MID-SUN SUMMER DAY CAMPS 2017 0
CAMP OVERVIEW Welcome to the 2017 Mid-Sun Summer Day Camp team! We are very excited to have you join us this year. Mid-Sun s summer camps continue to grow every year, and with your energy, enthusiasm and leadership, 2017 is sure to be another great success. This handbook has the information you will need for understanding what is expected of you as a volunteer at Mid-Sun Summer camps, as well as the basic operations on our camp. Mid-Sun Summer Day Camps run various programs for children of all ages. Sunsations (ages 5-12) is our main program; we also have Specialty and Musical Theater programs that run throughout the summer. Mid-Sun is known for its quality, innovation, and exciting camp experiences and with your help 2017 will continue to grow. Volunteers are a very important aspect to our staff. Your main responsibility is the assist the day camp leaders in your group s daily activities, so your role may vary from day to day. One day you may be playing soccer, and the next helping the kids make ice cream. You will be a jack of all trades at camp. Some days you may be asked to help clean up a huge glitter mess, and we want you to know ahead of time, we appreciate it! Our summer day camp leaders and Day Camp Directors are here to help you in whatever way possible to ensure you enjoy your time at Mid-Sun Summer Day Camps. SUMMER DAY CAMP HOURS Sunsations / Musical Theatre / Specialty Camps Pre Care* 7AM 9AM Camp 9AM 4PM Post Care* 4PM 6PM *Pre and Post care takes place in the gym* MID-SUN SUMMER DAY CAMPS 2017 1
CAMP DESCRIPTIONS All our camps operate on pre-registration basis; whereby all participants must be registered and paid before they are permitted into camp. We do NOT offer drop in camps. Sunsations camps are offered for children aged 5-12 years old. They are run on a weekly basis, Monday to Friday and are our largest camp with up to 95 children. Each week, campers are divided by age into 4 groups based on age. Monday to Wednesday, campers will spend time at Mid-Sun working on different activity kits such as science, art, sport, and more. It is up to the leaders to create an engaging environment for the campers in these activities; it is a volunteer s job to be encouraging of these environments. Below is a brief example of what a day with Sunsations look like: 7:00am 9:00am: campers are being dropped off at Mid-Sun (pre-care) 9:00am 9:30am: camp-wide game in gym with all Sunsations campers 9:30am 10:15am: participating in one of our many activity kits 10:15am 10:30am: snack 10:30am 11:30am: group games 11:30am 12:30pm: lunch at the park 12:30pm 1:30pm: participating in one of our many activity kits 1:30pm 2:30pm: group games 2:30pm 3:30pm: participating in one of our many activity kits 3:30pm 4:00pm: camp-wide game in gym with all Sunsations campers 4:00pm 6:00pm: campers are being picked up from Mid-Sun (post-care) *Note, activity planning may change based on the Director s discretion. Every Thursday, we visit Midnapore Lake (weather dependent) and spend the day swimming (lifeguard present) and playing at the park. Along with all of this, Sunsations also goes on a field trip every Friday. MID-SUN SUMMER DAY CAMPS 2017 2
Speciality Camps are a week s worth of camp focused on a specific skill. Some of our speciality camps include: martial arts camp, swim camp (summer splash), art camp, etc. A full list of these camps are on our website and if you think you would be a valuable member to the group with one of these camps, please indicate this on your registration form. These camps also participate in the activity kits and the lake day, the same as Sunsations camps. Specialty camps do not go on field trips. Musical Theatre Camps are offered three different weeks throughout this summer. This year we are offering: Kidz Pop Hits, Pop Hits of the Decade, and Disney s Greatest Hits. In the musical theatre camps, the campers will learn several songs and a dance to each song. These numbers are organized by the musical theatre leaders. At the end of the week, all the numbers will be compiled together and the campers will put on a performance for their parents at the end of the week. Musical theatre does not go to the lake because of all the numbers they learn. Along with this, they do not go on a field trip because they have to prepare for their performance at the end of the day. If this is a camp that you would like to volunteer with or would have valuable skills in singing and dancing, please indicate on your registration form. *Placement of volunteers is at Day Camp Directors Discretion MID-SUN SUMMER DAY CAMPS 2017 3
MIDSUN STAFF STRUCTURE Volunteers Junior/Temporary Leaders Senior Leaders Assistant Day Camp Director Nicola Campbell Day Camp Director Sabrina Scott Recreation Programmer Kaley Maksymyk Facility Manager Sharmaleigh Luft Board of Directors MID-SUN SUMMER DAY CAMPS 2017 4
