Summer Camp Policies

Transcription

1 Summer Camp Policies Confirmation After each camper registration is processed, a confirmation letter will be sent. Please review this for correct camp themes and dates. Complete and return the Camper Information Form requesting medical and emergency contact information along with your camp payment within two weeks of verbal or registration to guarantee the spot. Failure to do so may result in loss of camper space. Cancellations & Refund Policy Camp Registration Fees are due within two weeks of the confirmed reservation. If a camper must cancel a reservation prior to the beginning of camp, they are required to notify the Pottawattamie County Conservation Education Staff immediately. A refund of the registration fee will be based upon the following schedule: 14 days (or more) notice...50% refund 13-8 days notice...25% refund 7 days or less notice...no refund Camp Behavior Expectations & Discipline Guidelines Please share these with any child registered for camp. Thank you. Basic rules that all campers must follow are: 1) They may not hurt or endanger themselves. 2) They may not hurt or endanger others. 3) They must stay with the group. 4) They must stay on the trails (unless directed otherwise). 5) They must respect all others as well as the natural world. 6) No foul language or threats (verbal or physical) allowed. If needed, staff will give a verbal warning to the camper first, followed by a time-out. If 3 time-outs are given in one day, the parent or guardian will be contacted immediately and that camper will be asked to leave. No refunds will be given in this situation. Clothing We will be actively exploring the outdoors and there is an excellent possibility that campers will get dirty. Please make sure that campers are dressed appropriately. Open-toed shoes are not allowed as they offer little protection against sticks and other sharp objects that may be on the trails. We plan on going outside every day, so campers should be dressed for the weather even rain. You may choose to pack spare clothes please mark everything with your child s name.

2 Summer Camp Policies Drop Off & Pick Up Please be prompt in dropping off and picking up your camper(s). Campers may not arrive before the start of their respective session and must be picked up promptly. This allows staff time to prepare for and clean up from each session. You are required to remain with your child(ren) until the staff opens camp each day. Your child will not be released to anyone other than a parent/ guardian unless you notify the staff ahead of time. We wish to avoid any potential accidents in the parking lots, so please escort KinderNature, Discovery and Explorers campers to and from the Lodge. Thank you. Equipment Pottawattamie County Conservation Education staff will provide all materials that are needed for each day s exploration. Personal items that might be handy include a hat, insect repellant and sunscreen. Please mark these items with camper s name. Food & Water With the exception of our KinderNature preschool camps, we ask that all campers bring a sack lunch and reusable water bottle for each day of camp. Please put names on all materials. If your child has a special food allergy or diet, please note on the Camper Information Form. A daily snack and drink are provided for all ages. Water stations will be set up throughout the camp areas to ensure proper hydration during the summer weather. Please send a reusable water bottle with your camper s name on it with her/him to use during camp. Thank you!. Registration Camp registration begins March 21st at 8:00 a.m. CST. Register online at parks.com, the direct link can be found on the Pottawattamie County Website. Individuals may call Rene at or her at rene.stroud@pottcounty-ia.gov to register a child. This process is on a first come, first served basis, so please be patient. We take registrations for nearly 200 children and each call or takes only a few minutes. If you get a busy signal when you call, try, try again. Please be prepared with your contact information & child s t-shirt size. Camp paperwork will be sent AFTER contacting staff to register. Each camp requires a minimum of 10 participants. Restroom Use Requirement We require that all campers must be toilet trained, particularly all KinderNature preschool campers. Our staff is not allowed to change diapers or pull-ups. Thanks for understanding.

