Summer Camp 2024 Parent Handbook

BCRC Summer Camp Parent Handbook 2024

At the Baldwin City Recreation Commission (BCRC) Summer Camp, we believe in the power of play to create positive experiences and help kids grow emotionally, mentally, physically, and socially. Our dedicated staff is committed to guiding campers through a variety of fun activities including outdoor adventures, swimming, sports, arts & crafts, games, STEM projects, exciting field trips and more. Each week, we explore different themes that encourage leadership, critical thinking, teamwork, and the opportunity to form lasting friendships.

Our goal is to create a nurturing environment where children can learn, play, and develop skills that will benefit them for life. To achieve this, we will prioritize connection, consistency, and compassion as our guiding principles, ensuring that every camper feels supported and valued.

BCRC Mission Statement

To provide places, pathways, and programs to promote healthy lifestyles and maximize positive behaviors in the community.

Camp Information

Dates: June 3rd – August 9th (no camp July 4th & 5th)

Hours: 7:00am – 5:30pm, Monday - Friday

Ages: K - 5th grade. Must have completed Kindergarten.

Location: Drop Off & Pick Up will occur ONLY at the Baldwin Elementary School Intermediate Center (BESIC) 100 Bullpup Dr

To clarify, when we use the term "parent" in this context, we are referring to any adult who is responsible for a child participating in the program. This includes not only biological parents but also grandparents, legal guardians, neighbors who are authorized to pick up the child, older siblings over the age of 18, and any other individual entrusted with the care and supervision of the child during the program.

Parent Orientation: Pick one session to attend – Tuesday, May 21st 5:45pm - 6:30pm or Wednesday, May 22nd 5:30pm – 6:15pm. Topics covered: Code of conduct for campers and parents, communication, drop off and pick up procedures, field trip and pool information. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet some of the camp counselors, confirm all contact information, complete additional paperwork, and ask questions. One parent per family is required to attend, $50 credit processed after the session.

Activities: A calendar for the summer will be provided at orientation. While we do our best to prepare, schedules are subject to change.

Program Administration: The summer camp program located inside the BESIC is operated by the Baldwin City Recreation Commission. The space is provided to our organization by the USD 348 with the expectation that our program function independently in both policy and procedure. We are guests of the school and seek to be compatible and unobtrusive to the

school’s mission of education. Please direct all program related issues to the BCRC Recreation Supervisor, Shaunacee Wilkinson Shaunacee@baldwinrec.org, 785-589-3670.

Fees

Weekly Fee: $130/week per child

▪ Second Child Discount: 10% discount for the second child, bringing the weekly fee to $117/week.

▪ Administrative Fee: A one-time $50 administrative fee is applicable for all registration types.

After hour care charges - A charge of $1.00 per minute past 5:30pm closure will be assessed to parents for after hour services. It is to be paid prior to the following week of camp via your online account.

Required Child File Forms

Kansas State Law requires all children to have the following forms on file, on site, before attendance is permitted. All forms will be completed and turned in prior to or during parent orientation. Children will not start camp until all forms have been completed.

Kansas State Law Forms

▪ Health History (pg. 13)

▪ Emergency Medical Release (pg. 15)

▪ Prescription & non-prescription medication.

BCRC Required Forms

▪ Personal data sheet & authorized pick-up.

▪ Field trip permission.

▪ First aid/sunscreen/bug spray/bike and wheelie permission.

Participant Code of Conduct:

Participation in BCRC programs is a privilege, not a right. We believe that cultivating positive life skills is crucial for every participant’s consistent engagement. To foster a conducive environment, we have established a set of non-negotiable standards aimed at promoting self-regulation among participants. We emphasize that everyone’s actions impact the collective experience of the entire group. Our objective is to ensure successful participation for every student by fostering a shared understanding, providing support, and encouraging the practice of these positive life skills. These expectations are reasonable for any child participating in a group setting.

1. Respect and respond to adult authority.

2. Accept responsibility for own actions.

3. Manage anger in appropriate ways.

4. Accept differences among the group.

5. Respect the right of others to courtesy and personal space.

Discriminatory statements or behaviors that are based on race, religion, disability, sex or gender will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary action, including suspension and/or termination from the program.

