Dear Parents,
Summer time is almost here and we want to welcome you to our summer program. We are excited that you have chosen us for your child’ summer learning and adventure! Our goal is to provide a fun, relaxing and safe environment where kids can sharpen their skills as well as have fun and meet new friends.
You can be certain that our goal is to join you in every effort to make sure your child’s summer experience is secure, happy and worthwhile.
Please visit our website for more information. www.country-day.com
Respectfully,
Stacie Naff
Director
Camp Contact Information
Parent Communication
We at Country Day School/Camp want to partner with you to help make each child's experience as fun filled, enriching and safe as possible. We want our parents to communicate needs, problems and concerns as well as share great experiences, so please do not hesitate to let someone know if there is a problem or if your child has a special need. You can call us at (256) 837-5266, e-mail us cds@country-day.com or speak directly with your child’s counselor or the front desk.
Occasionally a child may get sick during school/camp hours, become injured, or experience some difficulties. We will contact you as soon as possible. In the event that it is a not such a serious situation, but we think it is something you should know about, we call you or send a note home with your child. Of course, we will not call a parent every time we have to apply a band-aid, but you can be assured that we will use our best judgment to decide when to notify you.
Check-list For Each Day
Van Rules and policies for Field trips
PLEASE DO NOT BRING VIDEO GAMES OR CELL PHONES TO SUMMER SCHOOL!
Skill Sharpeners and Camp Day The Skill Sharpeners Program will begin at 9A.M. and will end at noon M-Th. These students must be picked up before noon or extra charges will be incurred. They may wish to bring a lunch or they can eat their lunch at home. Skill Sharpeners and Camp Country Day will open as early as 7:30A.M. Campers must be picked up no later than 5:25 P.M. This program is Monday -Friday. Please bring lunch and a snack every day except Friday when free pizza is provided. Swimming and field trips will be held during afternoon hours. Weekly schedules will be available for all groups at the front desk. Drop off and Pick-up Policies The younger students will be housed in the Primary Community of the school building. The older students will be housed in the Elementary wing. Drop off and pick up will take place via the front door for security. Students should be signed in and out by parents daily. Please remember to arrive no earlier than 7:30 AM drop-off . Skills Sharpeners should be picked up no later than 12:00 P.M. and SKills Sharpeners and camp students no later than 5:25 PM pick up. Late penalties are very expensive at CDS! Call the school if you will not be here on time so that we may reassure your child.
Bad Weather
Most days will hopefully be bright and sunny, but in case of thunderstorms, we will have indoor activities for students. Should weather become more threatening, we will monitor conditions and recommend that parents listen to local TV and radio stations for announcements. We will also post any changes on our web page scroll (www.country-day.com). Our school does have reinforced “bunkers” should tornados threaten and children will be placed in the bunkers if a warning is issued.
Medications
All medications must be kept in the office and will be administered under supervision of our camp staff. You must sign a medication form which can be obtained at the front office. Medications must be in the original prescription bottle. Over the counter medication can not be administered with out a Dr.’s note. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved in advance with the Director. Basic first aide will be administered as needed. Let the office know of any allergies or special needs in this regard- asthma, bee sting allergies, nut allergies, etc. Sun burn may happen if sun screen is not applied at home prior to coming to school/camp. Hats are advised for all campers.
Lost and Found
Lost and found items are kept in the bin located at the front desk. students /counselors can check the box frequently. Encourage your child to keep his/her stuff together and we encourage all parents to write your child’s name on all items and extra shoes or clothing. We can be NOT responsible for lost items. Please leave treasured toys, games, etc. at home as they may be lost or broken at camp.
Special equipment needed for activities
Please mark all items with your child’s name. Each child will have a space to keep to keep his or her personal belongings, bags and/or back packs. Books may be brought from home for quiet reading times. NO VIDEO GAMES or CELL PHONES FROM HOME! If your child must bring a cell phone to school/camp we ask that they please drop it off at the front desk until they go home. Comfortable clothing should be worn and tank tops and halter tops are discouraged on any days that children are going to the creek or on hikes, for they can result in sunburn, excessive insect bites, and scratches from tree branches. A jacket or poncho is recommended for cool rainy days. A swimsuit and towel will be needed on swimming days and on days the childrenvisit the creek. Please name label everything. We also recommend each child bring an extra change of clothes and extra set of shoes. Keeping in mind that the children will be hiking and visiting the creek on occasion, we ask that sneakers, crocks or water shoes be worn to camp. Sandals, tevas and open toed shoes are not safe camp shoes. If your child does wear open toed shoes or flip flops, please send extra shoes just in case. You should check the weekly schedule for activity days and specifics.
