Parent Handbook 2016

Transcription

1 Parent Handbook 2016

2 What is the Parent Handbook? It s not always easy to send your children off to camp. For many of you, a week of summer camp may be the longest you have ever spent apart. For both your child and for you, there may be anxiety about what this experience may bring. At Covenant Heights we take this responsibility very seriously. We are committed to, and passionate about, developing the hearts, minds, lives and souls of each our campers and seek to help bring them closer to Jesus Christ. We believe that a wilderness environment that is safe, yet challenging and fun, is one of the most effective environments for encouraging camper growth spiritually, physically, and relationally. Covenant Heights aims to promote both character and spiritual development through a super fun mountaintop experience in every young person that comes to camp! This handbook is intended to help parents learn about and feel comfortable with Covenant Heights. Our goal is to make sure that you are confident in Covenant Heights ability to care for and nurture your child. If you would like more information after reading this handbook please feel free to us or give us a call: Registration@CovenantHeights.org Parent Testimonials Everyone is so kind and helpful it just put my mind at rest right away after dropping him off. Would recommend this camp to everyone. Thanks for such a great camp experience! You guys are changing lives big time! Covenant Heights summer camp does an excellent job and provides children with a lifetime of memories. I love the spiritual growth I see in my kids when they come home from camp each year! 1

3 Table of Contents Purpose - Who We Are 3 History, Mission, & Beliefs 3 Age Specific Programing 4 Camper Safety 5 Emergency Procedures 6 Staff Requirements & Training 7 Registration Information 8 Preparing for Camp 9 Camper Packing Lists 10 Camper Medication Form 11 Immunization Record 12 Camper Physical 13

4 Purpose Who We Are We are a full- service, year- round camp and retreat center sitting on the border of Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, Colorado. This is the ideal setting for an amazing camp experience. Our purpose is to make and deepen disciples of Jesus Christ, and to boldly present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to young people, families, and adults through innovative, relevant, and high- quality retreat and camping experiences. It is our desire and hope that each individual that comes to the Heights will take steps closer to Jesus Christ. History Covenant Heights held its first summer camp in 1948, providing an opportunity for local Covenant churches to reach young people for Christ through camping ministry. Over the past many years, the camp facilities have been steadily enlarged and improved until we have the comfortable and functional retreat center we know today. Area churches and church members volunteering and giving has helped make camp what it is today. Covenant Heights today is a year- round camp facility, offering many programs to those who come. What began as a dream has become a reality as youth and adults of all ages are experiencing the Lord, Jesus Christ through this ministry. Every year we see hundreds of lives changed due to the vision and hard work of people called by God to this ministry. Beliefs As a camp in the Evangelical Covenant Denomination, our essential beliefs are summed up in what the Evangelical Covenant Church calls the Covenant Affirmations: We affirm the centrality of the word of God. We affirm the necessity of the new birth. We affirm a commitment to the whole mission of the church. We affirm the church as a fellowship of believers. We affirm a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit. We affirm the reality of freedom in Christ. 3