Parent Code of Conduct

Our goal is to facilitate productive communication to aid in the success of each child and to maintain a safe environment for all. Parents must demonstrate civility, self-control, and socially acceptable behavior while interacting with BCRC employees, participants, and their families. Kansas state law prohibits parents from disciplining and/or reprimanding other participants. Discriminatory statements or behaviors that are based on race, religion, disability, sex, or gender will not be tolerated. Profanity, threats, insults, harassment, suggestive remarks, intimidation, physical crowding, yelling or contact will result in immediate contact of law enforcement.

Failure to adhere to acceptable behavior standards may lead to permanent expulsion from the program. We expect all adults to serve as positive role models, ensuring a positive camp experience for all children through their actions. Should you ever have any concerns, we encourage you to address them by speaking with the program director in an appropriate manner, ensuring the right time and place. Additionally, you may contact the recreation supervisor if necessary.

Safety and Discipline Practices

Safe Environment Policy - BCRC strives to maintain a safe, healthy, and secure environment for children and youth under our care and supervision. To protect this, BCRC staff may conduct a search and may seize any illegal, unauthorized, or contraband materials or items discovered. BCRS respects the rights of each person’s privacy; however, we must also protect the rights of the group’s safety and well-being.

The program will not allow any form of violent play, including the use of toys as weapons, gesturing in an aggressive manner, or depicting violence in drawings or any other expressive form. Possessions of weapons fashioned or real, is prohibited and grounds for immediate expulsion. Statements by anyone that threaten violent action will be regarded as real and result in immediate contact of parents and law enforcement if appropriate.

Mandated Reporter - BCRC staff are required by KDHE to immediately report any evidence of suspected child abuse or neglect to DCF or local law enforcement agencies.

Discipline Policy - Our discipline procedures are centered around positivity and respect. Under no circumstances shall any form of corporal punishment, verbal abuse, physical restraint, confinement, threats, humiliation, coercion regarding food, or fear tactics be employed. Parents will be promptly informed of any inappropriate behavior exhibited by their child, along with the steps taken to address and correct such behavior.

Furthermore, all children are expected to adhere to the Participation Code of Conduct (pg. 6) while enrolled in the program.

Discipline for inappropriate behavior will focus on consequences, rather than punishment, to help children self-manage their behavior in the future. Staff assist children in selfmanagement through reminders, redirection, and discussions about consequences. When children consciously make a choice to ignore expectations, consequences in line with the behavior will follow. Interventions and consequences focus on as little staff intervention as possible. This allows children to be internally motivated in developing appropriate behaviors. Typical behavior interventions are as follows.

▪ Often closer staff proximity and eye contact are all children need to self-correct.

▪ On other occasions a reminder of the rule is effective.

▪ Sometimes staff and children discuss inappropriate behavior and more acceptable alternatives. This can vary from individual to group settings

▪ In some situations, children are redirected to a solitary activity for a brief period

▪ More serious behavior issues require a parent/staff conference to develop an action plan for improvement.

BCRC will implement the following tiered policy for Code of Conduct violations:

• Verbal Discussion with parent: This may occur via a phone call or in-person conversation during pick-up.

• First Write-Up: The program director will have a discussion with both the parent and the child involved. The violation of the Code of Conduct will be indicated. This discussion will take place in person.

• Second Write-Up: A phone call and discussion with the parent will take place. The violation of the Code of Conduct will be indicated. Immediate pick-up from camp will be required, and a one-day program suspension will be enforced the following day.

• Third Write-Up: A phone call and discussion with the parent will occur. The violation of the Code of Conduct will be indicated. Immediate pick-up from camp will be required. The participant will be expelled from the program, and if they choose to enroll for the school year, they will be placed on probation.

Child release - All individuals authorized to pick up children must be listed in advance on the personal data sheet. Until all authorized parties are known to the staff, photo identification will be required at the time of pick up.

