MORE SUN, MORE SUMMER, MORE FUN!

Transcription

1 MORE SUN, MORE SUMMER, MORE FUN! WELCOME PACKET SUMMER 2016 Camp Kerr Camp Kerr CREW Camp Kerr CILTS

2 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ONE Welcome PAGE TWO Camp Location Camp Hours & How to Contact Camp What to Send to Camp Wacky Wednesdays A Day at Camp Kerr Camp Weekly Themes PAGE THREE Drop Off & Pick Up Pick Up Cards Late Fees Camper Groupings PAGE FOUR Swimming Medication Information Parent Communication Parent Visits PAGE FIVE What Makes Camp Special? - Character Traits & Beads - Devotion - Family Fun Nights - Y Staff PAGE SIX Behavioral Guidelines -YMCA Rules -Emphasis on Positive -YMCA & the Home -Suspensions WELCOME TO CAMP KERR! Thank you for choosing to spend your summer with us at the Kerr Y! We understand the significance of your decision to send your child to camp, and we are excited that you have chosen Camp Kerr. Our leadership staff and counselor team approaches every day with imagination, innovation, and best of all, fun! At camp, we will focus on camper achievement, relationship formation, and creating a sense of belonging for all campers. Your child will experience days full of games, swimming, arts and crafts, archery, sports, and opportunities to begin lifelong friendships! They will spend their day with creative, energetic counselors that your child can look to as great role models. At Camp Kerr, campers are grouped by age, allowing staff to create safe, intentional experiences and allowing kids confidence to thrive. We are here because we love kids and believe that by creating a unique environment in which every child is valued, we strengthen your family and our community. This Welcome Packet is intended to help you navigate your child s summer experience. Please look through the information and don t hesitate to let us know should you have any questions or concerns. You can reach us by or phone at Camp.Kerr@YMCATriangle.org or We are looking forward to helping your child have the best summer ever! Sincerely, Caitlin Dump Truck Herrion Camp Kerr Director Kate Queen Bee McCormick Camp Kerr Assistant Director

3 2 CAMP LOCATION: Camp Kerr is located at the Kerr Family YMCA at 2500 Wakefield Pines Drive, Raleigh, NC The camp office is located on the bottom floor of the Kerr Y next to the climbing wall. CAMP HOURS & HOW TO CONTACT CAMP: Camp Kerr is open from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. If you need to reach camp for any reason during the day, please call our camp office at between the hours of 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. or our camp cell phone at from 7-8:30 a.m. and 5-6 p.m. For less urgent questions or communication you may our camp account at Camp.Kerr@YMCATriangle.org. WHAT TO SEND TO CAMP: -A morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack (if possible, please avoid sending products that are processed with nuts). Lunches are stored inside. Please pack food/drinks that do not need special heating/cooling and in a sturdy lunch box. -Weather appropriate clothing and closed-toe tennis shoes -Wear sunscreen (if you would like your child to reapply throughout the day, spray sunscreen works best as our staff can assist with the spray). -Swim-suit, towel, goggles, and an extra change of clothes -Please pack these items in a labeled duffel or book bag! -Please label everything you send with your child. WACKY WEDNESDAYS: On Wacky Wednesdays we ask campers and counselors to dress up in a costume that goes along with the weekly theme. Activities for the day will focus on the weekly theme. Please send your child to camp in their costume. We ask that you do not send your child to camp with play/prop weapons or items that could be used as a weapon. A DAY AT CAMP KERR CAMP WEEKLY THEMES 7-8:30 a.m. Rides In 8:30-9:15 a.m. Flagpole & Snack 9:15-10 a.m. Morning Assembly 10-10:30 a.m. Huddle Time 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Morning Activities 12-12:35 p.m. Assembly & Lunch 12:35-3:30 p.m. Afternoon Activities & Swimming 3:30-4:30 p.m. Snack/Bead Time 4:30-5 p.m. Afternoon Assembly 5-6 p.m. Rides Out June June June 27-July 1 July 5-8* July July July August 1-5 August 8-12 August August Superheroes Wide World of Sports Messy Madness Holiday Hoopla Survivor Week of Awesomeness Camp Kerr s Got Talent Homecoming Olympics Animal Kingdom Greatest Hits Activities may include: Open Programming/ Ranks, Arts & Crafts, Specialty Activities, Traditional Sports, Climbing Wall, GaGa, Shark Teeth Pit, Target Sports, and much more! *There is no camp offered on Monday, July 4. Fees are adjusted. *Bolded weeks will have Family Fun Nights on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8 p.m.