5 Age Specific Programing To help accommodate campers of all ages, we have developed programs designed specifically to meet the needs of each unique age group, ensuring that camp is an incredible experience and progresses as your camp grows. Pathfinders (Ages 7-8) This half week camp is a great first time experience for young campers. Pathfinder camp includes activities designed to engage the energy and focus of these campers to ensure they have an amazing first time experience. These campers will participate in activities such as zipline, games, chapel, and Bible studies. Trailblazers (Ages 8-11) Trailblazers get to experience our traditional one- week camp program. Taking things a step beyond Pathfinders, to make sure that campers will enjoy their week of swimming, boating, archery, water fights, games, zipline, chapel, Bible study, and more. Mountaineers (Ages 12-14) Mountaineers experience God and the outdoors on a deeper level. Campers will have the chance to spend half of the week in cabins and half of the week in wall tents. They will enjoy many of the same activities as Trailblazers plus new and exciting outdoor adventures and activities as their skills and adventure grow. Trek Camp (Ages 15-18) Building on the fun and experiences of Mountaineers, Trek campers will dive deep into their faith while experiencing amazing outdoor adventures. All the fun of traditional camp with more advanced skill classes and adventures, like rock climbing and whitewater rafting. Campers stay in our Adventure Village, and to end each day experience incredible chapel and worship times around the campfire. Expedition Camp (Ages up to graduating seniors) Expedition Camp provides students with opportunities for both the high adventurer and the mission minded. Each year Expedition will offer unique one- week experiences. Campers may choose to spend a week backpacking in the Rocky Mountains, a week serving in a local mission, or other high adventures offered for that summer. Please check out the website for more information on this years offerings. Guide Program (Ages up to graduating seniors) The Guide Program is our student leadership and training program for students wanting to go to the next level in their camp experience. An intense training session prepares Guides to be paired 1 on 1 with a senior counselor assisting with every aspect of what it takes to make camp happen. Daily training sessions with leadership staff will help students grow spiritually, develop leadership skills, and discover their spiritual gifts. This is an unmatched opportunity to grow personally and gain great experience for the future! 4

6 Camper Safety Equipment and Activities An experienced and certified full- time staff member trains all seasonal staff members to run specific camp activities. Training sessions allow us to evaluate the abilities of all our seasonal staff and choose who will be best suited and qualified to run each activity. In addition to oversight by our full time staff, safety checks on camp include: Zipline, high ropes course, low ropes course, inspected annually by a third party ACCT inspector All ropes course training conducted by ACCT standards Prior to each use all equipment including ropes, carabineers, cables, harnesses, etc., are inspected by trained staff All buildings and facilities checked daily to ensure safety for all campers. All camp facilities, activities, are regulated and inspected yearly by the State of Colorado Personal Safety Since your child s safety and well- being is our top priority, our policy prohibits any staff member from being alone in a private location with a camper. At Covenant Heights we require the rule of 3. This means that there will always be at least three people in a group at any given time. This could be 3 campers, 2 campers and 1 staff member, or 2 staff members and 1 camper. If a one- on- one conversation is necessary between a staff member and a camper, it will always be in view of other people in a public setting. Along with learning and incorporating the rule of 3, all of our staff members must go through an online Ministry Safe Training Program and receive extensive child protections and safety training. Medical Care Counselors, activity staff, leadership staff, and support staff receive CPR and First Aid training and certification by the American Heart Association. These staff members can address any basic first aid needs your camper might have. On- site camp nurse administers medications and medical care that is beyond the training or regular staff. If your child needs medications, they MUST be turned in at registration. 5

7 Emergency Procedures Severe Weather Procedures The purpose of a severe weather policy is to have instructions in case of natural disasters or severe weather conditions. The signal to notify campers and staff is a continuous siren. This signal means for campers and staff to seek immediate indoor safety. Counselors and staff will be on hand to assist campers and guests. All campers will be trained upon arrival through a drill of our emergency response system. Wildfire/Evacuation Procedures While Covenant Heights does not anticipate an emergency situation, nor are we in any imminent danger, we do feel the need to be well prepared to care for your child in the event an evacuation of camp is required due to a natural disaster, specifically a wild land fire. Please be confident that Covenant Heights has the resources and procedures in place to evacuate our facilities safely and orderly. Depending on instructions from local law enforcement, campers and staff will be transported to one of two rendezvous points where they will be cared for until you are able to arrange pick- up for your child. Our primary rendezvous point will be Lifespring Covenant Church, located at 743 S. Dotsero, Loveland, CO. The alternate rendezvous point will be the Safeway parking lot located on the corner of Hwy 36 and Diagonal Highway in Boulder, CO. We post updates to online, and leave a recorded message on the camp phone, , giving the time of departure and the destination location. Upon arrival at our destination, we will telephone all parents and give you instructions for pick- up. 6

