mailed to you) and place in windshield daily. If registered for KangaCare Friday, bring your yellow lunch request form (mailed to you) on Monday. Campers will visit the stingrays on Monday (Battle of the Biomes,) and/or Tuesday (Animals in Action.) Please do not wear rings, bracelets or temporary tattoos on your hands to camp on your stingray day. Have an old cell phone? The Zoo collects and recycles them to raise money for Orangutan conservation. Bring your old cell phone to Camp any day for recycling. Have shoes that don t fit anymore, or just aren t your style? Camp also collects shoes for the Shoeman Water Project. Find it on-line to see how this project turns shoes into clean water. OVERNIGHT Pack and bring gear (see page 14) Review the Overnight drop off / pick up procedures on page 10. IF REGISTERED FOR KANGACARE Bring overnight gear on Thursday morning if your child will stay at KangaCare on Thursday afternoon Review the KangaCare drop off and pick-up procedures on page 10. IF REGISTERED FOR KANGACARE FRIDAY Please turn in your yellow lunch request form on Monday when you drop off your child. Review the KangaCare Friday drop off and pick-up procedures on page 12. 6

7 CAMP HOURS FOR BATTLE OF THE BIOMES AND TN CAMP (EXCEPT JULY 2-7) Monday 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. AND 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 a.m. Friday CAMP HOURS FOR TN CAMP, JULY 2-3, 5-7 Monday 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Tuesday Thursday Friday 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. AND 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 a.m Saturday CAMP HOURS FOR ANIMALS IN ACTION (EXCEPT JULY 2-6) Monday 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. AND 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 a.m. Friday CAMP HOURS FOR ANIMALS IN ACTION MINI-WK, JULY 2-3, 5-6 Monday 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Tuesday Thursday Friday 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. CAMP HOURS FOR KANGACARE Monday 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (pick-up between 4-6 p.m.) Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (pick-up between 4-6 p.m.) 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (pick-up between 4-6 p.m.) 3:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (no pick up necessary) CAMP HOURS FOR KANGACARE FRIDAY Friday 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. OR Friday 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (pick-up between 3-6 p.m.) 7

8 Camp Drop Off and Pick Up At-a-glance Camp KangaZoo and Teen Camp KangaCare AM KangaCare PM Camp/Teen Camp Overnight KangaCare Friday Half Day KangaCare Friday Full Day Drop off Monday - 8:30 a.m. Park in South Lot, walk to South entrance plaza Tue-Th - 8:30 a.m. Drop off under the bridge at South entrance on Wells Drive. 7-8:15 a.m. Gate 3, near Tamm and Wells. Call (314) or (314) when you arrive. Thursday 6:30 p.m., North Entrance/ The Living World. Teen Camp July 2-3,5-7 only Friday 6:30 p.m., North Entrance/ The Living World If your child didn t spend the night: 8:30 a.m. North Entrance/ The Living World, Anheuser-Busch Theater. If your child didn t spend the night: 8:30 a.m. North Entrance/ The Living World, Anheuser-Busch Theater. Pick up (Place your Camper Car ID form in your right front windshield) Animals in Action - 3 p.m., Wells Drive, gate 1. Battle of the Biomes and Teen Camp 3:30 p.m., Wells Drive, gate p.m. Inside South Parking lot, on the right, near Tamm and Wells. Call (314) or (314) when you arrive. 8:30 a.m., Park in North Lot, line up at the Rock outside the entrance with Car ID in hand. 11:30 a.m. Inside South Parking lot, on the right, near Tamm and Wells. 3-6 p.m. Gate 3, near Tamm and Wells. Call (314) or (314) when you arrive. 8

9 Camp Drop Off MONDAY MORNING DROP OFF (see below for KangaCare Drop Off) On Monday, please park in the South Lot and escort your child over the bridge, inside the Zoo to the South Entrance Plaza (by the Sea Lion sculpture). At the South Entrance Plaza, look for the sign that corresponds to the Camp session your child is attending Battle of the Biomes, Animals in Action, or Teen Camp. Please wait with your child to check-in and help them change into their Camp T-shirt, to make sure that the shirt fits. We can usually accommodate shirt exchanges at this time. After your camper has changed, they should wait at the entrance plaza with a Camp staff member. The Camp directors will be at the plaza if you have questions or information to share with them. After delivering your camper to the Camp staff, you may leave, or wait with your camper if you like. When a group has assembled, Camp staff will escort the campers to the Camp tent, between the Primate House and Herpetarium. Please say your goodbyes at the entrance plaza. TUESDAY THURSDAY MORNING DROP OFF After the first day, please drop off your camper at 8:30 a.m. at the designated area on Wells Drive, right in front of the Zoo s South (main) entrance, under the bridge. You will see the location of this area on Monday. Camp staff will be there between 8:20 8:45 a.m. to greet and check in campers and escort them to Camp. Please, do not drop off your child unless Camp staff is present. If you arrive early, please wait for Camp staff to arrive. LATE FOR DROP OFF? If you arrive late, please call the camp office. Someone may be available to meet you, so you don t have to park. If you know in advance that you will be arriving late on any given day, please call the camp office to arrange for late drop off. Camp Pick Up Animals in Action pick up will begin at approximately 3 p.m. Battle of the Biomes and Teen Camp pick-up will begin at approximately 3:30 p.m. Anyone who picks up a camper must display the correct Camper Car Identification card. This card was mailed to you. We will not release campers to cars without the card, unless we see photo ID and/or call a parent for verification. We will write down the last names on the Car ID cards and staff will escort children out in the order of the cars that have arrived. Counselors will bring the children right to your car, so please remain in your vehicle at all times. Our pick-up procedures provide the safest possible environment for you, your children, and our other visitors. Pick up will occur on the SOUTH side of the Zoo (Wells Drive,) just east of the Zoo entrance, near Gate 1. If you are the first car, please pull into the curb cut and stop at the Camp KangaZoo Pick-up Stop Sign. Zoo staff may be on hand to help direct traffic. Please take care NOT to block Gate 1, which is the entrance/exit used by emergency vehicles and Zoo security staff. For the safety of all, and to avoid having to make any U-turns, please enter Forest Park at the Hampton/Wells Drive entrance. Driving North on Hampton, go ¾ of the way around the traffic circle at Hampton and Wells, and turn right onto Wells Drive. Pull in behind the last car in line on the right side of the road. If you enter the park at Skinker, near Clayton, you will need to drive past the Zoo entrance and past the Camper pick up line, then go around the traffic circle at Hampton and Wells, (in effect, you would be making a U-turn) and take your place in line on Wells Drive. Please do not butt in line. We write down the names of campers as the cars arrive in the back of the line, so you will be missed. This is also unfair to the parents who have been waiting patiently in line. If you need to pick up your camper early, please call the camp office or director to make arrangements. 9