Please note that we can not be responsible for lost items, so each child is expected to keep up with any personal belongings that are brought to camp. Name label everything, please. A waterproof tote bag to keep belongings in helps campers.
Swimming and Creek Visits
Each week, the children will go swimming at Sherwood pool. Life guards will be on duty as well as Country Day Camp instructors in the water. Please note on your enrollment form the level swimmer you child is so that counselors will be aware of this. Lifeguards test each student to determine their level and younger students will not be allowed in the deep end unless they can pass the proper certification.
Our children spend much time in the woods and the creek here on our 21 acre campus where they do many different activities from building forts, hikes or just wading in the shallow water. All children that participate must have a signed Creek permission slip giving them permission to participate in creek activities. If you have not completed a Creek Permission slip, please see someone in the front office. It is available on the enrollment website under forms. Again, because of frequent visits to the creek and the woods, we highly stress that all campers wear appropriate clothing and shoes and have extra shoes and clothes on campus. Something to store wet clothes in to take home for washing is also a must.
Insect Repellent and Sunscreen
Insects, including mosquitoes and bees just love scented perfumes, lotions, bath powders and sweet foods. We ask that you avoid these things and it may help the bugs to avoid you! We recommend that each child bring a large container of bug spray, with their name on it, the first day of camp and then just leave here on campus. We will apply it to younger children, while it can be self applied by older children. CDS does take all measures for tick and mosquito control, but these critters are to be found in any wooded area. Parents should check children each day for ticks. We try to watch out for poison ivy as well, but sometimes it sneaks up on us. If your child is allergic to poison ivy, be sure we are aware of it.
We encourage the use of waterproof sun block. It is recommended that parents apply it in the morning before sending your child to camp and then counselors can reapply if needed later in the day. If you send sunscreen to school with your child, please make sure to put their name on the bottle with a permanent marker.
Snack and Lunch
All children should bring their own lunch, drinks and two snacks a day. Please send these food items in a name marked LUNCH BOX, unless we ask for sack lunches for a special outing. Please keep in mind that the children will be busy building up an appetite so feel free to send hearty snacks, as well as a hearty lunch, and lots of fluids so they do not get dehydrated. On Fridays we will order pizza for the campers and supply drink at no cost. No lunch, but snacks and drinks are needed on Fridays. A refrigerator is available for food and drinks which require cold storage and microwaves are available for items needing heating.
On Campus Activities
You will note the word “optional” throughout all of our activities. Our goal is to provide a program that may be customized to each child to suit his/ her needs and desires. A child will never be forced to participate in an activity, but we will encourage them in every way to participate in different things so that their summer experience is a great one. Please also note that no child will be allowed to do any one activity all day long ( ie: video games) We want everyone to have a variety of active and less active activities daily. We will always strive to provide fun choices for you child.
Computers are always available as well as Sony Play station 2, X box, Nintendo 64 and Nintendo Game cube. All games and game time or time a child spends on the games will be monitored and games with excessive violence or adult ratings will not be allowed. Please do not let your child bring personal video games to camp, as we try hard monitor ratings and content appropriate to the age of the camper.
In addition we have children’s sized ping pong tables and air hockey tables set up in each class room which provide great indoor activities, especially on rainy days or on the very hot summer afternoons. On occasion we rent movies for the campers to watch. Please make counselors aware if you have strong feelings regarding movie ratings. All decisions will try to take into consideration the age of the campers and no PG13 movies will be shown on campus.
Students will explore the creek and hiking trails here on the CDS Campus where there is always something new to discover, build or do! Our nature studies are on-going and the natural wild life available here is amazing.
Field Trips
We plan to take the children on regular field trips which will include (among others): hiking, movies, swimming, bowling, skating, and trips to parks like Kid’s Kingdom and Point Mallard
You will be made aware of weekly trips via our secure website so you may plan what to bring and expect each day.
