Parent Handbook High Park Junior & Youth. Children s Eco Programs

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1 Parent Handbook High Park Junior & Youth Children s Eco Programs

2 Contact Information Camp Staff Contacts: Eco Camp Jr. 1: Eco Camp Jr. 2: Eco Sprouts Camp: Eco Camp Youth: Office Contacts: Keely Forth C kidsgrow@toronto.ca Andrew Puchalski apuchal@toronto.ca Fax: childrensecoprograms.ca Office Hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Office Location: Hillside Gardens, High Park 142 Colborne Lodge Dr. Toronto, ON Mailing Address: Hillside Gardens, High Park c/o Etobicoke Civic Centre Mail Room 399 The West Mall Toronto, ON, M9C 2Y2

3 Welcome to Eco Camp! Summer 2015 Thank you for registering your camper (s ) in Eco Camp this summer! We know that he or she is in for a real treat and it s a fun camp experience here in the City of Toronto. Eco Camp is filled with hiking, gardening, crafts, drama, cooking, music and more! This Parent s Handbook has all of the information you ll need to make sure your camper is ready to join us in High Park. Included you ll find information on pick-up/drop-off times and locations, what to bring to camp, a sample schedule, camp and office staff contacts and of course forms! Honestly it s all about the forms folks! Those forms are very important. We need to make sure we have all of your campers information so they can have a safe and happy time at camp. Please remember to fill out and return those camper information and photo permission forms by Friday, June 19 th 2015! Please note: If your child is on medication (to be taken at camp) or carries an epi-pen there are extra medical forms to fill out. You can contact me for the forms or find them on our website under Programs/Eco Camp/Extra forms. We re very excited for the opportunity to pass along our love of nature, gardening and healthy cooking to your camper! Sincerely, Keely & Andrew Children s Eco Programs Parks, Forestry & Recreation

4 Eco Camp A City of Toronto, Parks, Forestry and Recreation Day Camp Our Eco Camps offer your camper a unique look at nature and gardening within our urban environment. We combine traditional camp activities such as crafts, games, swimming and songs with organic gardening, nature hikes, healthy cooking and off-site trips to a number of our outstanding City parks and natural spaces. One of our program goals is to educate children and youth about environmental, physical and social health. The ingredients for a happy, healthy child should always include a personal relationship with nature and an opportunity to explore. As a major urban centre Toronto is fortunate to have several diverse natural areas. The Children's Eco Programs are here to help kids learn about, play in and discover a whole new world right in their own backyard! Our Counsellors Many of our Camp Counsellors are in teacher s college and/or environmental studies. At least one Counsellor in each camp is a qualified Lifeguard. Our staff excel at making nature exploration, organic gardening and healthy cooking fun and educational.

5 Camp Hours: Monday Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Camp Info Program Themes Extended Care Hours: Morning - 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. - $14/week Afternoon 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. - $14/week Both require preregistration call FUN Rainy Days: Eco Camp will continue to operate on rainy days. In case of rain, please continue to meet us at the drop-off location. High Park Junior Eco Camp Themes: Programming each week will be similar but with a different focus: Critters & Crawlies July 6 to 10 & Aug. 4 to 7 Nature Arts July 13 to 17 & Aug. 10 to 14 Habitat Detectives July 20 to 24 & Aug. 17 to 21 Veggies & Ventures July 27 to 31 & Aug. 24 to 28 High Park Youth Eco Camp Themes: Programming each week will be similar but with a different focus: The Wild Hood July 6 to 10 & July 27 to 31 The Wild Kitchen July 13 to 17 & Aug. 10 to 14 Nature Arts July 20 to 14 & Aug. 17 to 21

