Parent/Guardian Handbook Summer Recreation Day Camp Summer 2016
Welcome The Summer Recreation Day Camp (Summer Rec.) directors and staff would like to welcome you and your child or children to Summer Rec. for 2016. We want to encourage open communication between the parent/guardian and the camp directors. We hope that you will find this handbook useful in explaining our policies and procedures. If you need further information, please contact a camp director at 732-3530 during Summer Rec. or at 732-3500 before camp begins. We are here to assist you and to answer any questions that you may have. What is Summer Recreation Day Camp? Summer Rec., operated by the Republic Parks & Recreation Department, is a weekly program held when Republic Schools are out of session for the summer months. Summer Rec. is available to children ages 6 (or have completed Kindergarten) 12. The program is designed to provide a fun-filled and safe environment for children while they are out of school. Camp hours are 6:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. each day. A lunch and a snack must be sent to camp with your child each day. Camp Directors Jennafer Mayfield, Community Outreach Superintendent Republic Parks & Recreation E-mail: jmayfield@republicmo.com Chelsea Small, Recreation Supervisor Republic Parks & Recreation E-mail: csmall@republicmo.com Chad Cook, 2 nd Year Camp Director Emily Hillenburg, 2 nd Year Camp Director Morgan Cook, 1 st Year Camp Director Camp Counselors All Summer Rec. counselors are 18 years of age or older. All counselors are interviewed and selected by the Community Outreach Superintendent and Recreation Supervisor. All camp counselors are required to attend training meetings and to obtain their certification in Child CPR/First Aid/AED. All employees must pass a pre-employment background check and drug screen to be hired. Camper to counselor ratio is always 1:10. Participation Summer Recreation Day Camp activities are designed with youth in mind. We encourage all campers to participate in, or at least try, all activities.
SUMMER REC. POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND GENERAL INFORMATION Please read this handbook thoroughly before your child starts camp. Where is Camp Held? The primary location for Summer Rec. is the Republic Activities Building (next to the Republic Community Center). Important Numbers 1. Summer Rec. Office: 732-3530 2. Summer Rec. Cell Phone: 461-4408 (only carried on field trips / SS pick-up) 3. Republic Community Center: 732-3500 Please try these numbers in the order that they are listed. If it is not an emergency, please leave a message on the Summer Rec. main phone (732-3530) and a director will return your call as soon as messages are checked. Camp directors are involved in day-to-day operations and activities and are not always in the camp office. The cell phone is only carried when a group is on a field trip or to pick-up from summer school. If your child is not on a field trip, please call the main phone. If you have an emergency and cannot reach camp directors, call the Republic Community Center. Registration and Payment There are 120 spots available for each week of camp. The first 120 campers registered for camp, considered Early Birds, are given priority over the general public for weekly registration. Early Birds may pay for all weeks that they need up front, or throughout the summer. The general public are only given one week prior to each week of camp (if spots are still available) to register. Early Birds may choose to pay for the entire summer up front; those paying for the entire summer (every week that camp is session) will receive a $5.00 discount per child, per week. All 12 weeks of camp must be paid for up front to receive this discount. Early Birds are NOT guaranteed a spot every week unless all weeks that they need are paid for up front. A Payment Schedule will be included in the parent packet received at registration. The Payment Schedule must be followed and payments must be made by the dates specified. If you need an additional copy of the Payment Schedule, please see a camp director. Accepted forms of payment are cash, check, or debit/credit card (Visa and MasterCard only). After Summer Rec. begins, all payments must be made at the Summer Rec. office during camp hours only (Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.). Evening or weekend staff at the Republic Community Center will not take payments for Summer Rec. after camp has started.