8 Staffing Requirements To ensure the best camper experience, we hire the highest quality staff that we can find. We spend long hours searching for a staff that is spiritually and emotionally mature to make sure that every staff member a camper meets will be a godly influence in their lives. Every staff member is personally interviewed, reference checked, and background checked before even being considered for employment at Covenant Heights. Through much prayer we hire only the top group of applicants. Once staff arrives, they will go through a rigorous training program that will prepare them for working with campers. Hiring Process To ensure the best pool of candidates for our summer staff, we advertise at Christian colleges throughout the US and find many high quality applicants through our CCCA member website. All applicants must turn in a staff application, three non- family reference forms, and have an in- depth interview with our program director before being considered for employment at Covenant Heights. All applicants considered for employment must then be screened through a background check. This background check includes criminal history, sex offender registry, and suspected child abuse or neglect registry. If a background check comes back clean we will then accept the applicant as a staff member. Staff Training Once a staff member arrives at Covenant Heights they are required to go through extensive training before being allowed to work with campers. Training will include managing a cabin, how to safely run activities, how to relate to each age group, how to lead Bible studies, and much more. The most important aspects of staff training focus on the safety of campers. Every staff member must go through online Ministry Safe Camper Safety and Protection Training as well as sexual abuse awareness training sessions. All staff members will be trained in emergency response and will be certified with the American Heart Association in First Aid and CPR. 7

9 Registration Information How to Register Register through our online registration system, follow the links at If you have limited internet access please call us and we can register you over the phone. Payment Options All registrations require a $50 deposit or full payment by credit card. Remaining balances will be charged June 13 unless other arrangements are made. Checks for remaining balances may be mailed in before June 13. If you cannot pay the deposit with a credit card, please save the registration and mail in a check, once we receive payment we will confirm final registration. Scholarships Partial scholarships are available for families needing financial assistance and are based on household income and number of dependents. Families must first fully register and pay $50 deposit per camper before requesting financial assistance. Requests may be made by contacting the Registration Director. Sibling Discount Families registering two or more campers from their immediate family (i.e. brother, sister) will receive a discount of $30 per additional camper. Please contact Registration Director to apply this discount Free Discount Bring 1 friend who has never been to Covenant Heights before and receive $50 off your camper fee! Bring 2 new friends and receive another $50 off! Bring 3 friends to camp and come for FREE! Please contact Registration Director to apply discount. Friends must first be registered to receive discount. Request a Roommate During the registration process, one of the steps gives you the opportunity to request a roommate for your camper. If your camper has a friend that they would like to be in the same cabin with, please be sure to complete this step during the registration process by including the first and last name of the friend (please no church/group names). We will do our best to make sure that your camper is placed with the requested roommate. Cancellation Policy If cancellation is made after registration your deposit will be forfeited. The remainder of camp fees will be refunded in full. 8

10 Preparing for Camp What to Pack A packing list is provided on page 10 of this handbook for all camps. Camper Check-In Check- In for camp is Sunday, between 4:00-5:30 pm in the chapel (excluding Pathfinder s 2b, whose check- in is Wednesday, between 3:00-4:30pm). All campers must check- in and should be prepared to turn in all medications and present a copy of immunization records with current physical or signed release by a Health Care Provider. Prescription Medications Campers must turn in all prescription medications at time of registration with completed Camper Medications Form found on page 11 of this handbook. Please do not bring any over- the- counter medications (Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl, etc.), the nurses station is well stocked to meet any aliments your camper may have. Immunization Records and Physicals State regulations require that all campers provide a current copy of their immunization records and a current physical or signed release by a Health Care Provider to participate in camp activities. Please see page 12 and 13 for more information and the different ways to meet these requirements. Check-Out Check- Out for camp is now Saturdays, between 9:00 10:00 am (excluding Pathfinder s 2a, whose check- out is on Wednesday, between 9:30 10:30am). Parent/Guardians will need to sign- out campers with their counselor. If someone other than the Parent/Guardian needs to sign your camper out, please inform registration at Check- In, list him or her as one of your emergency contacts during online registration, and have them prepared to present a photo ID, otherwise they will not be authorized to pick- up your camper. Camp Store The Camp Store is open during check- in and check- out for parents and daily throughout the week for campers. Snacks, drinks, souvenirs, and camp apparel are available for purchase with most campers spending an average of $20-30 a week. Please talk with you camper about your spending expectations and limitations. Camp Photos/Videos Photos will be posted throughout the week to our Instagram and Facebook accounts with an end of the week highlight video posted to our YouTube account. Visit our website and follow the links. These photos are meant to highlight what is going on at camp, please understand that it is nearly impossible to document every campers experience at camp. 9

