Natural History Day Camp

Transcription

1 Summer 2015 Natural History Day Camp in Chatham explore snorkel kayak hike research...have fun! P.O. Box 236, South Wellfleet, MA massaudubon.org/chathamcamp

2 Natural History Day Camp IN CHATHAM Mass Audubon s Natural History Day Camp in Chatham, a satellite location for the popular Wellfleet Bay Natural History Day Camp, is designed to promote a child s innate curiosity and excitement for the natural world. Our goal is to instill awareness and appreciation of the natural world, to teach responsibility for the environment, and to promote an understanding of our place in nature. Camp activities are carefully planned to meet these goals and, at the same time, create a fun and memorable experience. about CAMP about MASS AUDUBON Mass Audubon works to protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and wildlife. Together with more than 100,000 members, we care for 35,000 acres of conservation land; provide school, camp, and other educational programs for 225,000 children and adults annually; and advocate for sound environmental policies at local, state, and federal levels. Each year, our statewide network of wildlife sanctuaries welcomes nearly half a million visitors of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds and serves as the base for our work. about WELLFLEET BAY Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary serves more than 1,100 children through day camp each year, and welcomes more than 32,000 visitors annually. Wellfleet Bay protects a number of Cape Cod s endangered, threatened, or at-risk species, and conducts research throughout the year. Our robust science program allows us to bring actual research into all of our education programs, including day camp. To support Wellfleet Bay s conservation and education work, call , extension 109, or visit massaudubon.org/wellfleetbay, click the Donate button, and be sure to select Wellfeet Bay. Location Camp headquarters is located at Chatham Elementary School, 147 Depot Road, Chatham, MA Each group will have a classroom for storing their belongings, to use as a base, and in case of inclement weather. Camp Staff Our staff are chosen for their enthusiasm, experience, knowledge, and ability to work with children in the outdoors. They are college graduates or current undergraduates in an environmental and/or educational field. Staff members participate in a weeklong pre-camp training and are certified in First Aid and CPR. Our Expectations of Campers Due to the outdoor and exploratory nature of our camp program, campers must be able to move about on uneven terrain. Campers are expected to participate in age-appropriate activities, including nature study. All campers must follow stated behavior expectations and safety rules. Campers in the Sharks program must demonstrate strong swimming skills in order to participate in snorkeling activities. If you have any questions regarding your child s ability to participate fully in our camp program, contact Camp Director Emily Wolfe at , ext At any time, parents may request copies of background checks, and health care and discipline policies, as well as procedures for filing grievances. Day Camp T-Shirts The 2015 day camp t-shirts, which feature a lobster, will be available for purchase throughout the week. Thank you to Phyllis Evenden, who designed this year s camp t-shirt. 2 Summer 2015 Natural History Day Camp in Chatham

3 registration INFORMATION Registration Policy Registration begins January 5, Through May 15, registrations will be accepted online and by mail. After May 15, only phone and mail-in registrations will be accepted. Mailed registrations will be stamped with the date of receipt and processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration must include payment for 50% of the total camp fees. The camp fee includes a $50 enrollment fee per session per child which is nonrefundable. For identity safety assurances, fax and submissions are not accepted. Payment Deadline The balance of the camp fee is due on May 15. If the balance is not received by this date, we cannot guarantee your child s spot. No camper is allowed in camp unless all forms, waivers, and payments are complete. If registering after May 15, your registration must include payment in full. Forms and Waivers All forms and waivers are due at least two months prior to the start of a camper s camp session. Campers without complete paperwork will not be allowed to stay at camp on Monday. If we do not receive your child s health history by the deadline, a $50 late fee will be assessed for each child. Your child can only attend camp if we have all necessary forms, waivers, and payments. No exceptions. In order for your child to attend camp, the following forms and waivers must be submitted. Completed Registration Form Day Camp Health Form Medical Waiver and Release Agreement of Terms Audio/Visual Image Release Acknowledgement of Risk and Assumption of Personal Responsibility Current immunization record provided by your doctor s office Copy of Health Insurance Card for campers who will be in the Turtles, Seals, or Sharks group Important Health Form Information Massachusetts state law and the American Camp Association require all campers to submit, every year, completed health forms supplied by the camp and a copy of your child s current immunization record. Please note that all campers in kindergarten or above must have two doses of MMR before coming to camp. A health form packet will be sent to you upon registration and all pages must be completed and returned two weeks before the start of the child s first camp session. This camp complies with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (105 CMR 430) and is licensed by the Chatham Board of Health. Information on these regulations can be obtained at Questions Contact the camp director or registrar at: chathamcamp@massaudubon.org or massaudubon.org/chathamcamp 3

