Arts Camp 2017 Parent Manual Pirate Camp
City of Evanston Community Arts Programs 2100 Ridge Avenue Evanston, IL 60201 T 847.448.8263 F 847.448.8051 www.cityofevanston.org Dear Parents: Welcome to Pirate Camp 2017! As summer rapidly approaches, we want you to be informed about our program so your child can have the best possible experience. This 2017 Summer Arts Camp Manual contains all the information you need to prepare for camp. Please read it carefully. Our hope is that this handbook will orient first-time Arts Camp families and provide reminders and new information for returning families. First, our Camp Site will be at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center in room 106. The central Arts Camp office telephone number is 847.448.8263. You will be provided with a cell phone number for emergencies on the first day of camp. Second, please complete and return the Camper Information Form, including emergency contact and health information attached to be returned to Angela Allyn, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Dept, Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Avenue, Room 1116, Evanston IL 60201-2798 by July 1, 2017. On the first day of camp, we ask for your cooperation and a few extra minutes of time necessary to verify that you have completed the forms correctly. For safety and health reasons, these forms are extremely important, and must be completed before your child may be permitted to begin camp. We suggest you keep this manual in a convenient place for easy reference throughout the duration of the program. As we continue to strive for excellence, we know Arts Camp programming will continue to be a fundamental tool for learning and exploration. Please call us at 847.448.8263 with any questions. We look forward to seeing you at camp! Sincerely, Jennifer Viets, Instructor Angela Allyn Community Arts Program Coordinator 1
Arts Camp Procedures & Details Camp Goals: Each summer the Arts Camps of the City of Evanston serve hundreds of families. We hope that the children participating in our programs will have fun, develop new skills in both visual and performing arts, and feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of each session. We are looking forward to creating our own pirate personas as we learn important skills such as how to navigate the seas and talking like a pirate. Site Information: Pirate Camp is located at Noyes Cultural Arts Center in room 106. The Arts Camp office in the Civic Center can be reached at 847.448.8263: parents will be given an emergency cell number on the first day of camp. Staff: Pirate camp is led by our pirate queen, Jennifer Viets. All Arts camp classes are taught by professional artists or teachers who are practicing artists. Absences: As a safety precaution, we ask that parents alert us to absences in advance. This is easily done by notating the information in the comments section of the sign-in sheet. Daily Schedule: Children participate in sessions ranging from singing sea chanteys, hearing pirate stories, creating artwork and props related to our theme. We will practice sword fighting, entertaining one another, following captain s orders and creating our own Pirate Code of Conduct. Special Events: We will sail with Great Lakes Pirates on the tall ship Windy on Thursday campers will be getting back to Noyes by 3 pm!!! Pirates will head to the beach on Friday. Permission slips are required for all off site activities and there is one in this parent packet. Please return it no later than the first day of camp. Beach Days: Arts campers from walk to Lighthouse Beach each Friday. Children should wear comfortable walking shoes and their suit under their clothes. It is Jennifer s policy to have the children wear their camp shirt(provided on the day of our first field trip) into the water to make them more easily identifiable. We visit the beach even on no swim days. Indoor activities are planned in the event of stormy weather. Sunscreen Policy Please help us out and slather your child with sunscreen before they arrive at camp. Also, teach the proper way to apply sunscreen. Our staff will remind our campers to wear and reapply sunscreen, and we can supervise its application. We will only allow campers to put on sunscreen that belongs to them. Parent Visitation: Parents are welcome to visit Arts Camp anytime. However, we ask that you check with the Arts Camp office to coordinate the timing of your visit beforehand. Arrival to and Departure from Camp: With many children coming and going at any one time, Arts Camp has developed specific procedures to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Please read the following procedures carefully as they will affect you and your child s daily Arts Camp experience. Daily Sign-In and-out Procedure: As a safety precaution, we ask that parents sign their child in and out of camp each day with the camp staff. You may authorize your 2
camper to sign themselves in and out if you are comfortable with their maturity level. If parents/guardians are signing in and out, please walk from the parking lot to sign children in and out personally. If someone not listed on the Camper Information form will be picking up your child (i.e. car pool, babysitter, grandparent, etc.), you must provide us with a written release stating that your child is allowed to leave camp with that person, and that person must produce a photo ID when they arrive at the site. The release allowing your child to sign himself or herself (and his or her siblings) in and out of camp each day is also on the emergency form Traffic and Parking: As a consideration for others as well as your own children s safety, please follow all the traffic regulations and drop off or retrieve your child only at the appropriate curbside. Finally, please escort your child through the parking lot; it is not safe for small children to run through the lot alone. Please do not double park. Bikes: Children who will be riding their bicycles alone to and from camp must have written permission from parents to do so, which can be indicated on the Camper Information Form. If your child will be biking to camp, please purchase a lock as an added safety measure. All children leaving camp must be wearing safety helmets in accordance with Evanston law. Emergency Contacts: Please provide at least one emergency contact near the camp location to ensure that your child will be picked up promptly if an emergency or illness is to occur. We have no sickroom facilities and sick children just want to go home. Childcare: Childcare is supervised play and not an extended part of camp s art activities. Childcare takes place outside on the playground or inside with board games in the event of rain. If your child is NOT registered for pre-care, we are not staffed to accept children before 