3 Summer Camp Policies Special Conditions & Emergencies If your child has a severe allergy or medical condition that requires medication or special care, please note this on the Camper Information Form. Our staff is certified in CPR and First-Aid and is trained to handle emergency situations. We will keep parents informed of any out of the ordinary occurrences. Special Needs Campers Pottawattamie County Conservation Nature Camps try to accommodate all interested children. However, they are extremely active camps with a large number of transitions and sensory changes throughout the day. Children are expected to keep up and keep going. They must also be able to follow all directions, rules and expectations independently. Children must participate well with others and follow safety rules without adult prompts. For certain special needs our camps are wonderful, for others it puts the child and the staff in uncomfortable and unsafe situations. We are responsible for the safety and well-being of all the campers and cannot allow one child to jeopardize that. Please call to discuss your child s particular needs. If possible, be prepared to discuss any school service plans applicable to your child. Weather Procedures We all know the weather in Iowa is unpredictable. Pottawattamie County Conservation staff and volunteers follow procedures to maintain the safety of your children. Precautions in place include the following: A weather alert radio is on during camp operations. Staff will respond accordingly when alerts are announced. Staff also carry cell phones and/or radios at all times. If on the trails, staff maintains contact with reception staff who monitor the weather radio. If a warning is issued for the camp area, staff will move the campers to a place of safety within the nearest building, e.g. the Loess Hills Lodge. The weather will be monitored until the severe weather has passed. Staff will be responsible for helping to calm and reassure the campers at such times. At the first sound of thunder or first sighting of lightning, all campers will be required to head indoors with staff and remain there until the threat is gone. Staff have appropriate indoor nature-based activities available and ready for such moments.

4 Summer Camp FAQ For which camp should I register my child? Summer camps are divided by grade level in order to provide age- appropriate activities and learning opportunities: KinderNature Children ages 3-5 who have not completed Kindergarten Discovery Children entering 1st and 2nd grades Explorers Children entering 3rd and 4th grades Voyagers Youth entering 5th and 6th grades Pathfinders Youth entering 7th and 8th grades When can I register? All Summer Camp Registrations begin on a Monday in late March. Please see our registration policy section for more details. May I register my child for more than one camp? Yes, for KinderNature preschool camps. We offer six KinderNature Camps throughout the summer & each explore a different nature theme. For each camp we offer a morning and afternoon session. You may register for multiple camps, but may only register for one session per day. All KinderNature Camps are held at Hitchcock Nature Center. Yes, for Discovery and Explorers Camps at Hitchcock Nature Center. We offer two different themes for Discovery and Explorers Camps one for each age group in June and July. You may register your child for the June camp, the July camp, or BOTH camps. No, for Voyagers Camp at Arrowhead Park and Pathfinders Camp at Hitchcock Nature Center. We only offer one camp per summer for both the Voyagers & Pathfinders Camps age groups due to low enrollment. PLEASE NOTE: We require a minimum of 10 participants for ALL camps. As the camp date nears, we will inform you regarding enrollment status as needed. Thanks.

5 What is your camper to staff ratio? For KinderNature Camps our camper to staff ratio is no more than 5 campers to 1 staff member. For all other camps our camper to staff ratio is 16 campers to 2 staff members. These ratios do not include additional volunteer staff. The number of campers is limited in order to ensure a fun, safe and memorable learning experience for all. Who are the camp teachers? May I attend camp with my child? We re sorry, but all camps are designed for the appropriate ages and allow them time to bond with kids of their own age. The only adults allowed are Pottawattamie County Conservation staff educators. edu- What about safety? Our camp instructors come from a variety of backgrounds, some are professional, year round educators for Pottawattamie County Conservation, others are school teachers, naturalists, and masters and bachelor degree students in environmental studies or education. At least one teacher in each group is 21 or older (even though sometimes they don t look it!) Many instructors come back year after year. Our camp leaders thrive on the joys and challenges of teaching about the amazing facets of nature through hands-on creative and fun activities in the summer setting and all are excited to share outdoor experiences with your camper. Is your staff trained in CPR and First Aid? Yes. Each group has at least one instructor trained in CPR and First Aid. Our teachers are qualified and trained to be with children outdoors; however, nature is unpredictable. Injuries can occur at any time. Bee or other insect stings, tripping over roots or rocks, moving or slipping on natural terrain are all risks to which your child will be exposed. While we understand that children are young and our teachers are ever vigilant of dangers, we count on the children to be active participants in their own safety not wandering from the group, asking for clarification if they don t understand instructions and responding immediately to instructions to freeze or run. If you feel your child cannot handle these situations, please think twice about sending them to nature camp. Thank you.