10 In some situations, Zoo Security staff or Camp staff may ask you to start your car and pull forward along Wells Dr. to another Zoo gate to pick up your camper. Please follow their instructions and be patient as we bring your camper to you. Please note: To protect air quality, a local ordinance prohibits idling for more than 10 minutes. If you arrive before the line starts moving, please turn off your car until you see the pick-up line moving. DID YOU KNOW...? An idling car creates twice the emissions of a car in motion. Idling 15 minutes per weekday can cost you up to $100 in wasted gas over the course of a year. American drivers use more than 2 billion gallons of fuel each year while idling. If you are going to be idling for more than 10 seconds, it is more fuel efficient and better for the environment to turn off your car KangaCare AM Drop off Campers may be dropped off at KangaCare AM, Monday - Thursday, between 7 and 8:15 a.m. Drop off is at Gate 3. This gate is located on Wells Drive across the street and just west of the entrance to the South Parking Lot. It is decorated with rhino designs. If no staff are visible when you arrive, please call the camp number (314) , or KangaCare cell phone (314) and the staff will come to the gate to escort your child into KangaCare. If you are arriving after 8:15 a.m., campers should be dropped off at the regular camp drop off area under the bridge on Wells Drive. On Monday, if you would prefer to walk your child to KangaCare, you may park in the South Parking Lot and walk with your child to Gate 3. Call the number above and a staff member will meet you at the Gate. KangaCare PM Pick up Campers may be picked up from KangaCare between 4-6 p.m. on the South Parking Lot. After entering the lot turn to the right and park among the orange cones near the Camper pick up sign. Once you have arrived, call the Camp number (314) , or KangaCare cell phone (314) and we will escort your child(ren) to the lot. If you don t have a cell phone, simply call us before you leave for the Zoo and let us know your approximate arrival time. We will bring your child(ren) to the lot at the designated time. You need to have your Camper Car ID card in your windshield to pick up from KangaCare. Camp Overnight Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures If the weather cooperates, campers will sleep outside in the Historic Hill green space. If there is a high chance of rain, campers will sleep inside The Living World building or the Exploration Outpost. Either way, campers should be dropped off at the NORTH entrance (The Living World building) on Government Drive. KANGACARE THURSDAY We allow parents to register their camper for Thursday-only KangaCare for a pro-rated fee, and as space allows. To inquire, call our registrars at ext. 6. DROP OFF Campers should return to the Zoo at 6:30 p.m. for the overnight. Please park on the North Lot and bring your camper into The Living World North Entrance building. We will not be using overnight forms this year. Please let us know at Check In if there is any change to your contact information for Thursday night. 10

11 Camp staff will direct you where to store or lay out your gear (inside or outside.) Next, follow your ears to the Camp tent for a musical performance. See more information in the Overnight section below. Teen Camp parents can leave immediately after dropping off their teen camper at The Living World, or can stay with their camper until 7 p.m. NEW! OVERNIGHT DROP AND GO OPTION Parents who need to drop off their camper and then immediately leave can sign up for this service in advance using the correct link below. Make sure to choose the link that corresponds to your week of Camp. Drop and go is only available to parents who cannot stay with their camper until 7 p.m. on Thursday. To maintain our 1:5 staff:camper ratio, Drop and Go is only available to 10 campers per week. Sign up is first-come, first-served. The links below will close after the first 10 responses or at 5:30 p.m. the evening of the overnight. Drop and Go campers must be dropped off between 6:30-6:40 p.m. on Thursday evening, in order to join their counselors. June June June July 9-13 July July July 30-Aug 3 August PICK UP IF YOUR CHILD IS NOT SPENDING THE NIGHT We encourage all campers to come for the evening activities from 6:30-10:30 p.m. even if they don t want to or can t stay overnight. If your child is not staying the night, please come to the pick-up area on the North side of the Zoo in front of The Living World at 10:30 p.m. for pick up. FRIDAY MORNING PICK UP Please pick up your camper Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. Park in the North Parking Lot. Bring your Camper Car ID with you, leave your car and form lines beginning at the large rock in the entrance plaza. We will have one line for Battle of the Biomes and Teen Camp and one for Animals in Action. We will bring children out in the order of linedup parents, beginning at approximately 8:30 a.m. KC FRIDAY You can register your child for either half day or full day KangaCare Friday. This program offers additional opportunities and activities for your camper(s) on Friday following the overnight. The full day session includes lunch. To register for KC Friday, please call (314) option #6. 11

