HANDBOOK Learn. Play. Discover. Perform.

HANDBOOK Learn. Play. Discover. Perform.

Refunds After June 1, there will be no refunds for camp unless a program is cancelled due to lack of enrollment. In the event a program is cancelled due to lack of enrollment, participants will receive a full refund. Transfers We will always try to accommodate any week transfers, providing there is space available. Please email sjcampsli@sjcny.edu with your request. Waiting Lists If you have been placed on a waiting list for a particular week, we will only notify you if space becomes available. You will then have three days to enroll for the week before we offer it to the next person on the waiting list. Welcome to SJCamps. We re glad that you ve chosen to spend your summer with us. Our camp and site directors have been planning for this summer throughout the year, hiring a staff and designing a program that will help your child build character and enjoy the kind of positive experiences and memories that last a lifetime. This handbook has been created as a reference guide for parents and children. It contains vital information and policies about our summer program. Your child s safety is a top priority, and we take this responsibility very seriously. Please take time with your child to read and review the entire handbook. If you have any questions or comments, please call 631.687.4556. Mission SJCamps is dedicated to ensuring your child s safety and fun by offering unique experiences and opportunities for personal growth, education and enrichment, while building friendships and memories to last a lifetime. All of our summer programs take place on the beautiful St. Joseph s College grounds in Patchogue, N.Y. Licensing This camp is permitted to operate by the Suffolk County Department of Health and is inspected twice yearly. Inspection reports are on file in the camp office or at the Department of Health, 360 Yaphank Ave. in Yaphank, N.Y. Tax ID Number For tax purposes our tax ID number is 11-1733439. If you need a statement for tax purposes, you can log on to your active account and re-print a receipt. You can also email us a request at sjcampsli@sjcny.edu. Camp Schedule Each group is assigned a group schedule to give them the most exposure to the various activities at camp. Group schedules will be posted on the website a few days before camp begins. These schedules are subject to change. Hours Our camp day is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. We ask that campers arrive between 8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. to permit us to start our day promptly. Pick-up is between 4-4:30 p.m. Any parent dropping off or picking up their child outside of these hours will be asked to register and pay for extended hours. This ensures that we have proper staffing. Extended Hours Parents are asked to sign up at least a week in advance for extended hours. This allows us to provide proper staffing. Should you need extended hours with less than a week notice, we ask that you contact our office at sjcampsli@sjcny.edu to confirm availability. Absences To ensure the safest possible environment, please report any absences by emailing: SJCampsLI@sjcny.edu Drop Off / Pick Up Regular Hours There is no transportation available. All programs are parent/ guardian drop-off and pick-up. Drop-off and pick-up of the campers takes place in the gym at the Danzi Center. Please park in the lot at the rear of the Danzi center and enter through the

double doors. Parents will not be permitted to enter through the lobby during arrival or dismissal. For pick up, please make sure to have photo ID available. Campers will only be released to parents, guardians and emergency contacts listed in the active system. If you need to arrange to have someone not on the list pick up your child, please complete the pickup form available under parent resources on the website. It is the parent s responsibility to notify the camp of any changes in authorization. Drop-off / Pick-up Extended Hours Drop-off and pick-up takes place in the Danzi Center multipurpose room. Please enter through the main lobby. The multipurpose room is at the end of the hallway on your left. For pick up, please be sure to have photo ID available. Campers will only be released to parents, guardians, or emergency contacts listed in the active system. If you need to arrange to have someone not on the list pick up your child, please complete the pickup form available under parent resources on the website. It is the parent s responsibility to notify the camp of any changes in authorization. **Note: Appropriate legal paperwork is required to be on file with the camp when the custodial parent requests the center not to release the child to the other parent. Early Pick-Up If your child will be leaving early, please notify the site director, in writing, on the morning of the designated day. The staff will have your child prepared to depart at your requested time. Remember that you will still need to sign your child out. It is the parent s responsibility to notify the camp of any changes in authorization. member upon request. No child will be released to anyone who has not been previously authorized to pick up that child. **Note: Appropriate legal paperwork is required to be on file with the camp when the custodial parent requests the center not to release the child to the other parent. Walk Home Permissions No camper below 7th grade will be allowed to leave by him or herself and or sign him or herself out of camp, regardless of written permission. Any camper 7th grade and up can leave by