4 Refund and Cancellation Policy All cancellations must be received in writing. A nonrefundable deposit is required to register for each camp session and cannot be transferred to another session, camper, family, or camp location. Please check your school calendar for conflicts before registering. Refunds are not given for participant dismissal, failure to attend, absence or sick days. If the camp must cancel a sesssion, you will receive a full refund. If you cancel for any reason before the start of your child s weekly camp session, the amount of tuition is determined by the following schedule: On or before May 15: refund of all but the nonrefundable deposit After May 15: no refund is available Important Dates May 15: Payment balance due May 15: Final day for financial assistance applications Two months before the Start of Your Session: All forms and waivers due Cape Cod Resident Discount Campers who reside on Cape Cod year-round receive a $40 discount on half-day programs and a $60 discount on full-day programs. Proof of the camper s enrollment in a Cape Cod school district in the form of a report card, progress report, or letter from the school must accompany registration in order to receive the discount. To qualify for Cape Cod resident discounts you must be a current Mass Audubon member at the Family level or above and be the parent, grandparent, or legal guardian of the enrolled camper. To check member status please call Member Services at Financial Assistance Financial assistance is available for those who need it. Please call to request an application. All applications are due by May 15, All applicants must supply verification of income or documentation that financial assistance is needed. Please contact the camp director if you have any questions about necessary documentation. Scholarships Through Wellfleet Bay s Monomoy Initiative, a limited number of scholarships are available for children from Chatham and Harwich who attend school in the Monomoy Regional School District. Scholarships are awarded based on a number of factors, including interest and aptitude in the areas of science, conservation, ecology, and art; financial need; and the recommendations of teachers and school staff. The goal of the scholarships is to ensure that children of Chatham and Harwich have the opportunity to attend camp and learn about the unique habitats and wildlife that surround them.these scholarships are only possible thanks to the generoisty of parents, grandparents, and members of the community who understand the importance of invesiting in our children. Please consider making a contribution to the Monomoy Initiative for summer day camp scholarships by sending your check today in the attached envelope, or by contributing online at massaudubon.org/chathamcamp. 4 Summer 2015 Natural History Day Camp in Chatham

5 camp programs BY GRADE Peeps Entering PreK or K (must be age 4 by April 1). Half Day*: 9 AM 12:30 PM, Monday Friday. Fee: $200 M/$265 NM, per week. NEW! Peeps After Camp Option: 12:30-2:30 PM, Monday-Friday. Fee: $60M/$80NM, per week. After Camp Option campers will have a chance to eat lunch brought from home and spend more time exploring, playing games, and making crafts. The Peeps program is designed to encourage young childrens curiosity by introducing them to nature exploration and Cape Cod wildlife. Half-day sessions include time for a mid-morning snack brought from home. Peeps stay on campus during camp and make fun forays to wild places within walking distance. Camper-to-camp instructor ratio is 5:1. 7/6 7/10 Beach Biologists Who dug those little holes? What animal is hiding in this shell? Act like a naturalist as you use magnifiers and field guides to discover what animals call the beach their home! 7/13 7/17 Garden Explorers Focus on the amazing lives of plants as we explore the garden. We ll search for animals that make their homes among the flowers, play games, and help plants grow! We ll plant our own seedlings to take home. 7/20 7/24 Things That Fly How fast does a hummingbird flap its wings? The sky is full of fascinating animals with awesome adaptations that help them soar! Search for flying critters as we explore the beach and fields! 7/27 7/31 Nature Bookworms Let your imagination soar as you listen to stories about the animals of Cape Cod. Try your hand at telling stories through puppet shows, and draw the pictures for your very own nature story! Turtles Entering Grades 1 or 2. Full Day: 9 AM 2:30 PM, Monday Friday. Fee: $255 M/$320 NM, per week. 8/3 8/7 Adaptation Station How do pipefish avoid predators? What helps a seal live life underwater? Explore our local habitats in search of plants and animals with awesome adaptations! 8/10 8/14 Camouflaged Critters Ever wonder why some animals are the same colors as leaves or the forest floor? Learn about some of the bestcamouflaged critters in the animal world and test your observation skills with games along the trail! The Turtles program provides field experience through exploration, crafts, and creative games that focus on animals and their habitats. Full-day sessions include time for a mid-morning snack and lunch brought from home. Turtles go off-site by bus on two field trips each week. Camper-to-camp instructor ratio is 5:1. 7/6 7/10 Ocean Monsters Discover some of the most fascinating creatures that roam the waters around Cape Cod. We ll learn about leatherback sea turtles, basking sharks, ocean sunfish, and more through games and crafts. 7/13 7/17 Mini Marvels of Nature Explore fields, gardens, and the water s edge in search of some of Cape Cod s smallest animals! We ll go out on expeditions looking for insects, fiddler crabs, minnows, and more! 7/20 7/24 Track Detectives What animal walked along the beach? Who made a home in this tree? Practice your nature detective skills with scavenger hunts and games as we search for clues left by animals. We ll also create track-pattern crafts to take home. 7/27 7/31 Baby Animals Some baby animals look a lot like their parents, while others look quite different. Learn how different types of animals grow up through roleplays, games, crafts, and stories. 8/3 8/7 Deep-Sea Explorer Use your imagination to go on a journey to the deep sea! Uncover mysteries of the deep and learn how certain animals can live in this extreme habitat! Explore the beach and compare the coastal critters we find to creatures of the deep. 8/10 8/14 Musical Nature Sometimes nature is very quiet and other times it is quite noisy! We ll focus on our sense of hearing as we explore the natural world and listen for sounds made by the wind, water, and animals. Too young for camp? Visit massaudubon.org/wellfleetbay for a listing of guided programs for families with young children massaudubon.org/chathamcamp 5