Behavior of Students
All students are expected to be respectful of counselors, teachers and other students. Rules for each group will be gone over during the first week of school/camp and sent home for parents and students to review together. If students are not able to participate appropriately using these rules , and staff and/or parent intervention does not modify behavioral problems, the camper may be asked to leave the program and a refund given. It is our hope that every student will have a fun and interesting summer.
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Camper-Parent Handbook Dear Parents, Camp time is almost here and we want to welcome you to our summer program. We are excited that you have chosen us for your child’ summer adventure! Our goal is to provide a fun, relaxing and safe environment where kids can do the things kids love to do in the good old summertime! You can be certain that our goal is to join you in every effort to make your child’s summer camp experience fun, happy and worthwhile. If there is something at camp that is bothering your child, please let us know right away. The more we understand your child, the more we can assure that they have a good summer experience. Please visit our website for more information. www.country-day.com Respectfully, Director
Parent Communication We at Occasionally a camper may get sick during camp hours, become injured, or experience some difficulties at camp. We will contact you as soon as possible. In the event that it is a not such a serious situation, but we think it is something you should know about, we call you or send a note home with your child. Of course, we will not call a parent every time we have to apply a band-aid, but you can be assured that we will use our best judgment to decide when to notify you. Check-list For Each
Van Rules and policies for Field trips
Camp Day and Extended Day Drop off and Pick-up Policies The younger campers will be housed in the Primary Community of the school building. The older campers will be housed in the Elementary wing. Drop off and pick up will take place via the front door for security. Students should be signed in and out by parents daily. Extended day campers, please remember to arrive no earlier than 7:30 AM drop-off and no later than 5:25 PM pick up. Camp day campers should arrive by 9a.m. and be picked up by 3p.m. Late penalties are very expensive at CDS! Call the school if you will not be here on time so that we may reassure your child. Bad Weather Most days at camp will hopefully be bright and sunny, but in case of thunderstorms, we will have indoor activities for campers. Should weather become more threatening, we will monitor conditions and recommend that parents listen to local TV and radio stations for announcements. We will also post any changes on our web page scroll (www.country-day.com). Our school does have reinforced “bunkers” should tornados threaten and children will be placed in the bunkers if a warning is issued. Medications All medications must be kept in the office and will be administered under supervision of our camp staff. You must sign a medication form which can be obtained at the front office. Medications must be in the original prescription bottle. Over the counter medication can not be administered with out a Dr.’s note. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved in advance with the Director. Basic first aide will be administered as needed. Let the office know of any allergies or special needs in this regard- asthma, bee sting allergies, nut allergies, etc. Sun burn may happen if sun screen is not applied at home prior to coming to camp. Hats are advised for all campers. Lost and Found Lost and found items are kept in the bin located at the front desk. Campers /counselors can check the box frequently. Encourage your camper to keep his/her stuff together and we encourage all parents to write your child’s name on all items and extra shoes or clothing. We can be NOT responsible for lost items. Please leave treasured toys, games, etc. at home as they may be lost or broken at camp. Special equipment needed for activities Please mark all items with your child’s name. Each camper will have a space to keep to keep his or her personal belongings, bags and/or back packs. Books may be brought from home for quiet reading times. NO VIDEO GAMES FROM HOME! Comfortable clothing should be worn and tank tops and halter tops are discouraged on any days that campers are going to the creek or on hikes, for they can result in sunburn, excessive insect bites, and scratches from tree branches. A jacket or poncho is recommended for cool rainy days. A swimsuit and towel will be needed on swimming days and on days the campers visit the creek. Please name label everything. We also recommend each camper bring an extra change of clothes and extra set of shoes. Keeping in mind that the children will be hiking and visiting the creek on occasion, we ask that sneakers, crocks or water shoes be worn to camp. Sandals, tevas and open toed shoes are not safe camp shoes. If your child does wear open toed shoes or flip flops, please send extra shoes just in case. You should check the weekly schedule for activity days and specifics. Please note that we can not be responsible for lost items, so each child is expected to keep up with any personal belongings that are brought to camp. Name label everything, please. A waterproof tote bag to keep belongings in helps campers. Swimming and Creek Visits Each week, the children will go swimming at the YMCA pool. City Life guards will be on duty as well as CDS instructors in the water. Please note on your enrollment form the level swimmer you child is so that counselors will be aware of