him or herself and or sign him or herself out of camp with parent authorization. Authorization forms can be found on the website under parent resources. Parking Please remember to drive slowly and carefully on campus. Should for any reason you receive a parking ticket while on campus, please send it to Lisa Goldberg, 155 West Roe Blvd., Patchogue, NY 11772 and we will take care of it. Typical Day While each camp is unique, they all follow similar schedules. Activities may vary in frequency, depending on the age of your child and the program they are enrolled in. Group schedules will be available about one week before camp begins and are subject to change. Optional Trips SJC Kids campers will have the option to participate in field trips, for an additional fee. Please watch your email for trip announcements. In case of rain, a field trip may be changed or cancelled. On trip days, campers are advised to come dressed in their camp shirt. No camper will be permitted to go on an optional trip without a completed permission form, payment and camp shirt. For unpredictable early pick up, please call 631.687.4556 so that we can prepare your child to leave early. You will meet your child at O Connor Hall, room N216. To get to room N216, please enter O Connor Hall (the campus main building) by the flag pole and go to the first room on your right. If you need help, proceed to reception as you come through the entrance. Should it become necessary for an adult who has not been previously authorized to pick up your child, a written note must be delivered ahead of time. The persons picking up children should be prepared to show identification to the camp staff

operate under a separate license. By registering for the camps, you give permission for your child to participate in these activities. If for any reason you do not want your child to swim, please contact the camp. Camp T-Shirts Each camper will receive one T-Shirt. Campers signing up for four or more weeks will receive two. Camp Shirts are mandatory on camp shirt day and optional trips. Campers are encouraged to wear them every day. Limited sizing is available. Should your camper s shirt be too large, feel free to cut them and personalize them to make them unique. Additional shirts can be purchased for $10. Swimming / Water Activities Please send your child to camp with a swimsuit and towel every day, along with a plastic bag for their wet suits. Although you will be provided with a schedule that indicates your camper s swim schedule, sending your camper with his or her swim gear each day will allow them to participate in other activities, in the event of a schedule change. All SJC Kids campers, kindergarten and up, should arrive to camp dressed in their swimsuit with shorts and shirt over their suit. Children will be swim-tested at the beginning of each session and grouped accordingly. The swim test will consist of swimming one length of the pool, using a recognizable stroke, and treading water for one minute. The procedure is required to ensure safety in the pool. Successful completion of this test will allow the children to swim in the deep end of the pool during camp time. Those campers that do not pass the required swim test will be restricted to designated areas of the pool. No exceptions. All non-deep water campers will be marked with a wristband at the completion of the swim test. Day camp staff, as well as certified lifeguards, will supervise the pool at all times. Please note the following regarding your child s camp of choice: SJC Kids will receive swim instruction and recreation time. SJC Discovers, SJC Preforms and SJC Sports will receive swimming time, as scheduled. Our swim activities are considered by the Department of Health as off-site swimming. This is because the pool is permitted to Camper Groups Many of our camps are divided into groups by age and/or ability. We will try to honor requests made during time of registration. Remember, camp is for making new friends. Weather Outdoor play is an important part of our daily camp schedule. Parents are asked to dress their children appropriately for the weather conditions. A light sweater or jacket may be needed in the mornings. During periods of extreme heat, the camp staff will scale down the physical camp activities. Indoor facilities will also be utilized by programming more crafts, low-activity events or activities. The staff will take children inside to increase their water intake on these days. Campers should bring a refillable water bottle every day. Rainy Days These days are programmed similar to heat alert days. Alternative indoor activities have been planned and may include swim, movies, indoor sports and games. Please remember to bring rain gear to get from facility to facility. Ponchos, rain coats and rain boots are recommended. Remember to bring your regular camp gear as well, in case the sun does come out. Lunch All campers have the option of bringing their own lunch or purchasing meals through the lunch program. If purchasing lunch, please pay at least one week prior so that our food vendor has fresh supplies on hand. All campers bringing lunch should bring a non-perishable lunch, beverage and water bottle to camp daily unless pre-paid for the optional lunch program. Please pack a healthy, low sugar and balanced meal. Do not bring soda to camp and do not send food or drinks in glass containers. Lunches will not be refrigerated. Inserting a cold pack in the lunch container will help preserve the food. Please mark all lunches (and all containers inside lunches) with the camper s first and last name.

