SDC Parent Handbook 2023

Thank you for giving Warrensburg Parks and Recreation (WPR) the opportunity to be part of your child's summer through our Summer Day Camp (SDC). This is the 31st year WPR has offered this program. We've highlighted the major points of our program in this handbook. Questions and concerns are always welcome. We can't wait to meet your kiddos!

*Grade is based on the 2023-2024 school year*

Important Phone Numbers

SDC

Our program is designed to help camper

Increase social skills with peers and adults

Encourage group participation and a sense of belonging

Acquire new interests and hobbies

Gain an appreciation for the outdoors

Develop skills that enhance the use of leisure time

Make new friends

Improve health and fitness through physical activities and recreation, and have fun!

All staff members are carefully selected by experience, attitude, and work ethic All staff members are interviewed, reference checked, undergo a background check, and a comprehensive training.

All staff are CPR and First Aid certified. All Unit Leaders are selected based upon experience with children, ability to work with others, and enthusiasm. For more information on each of our Summer Day Camp staff, be sure to read each of their bio's on pages 13-19!

Daily camp activities take place at the Warrensburg Community Center (WCC), Grover Park, Buford Field/Tennis Courts, and Nassif Aquatic Center.

DROP OFF: 6:30AM-8:00AM - Upon arriving at camp, we ask that you sign your child in with your signature as well as the time of drop off. We will be checking campers in at the WCC Gym's main entrance at the check-in table.

PICK UP: 5:00PM-6:30PM - Be prepared to show proper ID before we release your child at pick up. Only the names submitted on the child's registration form are permitted to remove your child from our care. These are necessary safety precautions - no exceptions. Pick up will be at the same location as drop off, in the WCC Gym's main entrance or occasionally a Multi Room.

EARLY PICK UP:

1) Visit the WCC Front Desk - If you are picking up your child before 5:00PM, you can visit the WCC front desk and let them know you need to pick up your child. The front desk attendant will contact the camp coordinator to get your child from their group and bring them to you. The same pick up requirements apply for early pick up.

2) Schedule A Pick Up - You can also email the camp coordinator and schedule pick up ahead of time and we will have your child ready and bring them to the WCC front circle, just pull up! Documentation for pick up is still required.

C A M P H O U R S

Drop Off is from 6:30AM-8:00AM. Camp begins each day at 8:00AM and ends at 5:00PM. Pick Up is from 5:00PM-6:30PM. Campers will be playing in the gym from 6:30AM-8:00AM as well as 5:00PM-6:30PM for drop off and pick up. Camp officially starts at 8:00AM for a day of games, swimming, crafts, exercise, and activities!

One camp shirt will be provided to all campers. Campers may wear their shirt anytime throughout camp; however, campers will be required to wear their camp shirt on field trip days. No replacement shirts will be available the day of a field trip.

There will be a late fee of $1.00 for every minute your child is dropped off before 6:30AM or picked up after 6:30PM. We will make every attempt to contact you, so an updated cell phone number should be on file with our staff. Your child may not return to camp until this fee is paid.

Campers are transported by a school bus on most field trips. Campers might also walk to nearby sites around Warrensburg. Parents will be notified in advance of all planned field trips through the Camp

Coordinator's weekly newsletter available at the drop off/pick up table. Please note the departure time - bus will leave at the designated time! Camp staff will not be available at WCC after the bus leaves the site. Regular discipline policy will apply. Meals will still be provided on field trip days. Children can bring their own lunches but will have to carry with them on the trip. *Trailblazers will usually have field trips within Warrensburg city limits varying Monday-Thursdays. Explorers and Extreme will have field trips inside and outside of Warrensburg city limits on Fridays. Trailblazers will join Explorers and Extreme on the BIG fieldtrips!

M

E A L S

Breakfast, Lunch, and Snack will be provided each day of Summer Day Camp.

Campers will be swimming each day at Nassif Aquatic Center, which is located within walking distance of WCC. In the case of inclement weather, campers will swim at the WCC Indoor Pool. Please encourage your child to wear their swimsuit under their clothing and include a towel, sunscreen and a properly labeled change of clothes. Only spray sunscreen will be applied by staff to campers.

If your child can not swim and must wear a life vest, please note this on their enrollment form. At Drop Off, children will receive specific wristbands if a lifejacket is required.

A swim assessment will be conducted at the beginning of camp to determine if each camper is able to swim in all areas of the pool and not just confined to the kids area.