11 Camper Packing List For All Camps *Expedition Campers will receive an with additional items Sleeping Gear q Warm Sleeping Bag q Pillow q Extra Blanket (optional) Clothing Pack plenty of warm clothes nights can get very chilly. Avoid 100% cotton. Polyester and wool are ideal. q 4-6 T- shirts q 2-3 Shorts q 2-3 Long Pants q 2 Sweatshirts or Sweaters q Warm Jacket q Rain Jacket or Poncho q Comfortable Shoes (running and playing) q Boots or Shoes for Hiking (broken in to prevent blisters q Warm Pajamas q Socks q Underwear q One- Piece Swimsuit q Set of Old Clothing (to get messy in) q Warm Hat (optional) q Gloves (optional) q Long Underwear (optional) Personal Items q Sunscreen q Towel & Washcloth q Soap & Shampoo q Toothbrush & Toothpaste q Deodorant q Comb & Brush q Lip balm q Bug spray Other q Bible & Pen q Backpack (nothing fancy but string packs don t work well) q 1 Liter Water Bottle q Flashlight/Headlight q Camera (optional) q Baseball Cap (optional) q Bandana (optional) PLEASE DO NOT BRING q Candy and snack food q Knives/Weapons q Matches/Lighters q Electronics (ipods, video games, etc.) q Cell Phones (phones available in case of emergency) Please Note: Mountain weather can be unpredictable with temperatures from 60-90F during the day to 40-60F in the evenings. Days can be filled with intense sunshine and/or heavy rain, while most nights remain cool. 10

12 Camper Medication Form This form must be filled out and turned in during camper check- in if your child has prescription medications. All prescription medication must be in its original packaging/container, labeled from a licensed pharmacy with name of camper, name of medication, directions for use, and name of doctor prescribing medication. Medications cannot be loose in a mixed baggie or a pill organizer. To expedite camper check- in please have this form filled out in advance and all medications. Please do not bring any over- the- counter medications (Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl, etc.), the nurses station is well stocked to meet any aliments your camper may have. Campers Name: Name of Medication/Dosage/Time Medication is Taken Nurses Notes: Lodging Information (office use): 11

13 Immunization Records State regulations require that all campers provide a current copy of their immunization records (note: copies must be provided each year of participation). There are two options to meet this requirement. Option 1 - Complete the Form Below Option 2 Photo Copies of Immunization Record Provide photocopies at check- in of immunization records. Please do no bring originals, as we need to keep and file copies provided. 12

14 Camper Physical State regulations require that all campers provide a copy of a current physical or signed release by a Health Care Provider to participate in camp activities (note: copies/releases must be provided each year of participation). There are two options to meet this requirement. Option 1 Photo Copies of Current Physical Provide photo copies at check- in of a sport or camp physical done within the last 24 months stating that your camper has been examined and found to be in satisfactory physical condition and capable of active participation at camp. Please do no bring originals, as we need to keep and file copies provided. Option 2 Provide the Below Release Signed by a Health Care Provider Health Care Provider Signature I have examined this camper within the last 24 months and found him/her to be in satisfactory physical condition and capable of active participation in camping program except as follows: Signature of Health Care Provider: Office Address: Phone: Date of Examination: Today's Date: 13