Summer Rec. staff will not hold payments. If you will be out of town when you need to pay, you may call the Summer Rec. office and pay with a credit card over the phone. Late Payments Any payment made for a week AFTER the week has started will be considered a Late Payment. Each week begins on Monday morning at 6:30 a.m. (unless the week begins on Tuesday due to holidays). All payments for the next week must be received by Friday at 6:00 p.m. There will be an additional $10.00 charge per household for all late payments; this will be added to the weekly camp fee. Refunds and Credits Refunds will not be considered without written documentation requesting a refund. All refund requests must be submitted to a camp director. All refund requests must be submitted before the week you need a refund for (no later than 6:30 a.m. on the first day of the week). If a week of camp has already started, no refunds will be considered for that week. Payments may be credited to another week due to unforeseen circumstances. If you need a credit, please communicate with a camp director ASAP so that your child can be secured a spot in the appropriate week. There will be NO refund or credit of fees due to suspension or expulsion from camp. Drop-Off and Pick-Up from Summer Rec. Drop off begins at 6:30 a.m. each morning. The doors will remain locked until 6:30 a.m., no exceptions. Campers must be signed in by a parent/guardian each morning and signed out by a parent/guardian at the time of pick up. Campers are not allowed to leave the supervision of camp staff until they are signed out. Regardless of age, campers MAY NOT sign themselves out. Only individuals documented on the camper s registration form will be allowed to pick him/her up from camp. Camp directors will ask for identification for all individuals that we do not recognize, including parents. If someone will be picking up your camper that is not listed on your registration form, please inform the camp director on duty and advise the person to bring their ID. Custody Issues If a child is the subject of a court order, Summer Rec. directors must be given a certified copy of the latest court order involving custody. The court order will be followed. If a court order is not provided, Summer Rec. directors cannot prevent access by one parent at the request of the other parent.
Late Pick-Up Penalty Summer Rec. ends at 6:00 p.m. each day. All campers must be picked up by 6:00 p.m. A penalty will be incurred for every 15 minutes that you are late, no exceptions. The penalty will be enforced beginning at 6:01 p.m. on the clock in the lobby of the Summer Rec. building. The late pick-up penalty schedule is below: 6:01-6:15 p.m.: $10.00 charge 6:16-6:30 p.m.: $20.00 charge 6:31-6:45 p.m.: $30.00 charge 6:46-7:00 p.m.: $40.00 charge 7:01 p.m.: $50.00 charge and the Republic Police Department will be contacted if we have not been able to reach a parent/guardian. The late pick-up penalties will be strictly enforced. If you are late for any reason (miscommunication between parents/guardians, work issues, traffic issues, etc.), you will be charged the penalty. Late pick-up charges must be paid within 24 hours of the documented late pick-up. If fees are not paid in 24 hours, your camper cannot be dropped off at camp until they are paid. If you incur three (3) late pick-up penalties, Summer Rec. directors will ask that you find another program for your child. Daily Schedule A Daily Schedule will be distributed at the parent meetings. Every effort is made to stick closely to the daily schedule. Summer Rec. staff reserves the right to alter or change the daily schedule at any time due to new activities, weather, or any other unforeseen circumstances. Lunch/Snack Every camper must bring a lunch (with a drink) and a snack to camp EACH DAY. Pizza (cheese) is ordered for campers each Friday; pizza for 2016 will be provided by Papa John s. A drink and snacks are still required on Fridays! An afternoon snack time is scheduled each day. Please send a snack with your child; snacks are not provided. Refrigerators and microwaves are not available. Field Trips Summer Rec. maintains a 1:10 ratio (one staff member to 10 campers) at all times. Campers are counted before leaving for the field trip and as they board the bus, as well as before boarding the bus to return to camp. They are also counted several times while on the field trip. A complete field trip schedule will be distributed at the parent meetings on May 9 and 10.
T-shirts are provided for all campers to wear while on field trips. Shirts are distributed before the bus leaves and turned back in upon return from the trip. Shirts are washed on-site at least once per week. Campers may take their field trip t-shirts home at the end of the summer! All field trips are subject to change due to weather or any other unforeseen circumstances. Movies: All movies shown will have a G or PG rating. Aquatic Center Red, yellow, or green wristbands are provided and put on each camper before going to the Aquatic Center. These colors correspond to the swimming ability selected by parents on the Information Sheet provided at registration. Campers are counted before leaving for the Aquatic Center and before returning to the Summer Rec. building. Campers are also required to check-in at each pool check (once per hour) in a designated location to be counted again. Please talk to your camper about the importance of this procedure! Sunscreen Sunscreen is highly recommended for outdoor field trips/activities and required for trips to the Republic Aquatic Center. Parents are responsible for sending sunscreen with their child each day. Summer Recreation Day Camp staff will NOT apply lotion sunscreen to campers. Campers that need assistance applying sunscreen must bring spray sunscreen with them to camp each day. Those that bring lotion sunscreen will be responsible for applying the sunscreen on their own. Camp staff will assist with spray sunscreen and face sticks ONLY. Extra Money Extra money is NOT required for any camp activities. Summer Rec. staff will not hold money or keep money in the office. Any money sent with your camper is at your own risk. Summer Rec. directors, staff, or the Parks & Recreation Department are not responsible for lost or stolen money. Camper Discipline Policy First Offense: Second Offense: Third Offense: Verbal Warning Time Out (one minute for each year of age) and Think Sheet Incident Report and discussion with Parent/Guardian After the third (3) Incident Report, the camper will be given a one-week suspension from camp effective immediately at the time/date of the third Incident Report. No refunds/credits will be issued for suspensions from camp.