6 What To Pack All your how to? questions answered! Please Remember There is a lot of hiking/walking each day at Eco Camp. A Daypack (school backpack preferably with a waist/hip belt) is necessary to hold what your child needs for the day. Try to keep backpacks and lunches an appropriate size for your child to carry. Good closed toe hiking shoes or sneakers are important for your child s comfort as well as weather and gardening appropriate clothing (something that can get dirty and helps protect from the sun). Please apply sunscreen to your camper(s) before you drop them off in the morning. Staff will remind campers to reapply sunscreen throughout the day; however, staff are not allowed to apply it for campers. This also applies to insect repellent as well. Stuff To Pack Everyday: Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen 500ml to 1L reusable water bottle (please fill before camp) Raincoat/pants for rainy days! Lunch and 2 snacks Extended Care Participants: Additional Snacks Tuesdays and Thursdays: Swimsuit and towel (may also be needed for trip day on Wednesdays) Optional Items: Garden gloves Long-sleeved shirt for sun protection Insect Repellant Please Do Not Send: Cell phones Electronic games Electronic pets Any valuables ipods/mp3 players Trading cards, etc.

7 Lunch and Snacks You will need to pack lunch each day for your camper plus 2-3 additional snacks. Please do not include foods containing peanuts/nuts or any traces of nuts when packing lunches, as some campers may have severe allergic reactions to peanuts and other nuts. Check ingredient labels to ensure that products are nut free and look for warnings such as may contain traces of peanuts or other nuts. We thank you for helping to make our camp environment safe for all participants. Litterless Lunches In keeping with the spirit of our camp, please help us maintain the Three R s when packing your child(ren) s litterless lunches. The following tips might be useful in thinking about reducing, reusing and recycling waste: Please pack lunch items with as little packaging as possible fresh, nutritious snacks like apples, pears and oranges require no packaging Pack lunch items in reusable containers, rather than plastic disposable bags or plastic wrap Try to choose items packaged in recyclable materials. Compost We have a variety of compost options at camp including vermicomposters (Worms!) and our backyard style composters. Fruit and veggie scraps from campers lunches and snacks will be composted. Things like dairy, meat and oils cannot be composted.

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9 Pick-Ups and Drop-Offs To help keep drop-off and pick-up times quick and easy please make sure to fill out the Pick-Up Information on your child s Camper Information Form including all caregivers Yes parents too please! High Park Eco Camp Picnic Shelter #15, across from the pool and ball diamonds, is the drop-off location for Junior & Youth campers in the morning. Pickup is at the Children s Garden at the south end of High Park. Sprouts Campers are dropped off at the Children s Garden.. Please ensure your campers are on time so that the activities can start on time. We are a little flexible with drop-off times if you re dropping off campers at both locations. *See map on following page* Late Arrivals, Early Pick-Ups and Absences Please call/inform Camp Counsellors when your camper will be late, absent or picked up early. The staff can then coordinate with you an alternative drop off or pick up location within the park. If your child is being picked up by a person not on your current pick-up list please give the Camp Counsellors written notice ahead of time. Late Pick-Up Fee: Parents/Guardians who pick up their child(ren) late will be charged $1 per child for each minute that they are late. Children not registered for the extended care program must be picked-up by 4pm and those registered for the extended care program must be picked-up by 5pm.

10 Children s Garden Larger, downloadable maps are available on our website:

11 Children s Eco Programs Some of our other fun Programs include: Birthday Party Programs Fun nature adventure birthday party programs are available! Please contact Keely Forth at or kidsgrow@toronto.ca for more information or to book a party. Watch Me Grow Family Drop-In The Family Drop-In Program runs out of the Children s Garden! It s a fun filled morning of gardening (watering!), games, crafts, storytelling and more! Parental supervision required. Thursdays 10 to noon from July 2 September 3 rd. High Park Harvest Festival In collaboration with Colborne Lodge & High Park Nature Centre Sunday, Oct. 4 th, 2015 from Noon to 4:30 pm.

12 Children s Eco Programs REMINDER CAMPER FORMS DUE BY FRIDAY, JUNE 19 TH 2015