Please do not provide your camper with food that will need heating. No facilities for heating or preparing cooked food are available. In order to help keep our program NUT AWARE, we ask that you do not provide lunch or snacks that contain peanuts, peanut butter or other nuts at camp. This is to ensure the safety of all children at the camp. Please note that if your child brings a lunch or snack that contains nuts or nut products, camp staff will provide a purchased lunch and the item will be returned to you at the end of the day. The cost of lunch will be added to your account for payment. Your understanding and support in helping us to provide a NUT AWARE ZONE is greatly appreciated. Optional Lunch Menu The optional lunch program is $25 per week, or $8 per day. If purchasing lunch, please pay at least one week prior so that our food vendor has fresh supplies on hand. Lunch order forms are available on our website under parent resources. Campers will be able to purchase additional snack items from the food service. The camp is not responsible for lost money or food consumed by purchase. By sending your child with money to purchase items, you assume the responsibility. For the optional trips, lunch information will be provided with trip information. Snacks Near the end of every day, campers will receive either ice cream or ices for snack. Should your camper have dietary restrictions that will not permit them to have the snack, please notify the camp and pack an additional snack for your child. Special Events & Birthdays Special food treats may be brought in for holidays, special events or birthdays. Arrangements should be made ahead of time with the site director. All food must be store-bought items in unopened packages. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten 1:4 First grade 1:6 Second grade 1:8 Third grade and up 1:10 Baby-Sitting Policy It is the policy of SJCamps not to make any baby-sitting recommendations or give out staff information. These are activities that take place outside of camp and SJCamps cannot be held responsible for any of these arrangements. Bathroom / Locker Room Procedures No camper is ever alone and no camper is ever alone with one staff member. All campers will take trips to the bathroom with the entire camp and/or groups of campers escorted by camp staff. Campers will only use bathrooms and locker rooms inspected for safety by camp staff. Communication To better serve the campers, it is important for there to be an exchange of information whether it s formal or informal between parents and staff members. Changes at home, including a move, an altercation or a hospitalization of a loved one, significantly affect the way your child relates to others. Staff members can better provide for a child s needs if they are aware of situations that may be causing stress for the child. We will treat this information very sensitively. Please do not call to speak to your child unless it is an emergency. If your child is experiencing a problem, we will call you immediately. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the site director at any time. Campers are not allowed to have cell phones or any other electronic devices at any of our camp sites. Staff We feel confident that we have the best staff around. Our staff is as diverse as our campers. Many members of our staff team are education majors in college or are full-time teachers. The camp strives to hire a highly qualified, well-trained staff to conduct all programs. All group leaders and activity staff have first aid and CPR/AED certifications. Each member of the staff meets requirements set forth by New York State and Suffolk County. Camper Ratios (Staff:Students)

Email Communication General Camp Email: SJCampsLI@sjcny.ed Administrative Assistant, Kim Teague: kteague@sjcny.edu Executive Director, Lisa Goldberg: lgoldberg@sjcny.edu Please check our website and Facebook for pictures and updates throughout the day. Mandatory Forms As required by the local licensing authority, each camper must have a completed: Camp registration form via paper or online. Immunization record. Medication authorization forms as needed. Illness Policy All children must have a current physical on file. Physical examinations must be complete and signed by a child s physician within one year of the completion of camp. All immunizations must be current. Children must be healthy enough to participate in the program s daily routine. We do not have the facilities to care for sick children, and therefore do not allow them to attend the program. For the safety and comfort of your child, please keep them home until they feel better and no longer present the danger of passing on their illness. If you are keeping your child home due to illness, please contact the camp by 9 a.m. When your child has a fever (above 101 