12 KangaCare Friday Drop off and Pick up If your camper did not stay at the overnight, but is attending KangaCare, please drop them off between 8:15-8:30 a.m. at the Anheuser-Busch Theater in the upper level (street level) of The Living World. You will need to park and escort your child into the building, as the camp staff will be facilitating overnight pickup at this time. KangaCare Friday half-day pick-up will be at 11:30 a.m. in the South Parking Lot, on the right (west) side. If you are running late, please call the KangaCare cell phone (314) to inform the staff of your arrival time. KangaCare Friday full day pick-up will operate like KangaCare pick-up Monday Thursday in the South Parking Lot. Please see the information above for KangaCare pick-up procedures. Camp Basics CAMPER GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES Campers are divided up by age into groups of 8 11 campers, each with at least one counselor. The groups are paired up for most activities, resulting in groups of about 20 campers with 3 5 counselors per group. For instance, the Wildlife Wonders group (WW s) and the Zany Zoomers group (ZZ s) do most activities together, so we call them the WWZZ group. These are the two youngest groups. Other groups are (ascending by age): Conservation Kids and Special Species (CKSS) Awesome Observers and Dynamic Discoverers (AODD) Expert Explorers and Radical Researchers (RR) Ace Interpreters and Brilliant Biologists (AIBB) BUDDIES If you indicate a buddy on your Camp Registration and Health/Information form, we try to put them in the same group (like WW.) Buddies must be one year or less apart in age or grade. However, even if one is assigned to WW and another friend is in ZZ, they are in essence in the same group, see above. If you would like your child to be grouped with a buddy, but did not indicate it on the form, call or the Camp office (314) or campoffice@stlzoo.org at least two weeks before your camp session begins and we will try to accommodate your request. PLEASE, ONLY INDICATE ONE BUDDY PER CAMPER AND ASK THE BUDDY TO INDICATE YOUR CHILD AS THEIR BUDDY. If more than one buddy is indicated, we will use the first name listed as the buddy. To ensure that both buddies receive an age-appropriate experience, buddies are grouped based on the younger buddy s birth-date. Please remember that Camp is a wonderful opportunity to make new friends. There are opportunities during the day and at the overnight for campers to socialize with friends, even if they are not in the same camper group. In general, the campers are kept very active and busy. There is not much down time for any camper to feel lonely or left out. At Teen Camp, campers are divided into two groups and come up with their own group names. Some activities are done separately, and sometimes the groups are combined. You may request a buddy for Teen Camp. The buddy can be any other teen camper, regardless of age. WHAT TO BRING TO CAMP EVERY DAY A TRASH-FR LUNCH (that does NOT need refrigeration) REUSABLE CUP (water and fruit drink are provided) FULL WATER BOTTLE, PREFERABLY WITH STRAP (we also stop at drinking fountains many times each day.) 12

13 WHAT TO WEAR TO CAMP EVERY DAY CAMP T-SHIRT (every day, or t-shirt of similar color, EVEN TN CAMPERS!) COMFORTABLE SHORTS OR LIGHTWEIGHT PANTS ATHLETIC SHOES & SOCKS (not loose sandals, flip-flops, etc.) Optional SUN SCRN AND INSECT REPELLENT (must be applied by parent) ADDITIONAL ITEMS CAMPERS MAY BRING OLD CELL PHONES The Zoo collects and recycles these to raise money for Orangutan conservation. Recycling your old phone also helps gorillas. A mineral called Coltan is mined in the Congo. The disturbance to the rainforest and the influx in miners who live off the land has drastically affected gorilla populations. Recycling your phone reduces the amount of new coltan that needs to be mined. UNWANTED SHOES If you bring any unwanted shoes to Camp, our staff will make sure that they get to a drop off location for the Shoeman Water Project. This project sells unwanted (but in decent condition) shoes to vendors in developing nations for them to sell, then uses the money from the sale of the shoes to help pay for wells in developing nations around the world. WHAT NOT TO BRING MONEY (if wishing to purchase an extra t-shirt, please pay a Camp staff member when you drop off or pick up your camper) OTHER FOOD (campers are provided with daily snacks, see p. 17 if your child has food allergies, or special dietary needs) CELL PHONES/ ELECTRONICS/BOOKS/TOYS (however, children registered for KangaCare may bring one book or toy to use during KangaCare.) Campers are responsible for any items that they bring to Camp. Please clearly mark ALL items with your child s name. TRASH - FR LUNCH Trash-free lunches have become an integral part of our camp culture and help to reduce waste. A trash-free lunch is one that only contains items that are reusable, recyclable, compostable or edible. Campers are taught to separate their waste into trash, recycling and compost. We challenge you and your camper(s) to pack a trash-free lunch everyday. Do this by using washable containers, reusing lunch boxes or bags, and making sure any disposable food or beverage packaging is made of recyclable plastic (we recycle #1-7 plastic at the Zoo,) cardboard or aluminum. Paper towels, napkins, and all food waste will be composted. The purpose of this activity is to teach campers about conserving resources and reducing the amount of trash that goes into a landfill or becomes litter. We require the help of parents, as the shoppers and lunch-packers, to make this activity work. No cheating! Purchasing single serve packages of snacks and then packing them in a reusable container for Camp (and throwing away the package at home) is not helpful. When you shop with your camper, try to plan lunches that will result in minimal waste. The goal is to minimize trash and conserve resources on Earth, not just to eliminate trash at Camp! You can read more about the Zoo s sustainable actions here: SAVE ORANGUTANS WITH YOUR LUNCH Palm oil is oil derived from the fruit of the Oil Palm tree. Vast plantations of oil palms are being created in tropical locations around the world, including Borneo and Sumatra the only islands on Earth that are home to Orangutans. As Oil Palm plantations increase, the rainforest habitat of orangutans is destroyed. Due in part to public pressure, many companies have joined the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil or RSPO. Companies in the RSPO pledge that they will only purchase palm oil from vendors who can certify that 13