4 3 DROP OFF & PICK UP: Rides In and Out at Camp Kerr at the Kerr YMCA is located in the circle behind the YMCA building. From Wakefield Pines Drive, turn on Sycamore Grove and turn in to the second entrance of the Y. During these times, counselors will assist your child from/to the car and with their belongings. During this time, you do not need to park or leave your car. Rides In at the Kerr YMCA runs from 7 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Rides Out at the Kerr YMCA runs from 5-6 p.m. We will also offer drop off and pick up for our day camp participants at Durant Elementary. Drop off times at Durant Elementary in the morning are from 7 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. Pick up in the afternoon at Durant at 5:30 p.m.-6 p.m. If you need to drop off or pick up your child between the hours of 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., please park your vehicle, walk your child into the building, and check them in at the camp office located through the back entrance to the Kerr YMCA beside the Climbing Wall on the lower level. PARENT PICK UP CARDS: All parents/guardians are issued a pick-up card at the time of registration and/or on the first day your child attends a YMCA program. This card acts like a photo ID. Cards will only be issued to those on the pick-up list. You must present a picture ID in order to receive your pick-up card from camp. All returning campers will be issued new cards as the cards change colors each year. LATE FEES: Parents who arrive late to pick up their children will be charged a late fee of $5 for the first 10 minutes and an additional $1 for every minute there after. Late fees are to be paid at the time of pick-up. Cash or checks made payable to the YMCA are acceptable forms of payment. CAMPER GROUPINGS: At Camp Kerr, we welcome campers from rising kindergarten through rising tenth grade. We know that while we all are together in the camp family, different ages require different things: Our rising Kindergarteners (Camp K) have easier transition times, a rest period after swimming, and counselors who love helping our youngest campers gain confidence through camp. Grades 1-2 (Camp 1) and Grades 3-5 (Camp 2) have shorter transitions, faster paced activities and more choices of activities. Our rising middle schoolers (Camp 3) will have the added bonus of going on field trips once a week and an opportunity to participate in a camp overnight on Thursday, July 7. You must sign up at the Welcome Center for the overnight. Our rising ninth and tenth grade campers, known as Campers in Leadership Training (CILTS), will participate in leadership trainings, go on field trips and service projects, and have the opportunity to serve alongside counselors in younger huddles. They will also have the opportunity to participate in a camp overnight on Thursday, July 21. You must sign up at the Welcome Center for the overnight.

5 4 SWIMMING: During your child s week at camp, they will swim daily at the indoor swimming facilities at the Kerr YMCA. To ensure water safety, campers will take a swim test on the first day of the session. Color-coded swim bands will be issued upon completion of the swim test to enable life guards to differentiate swimmers of different abilities. Children who do not wish to take a swim test or do not pass the swim test may be required to wear a YMCA float pack if they are under the designated height and will swim in the shallow area of the pool only. For a child to swim in the shallow half of the pool they must earn a yellow band. To receive a yellow band, your child must be able to swim to the halfway point of the pool, putting their face in the water, without goggles, and tread water for 30 seconds with his/her ears out of the water. For a child to swim in the entire pool they must earn a red band. To receive a red band, your child must be able to swim the entire length of the pool, putting their face in the water, without goggles, tread water for 30 seconds with his/her ears out of the water, climb out of the pool, jump back in and be able to resurface comfortably. MEDICATION INFORMATION: Our staff cannot administer medicine during program hours to any camper without the following: A completed and signed Medication Form. All prescription medication must be kept in the original pharmacy container with its prescription label. The container should include the doctor s name, name of medication, procedures for use, and the child s name. A written and dated note from your physician for any over the counter medicine. All medication must be checked in at the program office by the parent/guardian. If your child has an epi-pen or an inhaler, these items must also be accompanied with a completed medication form and checked in at the camp office. Please note that if your child attends multiple programs, we are not able to move medications between programs/sites nor are we able to allow campers to transport medications between programs/sites. We will transport medicine on camp field trips, if applicable. PARENT COMMUNICATION: The YMCA will make every effort to communicate with you about camp activities and special events as well as about your individual child. Be sure to have an accurate address on your registration materials. Friday morning of the week before your child s first day of camp, you will receive communication that will let you know what is planned for the week including dress up days, family nights, special events, and more. We also communicate through our Closed Facebook Group with updates, pictures, and videos. Our group is called: Camp Kerr We will also communicate through signs posted in Rides In and Rides Out, phone calls, and face to face during Rides In and Rides Out. If there is ever a time when you feel that you need more information about your child or about your child s camp experience, please let Caitlin know. PARENT VISITS: Please feel free to stop by any time during program hours. Parents and other visitors are always welcome at any of our YMCA programs. For the safety of our campers, we ask that you check in at the camp office.

