Methacton School District Handbook 2015 Aurora Galaxy Comets Mountaineers Stars Storm Chasers 14
Methacton School District DEAR PARENTS OF PROSPECTIVE FITH GRADE CAMPERS: This will be the 47th year that Methacton fifth graders have had the good fortune to participate in Outdoor Education. The program emphasizes environmental education at an outstanding facility College Settlement in Horsham, PA. The Outdoor Education portion of the camp is referred to as The Outdoor School in Horsham. The program at the Outdoor School provides an opportunity for groups of children to prepare for camp, experience camp life together, and share in the culminating classroom activities. All of this occurs under the continuity of the classroom teacher and the Outdoor School Staff leadership. The two days that the students spend at College Settlement will offer opportunities for activities and studies in natural science, conservation, social studies, physical education, and other subjects. In addition, this living experience provides a fine chance for citizenship education and cooperation among peers. Fifth graders spend two days and one night at camp under the supervision of Skyview staff, camp staff, and Methacton High School counselors. Pupil participation in this program is subject to our receipt of the completed application and your payment. We look forward to working with your child to provide an enjoyable and educational outdoor learning experience. NOTES: Sincerely, Shaun Permar Outdoor Education Coordinator Off to Outdoor Education 2 13
Information Summary Outdoor Education Summary 1. Dates for the Outdoor School Galaxy March 24th - 25th, 2015 Comets March 26th - 27th, 2015 Aurora March 30th - 31st, 2015 Stars April 7th - 8th, 2015 Storm Chasers April 9th - 10th, 2015 Mountaineers April 27th - 28th, 2015 2. Cost for Camp Experience $140 covers four meals, lodging for one night, bus transportation, and instruction. Payments can be submitted to the Skyview main office or sent in with your son or daughter to be given to their homeroom teacher. Online payment will be available via the Skyview website sometime during the first week of February. Final payments are due by March 2nd. 3. Registration Deadline Deadline for the return of the application is Friday, March 13th.. 12 3
5. Student Behavior Since this program involves two days away from home, the teachers and staff who work with the Outdoor Education Program consider self-discipline a primary focus. It is our hope that everyone grows and matures through this experience. However, it may be necessary for a teacher to recommend to the building principal that a child be brought to a review panel (prior to attending camp) to discuss concerns and expectations for camp. A contract will be drafted and the child will be on probation. If the contract is not met, the child will be excluded from the portion of camp that extends beyond the school day. Transportation will be the responsibility of the parent. Discipline situations that arise at camp may mean that the child will be sent home. Parents will be required to pick up the child from camp if they misbehave. Location OUTDOOR SCHOOL INFORMATION The Outdoor School utilizes the facilities of the College Settlement Camp in Horsham. The campsite consists of over 200 acres of woods, streams, fields, and a pond. Address College Settlement 600 Witmer Road Horsham, PA 19044 www.collegesettlement.org Telephone Office: (215) 542-7974 - Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Please do not call while the students are at camp. A cell phone number can be made available to you to call one of the teachers in case of an extreme emergency. For more information about the Outdoor School in Horsham please visit: http://www.outdoorschoolinhorsham.org/ 4 EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST (before departure from the Outdoor School) ESSENTIAL OR RECOMMENDED ITEMS BEDDING: wool blankets (3) and/or sleeping bag (1) sheets (2) pillow (1) LINENS: bath towels (2) wash cloth (1) laundry bag/plastic bag (1) PERSONAL ARTICLES: toothbrush/toothpaste (1) soap and deodorant (1) comb/hairbrush (1) tissues Chap Stick/suntan lotion CLOTHING: heavy sweater/sweatshirt (1) shoes and sneakers (2 pairs) raincoat/boots (1) shorts (if warm) (1 pair) T Shirts (2) underpants/undershirts (2) bathing suit for showers (1) socks (3 pairs) hat, cap, or visor (1) pajamas/sleepwear (1 pair) jeans (2 pairs) EQUPMENT: pencils and Logbook/Journal **flashlight **disposable camera DO NOT BRING MATCHES, MONEY, RADIOS, PEN OR SHEATH KNIVES, CANDY, FOOD, GUM, COMIC BOOKS, ELECTRONIC GAMES, CD PLAYERS, IPODS, CELL PHONES. ** Not absolutely necessary 11
EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST (before departure from home) ESSENTIAL OR RECOMMENDED ITEMS BEDDING: wool blankets (3) and/or sleeping bag (1) sheets (2) pillow (1) LINENS: bath towels (2) wash cloth (1) laundry bag/plastic bag (1) PERSONAL ARTICLES: toothbrush/toothpaste (1) soap and deodorant (1) comb/hairbrush (1) tissues Chap Stick/suntan lotion CLOTHING: heavy sweater/sweatshirt (1) shoes and sneakers (2 pairs) raincoat/boots (1) shorts (if warm) (1 pair) T Shirts (2) underpants/undershirts (2) bathing suit for showers (1) socks (3 pairs) hat, cap, or visor (1) pajamas/sleepwear (1 pair) jeans (2 pairs) EQUPMENT: pencils and Logbook/Journal **flashlight **disposable camera The only food you should pack is one peanut free lunch in a disposable bag for the first day (if you are on the free and reduced lunch program a bagged lunch will be provided for you. DO NOT BRING MATCHES, MONEY, RADIOS, PEN OR SHEATH KNIVES, CANDY, FOOD, GUM, COMIC BOOKS, ELECTRONIC GAMES, CD PLAYERS, IPODS, CELL PHONES. ** Not absolutely necessary DIRECTIONS TO CAMP Take Route 363 to Sumneytown Pike. Turn right and go 2.2 miles. Sumneytown Pike becomes Main St. Drive for.8 miles and it becomes Sumneytown Pike once again. Drive 2.6 miles and continue on Norristown Rd. for 3.6 miles. You will turn right on Witmer Rd. and drive.4 miles to the camp. The camp entrance is on the right hand side. Drive down the camp s road until you come to a parking area on your right hand side opposite of the basketball/play courts. ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE FROM SCHOOL The buses will depart from Skyview at approximately 9:00 AM. Campers should arrive at school, with all necessary equipment, no later than 8:30 AM. Parents are required to drop their child off at school. If possible, we suggest carpooling. This will eliminate traffic congestion at the drop off area. Campers are expected to arrive back at Skyview at approximately 6:30PM. Parents are requested to make arrangements for prompt pick-up at that time as your child will be tired and anxious to go home. NON-CAMPERS If for any reason your child cannot participate in the program he or she will be placed with another class in Skyview for the two days. Absence from school for reasons other than illness will be considered unexcused. HEALTH AND MEDICAL CARE If a camper should become ill while attending camp, the parents will be notified and arrangements made to send the camper home. In the event of a serious accident or illness, parents are called immediately. EMT services are readily available and a hospital is located about five minutes from camp. 10 5
NURSE Our experienced substitute school nurse will accompany each group to camp and she will be available twenty-four hours a day for first aid care. Any medications that a child is taking to camp must be labeled with their name and dosage in the original container. MEDICATIONS MUST BE GIVEN TO THE NURSE BEFORE LEAVING FOR CAMP. The form for administering medicine is attached to the application and requires a written physician and parent permission. The application must be COMPELTE in order for your child to attend camp. VISITING Parents, relatives, or friends of campers are not to visit the camp when their child is participating, without specific permission from the Camp Coordinator. CAMPERS EQUIPMENT It is hoped that little or no new clothing or equipment will have to be brought for the two days of camping. Children will enjoy themselves more if the clothing is not new and if it is washable or easily cleaned. All clothing and equipment should be plainly marked with the name of the camper. Laundry pens provide a quick way for marking. Each child s luggage should consist of no more than one suitcase/ duffel bag and one sleeping bag. Please use the packing checklist in this booklet when packing for camp. Both should be plainly marked with the child s name. The camper should assist in the packing of the suitcase and the rolling of the sleeping bag so she or he will know where everything is located and hopefully be able to pack it all back up at the end of camp. OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM Samples of Typical Student Menus These are just possible examples of menus. All meals will be kid friendly. Vegetarian and gluten free meals are happily provided, just let our school nurse know in advance. If your child has any other dietary restrictions, please let our school nurse know in advance so we can work together to come up with a plant to accommodate them. Breakfast Scrambled eggs. Apple wood smoked bacon Whole grain toast. (Gluten free bread available) Butter blend. 2% milk, water and orange juice. Granola, cold cereal, yogurt and fruit available on side table. (Rice Chex available) Lunch Sliced Turkey Hoagie (Gluten free bread available) Cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, mayo and mustard Sliced Apples Potato Chips 2% milk, water and juice drink. Pre-arranged vegetarian option cheese hoagie * Note: Day One Lunch is a bagged (disposable peanut free) lunch brought from home or provided by Methacton if you are on the free and reduced lunch program DINNER Pasta (Gluten free pasta available) Homemade vegetarian red sauce. Pasta served plain with sauce and pure beef meatballs on the side Whole grain Italian bread. (Gluten free bread available) Kraft parmesan cheese. Salad of spring greens 2% milk and water Ice cream sandwiches. (Frozen fruit bar available) * All dietary restrictions must be written down and given to your school nurse at least two weeks prior to going to camp. 6 9
DAILY PROGRAM Each team s schedule of activities will vary slightly. Campers may participate in outdoor learning activities such as organic farming, pond ecology, stream exploration, Native American games, low ropes course, and group challenge activities. They will be responsible for table setting/clean-up and cabin clean-up. Each day will begin at approximately 7:15AM. The day that the campers stay overnight will conclude at approximately 9:30PM. Free structured time will also be available to students on a scheduled basis. CAMP LOG All students will keep a record of the things they see and do. They call this a log, journal, or diary. This will help them to remember things to tell the folks back home and will help them in their follow-up work in the classroom once they return to school. The classroom teachers will explain the kind of things that should be written in the camp log. The equipment list in this booklet is for you to use when planning what to pack for camp. Pay attention to the weather forecast for your camp dates and pack accordingly. The duplicate list is to go to camp with the student to be used as a check list when packing for the trip home. We cannot be responsible for lost equipment or clothing. DO NOT SEND - articles that would violate school rules or school district policy. Please - NO FOOD! WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THE OUTDOOR SCHOOL EXPERIENCE OF MORE LASTING VALUE TO YOUR CHILD 1. Encourage your child to earn/save some of the camp fee. It will mean more if the child contributes by perhaps doing some extra jobs or chores around the house. Some suggestions: - washing dishes - shoveling snow - cleaning the garage - mowing the lawn - dusting - running errands - setting the table - babysitting - taking out the garbage 2. Help your child to assume responsibility by: A. Having him/her make their own bed at home (both before and after camp) B. Having him/her help with table setting and housework. These are chores they will be doing at camp! 3. Make outdoor recreation part of your family recreational pattern. A neighborhood walk, a hike and picnic in the park, or a weekend camping trip in a state forest will help make your child s experience even more special. 8 7