The staff of SDC 2023 will strive to not only provide fun learning experiences, but to also stress respect for the environment and others. The rules and regulations are for the safety and well being of all campers. Attendance at SDC 2023 is considered a privilege. We expect that all discipline problems will be handled at home. We also expect full parental support when you are informed of a disciplinary problem. Failure to abide by these policies, or other policies and rules of the Park Department will result in dismissal from the program.

The steps outlined here are a general guideline for mild disciplinary issues. Serious misconduct, including behavior that may endanger other campers, staff, or the public, may result in more serious discipline in the first instance. The level and severity of discipline will be determined on a case by case basis.

Step 1 - VERBAL WARNING: A verbal discussion is held between the child and staff. The child will be asked for responses so there can be no mistake they understand the rule and what is acceptable behavior. (What did you do wrong? What should you do now?) At this point the child will be allowed to return to the activity.

Step 2 - SECOND VERBAL WARNING: If the offense is repeated, the child will be placed in a designated area. This area is not a punitive place. It is simply a place for the child to sit for a short period and think about improving his/her behavior. The child is expected to sit quietly during this time. The situation will be noted by the Unit Leader.

Step 3 - WRITTEN WARNING: If the offense is repeated, the child will be escorted to the Camp Coordinator. A Behavior Report form will be created. The parent will receive the Behavior Report at Pick Up and will be required to sign that they have acknowledged the issue. (Staff have the option at this point to take away a Camp privilege to help with the process of modifying a behavior that is unacceptable. Example: taking away swimming minutes. Please keep in mind that activities such as swimming, field trips, etc. are considered a privilege and are for those children who follow rules.)

Step 4 - SECOND WRITTEN WARNING + PARENT CONFERENCE: If the problem continues, the child’s parent/guardian will be notified for a conference.

Step 5 - SUSPENSION: If the child is written up for a disciplinary action three times, the child will be suspended for a three-day period. *In certain circumstances a child may be suspended without notice due to negative behavior.

Step 6 - EXPULSION: If the child is then written up for any reason after suspension, the child will be expelled from SDC for the duration of the program. At the time of suspension the parent/guardian will sign a written statement which states in full the process leading up to the child's suspension. Refunds will not be issued for suspension or expulsion from camp.

Any physical violence (hitting, biting, kicking, etc.) will not be tolerated and will result in an automatic write up for the child. Parent or guardian will be notified to pick up the child immediately. WPR reserves the right to handle serious incidents in a manner that will maintain a safe environment for all campers and staff.

Play Clothes & Tennis Shoes

Sunscreen - Spray or Stick only

Personal Items should be

marked with the camper's name

Towel & Swimsuit

If your child wears glasses, Water Bottle Backpack

Snacks - if needed

Goggles - if needed

Medications - if needed

Change of Clothes

Campers are not allowed to

please make a plan for the safety of them bring money to camp

NEWSLETTER - A weekly newsletter will be available on Fridays at the Drop Off/Pick Up table. This will include information regarding the upcoming week. They will also be emailed to the parent's email given on the online registration form.

TEXT ALERTS - Register for SDC TextCaster alerts at: https://bit.ly/36Qt4Xo on "4) Programs/Events" - check the box SUMMER DAY CAMP 2023. We will send you texts about field trip reminders, inclement weather, sudden schedule changes, alternative Pick Up rooms, etc. You can also remove alerts at the same link at any time.

Due to limited space and cleanliness, lost and found will be cleared out monthly. Please check the lost and found every day at the check out table for any belongings your child may have misplaced. The SDC staff and WPR assume no responsibility for the loss of personal property. Lost and found table will be at check in/check out table daily.

Donations will be accepted throughout the summer. If you have games, crayons, paper, craft supplies, spray sunscreen, etc. that you would like to donate, please contact the camp management team. Thank you to RISE and Dollar Tree Distribution Center for your donations in 2021 and 2022!

WPR is not a licensed day care provider. A SDC tax receipt can be requested by emailing the children's names to morgan.hebensperger@warrensburg-mo.com to receive a PDF receipt via email. Our Federal ID number is 446000282.

Campers are not allowed to bring money to camp. The only purchasing your child can do at camp is items at the Nassif Aquatic Center Concession Stand. You can stop at the WCC front desk and concession cards to be used at the concession stand. Please note WPR staff cannot control the daily spending limit and encourage parents to purchase a low amount each week.