14 the palm oil was grown in a sustainable way, with a minimal impact on orangutans and other wildlife, and providing decent living conditions for the workers on the plantations. Check our website for the link to an updated RSPO shopping guide and more information on this topic. Please join us and share this information with your friends! You can make a difference! Trash-Free Lunch Tips! It s easy (and cheap) being green. Purchase bulk items rather than individual servings. Look at the packaging. Is it recyclable? Biodegradable? Or is it a package inside of a package inside of a package? Serve beverages in a thermos, aluminum can, or recyclable plastic bottle, rather than drink boxes or pouches. Water and fruit drink is also served at Camp, so packing a drink at lunch is not necessary. Use containers with lids instead of plastic baggies. Or wash out the baggies and use them over and over again! Get your camper involved in making choices at the grocery store and in packaging their lunch. Ask your camper to help wash the lunch containers. For a super earth-friendly lunch try adding some organic or locally grown products, and check out the RSPO shopping guide for orangutan friendly lunch choices! The Overnight WHAT TO BRING Campers need to be able to carry their own gear. Campers should dress in comfortable clothing that they can sleep in, as they will not change into pajamas. Please have items clearly marked with your child s name. BRING SLPING BAG / BED ROLL PILLOW TARP OR TRASH BAG TOOTH BRUSH TOOTH PASTE DO NOT BRING FOOD AIR MATTRESS/COT/TENT CELL PHONE TOYS/GAMES/ELECTRONICS PAJAMAS FLASHLIGHTS STUFFED ANIMALS or OTHER VALUABLES WHICH WOULD BE TRAGIC TO LOSE MOSQUITOES Mosquitoes are prevalent in the St. Louis area, including the Zoo. To discourage mosquito bites, apply insect repellent to your child when you drop him/her off for the overnight. If you want your child to have repellent with them during the overnight, please instruct him/her in the proper use of the repellent. Improperly used repellent will be confiscated. Insect repellent should NOT be sprayed on the grass around your child s sleeping bag. 14

15 DINNER AND BREAKFAST For dinner, we will serve pizza (cheese or pepperoni) from Domino s, salad, lemonade or water, and an ice cream treat. Popsicles are available for children who do not eat dairy products, and gluten-free pizza will be ordered from Dominos whenever we have campers registered at Camp who are gluten-free. Note that Dominos is not a gluten-free kitchen, so this may not be appropriate for your camper. If your child has other special dietary needs, please have them eat before their arrival or send a special meal with her/him. Breakfast will include a bakery item, fresh fruit, cereal, orange juice and milk. For more information, see Allergies section on page 17. IF YOUR CHILD MUST ARRIVE LATE If your child has an evening obligation and will not arrive by 7 p.m., please call the Camp director to work out drop off details. SLPING Campers will sleep outside in their sleeping bags beneath the stars (in satisfactory weather). If there is a high chance of rain, we will sleep indoors. Sleeping outdoors at the Zoo is an awesome experience and we try to sleep outdoors as much as possible, even if there is a slight chance of rain. Sometimes it has been raining during the day, but is forecast to clear up in the evening. Damp ground will not stop us from sleeping outside! Make sure that you send a tarp or large plastic trash bag that your camper can spread out under their sleeping bag as a moisture barrier. We never stay outside in severe weather, thunderstorms, or unsafe conditions, but we have stayed outside in brief showers and light drizzle. This means that occasionally sleeping gear will come home damp, and campers will come home with an adventurous overnight story to tell! NEW! THURSDAY NIGHT SING-A-LONG AND CAMPER SHOWCASE Parents should plan to stay on Thursday evening for a short sing-a-long featuring popular Camp songs. We will also have CD s for sale of some popular Camp songs. At around 7 p.m. we will ask that all parents quickly say their good-byes so that we can move on with the evening s activities. We have learned that lingering goodbyes are likely to bring on a bout of camper homesickness. We ask that parents keep their goodbyes short and sweet so that we can move on with the evening s activities. IF YOUR CHILD IS NOT SPENDING THE NIGHT We encourage all campers to come for the evening activities from 6:30-10:30 p.m. (11 p.m. for Teen Camp,) even if they are not comfortable with staying overnight, or can t stay for other reasons. FRIDAY MORNING PICK UP (See KangaCare section for Friday Camp options) Please pick up your camper Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. 15