State laws prohibits the release of children to parents and other authorized adults who appear to be impaired by drugs or alcohol. Individuals picking up children must be free of the odor of alcohol and/or visible signs of substance impairment. BCRC staff is required to ask potentially impaired persons to contact a designated driver to assure the safe transportation of children. Failure to comply will result in immediate police contact and reporting to the Kansas Department for Children and Families.

Any existing court order barring individual contact, visitation, and child release must be on file on site to support law enforcement interventions.

Children attending BCRC program are NOT permitted to walk home unsupervised. Authorized individuals picking up must be 18 years of age or older.

Emergency Procedures & Medical Insurance - Responsible measures are taken to safeguard the health and safety of all camp participants. All incidents will be reported to the Recreation Supervisor. Incident reports are completed and kept on file for the duration of camp. During normal participation, accidents can and do happen. Therefore, it is important that parents carry medical insurance for expenses that result from injury. Baldwin City Recreation Commission does not carry medical insurance for program participants. Make sure your health insurance policy name and number are accurately recorded on the Authorization for Emergency Medical Care form (pg 15). In urgent care situations, staff will attempt to contact adults for child pick up and follow up medical treatment. In emergency care situations, children will be transported by ambulance to the nearest hospital.

▪ Urgent care situation.

o A staff member will provide immediate first aid.

o Parent will be notified.

▪ Emergency care situation.

o A staff member will provide immediate first aid

o Local EMS/911 will be called.

o Parent will be notified.

o The program director or recreation supervisor will accompany the child to the nearest ER.

▪ Weather Emergency.

o Campers will be taken to a safe location and will return to our site when it is safe to do so.

o If we are unable to resume our schedule, parents will be notified. Fire and Tornado drills are conducted monthly throughout the summer.

Communicable Disease - Participants shall not be in attendance when suffering from any communicable disease. Guidelines as determined by the Douglas County Health Department will be observed. The program director shall exercise his/her discretion in determining if a child seems well enough to resume normal participation. Parents must report to the program director any exposure to communicable disease.

If a child shows symptoms of illness or unusual behavior, they will be monitored. If they need further attention, we will notify the parents. If the child needs to leave camp for any reason, the expectation is that the child is picked up within one hour. Sick children will be monitored and isolated, with supervision, if necessary, until a parent arrives. It is important that you pay attention to your child before arriving at camp. A child with a fever (temperature greater than 100.4F) should not come to camp until the temperature is normal (98.6f) for 24 hours.

For consistency, we will be following the USD 348 practices regarding illness.

“USD 348 continues to be committed to providing a safe environment for all students and staff and to effectively help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, in order to keep our schools open and safe for in-person learning. USD 348 asks families to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, (fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat, hoarseness, headaches, muscle pain, fatigue) as well as other infectious disease symptoms before sending a student to school.”

Chicken pox: The child must be excluded from camp for at least six days from the start of the rash.

Streptococcal Sore Throats/Scarlet Fever: The child should be treated by a health care provider and may not attend school until he/she is under treatment and without fever for 24 hours.

Upper Respiratory Illness/Colds: The child must be able to participate in all camp activities and should not be tired or listless. Their temperature must be normal for 24 hours before returning to camp.

Vomiting and/or Diarrhea (persistent): Please do not send children exhibiting these symptoms to camp until there has been no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours.

Infectious Rashes, Ringworm, Impetigo and Scabies: Keep area covered until under treatment for 24 hours and no discharge/drainage. If your child has a rash and a fever, please contact a health care provider.

Head Lice: Students are allowed to return to camp after treatment with an anti-parasitic shampoo.

Conjunctivitis (“pink eye”): If the child’s eyes are red, swollen and have a discharge or crusty matter in the eyelashes, pleases contact a health care provider. Your child may return to camp when under treatment and no discharge is present.

Prescription & Non-Prescription Medications - If your child is taking any medication while in attendance, these medications must be sent to the camp director in their original containers and must have the prescription information affixed. Medication cannot be administered without signed parental consent. Form provided upon request.

Staff-Participant Ratios - Participants must be able to function independently and in accordance with the code of conduct, within a 1:15 staff to participant supervision ratio as outlined by KDHE. Due to the nature of our program, we are not able to provide one on one support for children.

