FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Why Camps at First UMC Dallas? One of the most formative Christian experiences for many people is summer camps, so we are bringing the summer camp experience to downtown Dallas. Through day-camps, children will get to experience the love of God through community, creativity, and learning. This is not babysitting - this is Discipleship and faith exploration through camping. First UMC Dallas is uniquely situated downtown to provide a one-of a kind day camp program for children who have completed K-5th grade. Welcome to Urban Camp! What happens at Urban Camp? Urban Camp is a fun way to experience God and learn about the world. Each camp has a different focus, but all camps are rooted in faith development. We believe that God is to be experienced, so these are active camps filled with field trips. Each camp is different in its content and format, but all camps have the following: Faith component: See above, we take this faith thing seriously! Small groups: We believe that a community is one of the most important thing a church can provide. We will foster a sense of community at camp through discussions and fun activities. Each camper will be assigned a small group that they will spend the majority of the week with. We call these groups tribes and they will be a great way for your child to be connected with other children and the awesome college students we will have on staff this summer. Interest groups: Every day, there will be time dedicated to activities that your child can choose from. We will reveal interest groups each morning at morning gathering and your child will get to choose which group to be a part of. These will include activities like games, sports, dance, fitness, yoga, crafts, art, writing, photography, and Legos. Each day is different! Free time: The day begins and ends with some free time for kids to explore different stations like board games, crafts, and video games in a supervised setting. Can I sign up for more than one week? Yes! We want to get to know your child, so sign them up for as many weeks as you want. Each week or Urban Camp is going to be different with new things to experience and learn!
Is it the same content for all ages? No. Each week, camp curriculum is based on two groups: K-2 and 3-6. Both groups will have field trips, small groups, and lots of hands on activities but each group will have a different curriculum and activities that are age-appropriate. What is the schedule? While each week of camp is different and the schedule varies slightly, the morning and afternoons follow the same general format. 8:30 am - Drop-off begins. All campers will be in one room for morning free time. There will be a variety of activities for campers to choose from. 9:30 am - Camp programming begins with big group assembly and tribe meetings. 10:30 am Morning Activity. This will vary by camp, but will include field trips, hands-on experiences, etc. 12:00 pm Lunch & Tribe Meeting 1:00 pm Interest Groups 2:30 pm Afternoon Activities. This will vary by camp, but will include field trips, hands-on experiences, etc. 4:30 pm Pick-Up begins. All campers will be in one room for afternoon free time. There will be a variety of activities for campers to choose from. 6:00 pm Pick-up deadline. Check the specific camp week for a more detailed schedule. Please note, there are some exceptions to pick up times on select Fridays when there are parent gathering opportunities. We will communicate these gatherings specific to each camp. What do I need to bring to Urban Camp? Each day, campers will need to bring a lunch (nuts will be allowed in lunches) and a reusable water bottle. Camp water bottles will be available to purchase upon registration. Occasionally, campers will need to bring a change of clothes for messy activities. We will always communicate when you need those. Do you offer half-day camps or partial-weeks? Camps are full-day. No discounts will be given for those who drop-off or pick-up campers early. Additionally, there is no partial week availability. In 2018, there will be ONE exception to this policy the week of July 4 th. Do you have a daily drop-in rate? Most weeks are only available by the week, not by the day. The only exception for 2018 is Camp July which happens during the week of July 4 th. Daily rates are available that week. There are no discounted rates for partial weeks of camp. What will be the mode of transportation for field trips? Some field trips we will be walking, some will use the busses that are owned by First UMC Dallas and some will be by DART train. The detailed schedule of the week will indicate when other forms of transportation are being used. Individual s vehicles will never be used for transporting campers. All of our drivers have been background checked, are insured, and are over the age of 25.