this. Lifeguards test each student to determine their level and younger students will not be allowed in the deep end unless they can pass the proper certification. Our campers spend much time in the woods and the creek here on our 21 acre campus where they do many different activities from building forts, hikes or just wading in the shallow water. All children that participate must have a signed Creek permission slip giving them permission to participate in creek activities. If you have not completed a Creek Permission slip, please see someone in the front office. It is available on the enrollment website under forms. Again, because of frequent visits to the creek and the woods, we highly stress that all campers wear appropriate clothing and shoes and have extra shoes and clothes on campus. Something to store wet clothes in to take home for washing is also a must. Insect Repellent and Sunscreen Insects, including mosquitoes and bees just love scented perfumes, lotions, bath powders and sweet foods. We ask that you avoid these things and it may help the bugs to avoid you! We recommend that each camper bring a large container of bug spray, with their name on it, the first day of camp and then just leave here on campus. We will apply it to younger campers, while it can be self applied by older campers. CDS does take all measures for tick and mosquito control, but these critters are to be found in any wooded area. Parents should check campers each day for ticks. We try to watch out for poison ivy as well, but sometimes it sneaks up on us. If your child is allergic to poison ivy, be sure we are aware of it. We encourage the use of waterproof sun block. It is recommended that parents apply it in the morning before sending your child to camp and then counselors can reapply if needed later in the day. If you send sunscreen to school with your child, please make sure to put their name on the bottle with a permanent marker. Snack and Lunch All campers should bring their own lunch, drinks and two snacks a day. Please send these food items in a name marked LUNCH BOX, unless we ask for sack lunches for a special outing. Please keep in mind that the children will be busy building up an appetite so feel free to send hearty snacks, as well as a hearty lunch, and lots of fluids so they do not get dehydrated. On Fridays we will order pizza for the campers and supply drink at no cost. No lunch, but snacks and drinks are needed on Fridays. A refrigerator is available for food and drinks which require cold storage and microwaves are available for items needing heating. On Campus Activities You will note the word “optional” throughout all of our camp activities. Our goal is to provide a program that may be customized to each child to suit his/ her needs and desires. A child will never be forced to participate in an activity, but we will encourage them in every way to participate in different things so that their camp experience is a great one. Please also note that no camper will be allowed to do any one activity all day long ( ie: video games) We want campers to have a variety of active and less active activities daily. We will always strive to provide fun choices for you child. Each morning will begin with an optional fitness class while it is still cool outside with an emphasis on improving fitness and coordination. These classes will consist of beach- ball volley ball, kickball, soccer and baseball. Campers will also have an option of art classes on most mornings. In addition there will always be the popular arts and crafts with beads, natural items, soap making, etc. We will also be doing cooking classes with any campers that are interested. Campers may play board games, chess, or use our well stocked library. Computers are always available as well as Sony Play station 2, X box, Nintendo 64 and Nintendo Game cube. All games and game time or time a child spends on the games will be monitored and games with excessive violence or adult ratings will not be allowed. Please do not let your child bring personal video games to camp, as we try hard monitor ratings and content appropriate to the age of the camper. In addition we have children’s sized ping pong tables and air hockey tables set up in each class room which provide great indoor activities, especially on rainy days or on the very hot summer afternoons. On occasion we rent movies for the campers to watch. Please make counselors aware if you have strong feelings regarding movie ratings. All decisions will try to take into consideration the age of the campers and no PG13 movies will be shown on campus. Campers will explore the creek and hiking trails here on the CDS Campus where there is always something new to discover, build or do! Our nature studies are on-going and the natural wild life available here is amazing. Day treks
We plan to take the campers on regular field trips which will include (among others): hiking, movies, swimming, bowling, skating, and trips to parks like Kid’s Kingdom and Point Mallard You will be made aware of weekly trips via our secure website so you may plan what to bring and expect each day. Online Photos Each week you will be able to view photos of all the campers and staff on the secure Behavior of Campers All campers are expected to be respectful of counselors, and other campers. Rules for each camp will be gone over during the first week of camp and sent home for parents and students to review together. If campers are not able to participate appropriately using these rules , and staff and/or parent intervention does not modify behavioral problems, the camper may be asked to leave the program and a refund given. It is our hope that every camper will have a fun and interesting summer. |