6 camp programs BY GRADE Seals Entering Grades 3 5. Full Day: 9 AM 2:30 PM, Monday Friday. Fee: $365 M/$430 NM, per week. The Seals program provides natural history experiences that focus on animals and their habitats through outdoor discovery, crafts, and creative games. Full-day sessions include time for a mid-morning snack and lunch brought from home. Seals go off-site on field trips every day to learn more about their special theme. Camper-to-camp instructor ratio is 7:1. 7/6 7/10 Herp Search Includes a river cruise. Turtles, snakes, frogs, and salamanders are everywhere, especially in Chatham! Search for musk turtles and frogs in the pond and salamanders in the woods. We will also learn about ways to help these species survive. 7/13 7/17 Creatures of Chatham Includes a shellfishing trip. Explore the woods, pond, marsh, and tidal flats of Chatham! Use GPS, maps, and a compass to navigate your way through the woods! Learn wilderness survival skills while looking for and catching wildlife. 7/20 7/24 Cape Cod s Aquatic Life Includes a marine life cruise. Cape Cod is rich with aquatic habitats, including ocean, bay, marsh creeks, and kettle ponds. Investigate the life found in each, from whales and seals to crabs and shrimp. The Cape is full of aquatic wildlife. Be ready to get wet! 7/27 7/31 CSI: Chatham Includes a seal cruise. We ll conduct our own investigations around the fish pier and Oyster Pond by looking at evidence that animals have left behind. Who chewed that fish? What dug that hole? How far down do fiddler crab holes go? We ll explore many different habitats looking for animals. 8/3 8/7 Nature in Flight Includes a boat trip to Tern Island. Birds, butterflies, bats, and bees are just a few of the amazing creatures that call the sky their home. Discover the techniques flying animals use to soar. Get wet trying to catch dragonflies, and explore the Cape in search of songbirds and shorebirds. 8/10 8/14 Coastal Encounters Includes a boat trip to Monomoy Island. Cape Cod is the perfect place to encounter coastal life. Observe shorebirds on barrier beaches, dig for clams and worms on tidal flats, muck about for crabs and eels in salt marshes, and follow coyote tracks in the dunes. Sharks Entering grades 6 8. Full Day: 9 AM 2:30 PM, Monday Friday. Fee: $455 M/$520 NM, per week. The Sharks program fosters environmental stewardship and education through fun and exciting activities, including daily off-site field trips to explore Cape Cod s beautiful habitats. Every week will include a snorkeling trip. This full-day session includes time for a mid-morning snack and lunch brought from home. Camper-to-camp instructor ratio is 8:1. Please note: participants must be able to demonstrate strong swimming skills in order to snorkel. 7/6 7/10 Marine Biology A Z Includes a boat trip to the fish weir and a seal cruise. This is your chance to learn everything about marine biology that we can fit into one week! From anemones to zooplankton, squid to sharks, and everything in between! Be ready to get wet, sandy, and mucky as we enter the fascinating ocean world. 7/20 7/24 Survival Includes a paddleboard trip and a geocaching trip. Would you survive if you were dropped into the wilderness? Learn behaviors and techniques from animal species, and acquire skills in GPS tracking, map and compass reading, and low-impact hiking. You ll also learn how to paddleboard. 8/3 8/7 Land and Sea Includes a kayak and a snorkeling trip. Explore the areas where land meets the sea. Estuaries are some of the most productive habitats in the world. We ll kayak through one of the largest on the Cape. We will also go snorkeling to discover what underwater inhabitants call Chatham their home. 7/13 7/17 Into the Wild Includes a boat trip to Monomoy Island and a kayak trip. Our agenda this week: pure exploration and discovery! We ll set out into a new habitat every day with nets, traps, binoculars, magnifiers, and any other equipment we need to find as many animal species as possible. 7/27 7/31 On the Brink Includes a boat trip to Tern Island and a snorkeling trip. Look for endangered shorebirds and signs of their nests, and search for threatened diamondback terrapins. Learn about the sea turtles that call Cape Cod Bay their home in the summer months and what you can do to help them. 8/10 8/14 Get Wet Highlights include a paddleboard trip and a river cruise. Get outdoors and get active this week while learning outdoor aquatic skills such as paddleboarding and fishing. You ll also get wet while wading waist-deep through the water to catch fish with seine nets and dragonflies with butterfly nets. Get ready to be wet and muddy! 6 Summer 2015 Natural History Day Camp in Chatham