16 Camp KangaZoo Policies MEDICATION If your child needs to take medication during Camp hours, please pack their medication and written instructions to your child (if needed) in their lunch container or in a fanny pack. While Zoo staff cannot administer medication, we can check to make sure that each child takes their medication. Medicine Reminder forms will be available at Monday check-in for you to fill out if you wish. If your child has a severe allergy requiring an Epi-pen or other accomodations, please contact the Camp director in advance to discuss. We are committed to keeping your child safe at Camp. INCLUSION AND SPECIAL NDS Camp KangaZoo will never use your child s medical or health information to selectively register children for Camp. We will make every effort to accommodate your child s needs and give them an unforgettable Camp experience. We do ask you to be honest and forthcoming with information about your child s needs so that we can accommodate their needs and help them to feel included. We have a form, the Zebra Stripes form, which we are using to help us understand what makes your child unique, any triggers, or other characteristics or circumstances we should be aware of. This is an OPTIONAL form that parents can use. If you d like to use the form, or discuss your child s gifts and challenges, please contact Chris Blair, our Inclusion Specialist (314) or blair@stlzoo.org. We maintain a camper: staff ratio of approximately 5:1. This could be slightly higher for younger groups, or lower for older groups. We also will have an Inclusion facilitator at Camp this summer to provide additional support. However, there are some special needs that we cannot accommodate, and some that would require you to provide an aide. Please send an aide with your camper if they: have a one-on-one support at school, or require significantly more attention than a 5:1 ratio can provide require assistance eating or using the bathroom need to be away from a large group for significant amounts of time throughout the day. struggle with transitions and unpredictability are significantly challenged by the sensory demands of a 4-day outdoor Zoo experience. There is no fee required for an aide to come to camp with your child. Please contact the Camp director or Inclusion Specialist in advance if you would like to send an aide, or to discuss other accommodations required for your child. Camp is a very active, stimulating environment, which includes amplified music and lots of movement. Camp includes walking up to 3-4 miles in a day, and not always at a leisurely pace. If your child has sensory sensitivities, the Camp environment may be over-stimulating. Campers who would not be successful at Camp include those who: would need a therapeutic camp rather than an inclusion model are not able to or do not want to be in large groups much of the day have aggressive behaviors with adults or peers, self-injure, are a flight-risk, or whose impulse control challenges prevent them from being safe in a large, open, outdoor, free public Zoo setting. We offer many other summer programs for children of all ages, including programs that families attend together (including overnights!) One of these programs may be more enjoyable or a better fit for your child. Our goal is for your child to have a wonderful and memorable experience at the Zoo, whether at Camp or another program. 16

17 FIRST-AID/MEDICAL EMERGENCIES The Camp staff and all of the Zoo Security staff are certified in basic first aid and CPR. The Zoo also has trained Medics from St. Louis Children s Hospital on grounds during the Zoo s regular hours. If your child is injured or becomes ill at Camp, the staff will take whatever steps are necessary to insure that the child s medical needs are met. In the event of a serious injury or illness, the staff will immediately notify emergency crews, and you or your emergency contact. FOOD ALLERGIES AND SPECIAL DIETS If your child has a food allergy or special dietary need, you are welcome to send a daily snack with them, or a dinner for the overnight. Kosher, non-dairy, gluten-free and nut-free snacks are always available to campers that require them. Our snacks are: Monday Kellogg s rice crispy treats Tuesday North Star Lotta Juice or twin-pop popsicles Wednesday Fresh fruit (apple or orange,) Thursday - Camper Chow, which includes Crispix cereal, raisins, plain M&M s, Rold-Gold mini pretzel twists, animal crackers and goldfish crackers. We mix the camper chow ourselves and are happy to accommodate requests to leave out an ingredient due to an allergy or dietary request, or substitute a different snack. The Zoo is not a peanut/tree nut-free environment. Peanuts and tree nuts are commonly used in the diets of our Zoo animals. We do not forbid Zoo guests from bringing food on grounds, and welcome over 3 million visitors per year. Therefore, we do not forbid campers from bringing peanut or tree-nut foods in their lunches. However, we do discourage campers from trading foods at lunch, we provide a nut-free table in the lunch area, and can require a group of campers to wash their hands after lunch to minimize cross-contamination. If your camper requires these or other accommodations, please let us know. PULL-UPS If your child needs to wear a pull up for the overnight, they should pack a small bag or backpack to hold their toothbrush, toothpaste, and the pull-up, along with a change of underwear and a plastic bag. All of the children take a restroom/tooth brushing break right before bed. Your child should bring their bag to the restroom and at this time, your child can put on their pull-up discreetly. Likewise in the morning, they can take the bag with them to the restroom to change into undies. They can put the old pull-up in the plastic bag. At your request, we will discreetly check to make sure that your camper takes their bag to the restroom in the evening and morning. Please tell your child s counselor or the Camp Director if you would like to request that. LOST AND FOUND If there are lost and found items labeled with your child s name, we will call you and notify you about the lost item. We will keep the item in the camp office for one week for you to pick it up. Please call to let us know when you will pick it up. Unlabeled and unclaimed items will be kept for one week, then recycled or donated. RAINY WEATHER If rain is in the forecast, and you are concerned about your child getting wet, send your camper with rain gear. Keep in mind that on a hot day, the campers usually appreciate getting a little wet, and rain gear can be very hot to wear! If possible, Camp activities will be moved inside, or under a tent, until the rain stops. Moving from one activity to another and drop off/pick up may require spending some time in the rain. In severe storms with lightning, high winds, etc. campers will all be moved indoors until the threat has passed. We are never far from an indoor shelter area. Our sleeping areas are also close to indoor spaces that can be used in an emergency. 17

