With BIG thanks to our newsletter sponsors!

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1 The alvernian Pick-up and Drop-off Bus Info and Name Labels! Photos and Skin Safety! What to bring, what not to Find out important information Important info! Learn how to get photos of your bring! about pickup, drop off, photo ID, camper and their group! Plus Make sure you come prepared to etc. important safety info! camp! Page 4 Page 5 Page 2 Page 3 We re so glad you ll be joining us this summer at Camp Alvernia! We ve put together this edition of our newsletter to collect some important parent information we d like you to review. Camp Alvernia is a special community, and we ask that all members of the community agree to the guidelines contained here in this newsletter. It helps when we re all on the same page, because then our community can function as smoothly as possible. We invite you to give us a call if you have any questions or comments about this information. You can reach us at or info@campalvernia.org. We can t wait for camp to start! With BIG thanks to our newsletter sponsors!

2 Pick-Up and Drop-Off by Car When you arrive at camp, you will be directed where to go by camp staff. It is important that all follow the proper procedure to ensure safety and efficiency. Please do not park your vehicle and leave it at any point. This will cause delays and frustration for many. Drivers must remain in their vehicles at all times. Our counselors will bring your children to and from your cars. There is never a reason for you to leave your car. Please keep in mind that conversations with a counselor should be kept to a minimum, as it is disrespectful to cause delays for other parents. If you need to speak at length with your child s counselor, you may call the camp office to arrange a time. Early Pick-Up If you do wish to pick up your child early from camp, you must do so before 2:45.If you arrive after 2:45, you will be required to join the line of cars. There will be no exceptions to this policy. To ensure your early pickup goes as smoothly as possible, please send in a note that includes your camper s full name/group and what time you will be picking them up. When you arrive, please walk directly to the camp office and your camper will be waiting for you. You must show valid photo ID in order for us to release your campers. Photo Identification Whenever anyone picks up your camper early, they must display photo identification. This includes you! Our office staff may be able to identify you by face, but don t assume. We may have different people working at the desk, so the best bet is to always bring your photo identification. This is for the safety of all campers. Changing Your Dismissal Plan If you need to change your dismissal plans, you must send in a signed note with your camper in the morning. A phone call or will not suffice. Please be sure your note is detailed and includes your camper s full name and group. WRONG: Johnny will be going home with his grandma today. RIGHT: Johnny Smith will be picked up by his Grandma Barbara Smith from camp today, July 12. He is in Cayuga Boys 2. Campers Walking Home If you live within walking distance and would like your camper to walk home, we cannot be held liable. You must send in a written note releasing the camp of liability once your camper has left the supervision of their counselor. Respect - The Alvernian Way We have wonderful neighbors we want to respect and honor. The speed limit on Prospect Road is 30 mph, although there are tight blind curves where it is advisable to go slower. Please be respectful in all your interactions with locals. Remember that you represent Camp Alvernia to our neighbors.

3 Bus Riders Please let your children know they must remain seated with their seat belts fastened while on the bus, and they must adhere to acceptable behavior guidelines just as they do at camp. Yelling, teasing, and name-calling will not be tolerated. Campers are not permitted to place any body parts out of the windows, or any other objects. Fighting is prohibited, whether physical or verbal. Any campers who violate these safety regulations after being warned will be reported to his/her parent/ guardian. If the behavior continues, and/or poses an immediate safety concern, parents will be notified that camp may no longer be able to transport their children, and no refund will be provided. Parents will be notified of the approximate time of pickup. A note will be placed in your mailbox after the drivers conduct a practice route before each session. This means your bus time may change session by session. Our bus provider is Huntington Coach. They are a local provider with an exemplary safety record. Express Bus Information Every year, we ask permission to use a variety of parking lots in the surrounding towns for free bus satellite pickup locations. If you are interested in one of these locations, send us an to sign up. Please let us know which location you are using and if you need the service both AM and PM, AM only or PM only. The locations are: St Anthony of Padua - East Northport St Francis of Assisi - Greenlawn Laurel Ave. Admin. Building - Northport Mill Dam Park - Halesite We will have a bus counselor who will assist the campers getting on and off the bus. Please do not leave until your child has gotten on the bus. Campers will not be left in parking lots, but will be returned to camp if a parent/ guardian is not present at drop off. We can usually provide door-to-door transportation for an additional $150/camper per session. If you would like to sign up for door-to-door transportation, please let us know ASAP. You must sign up at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the session. Oliver s Labels Every summer we have piles and piles of Lost and Found items left by campers. We strongly encourage you to clearly label every item you send with your camper. This way we can contact you if that item ends up in the Lost and Found. We have partnered with Oliver s Labels to offer an assortment of durable personalized labels for your campers gear. Their personalized labels and tags are extremely durable and tough enough to withstand the dishwasher, washer/dryer or microwave, and will never scratch, fade, peel or tear. You can log into your account on our website to choose designs, personalize and even preview what your labels will look like. Upon receipt of order, Oliver's Labels will custom print and ship your label packages directly to your home within two business days. We hope this helps you prepare for camp and ensure that your kids come home with not only new friends and great memories, but all their belongings as well. The Lost and Found is located in the back corner of the rec hall. Encourage your campers to visit the Lost and Found if they re missing something important.