6 5 What Makes YMCA Camp Special? Character Traits & Beads: The YMCA believes strongly in character development and in teaching our campers the importance of our five core character traits: respect, responsibility, caring, honesty, and faith. We spend time reinforcing these traits at camp by pointing out campers who display these traits throughout the day and by rewarding campers with beads. Children participating in Camp Kerr will have an opportunity to earn beads throughout their day in our program. Beads are used throughout YMCA programs as a way to reinforce good behavior and praise children regularly. Campers are encouraged to think of their own creative beads to award to other campers/counselors during Bead Time. Devotion: The YMCA believes strongly in our mission: To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. We incorporate our mission into our daily programs in many ways. One of the most important means of sharing our mission is by holding devotions with our campers. Devotions are a time of sharing our YMCA character traits and focusing on character development through demonstrations, storytelling, and acknowledgment of positive camper behavior. If you have further questions about this part of our day, please talk with your child s Camp Director. MISSION OF THE YMCA: To put Christian principle into practice through programs that build healthy SPIRIT, MIND & BODY FOR ALL. FAMILY FUN NIGHTS: Join us for Camp Kerr Family Fun Nights on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8 p.m. throughout the summer! You will get to experience what camp is like, meet your child s counselors, as well as have time for fellowship with other families in the program. We will cook hotdogs and ask each family to bring a side dish to share for a potluck dinner. Our Family Fun Nights for the summer are as follows: June 23 July 7 July 21 August 4 August 18 Y STAFF: The YMCA prides itself in hiring quality staff that embody our mission and have a passion for being a positive role model for children. Many of our counselors are high school and college students. These staff are selected through a comprehensive application and interview process, and often have previous experience in other YMCA programs. Each staff member completes a minimum of 30 hours of staff training that emphasizes the importance of safety, child development, and fun. All staff are trained in First Aid and all leadership staff are trained in CPR. The YMCA strives to maintain a 1:12 ratio for youth camp programs.

7 6 BEHAVIORAL GUIDELINES YMCA RULES To ensure that our programs are safe, pleasant, and fun-filled for all children and staff, our basic YMCA rules are clearly communicated and consistently enforced. They include: 1. Have fun! 2. Be safe. 3. Listen and follow directions. 4. Use your manners. 5. Try everything and do your best! EMPHASIS ON THE POSITIVE We realize that the single most effective behavior management tool at our disposal is an emphasis on positive behavior. Our counselors are trained to be constantly on the look out for opportunities to praise or otherwise reinforce positive behavior. Common reinforcments include (but are not limited to): verbal praise, a high-five or hug, and/or program wide recognition (for example, being named Camper of the Week ). We will also award beads of different colors for campers to place on their bead necklaces. Beads will be given out everyday at camp but every child may not earn a bead everyday. As often as possible counselors will share incidents or positive behavior with parents. YMCA & HOME PARTNERSHIP Sometimes families have specific concerns regarding their child s behavior or are working in the home and school to modify certain behaviors. Our staff welcomes the opportunity to support these efforts. Please do not hesitate to speak with the Camp Director if you have concerns or if you would like for us to support any work that you are doing at home or school with your child. We will be happy to include your child s counselor(s) in a discussion regarding specific approaches or concerns. SUSPENSION & EXPLUSION While it is our hope that these procedures and a strong YMCA & home partnership will promote positive behavior (and minimize behavioral problems), serious and/or chronic disciplinary problems can occur. In these cases, suspension, or expulsion may be necessary. For a full description of our behavior policy, please see registration forms available online. However, the Y encourages appropriate language, cooperation, respect to staff and facilities, positive attitudes, staying in program areas, and participation in all activities. Please take time to review these with your children as necessary. The YMCA maintains a zero-tolerance policy with respect to bullying, sexual misconduct, alcohol/tobacco/drug use, and weapons possession. Campers found in violation of this rule will be sent home immediately. If your child is suspended from one YMCA program, he/she will not be allowed to attend any YMCA program for the duration of the suspension.