VOLUNTEERING INFORMATION: HOURS As a volunteer, your shift is 8:45am-4:00pm, Monday-Friday. You must remain on site for your entire shift be sure to bring a nonmicrowaveable lunch and snacks. Volunteer meetings will take place every Friday, immediately after returning back to camp from the field trip. These meetings are done to allow volunteers the opportunity to discuss their week and suggest any improvements for camp. If you will not be able to attend a day, or miss a portion of the day for any reason, please notify the Directors immediately. PURPOSE OF VOLUNTEERS Volunteers are an integral part of our camps. They assist leaders in ensuring quality childcare is delivered to the campers in our care. Volunteers are to be involved with games and activities alongside the campers whenever possible. They should take initiative to join in and have fun with the children as much as they can. Volunteers are there to help assist leaders with activities, for example: setting up tables and cleaning up after activities. Volunteers are also needed to assist campers and become an extra set of eyes and ears. WHAT MAKES AN EXCEPTIONAL VOLUNTEER The best way to become an exceptional volunteer is to engage yourself with the kids through games and activities. When the campers see you participate they will be more inclined to do so themselves. Give praise to the campers that participate in activities. Ask you leaders if they need any help. If you notice that your leader is setting up for an activity, ask them if you can do anything to help them out. If you feel inclined, talk to your leader about running a small game of your own. Set a good example. Campers look up to the volunteers as role models. We must ensure that we present a positive, clean image for staff, parents and campers. FACILITY CARE The leader of a group is responsible for making sure that the area they used is clean and left in the same condition as it was found. Volunteers will assist leaders with cleaning up after games and activities. Messy activities should be done outside when possible to maintain messes. This includes activity kits and eating lunch. Please alert the Day Camp Directors of any vandalism or damage to the building, or surrounding areas as soon as it is noticed. Do not take things that are for the summer day camps activity kits or for the leaders without permission. MID-SUN SUMMER DAY CAMPS 2017 5
VOLUNTEER EXPECTATIONS AND GUIDELINES Below is a quick list compiling all of the main expectations and guidelines. Be actively engaged with the campers throughout the day (joining games, interacting with them during free time, etc.) Be willing to help leaders and directors with tasks such as activity set-up, take down and clean-up. Stay on site and with your group from 8:45am-4:00pm, unless given permission from the camp directors to leave. Directors should be told in advance about any absences. Remaining with the children and engaging them during pre and post care. Not use camp supplies or eat food that does not belong to them without permission from a leader. Not use offensive or inappropriate language or innuendo, or play with children in a way that is physically rough or dangerous. Not take pictures of children, or contact children they meet at camp online (including email, Facebook, Xbox Live, etc.) Volunteers cannot be alone with campers. Failing to adhere to one or more of these expectations may be grounds for dismissal as a volunteer. If at any time a volunteer has questions, concerns, or is unsure about their role, they should talk to the camp directors. CAMP POLICIES Mid-Sun Summer Day Camps have a few policies for our camps and it is imperative that you are aware of them and understand them. These policies are made to help camps run smoothly and to ensure the safety of campers and staff. Hours of Operation: Pre-Care: 7AM to 9AM Camp: 9AM to 4PM Post-Care: 4PM to 6PM Please note: Because the campers go on off-site trips to the lake, field trips, or even just for nature walks, it is imperative that the camper arrive by 9AM. If your camper will be late, or will be picked up ahead of the 4PM pick-up time, please notify the Daycamp Director at your earliest convenience. This way we can see that arrangements can be made to accommodate the scheduling. With 120 children a day, the office staff will not know where your child is, without a heads up. MID-SUN SUMMER DAY CAMPS 2017 6
Refund Policy: From March 1 May 14 a full refund will be granted, minus a $25 admin fee per camp, to a maximum of $100. From May 15 June 25, a 50% refund will be offered only if the camper s spot can be filled. After June 26, no refund will be offered unless a doctor s note is provided, or if the camper s spot can be filled; if either of these requirements is met then a 50% refund will be granted. Transfers between weeks are at the Day Camp Director s discretion. Activity Change Policy: All programs undertaken by participants of Mid-Sun Summer Day Camps are solely at the discretion of the Day Camp Directors. Due to this, Mid-Sun reserves the right to alter, change or eliminate any activities as needed. If a program activity is changed or eliminated, depending on the severity of the alteration the Directors are responsible for relaying information about the change to parents of each camper. This can be done in the form of email or formal letter if severe, or verbally by the leaders responsible for sign-out at the end of the day if the issue is mild. Tax Receipt/Registration Confirmation: The registration confirmation receipt that is emailed immediately after registering in any summer day camp program is to be used for tax purposes. Parents/guardians must keep the original registration confirmation as any receipts that need to be re-issued, whether emailed or printed, will be charged at the rate of $5.00 per receipt. Sign-In Policy: Parents/Guardians must come into the building to sign in their child every morning. After arriving at the sign-in desk, the parent must write down the time of drop off and initial to signify that Mid-Sun Summer Day Camps is now supervising their child. This to ensure children arrive into our care safely, and so that emergency cards can be updated daily as needed. Sign-Out Policy: All parents/guardians picking up their child must have photo identification with them each day. This identification will be matched using the name on the child s emergency contact card. There is no limit to the number of emergency contacts listed for each child. If you do not have photo identification, you will not be allowed to pick up your child. To allow your child to sign themselves out during post-care (4:00PM-6:00PM), there will be a form available in the morning for parents/guardians to read and sign. If this form is not signed by a parent or guardian, the child will not be allowed to leave camp on their own. One form will kept for our records for the entire summer. MID-SUN SUMMER DAY CAMPS 2017 7