Field Trips - There will be one field trip per week during the summer. Travel calendars will be shared at parent orientation. Times listed on the calendar will reflect departure and return times. There will always be a sign posted at the camp letting you know these details as well. Please remember these times are estimates. Campers need to wear their camp t-shirts each field trip day and must be at camp prior to the departure time. We will not be able to return to pick up late students. All children in attendance must go on field trips. No staff will remain behind at the camps. Students will also wear wristbands on field trips. We will aim for our ratio for field trips to be 1:10

Pool Safety - Campers will go to the Baldwin City Pool three days a week during the 2024 summer. We will attempt to keep the days of the week consistent but can make no guarantees until field trips are set.

▪ Swim Test – Our lifeguard staff will administer a swim test on the first pool day of the year.

o Campers who do not pass or who choose not to take the test, will be required to wear a bright colored wristband so all BCRC staff and pool staff know they must stay in shallow water areas. If you do not wish for your child to take the swim test, let the camp director know.

▪ Supervision – Camp staff will supervise the children’s swimming. Staff are in the water with campers, placed at the pool’s edge, and assisting near the restrooms in rotation.

▪ Sunscreen – Families are asked to contribute one large bottle of sunscreen, SPF 30 or greater for each child. Waterproof, lotion sunscreen preferred. NO SPRAY. We will share sunscreen! If your child has allergies to any sun products, please list it on your child’s health form and verbally tell the director. Teachers will help apply sunscreen and will encourage children to apply on their own with close supervision and coaching.

▪ Heat Policy - When the heat index gets extreme, pool days and certain field trips might be altered or cancelled to protect campers and staff.

Camp Specifics

Daily Supplies - Please label all belongings.

▪ Lunch – Each camper will need to bring lunch to camp. Refrigeration is not available. We ask that field trip lunches be fully disposable. Lunches should be healthy. Sugary drinks and sodas are not acceptable for summer camp.

▪ Water Bottle

▪ Appropriate camp clothing - Dress for the weather, i.e hat and rain gear, jacket as needed. Campers will wear their camp t-shirt on field trip days. For our younger campers, it is suggested to have a complete change of clothes kept in their backpack.

▪ Protective shoes - Closed-toed shoes or sport sandals. NO flip flops.

▪ Magazine or book for quiet time activity

▪ Backpack or sports bag for all personal items, including lunch bag and water bottle.

▪ Swimsuit, towel and plastic sack for pool or water days

NO personal toys, trading cards, cell phones, video games, tablets, or electronics of any kind. This program cannot be responsible for loss, theft, or breakage of personal items nor can we monitor online activity.

Snack – There will be a morning snack offered at 8:30am and afternoon snack offered around 3:30pm every day. Food sharing is not allowed. Be sure to make us aware of any special dietary needs and or food allergies.

Camp Communication - Parents will receive information from camp through emails from your camp director, online newsletters, dry erase bulletins, notes home, as well as informal and formal conferencing. Our camp director(s) spend most of their time interacting with the campers and will have limited access to computers during camp days. Directors also may not be at camp during drop-off or pick-up times. If you would like to meet with your director, please contact them to schedule a time to do so. The BCRC Summer camp has one cell phone. The number directly to summer camp staff, 785-214-0148. Calls not directly related to timely issues regarding a camper may be made to the Recreation Office at 785-594-3670

Bike/Wheelie Days – Monday’s starting June 10th ONLY pedal bikes and foot push scooters are allowed. No motorized options allowed. Children/staff must always wear safety helmets. Children/staff may only ride the bike/scooter they brought; sharing is not allowed. Areas for riding will be determined and discussed prior to the first Wheelie Day.

I am thrilled to bring my years of experience to our youth services team this summer! Summer Camp has been my passion for the past five years, and although I am not directing camp anymore, I'll be there in spirit, supporting my team and your children in any way I can. My goal is to ensure that both campers and staff have the best summer ever!

Thank you for entrusting me, our staff, and Baldwin City Recreation with your kids!

Shaunacee Wilkinson Recreation Supervisor

Baldwin City Recreation Commission

705 High St. Baldwin City, KS 66006

785-594-3670