18 VERY HOT WEATHER / WATER PLAY Camp includes both indoor and outdoor activities each day. To combat the heat, campers have many opportunities to drink water. Drinking fountains are prevalent at the Zoo and we visit them often and encourage campers to drink. You are also encouraged to send a full water bottle with a strap to Camp with your child (if your child can handle that.) There are several places on Zoo grounds where campers are allowed to get wet (Children s Zoo bubblers, mist fans, etc.). Keep this in mind when suggesting which shoes your child should wear to Camp. Non-leather tennis shoes are the best choice. Getting wet is a great way to cool off on those very hot days. Remember, it wasn t that long ago that everyone lived without air conditioning, and kids played outside all day! ARRIVING LATE OR LEAVING EARLY If your child needs to arrive late or leave early please contact the Camp Director with the details as soon as possible, and we will try to make this convenient for you. Lunch occurs between 11:30 a.m. Noon most days, and is a convenient time to pick up or drop off your camper. If you let us know in advance about an early or late pick up, we can take your child to one of the Zoo entrances, so you won t have to park. We spend time all around the Zoo, but with advance notice, we can make sure that your child is near an entrance when you need to pick them up. ABSENT FROM CAMP Please notify the director of all absences as soon as possible. Please call (314) EXPECTATIONS AND BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT Camp KangaZoo welcomes a diverse group of children regionally, racially, financially, and in every other way! Our financial scholarship program provides funding to approximately 10% of our campers who would otherwise not be able to attend. We welcome children from all over the St. Louis Metropolitan Area and beyond, even internationally. For some children, this is their first exposure to children of different backgrounds with regards to religion, socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and their first exposure to children of different abilities, from different regions (rural, suburban, and urban), and from diverse types of families. This is one of the great things about Camp! We expect all campers to treat each other with respect and kindness, regardless of individual differences and experiences. Please review the expectations with your camper before the first day of Camp, and please don t hesitate to contact the Camp Director if another child s behavior is affecting your camper s experience. EXPECTATIONS J Respect other campers, staff, animals and property J Treat others with kindness, no put downs J Participate in activities J Follow staff instructions J Play safely Please contact the Camp Director or Inclusion Specialist if there are tips or advice we should know for interacting with your camper. 18

19 KangaCare Before and After-Care Program The following information is only applicable if you have registered for our KangaCare program. KANGACARE BASICS Camp offers a before-camp and after-camp care program every week except for July 2-7 (mini-week). Several different aftercare programs are offered to meet your needs. KangaCare AM is offered Monday Thursday mornings from 7-8:15 a.m., when we escort the campers to the main camp area. Campers can be dropped off anytime between 7 8:15 a.m. The fee per camper is $25 for Zoo Members and $30 for non-members for all four mornings. KangaCare PM is offered Monday Thursday after Camp until 6 pm or until the overnight begins on Thursday. The fee per camper is $70 for Zoo Friends Members and $75 for non-members. KangaCare Friday is offered on Fridays after the overnight. Half day ($15 Zoo Members/$18 non-members) and full day ($40 Zoo Members/$45 non-members) options are available. KangaCare Friday allows your camper (grades 1-9) to stay at the Zoo on Friday, and includes guided activities, supervised free time, and a hot lunch (full day only.) Campers can be picked up on Friday at 11:30 a.m. for half day or between 3-6 p.m. for full day. If you need KangaCare, please register as soon as possible (314) option 6. You must be registered in advance to take advantage of these programs, and space is limited. These sessions do sell out. KANGACARE HOURS AM Monday Thursday mornings 7 8:15 a.m. PM Monday Wednesday afternoons until 6 p.m. PM Thursday afternoons until 6:30 p.m. (when the overnight begins) KANGACARE FRIDAY HOURS Half Day Friday 8:30 11:30 a.m. Full Day Friday 8:30 a.m. 6 p.m. As per the policy of many day care centers, the Zoo will charge $1 per minute, per child, after 6 p.m., Monday Wednesday and Friday. WHAT TO BRING TO KANGACARE Campers may bring one toy/book/game/etc. Please no cell phones. Campers may bring an extra snack on Thursday. We will also offer a snack. Campers may bring their own breakfast in the morning. Cereal (Crispix or Fruit Rings), Fruit (apple/orange,) Milk and OJ will be available. If not going home before the overnight on Thursday, campers will need to bring ALL of their overnight gear on Thursday morning. KANGACARE AM and PM ACTIVITIES KangaCare is a less structured program than Camp KangaZoo. We have activities, crafts or games planned for each day, and have videos, games, puzzles, books, etc. for campers who are ready to relax at the end of a long day, or need a little more quiet time in the morning. In the morning, we will provide a breakfast of cereal, fruit, milk and OJ, or your camper can bring their own breakfast. In the afternoon, we will take a short Zoo tour and visit the animals on the way to our KangaCare classroom. For those campers staying for after-care before the overnight, we will provide an hour of lights-out time to rest. Dinner at the Camp overnight will not begin until 7:30 p.m., so we will serve a snack on Thursday. You may also send a snack on Thursday. KC FRIDAY LUNCH If your child is registered for KC Fridays, you should find an yellow lunch request form in your packet with the pick up and overnight forms. Please indicate your child s lunch choice and turn in this form when you bring your child to Camp on Monday. 19