4 Camper Group Photos Our in-house photo department will be taking professional photos of each group, every session. We will send home a schedule of when your child s group photo will be taken, and we will be sure to take the photo first thing in the morning so your child looks their best. These photos will be uploaded to our website, where you can log in to view and purchase them as prints or imprinted onto a variety of other products such as mugs and mousepads. We are excited about this new plan, and think you will be too! Daily Photos From Camp Throughout the camp season, you can log in to your account on our website and view photos from the day. The photos are conveniently divided by group, so you don t have to sort through all the photos from every day to see what your campers age group was up to that day. Most of the photos are taken by the campers, and we can not guarantee that your camper will appear in them. Photos are screened for content and not available to the general public. Skin Safety We strongly recommend that parents adequately apply waterproof sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher to their child s skin before they leave for camp in the morning. Parents should also send campers with sunscreen for them to reapply later in the day and/or after going into the pool. Counselors will help remind campers to reapply during the day. Parents may also consider using a sunscreen that contains bug repellent. Counselors are permitted to apply rub-on sunscreen on a child s face, arms, and shoulders. Tick Safety At Camp Alvernia, we take camper health seriously. We ensure that every camper activity area is kept weeded and free of standing water, and all grass is mowed regularly. Campers are not permitted to roam in the heavily-wooded areas of camp. For additional tick safety, we recommend that younger children be checked for ticks daily at bath time, and older children be taught to self-check. Private Swim and Sailing Lessons As part of our commitment to offering the highest quality aquatics programs, we offer private one-on-one swim instruction before or after camp. Camp Alvernia uses the Red Cross Pre-Aquatics and Learn To Swim programs, and our lessons are taught by Red Cross Water Safety Instructors (WSIs) which ensure the highest quality lesson design. This year we are also offering private sailing groups, more information to come soon. If either of these options interest you, please contact info@campalvernia.org.

5 What To Bring to Camp 1. Bathing suit and towel 2. Sunscreen 3. Sneakers, not flip flops (campers will not be allowed to participate without proper footwear) 4. Protective water shoes that cannot easily slide off the foot (required for waterfront activities) 5. Refillable water bottle 6. A backpack Dress appropriately to participate in sports, swimming, boating, etc. This means no clothing that may cause a wardrobe malfunction if your child is active. Let s help our children feel comfortable to participate in all the great activities we have here at camp. We reserve the right to ask campers to change clothing if they are dressed inappropriately for camp activities. What Not To Bring to Camp 1. Cell Phones 2. Mp3 players, ipods, tablets, etc. 3. Video games such as Nintendo 3DS, Playstation Vita, etc. 4. Sports equipment, toys, and other expensive personal property. 5. Cameras If these items are brought to camp, they will be stored in the camp office and returned to the camper at the end of the day, not to be brought in again. The camp is NOT responsible for any lost, damaged, or stolen items. If items are marked with a camper s full name, we will make an effort to return it to them. SPECIAL NOTE Camp Alvernia does not permit any food from home without clearance from the nurse. Some of our campers have life-threatening peanut, tree-nut, and other food allergies. This means that coming into contact with a camper who has eaten peanut butter on the bus to camp could prompt a severe allergic reaction that requires hospitalization. We ask that you partner with us in protecting our campers by maintaining awareness of these allergies. Do not allow your camper to bring snacks for themselves, and make sure to explain this policy to anyone else who may have responsibility for your children during the summer. (nannies, family members, babysitters, etc.).