degrees) or vomiting and diarrhea, please make sure they remain at home 24 hours after their temperature and symptoms return to normal. We may require a physician s release for any medical or health condition. In the event your child becomes ill during the program, you will be contacted as soon as possible. If the parent or guardian is unable to be reached, the child s emergency contact will be notified. It is the responsibility of the parents to arrange for the child to be picked up from the camp as soon as possible. Campers who go home sick from camp are required to stay home for 24 hours. The following are defined as illness or communicable health problems: Conjunctivitis (pink eye). Chronic runny nose with colored discharge. Chronic cough. Vomiting or upset stomach. Signs of general fatigue or discomfort. An open rash. Head lice (children will not be permitted to attend with Nits). Knowledge that the child has had a fever within the past 24 hours. Please notify the camp staff if your child has had any of the above within 24 hours of attending camp. Child Abuse By state law, the camp is required to report suspected or actual child abuse and/or neglect to the proper authorities. Accidents/Emergencies All precautions will be taken to prevent serious health risks to all campers. In the event that a minor injury occurs, First-Aid will be administered at the camp by the camp staff. The following procedures will be followed: First-Aid will be provided and the incident recorded in the camp log. The camper will periodically be observed after First-Aid has been administered. In the event of an allergy emergency, immediate action will be taken by the staff as per your physician s orders. Please be sure to keep these forms updated at all times. If parents or other responsible adults are unable to be reached, the child will be taken to the nearest hospital for any necessary treatment. In general, in the event that a major injury or health problem arises and professional medical care is required, the following steps will be taken: Immediate First-Aid will be administered by the camp staff person until professional services arrive. 911 will be called. The camp will contact the parents. If the parents cannot be reached, the emergency contact person will be notified. A staff person will accompany the injured camper to the hospital and remain with the child until a parent or an emergency contact person arrives. The incident will be reported to the Department of Health when mandated.

Emergency information is very important for us to provide the safest possible environment for your children. *** Please notify us right away when there is a new work or home phone number, or if you have moved and have a new address. If your child is sick or injured, it is important for us to be able to contact you right away. Please keep these accurate at all times. The camp does not incur the cost of medical treatment if a camper is transported to a hospital or needs medical attention. Allergies In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of children with severe allergies to nut products and other foods in our camps. We do our best to accommodate these campers without inconveniencing other campers. If you re aware that your child is severely allergic to something, it is your responsibility to notify the camp in advance so we can take proper precautions. The camp is NUT AWARE but not NUT FREE, as our facilities are not exclusive to camp. We ask parents not to provide lunch or snacks that contain peanuts, peanut butter or other nuts to camp to ensure the safety of all children. Emergency Plan Each camp site will have a site-specific emergency plan that includes an assembly area program, facility evacuation plan, notification (sounding of alarms) system, shelter-in-place plan, locations of fire extinguishers and First-Aid kits. Staffers have been trained and are expected to be well-versed in emergency procedures. Each session of summer camp will include a fire drill, so that campers are aware of what to do in an emergency. Medication Our medication policy is primarily established to accommodate the administration of life-saving medication. Medications will not be dispensed without written consent from the child s parent and physician. In order to have the medications administered, the following must take place: Medications must be left in their original pharmaceutical container and be labeled from the pharmacy, including the child s full name, address prescribers name, directions for administration and expiration date. All Medications must be checked in with the Camp Nurse or EMT to verify the information matches this form at least two business days prior to the child s first enrolled session. Copies of all pharmaceutical labels will be made and attached to this form. Signature authorizing St. Joseph s