8:55 am at Noyes. Childcare is available at Noyes for this camp for an additional fee of $30 for pre-care from 7:30 to 9:00 in the morning and $40 for post-care from 3:30 pm to 6:00pm in the afternoon daily. Extended care may only be purchased by the week; we do not prorate or refund unused days. You can register for pre and post care online at https://apps.cityofevanston.org/webtrac/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/splash.html search for section 922232 B7 for pre-care and section 922232 C7 for post-care. You may also register by filling out and handing in the paper registration form. Registration for extended care will cut off the week before camp starts. Late Pick-up Policy: Camp ends at 3:30 pm. For Children not in extended care late fees apply after 3:35 pm according to the City policy in the summer camp brochure. If your child is signed up for Post Care, note that care ends promptly at 6:00 pm. NO LATE PICK UPS FROM EXTENDED CARE. Note that all fees (late or childcare) are due at the time of pick up. If payment cannot be made on the day the participant is picked up, the participant cannot return to the program until the fee is paid. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): The City of Evanston welcomes the participation of all individuals in our programs, including those with disabilities. We are fully committed to complying with the ADA and providing reasonable accommodations to facilitate participation in our programs. The sooner we know about your special situation, the more time we have to make reasonable accommodations to improve your child s recreational experience with us. It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to contact the Camp Director or Myra Gorman, Special 3
Recreation, to make arrangements for any accommodations at the time of registration; those registering closer to the start of camp must make arrangements no later than three weeks before the start of camp; otherwise, camp attendance may be delayed. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Myra Gorman, Special Recreation Inclusion Coordinator, at (847) 448-8045 (voice); (847) 448-8064 (TDD) or (800) 526-0857 (IL Relay Center voice transmission). First Aid and Health Care: The staff makes every effort to provide a safe environment for Arts Camp campers, if your child has an allergy or other medical condition that necessitates them to carry medicine or medical devices, you will need to fill out a medical authorization before the start of camp. Please call our office for the form. Although many staff members are certified in Standard First Aid and CPR, Arts Camp is not equipped to treat serious injuries. There is no nurse on site, and we are not permitted to transport children to the hospital. If an injury occurs that may require advanced medical attention but is not life threatening (e.g. a sprained ankle), the administrative staff will contact parents first, followed by the emergency contact if parents cannot be reached, to arrange for transportation to a medical facility. In the event of a more serious injury (e.g. a head or back injury), the Arts Camp staff will call the Emergency Medical System immediately, followed by a call to parents. Sick Children: Children who have fever, diarrhea, nausea or a suspicious rash should not attend camp. We ask that when a child becomes sick at camp, you make the arrangements to pick them up promptly as we have no place to keep them comfortably if they are not feeling well enough to participate. Lice: If your child is found to have lice, they will be sent home immediately to be treated. Medications: If your child regularly needs medications or might need Benadryl due to an allergic reaction, you must send it in its original container labeled with your child s name and make sure we have a medical authorization form. We do not stock any medications at camp. Clothing for Arts Camp: Arts Camp is an active and sometimes messy place. Please send your children in clothes appropriate for movement and which can get dirty. Pirate costumes are encouraged but leave the weapons at home. We suggest a small bag for transporting beach gear (on beach days), etc. We only have a limited amount of space to keep bags; only bring what is essential. Please have your child wear appropriate footwear for active play (no flip flops or platform shoes) What Not to Bring to Camp: Please do not allow your child to bring lots of money, excessive snacks, electronic toys, or other valuable items to camp. We cannot guarantee the safety of such items. Cell Phone Policy: Personal cell phones may not be worn or used by staff or by campers during camp hours of operation except by the camp director to communicate with off-site staff. We do understand the necessity of carrying cell phones, so the children may keep theirs in a backpack or purse in the off position until camp is over. Food at Camp: Please contact the Arts Camp Directors if your child has special dietary needs requiring snacks at other times during the day besides lunch and let us know if there are food allergies. Our lunch time generally begins by 12:00 and is meant to be leisurely. It will include a minimum of 30 additional minutes of play outside after all of the children have finished eating. While we do not have a daily snack time built into the schedule we may, on occasion 4
make some pirate grub! Rules and Discipline: At Arts Camp, our rules are based on guidelines we will create as a community on the first day of camp. In the event of conflict we will use principles of Restorative Justice and peace circles to resolve conflicts. The City of Evanston Code of Conduct is also included on the Parent Manual webpage(although this may differ from our practices). Children are expected to treat other people, art projects, and personal belongings with respect. Arts Camp policy is to contact the parents every time the child has difficulty respecting people or art projects so that we can deal with the situation positively right away. In addition, full participation is expected in all classes Note: If your child has specific behavior issues (e.g. behavior disorders, learning disabilities, or personality traits that may require extra attention), we welcome your suggestions and advice about effective management and/or instruction. Your assistance can help provide a better experience for your child and the others in his/her group. Lost and Found: The Noyes Cultural Arts Center has a lost and found box located in the building s main office. All items not claimed on last day of the camp session are then disposed of. Please check on a regular basis. Note: This camp adheres to the City of Evanston Parks, Recreation, and Community Service Code of Conduct as posted on the Parent Manual webpage. 5
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