6 What if my child needs medication? The policy of Pottawattamie County Conservation Summer Camps is to only give emergency, life-saving medications such as epi-pens or rescue inhalers. If your child has other medication needs, such as antibiotics, we ask that you administer them before or after the camp day. Camp staff is not permitted to administer daily medications. If you do need to bring an emergency medication to camp, you are responsible for all paperwork, including medication forms signed by the doctor, and for having medication in their original containers. If you do not bring in the properly signed paperwork according to state law, the teachers CANNOT accept it. Thank you for understanding. What and how should I pack for lunch? What if my child has a special need? Pottawattamie County Conservation Nature Camps try to accommodate all interested children. However, they are extremely active camps with a large number of transitions and sensory changes throughout the day. Children are expected to keep up and keep going. They must also be able to follow all directions, rules and expectations independently. Children must participate well with others and follow safety rules without adult prompts. For certain special needs our camps are wonderful, for others it puts the child and the staff in uncomfortable and unsafe situations. We are responsible for the safety and well-being of all the campers and cannot allow one child to jeopardize that. Please call to discuss your child s particular needs. If possible, be prepared to discuss any school service plans applicable to your child. Non-perishable items and/or an ice pack are a must. Lunches are NOT and can NOT be refrigerated. For the environment s sake and for your sanity, put as much as possible in re-usable and tightly closing containers. Make sure that your child has a large water bottle and a separate drink and enough food for lunch. Please note: lunches are NOT required for KinderNature Camps. Are snacks and water provided? A daily snack and drink are provided for all ages. Water stations will be set up throughout the camp area to ensure proper hydration during the summer weather. If your child has a special food allergy or diet, please note this on the Camper Information Form. Please send a reusable water bottle with your camper s name on it with her/him to use during camp. Thank you!.

7 What do campers need to wear and bring? Campers should dress for the weather and in clothes that can get dirty since we will be outdoors most of the time and occasionally use paint and mud with craft activities. Sturdy walking shoes are required no open-toed shoes allowed. For all camps, except KinderNature Camps, campers must bring a water bottle and their lunch each day. Campers can also bring a hat, raincoat, camera, binoculars, sunscreen and bug repellent. Each child is responsible for their own belongings. Please DO NOT send video games, cell phones or ipods, etc. Items such as pocket knives or other weapons are NOT allowed. Are sunscreen and bug repellant provided? Due to allergies and sensitivity of some children s skin, we ask that you apply these things BEFORE arriving to camp. Your campers may bring their own items to camp for reapplication. May my child bring a cell phone or other stuff with them? We discourage campers from bringing cell phones, ipods, toys, trading cards, video games, and the like, which are disruptive and distractions at nature camp. Pottawattamie County Conservation takes no responsibility for lost items. Any items we do find (including lunch boxes, hiking boots, rain jackets, etc.) are put in lost and found and kept until one week after the end of camp season. What are your restroom policies? All campers must be toilet trained. When campers are at camp, they use Nature Center or Lodge restrooms or park outhouses. Campers should inform their instructors if the need arises and they will be guided to the nearest bathroom from the various camp areas, including the Lodge decks, patio, and trails. What about extreme weather? We all know the weather in Iowa is unpredictable. If the weather is extremely hot, we take frequent breaks to cool off and drinks water. If the weather turns rainy, it depends. Light rain will not keep campers inside we ll still explore nature outdoors. If the rain turns heavy, if we hear thunder or see lightning, or if we receive a weather warning we will head indoors immediately. Please see our weather policy section for more details.