20 Battle of the Biomes Daily Themes and Activities MONDAY- FRESHWATER FACE-OFF OVERVIEW: Biomes are the environments in which animals and plants live. The weather in an area determines what plants can grow, which helps to determine which animals can live there. Some well-known terrestrial (land-based) biomes include tropical rainforest, desert, and grasslands. Today the campers will learn some biome basics and will explore aquatic biomes freshwater rivers, wetlands and oceans. ACTIVITIES: After meeting their counselor, playing a game and singing animal songs beneath the big Camp tent (as we will do every morning), campers will be introduced to life at Camp KangaZoo and start their first day s activities. Throughout the day campers will TUESDAY- GRASSLAND GRUDGEMATCH OVERVIEW: Grasslands are more than just grassy land; they are one of the most productive environments on earth and support some of the worlds largest land animals. From Missouri prairies to the African savannah, we will learn about the animals that live in and under these wide open spaces. We will also learn about the animals that serve as keystone species in grasslands. If not for these critical species, trees would grow in grasslands and shade out many of the smaller plants. Keystone species maintain grasslands, thus providing habitat for countless other animals. ACTIVITIES: Today, campers will see and touch animals in a live animal class, learning all about the biomes they call home. We will tour the River s Edge area of the Zoo and learn about animals from the African Savanna, hopefully we ll see the baby cheetahs! We will play an assortment of awesome discover Biomes in a hands-on lab activity, play a game about amphibian survival, visit the stingray exhibit, tour the Herpetarium, cheer for the Sea Lions at the Sea Lion show and make a rain gauge to take home. ASK YOUR CAMPER: Tell me about your counselor. What is the name of your camper group? Who are some of the other campers in your group? Did you touch a stingray? What did the sea lions do? Did you survive in the Slimy Survivors game? What is it like to be an amphibian egg or tadpole? What aquatic animals did you see in the Herpetarium? What was your snack today? What areas of the Zoo did you visit today? Tell me about what you made today. How does the rain affect a biome? What is your t-shirt made of? games today, in which the campers will become prairie dogs, bison, lions or even elephants, trying to survive in their habitat. The campers will see an awesome and zany puppet show, and will make a keystone species craft to take home. ASK YOUR CAMPER: In your class in The Living World, which animals did you see and touch? Tell me about your keystone craft. What is a keystone species? What animals did you visit today? Were the baby cheetahs out? What happened in the Prairie Prowl game that you played? Did you survive? How do elephants help grasslands? What was your favorite character in the puppet show? What is your favorite Camp song? What challenges did you face today? How did you overcome them? Is there anything you d do differently? WEDNESDAY - TRTOP TANGLE OVERVIEW: Just as grasslands are defined by the predominant plant that grows there grass so are forests defined by the trees. We will learn about animals that live in trees and forests both in Missouri and the Congo. Campers will learn about some of the conservation issues surrounding local forests and tropical rainforests, and will learn ways to help. ACTIVITIES: Campers will start the day with a ride around the Zoo on the Zooline Railroad. They will visit Fragile Forest and the Bird House seeing the animals that rely on the lovely and majestic plants of the 20 forest. They will become coltan miners and gorillas struggling to coexist in the Congo in an exciting game, and will create a recycled paper craft. We will meet a Zookeeper today and find out about how the Zoo cares for animals from around the world. Campers will visit another area that they choose and, will challenge themselves in a Biome Battle Quiz game. They will start work on their biome skit, which they will perform at the overnight. ASK YOUR CAMPER: Were the apes out at Fragile Forest? What forest birds did you see? What