7 high school STUDENTS Leaders-in-Training Excited about sharing your love of nature with children? Wondering if teaching is right for you? Work with our camp instructors as they lead campers through a myriad of crafts, hikes, and games. This is a wonderful opportunity to positively impact a child s growth and environmental awareness, learn about Cape Cod habitats, get a reference for college, and acquire community service hours. Visit massaudubon.org/wellfleetbay for a brochure or more information; or call us at or wellfleetbaycamp@massaudubon.org. Overnight Adventure There s more to explore at Wildwood, Mass Audubon s overnight camp in Rindge, New Hampshire. Campers ages 9 17 enjoy hands-on, nature-focused, outdoor activities with well-trained staff in a beautiful natural setting. Choose from one-week and two-week overnight sessions, Teen Treks, Leaders-in-Training sessions, and Family Camp. Call (toll free) or visit massaudubon.org/wildwood to learn more! Questions? Contact the camp director or registrar at: chathamcamp@massaudubon.org or massaudubon.org/chathamcamp 7

8 Through May 15, registrations will be accepted by mail or online. After May 15, registrations will be accepted by mail or phone. For identity safety assurances, fax and submissions are not permitted. Please use photocopy for additional children or camp weeks. Grade Entering in Camper Name Date of Birth September 2015 Check Group: Peeps (PreK or K), Turtles (Grades 1-2), Seals (Grades 3-5), Sharks (Grades 6-8) [ ] Peeps (half day) [ ] Turtles (full day) [ ] Seals (full day) [ ] Sharks (full day) Dates Send registration form with payment to Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, P.O. Box 236, South Wellfleet, MA Phone: Session Name(s) Office use only DR FS FR [ ] Carpooling: Please share my contact information with other camp families in my child s group on the first day of camp. PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY. Parent/Guardian Name Home Mailing Address Home Tel. City State Zip Cape Tel. Mass Audubon Member? [ ] Yes [ ] No Member # Expiration Date Membership Level Mass Audubon Family Membership Purchase/Renewal* ($65) $ Enclosed is FULL 50% Payment $ Enclosed is a Donation for the Camp Scholarship Fund $ Total Amount Enclosed $ (If not paid in full, your balance is due by May 15. If the balance is not received by this date, we cannot guarantee your child s spot.) * To qualify for a camp tuition discount you must be a current Mass Audubon member at the Family level or above and the parent, grandparent, or legal guardian of the camper being enrolled. To check your membership status please call Member Services at , Monday Friday, 9 am 5 pm. Form of Payment: Check (payable to Mass Audubon; include child s name and session date(s) in the subject line) VISA/Mastercard/Discover Cash Full Account Number Expiration Date Signature CVV code Billing Address City State Zip (if different from above) REFUND POLICY: All cancellations must be received in writing. The camp fee includes a $50 enrollment fee per child per session which is nonrefundable and non-transferable. A camp session is defined as one week of camp. If you cancel for any reason before the start of your weekly camp session the amount of tuition refund is determined by the following schedule on or before May 15: refund of all but the non-refundable deposit; after May 15: no refund is available. Refunds are not given for sick or absent days. I agree to allow Mass Audubon to charge my Visa/Discover/MasterCard in the amoutn specified above and understand that refunds will only be provided in accordance with the refund policy stated in this brochure. Signature Date 8 Summer 2015 Natural History Day Camp in Chatham