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If parents/guardians request their child be required to wear a lifejacket during swim time, our staff will make sure the child is given a life jacket and a lifejacket wristband at Drop Off.

& P R O C E D U R E S

SAFETY

Camp staff may only use physical restraint on a camper when there is an imminent threat of physical harm or danger to the camper or others; and where such action should be considered reasonable in all the circumstances and there is no less restrictive means of responding in the circumstances.

HEALTH

If your child does not feel well, have him/her tell their unit leader. The unit leader will then escort him/her to the camp coordinator who will then decide if the child should rest quietly for a short period of time or if a call should be placed to the child's parent/guardian.

Children who are ill with a contagious illness or fever may not attend the program. A temperature of 100.7 is considered a fever. If your child has a fever, or becomes ill while attending camp, we will call you. If your child is sent home with a fever he/she must be free of fever for at least 24 hours before returning to the program.

MEDICATIONS

All medication must be turned in to the Camp Coordinator with a completed Medication Authorization form, provided by Warrensburg Parks and Recreation (WPR). The time, dosage, and name of medication must be listed. A parent must sign this medication form. Medication must be in the original container, with the original label. Medications will be disbursed only by the Camp Coordinator, Recreation Supervisor, Recreation Superintendent, and Parks & Recreation Director. WPR staff cannot administer any medication of any sort without an authorization form.

FIRST AID & CPR

Every effort will be made to notify the parent/guardian immediately in case of an emergency/injury. In the event that the parent cannot be contacted or arrive at the site in ample time, the child will be transported to the nearest hospital in an emergency situation.

COVID POLICY

All SDC staff are trained to administer first aid for minor accidents. Staff are also trained to perform CPR should a camper become unconscious and stop breathing.

If we are notified that there is an exposure or risk to our Summer Day Campers, the following will take place: We will immediately separate the affected group from the rest of the camp.

Parents of the affected group will be called and asked to take their child home for the remainder of the day. If we are not able to reach the primary contact, we will call all listed, approved contacts on camper's registration paperwork.

An email will be sent to the rest of the camp parents, letting them know of an exposure in the camp.

Johnson County Community Health Services will have the most up to date Covid-19 policy on their website. We will follow their recommendations regarding when the camper will be allowed to return to camp.

Cleaning will be increased, and campers will wash hands more frequently.

The most up to date guidance regarding Covid-19 can be found on the Johnson County Community Health's website.

ADA REQUESTS

Warrensburg Parks and Recreation is committed to making reasonable accommodations for participants. Requests for accommodation related to facilities or programs should be made as soon as practicable, but in any event at least two weeks prior to the start of the program unless the need for accommodation becomes known on a shorter time frame. WPR will engage in an interactive process with parents or guardians regarding the requested accommodation and whether it can reasonably be accomplished. Not all accommodation requests may be possible to honor.

INSURANCE

We make every effort to protect your child from injury. Unfortunately, accidents do happen. The Warrensburg Parks & Recreation Department does not carry medical or accident insurance for program participants. The Department assumes no responsibility for injury or accidents occurring at programs, activities, special events, trips & outings, etc.

REFUNDS

No refunds will be issued for SDC weekly enrollments. Payments in full will be prorated based on the number of weeks remaining. Refunds are given for the following reasons: Injury or illness (physician's note required). Refund will be prorated if program has begun.

100% refund is the result of a cancellation of a program by Warrensburg Parks and Recreation.

VISITORS

If adult guests (18+) are interested in observing camp, please make arrangements with the camp management team. Unregistered children and child guests are not allowed to attend camp with the campers. If having lunch with your child, let us know when you drop off your camper in the morning.

SDC RULES

Personal items such as cell phones, DS games, Apple watch, Switches, etc. are not allowed. Avoid all forms of horseplay including piggy back rides, pool dunking, wrestling, picking each other up, etc. Sticks and rocks should not be picked up.

Keep hands and feet to yourself.

Profanity or negative talk will not be tolerated.

Always show good sportsmanship. Campers should always be with their unit leader. Stay in program areas with your group at all times.

If you do not feel well, let a staff member know.

If there is a problem, notify a staff member immediately. We can't fix something unless we know about it!

Respect other campers, staff, equipment, facilities and yourself.

While on the bus remain seated, talk quietly and save food for later.

Always ask permission from unit leader to use restroom or get a drink.

M E E T O U R M A N A G E M E N T T E A M

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