What s the lunch plan? Campers will be responsible for bringing their lunch every day. Please note that lunches WILL be allowed to have nuts and we will take every precaution to wash hands before and after lunch. Urban Camp will provide morning and afternoon snacks, both will be nut free. Nut and/or gluten allergies must be reported at the time of registration. If needed, we will offer a gluten free snack. How are you doing drop-off and pick-up? A detailed map and procedure will be provided in your camp packet after you register. We will use a carpool line for drop-off and pick up so parents will not need to park or get out of their car during designated pick-up and drop-off times. Morning drop off times will be from 8:30 9:25 am. Pick-up will be from 4:30 6 pm. If parents are planning to drop-off or pick-up during other times, parents will need to park and enter the building. Please proceed to the welcome desk to follow check-in/out procedures. More details will be provided as time gets closer. The weekly fee is the same regardless of pick-up and drop-off time. Do you have an early drop-off option? Do you have a late pick-up option? Yes! Included in the cost of the week is an 8:30 am drop-off time. Available by the week, early drop-off for those who pre-register is available at 8 am for an additional cost. There is no later pick-up option than the 6 pm deadline. There will be a 4 minute grace period for those who have not been picked up by 6 pm. After 6:04 pm, parents will be charged $2 per minute. What is the photo/video policy? We will be taking photos and videos of campers to capture images of all the fun they are having. We will use these images at camp and through weekly camp emails. Also, we might use them for publicity purposes in the future. We will not share your registration information and email with anyone, but photos and video might be used. Who s running Urban Camp? Urban Camp is under the direction of Evan Jones, Director of Discipleship, and Dorian Albert, Assistant Director of Children and Youth Ministries. An awesome team of college students will be hired and trained to run the day to day operations of the camp. Our entire staff and volunteers are background checked and trained in MinistrySafe procedures and policies. There will be at least 2 adults per group of campers. My kid takes medications during the day (or has to carry a special medical device). What s the plan? We can accommodate epi-pens, asthma rescue inhalers, and daily medications. Your child s group leader will be carrying a backpack all day and will ensure that these things are with your child at all times. Instructions will be included in the pre-camp packet. Do you offer a 2nd child discount? No. We are one of the most affordable options in the area. What s the deposit for Urban Camp? There is a 12% deposit to hold your spot for Urban Camp. This comes out to about $25 per week. Do I have to pay the balance for all camps when I register?
No. During registration, you will have the option to either pay a deposit (12% of the total balance) or pay the full balance. If you choose to pay the deposit, your credit card will be automatically charged the remaining balance on May 14, 2018. Can I make installment payments? Yes! Once you have registered, you can email Dorian Albert at dalbert@fumcdallas.org and we can adjust your registration to fit your payment plan via credit card or you can pay installments by check. What is the refund policy? Cancel before January 30, 2018 Full refund Cancel February 1 April 25th, 2018 Full refund less $25 administrative fee per camper per week and $4 registration fee. Cancel after April 26, 2018 No refund will be issued Spots at camp may not be given to another camper. PLEASE NOTE: All cancellations must be in writing by emailing Dorian Albert at dalbert@fumcdallas.org Camps are full. What do I do? If a camp has filled, you can add your information to the waitlist through the online registration. You will enter your complete registration information (including your credit card). If a spot opens, we will contact you before we charge your card to make sure you still are interested in the camp. Can parents come to camp? No. Because of our MinistrySafe policy, parents are not allowed to visit during camp. This includes visits during lunch. There are volunteer opportunities, please see emails after registration. What if parents need to contact the church in an emergency during camp? Please call the main church line at 214-227-2020 and tell them you have an emergency that deals with Urban Camp. I m having problems, or have questions, with the registration, who do I call? Call or email Dorian Albert at dalbert@fumcdallas.org or 214-220-2727 X222 Where do I ask questions about camp for kids who have special needs? We would love to talk to you in person about this. Please email Evan Jones, Director of Discipleship. (ejones@fumcdallas.org or 214-220-2727 X204) I have some questions that aren t here, who can I ask? We are here for you. You can contact either Evan Jones at ejones@fumcdallas.org or Dorian Albert at dalbert@fumcdallas.org. We would be glad to answer any questions you have.