After the fourth (4) Incident Report (after returning from a one-week suspension), the child will be expelled from camp. No refunds will be issued for expulsion from camp. Severe incidents will result in an automatic Incident Report. Severe incidents include, but are not limited to, physical violence (hitting, kicking, slapping, biting, etc.), profanity, threats, leaving the Summer Rec. building or the group on field trip, repeated behavioral warnings, etc. Some incidents may result in automatic expulsion from camp; this will be left up to the discretion of camp supervisors/directors and the Republic Parks & Recreation Director. Threats If a Summer Rec. staff member witnesses a camper threatening the life or well-being of another camper or staff member, the camper will automatically receive an Incident Report and the behavior will be discussed with the parent/guardian. If the same camper is heard making another threat after the initial incident, the camper will be expelled from camp. Electronics/Toys/Games Electronics, toys, and games are NOT allowed to be brought to camp. These items include, but are not limited to, cell phones, ipods, video game systems, action figures, Pokémon cards, etc., unless approved for a certain special day or club. If any of these items are seen, they will be put in the office and released when a parent/guardian arrives for pick-up. Books and magazines are allowed. Lost and Found Summer Rec. staff is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Any items found at the end of the day will be placed on the Lost and Found table in the lobby. Items left at the end of the summer will be donated to People Helping People in Republic. Illnesses Summer Rec. staff asks that you do not send your camper to camp if they have a fever or any other contagious illness. If a camper becomes ill while at Summer Rec, a parent/guardian will be contacted to come and pick up the camper as soon as possible. If the camper has a fever or visible symptoms of an illness, such as a rash, they will be separated from the group and monitored by a staff member until a parent/guardian arrives.
Medication All non-injectable medications, including prescription medications, cough drops, eye drops, inhalers, etc., must be turned into a camp director. A Medicine Log must be filled out prior to any medication be given. Camp directors and/or head counselors will administer medication. Injectable medication (with the exception of emergency Epi-pens) will not be administered. In the case of an emergency, camp directors and/or head counselors reserve the right to appoint another staff member to administer medication. Personal Needs Summer Rec. staff will not toilet, feed, or dress any camper in our program. If a toileting accident happens and the camper is unable to change their clothes on their own, the camper will be separated from the group and monitored by a staff member until a parent/guardian arrives to change their camper or pick them up. Summer School Summer Rec. provides transportation to and from Summer School (Republic School District Summer School only). Summer School will be held May 31-June 24, 2016. Additional information will be covered at the Summer Recreation Day Camp Parent Meetings on May 9 th and 10 th. Summer School Bus Policy: If your child will not be riding the bus back to Summer Rec. from Summer School, you MUST let Summer Rec. directors know BEFORE they leave for Summer School pick-up. If your child is on the list to be picked up and does not get on the bus, the bus cannot leave until a parent/guardian has been reached or confirmation can be made in the building office to verify that the child was not at Summer School. A log will be kept documenting phone calls made to a parent/guardian for this reason. If Summer Recreation staff must contact a parent/guardian on three (3) different occasions, we will no longer pick your child or children up from summer school.
What your camper needs each day: Lunch (Including a Drink) Snack Water Bottle Sunscreen (Spray Sunscreen if Assistance is Necessary) Swimming Suit & Towel Tennis Shoes! Flip-Flops/Sandals Not Recommended. A Smile and a Positive Attitude! Phone Numbers Summer Rec. Office: 732-3530 Summer Rec. Cell Phone: 461-4408 (only carried on field trips/summer school pick-up). Republic Community Center: 732-3500