21 happened during the Clash in the Congo game? What does coltan have to do with cell phones? Tell me about your craft. How does recycling help the forests? What Zookeeper did you meet? Which area did you THURSDAY- CLASHING CRAGS OVERVIEW: Mountains are great places to see a diversity of biomes all close together. In the Andes Mountains in South America, one could experience tropical rainforest, grasslands and arctic-like biomes all in a day s drive. Even in our Missouri hills, forests are interspersed with dry, grassy or even desert-like glades, along with cool springs. These diverse biomes provide habitats for a diverse array of animals and plants. ACTIVITIES: Throughout the day we ll visit the Children s Zoo, and Red Rocks area, discovering alpine animals. We will play a game about vultures that use updrafts of air from mountains and hills to fly, and make a vulture glider to take home. Each group will put the finishing touches on a skit about biomes for the overnight, and we will join one of our THURSDAY- THE OVERNIGHT OVERVIEW: The Zoo is a very special place at night. Our culminating time together adds the final touches to a special, memorable, week. ACTIVITIES: After arriving back at the Zoo, campers and parents can join in a short sing-a-long with the Camp musician and counselors. After your goodbyes we will head off for our pizza dinner and ice cream dessert. Campers and staff will entertain each other with their animal behavior skits. A night hike around the Zoo is ALWAYS a highlight. We ll see what the animals do at night, compared to their behaviors during the day. We ll complete the week by sleeping under the stars (weather permitting), then wake up to barking sea lions, a tasty breakfast and a short morning hike. visit for your choice activity? Would you like to visit a tropical rainforest someday? Why or why not? Did you compost or recycle anything at lunch? Conservation Education Liaisons for a Zoo animal experience. Our crazy traditional Camp bingo game will round out the week, providing the opportunity to recall and share many of the new things learned at Camp. ASK YOUR CAMPER: Did you brush a goat in the Children s Zoo? What mountain dwellers did you see in Red Rocks? Tell me about your skit. What did you learn in the Alpine Adventure game? Tell me about your craft? What kind of animal is it? Where does that type of animal live? What was your animal experience like? How many times did you get Bingo? What was your favorite part of Camp so far? Are any of the counselors doing something crazy tonight? What things should you bring for the overnight? What will you be eating at the overnight? What was your favorite part of Camp so far? ASK YOUR CAMPER: What animals did you see on the night hike? What were they doing? What sounds did you hear at night? Did you sleep near any new friends? Tell me about them. What animal sounds did you hear when you woke up? What animals did you see in the morning? What was the funniest skit? What was your favorite activity this week? Why? What do you think about trash-free lunches? Do you think that they are better for the environment? Why? Is there anything we could do as a family to help animals? Do you think you d like to come back to Camp KangaZoo again? 21

22 Animals in Action Daily Themes and Activities MONDAY - BEASTLY BEHAVIORS OVERVIEW: What do animals do? People have been studying the habits and behaviors of animals for thousands of years. It was once a necessity to study the habits of animals so that they could be hunted for food, or to avoid being hunted yourself. Today, conservation scientists and Zoos study animal behavior so we can better understand and conserve them. At Camp, we will learn about basic and complex behaviors, how and why scientists study animal behavior and why animals do what they do. ACTIVITIES: After meeting their counselor, playing a game and singing animal songs beneath the big Camp tent (as we will do every morning), campers will be introduced to life at Camp KangaZoo and start their first day s activities. Throughout the day campers TUESDAY- MOVIN AND SHAKIN OVERVIEW: Animals move! They move in different ways to different places and for different reasons. Some animals can slither, curl up, jump and fly in formation. They move up and down trees, above and below ground, to lakes and streams, and from North to South. But these movements are not random. Animals move to stay warm, cool off, protect themselves and find or catch food. They move to survive. Understanding animal movement is critical when caring for animals in a Zoo and designing appropriate exhibits. ACTIVITIES: A train ride starts the day as we get movin around the Zoo. We will play some animal migration and movement games, and find out how not moving can help some animals hunt. We will visit WEDNESDAY FRIENDS, FOES AND FAMILIES (Thursday during mini-week, July 5) OVERVIEW: Although some are more solitary than others, all animals interact with others of their own and different species. Some animals are social, in that they live in a group, feed as a group, move as a group, and defend themselves as a group. These animals usually have interesting ways of communicating. Solitary animals face most of life s challenges on their own, but still interact with other animals in their environment. will enjoy an Animal Behavior class featuring live animals, play a game and make a craft about firefly communication, visit the Insectarium for a scavenger hunt to investigate what our 6- legged friends do, and start a week-long Zoo animal behavior study. ASK YOUR CAMPER: Tell me about your counselor. What is the name of your camper group? Who are some of the other campers in your group? In your animal class, which animals did you see and touch? What animal is your group studying this week? What did you see the animals do? Can you tell the animals apart from one another? How? What did you learn about in the Firefly game today? Why do fireflies flash? Did you compost or recycle anything at lunch? the Bird House, make an awesome moving snake craft out of recyclables and continue our behavior study by mapping the movements of the animals. Campers will also visit and touch the Stingrays at Carribean Cove and visit another area of the Zoo that they choose. ASK YOUR CAMPER: Tell me about your craft. How did you make it? How does it move like a snake? Did you play the migration game or the snapping turtle game or both? Did you survive? Tell me about snapping turtle tongues! What was your snack today? What is your favorite Camp song? Where did you go for your choice activity/tour? Did your Behavior Study animals move around much? Why do you think they were doing that? ACTIVITIES: Today, campers will defend themselves against a pack of wolves as they play Musk-Ox Maneuvers. They will visit the Primate House to learn about social behaviors of these animals. A puppet show will entertain the campers and further illustrate the animal behavior theme. We will join one of our Conservation Education Liaisons for a Zoo animal experience, visit the Children s Zoo, and make a card game about animal friends, foes, family and food to take home and play. Our animal behavior study will continue on as we observe animal interactions. 22