College employees and agents on parents/guardians behalf to administer or attempt to administer to my child, or allow my child to self-administer the lawfully prescribed medication. Signature authorizing St. Joseph s College and employees, in the event that an EpiPen is used, to contact the local EMS. Signature authorizing the administering of medication by an individual who is not a nurse or medical professional, when necessary. Sunscreen Should your camper be required to use sunscreen while participating in the camp day, the following procedures MUST be followed: Keep the sunscreen in the original container, labeled with your camper s name. Camp staff will remind campers to apply sunscreen multiple times per day. Camp staff will aid and apply sunscreen to campers under the age of 9. Campers over the age of 9 will only get assistance if the camper requests it. The camp suggests spray sunscreen for the body and a stick for the face. Bug Spray Should your camper be required to use bug spray while at camp, the insect repellent must be in its original container and labeled with your camper s name. FAQ What if my camper forgets his/her lunch? Every so often, a lunch doesn t make it from the car to camp. The camp staff will contact you to let you know that your child does not have a lunch. You will have the option to return to camp with the lunch, or you can purchase lunch for your child from the food vendor. Does the camp program provide a snack? Yes. Each day, campers will receive ice cream or ices. If you do

not wish for your child to eat the snack or if your child is unable to have the snack, it is your responsibility to notify the camp and send an alternate snack. Should my campers bring money to camp? Campers will be permitted to purchase additional snack items from the food vendor. Camp is not responsible for lost money. By sending your child with money to purchase items, you assume the responsibility. What if my camper loses something at camp? We know that sometimes items get lost. Please label all of your child s belongings. The best way to prevent the loss of property is to leave it at home. There will be a designated lost-and-found area for all items not labeled. Lost-and-found items, if unclaimed, are kept until the last day of camp and then donated to charity. The camp is not responsible for camper possessions that are lost or stolen. How often do campers take the swim test? In order to keep your child safe, campers wanting to swim in the deep end take the swim test at the start of each week. Expectations of Campers Campers are entitled to a pleasant and safe environment while participating in camp programs. We know that everyone is not always going to get along or agree on things, especially when competition is involved. However, we expect that these disagreements will be handled in a non-violent and nonthreatening manner. We want everyone at camp to feel that they are in a safe environment where they are valued. The camp reserves the right to withdraw a participant from our program if he or she is unable or unwilling to adjust to our schedule and program. Bullying Bullying is when a person or group of people exclude, tease, taunt, gossip, hit, kick, or put down another person with the intent to hurt another. Bullying happens when a person or group of people want to have power over another and use their power to get their way, at the expense of someone else. Bullying can also happen through cyberspace: through the use of emails, text messaging, instant messaging, and other less direct methods. This type of bullying can also lead to persons being hurt during or between the camp seasons and be especially hurtful when persons are targeted with meanness and exclusion. Our leadership addresses all incidents of bullying seriously and trains staff to promote communication with other staff members and their campers, so that staff members and campers will be comfortable alerting us to any problems during their camp experience and between camp seasons. Every person has the right to have the best possible experience at camp, and by working together as a team to identify and manage bullying, we can help ensure that all campers and staff have a great summer. The Camps have a zero-tolerance policy for serious behavioral infractions, since our goal is to provide a healthy, safe and fun environment for every camper. The camp reserves the right to expel a participant from the program if he or she is found to be bullying or mistreating another person. Quick Guide: Website: http://www.sjcny.edu/long-island/sjcamps Email Address: SJCampsli@sjcny.edu Phone: 631.687.4556 Drop-off: 8:30 9 a.m. Danzi Gym rear entrance Pick-up: 4 4:30 p.m. Danzi Gym rear entrance What to pack for camp: Swimsuit, towel, zip lock bag for wet bathing suits, sunscreen, water bottle and lunch or lunch order form.