Late Pick-up Policy: Parents have until 6:00PM to pick up their child(ren). Any parent who arrives at Mid-Sun later than 6:00PM to pick up their child will be charged the rate of $1.00 per minute. This is due to staff having to unexpectedly stay later than originally scheduled. Only cash payments are accepted and can be made directly to the Day Camp Director by the next morning. Failure to comply with this policy may result in removal of child(ren) from current or succeeding camps. Incident Log Policy: To ensure parents/guardians are informed about incidents that involve their child while at Mid-Sun Summer Day Camps, an incident log is completed by staff immediately after any occurrence that requires parent acknowledgement. This log report will then explained to parents/guardians at the time of child pick up and must be signed. The signing of an incident log indicates that the parent/guardian has been informed of an incident that occurred during camp hours. If parents/guardians have any questions or concerns after signing the incident log, please contact the Day Camp Directors to discuss the incident in further detail. Personal Loss or Injury Policy: Mid-Sun Community Association is not liable for any loss or damage of personal items or injury resulting from participation of activities. Lost & Found Policy: There is an extremely large amount of lost and found items left at the facility during day camps. Mid-Sun Summer Day Camps takes no responsibility for campers lost or stolen items while inside of Mid-Sun Community Association. Inside of the main sliding doors at Mid-Sun is a wooden box, which all lost and found items are placed inside of. At the end of each month, remaining items are donated to charity. Nut Policy: Mid-Sun Community Association is a nut-free facility; this includes any nut and almond products. If a child brings any food item that contains nuts inside of wrapping, staff will store the item inside the main office to be picked up by the child s parent/guardian at the end of the day. If the item is not in factory wrapping, the item will be confiscated and the Day Camp Directors will attempt to replace the food item with a nut-free alternative. If using nut-free peanut butter, please inform staff on the morning of dropping your child off as to eliminate confusion. Mid-Sun Summer Day Camps has a very strict Nut Policy as many of our campers have extreme nut allergies, and we would like to thank all parents for their understanding and corporation regarding the issue. MID-SUN SUMMER DAY CAMPS 2017 8
Safe-Sun Policy: Due to the nature of our Summer Day Camp Programs, and the time spent outside, it is imperative that campers are well-equipped to be in the sun during the day. Please ensure that campers bring sunscreen, water-bottles and hats so that they can enjoy their time outside. Technology Policy: Technology use is permitted for campers throughout pre- and post-care hours. Electronics are not allowed during actual camp hours (9am-4pm) unless parents/guardians inform staff that their child is allowed to use the device. If a camper is using their electronics during regular camp hours, then the group leaders have authority to confiscate electronics until the end of camp. Photograph Policy: The Summer Day Camp Directors may take photographs of camp activities which can include my child, to be used for internal or external business purposes. If parents/guardians do not want their child to be included in any pictures taken during Mid-Sun Summer Day Camps, please contact the Summer Day Camp Directors. Lice Policy: Mid-Sun Community Association follows the lice policy as set by the Calgary Board of Education (CBE). As of 2015, the CBE altered its policy to state that immediately after treatment, children who have been found to have head lice can return to school. This is the policy that Mid-Sun follows and therefore any child who has been treated for head lice is allowed to return to summer camps the following day. For more information, please reference the CBE s policy at http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b364/pdfs/head_lice_facts_and_treatments_school.pdf. Toilet Trained Policy: Children registered in Mid-Sun Summer Day Camps programs must be able to go to the bathroom without assistance. We appreciate the time you take to look over our expectations and guidelines on how to become an exceptional volunteer with Mid-Sun Summer Day Camps. We look forward to receiving your volunteer registration form. All successful volunteer registrations will be contacted by the Day Camp Directors and must be able to attend the mandatory volunteer orientation on Wednesday June 21 st. Please note: Day Camp Directors reserve the right to refuse volunteer applications. If you have any questions please contact the Day Camp Directors, Sabrina Scott and Nicola Campbell, by email at daycamp.director@midsun.org or by phone 403-254-8058. MID-SUN SUMMER DAY CAMPS 2017 9