2019 RA Summer Camps Parent Survival Guide RACentreOttawa
Dear Parents & Guardians FOR YOUR INFORMATION Visit our website at www.racentre.com to download and Welcome to the RA Summer Camps for 2019! complete the following form, if you haven’t already done so: We hope that you are as excited as we are about the upcoming summer. 1. RA Summer Camp Pick-up & Permission Form It is our goal to provide your child with an authentic, supportive, inclusive, safe, educational and fun filled summer camp experience. Please complete this form and bring them with you on the Please read the enclosed information carefully. This Guide will serve as first day of camp. a handy reference to assist you and your child to prepare for a positive The week before your child(ren) begins camp you will be sent an camp experience. email to remind you to complete the form (if you haven’t already We look forward to meeting you this summer! done so) plus other important information. RA’s Summer Program Team
HOW TO CONTACT US CAMP HOURS At any time during camp, if you must get in contact with your child or Monday to Friday: 9:00am to 4:00pm with your Camp Supervisor, please call our Camp Coordinator at Pre & Post Camp CARE 613-736-6215 or send us an email at [email protected]. We provide complimentary pre-camp supervision from 7:45am and Note: It sometimes can be difficult to reach us by telephone during camp post camp supervision until 4:30pm. hours; however, we do check our voice mail throughout the day. In the event of an EMERGENCY, please also call the RA’s main number at While these times are well monitored, not all staff are scheduled for 613-733-5100 and the Member Services staff will relay your message. pre-camp or post-camp monitoring duties, hence ratios during these times vary to the ratio norms during camp hours. Camp telephone: 613-736-6215 Camp staff supervising during these times vary each week and may Camp email: [email protected] not necessarily be your child’s counsellor.
Summer Programs Leadership Team COMPLIMENTARY Pre-Camp Care 7:45am - 9:00am Senior Coordinator Summer Camps Amy Roberts COMPLIMENTARY Post-Camp Care 4:00pm - 4:30pm Coordinator Nikki Moreau Please note: Post-Camp pick-up is prior to 4:30pm unless your child is registered in the extended care program. If you arrive to camp past Jr Day and Girl Centric Camps Melissa Inostroza 4:30pm you will be required to pay $7.50 upon arrival. This late Day and Computer Camps Khaisey Quevillon penalty fee can be paid at the East Member Services Desk. Should Sports and Specialty Camps Abe Boyo you not be able to pay on the same-day, the fee will be charged to Aquatic Camps Ryan Cox your account. Badminton Camps Mike Bitten EXTENDED CARE Fencing Camps Paul ApSimon If you need to drop your child off earlier than 7:45am or need to pick them up later than 4:30pm, extended care is available at an additional fee. Pre-camp: 7:15am to 7:45am $15/weekly Post-camp: 4:30pm to 5:00pm $15/weekly
RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, ON K1H 7X7 613-733-5100 www.racentre.com 2 | General Information
CAMP DROP OFF & PICK-UP LOCATIONS SIGN IN & OUT PROCEDURES Here is a guide as to where to park and where to go to drop off and For safety and security reasons, all campers must be signed in and out each pick up your child. There are different locations depending on the day. In addition it is important to note that we will not allow any camper to camp. On the first day of camp we will have staff posted both inside leave at the end of the day on their own unless they are 13 years of age or the building and outside main doors to help you find your way around! older and we have received parental permission for this action. Please leave enough time to park in the East and West lots and Parents must complete the Summer Camp Pick-up & Permission Form walk to the entrance. Some parents have in the past parked on the and bring it with your child on the first day of camp. This is the form that roadway and in the accessible spots at the central entrance. Because indicates who is authorized to pick up your child daily. If your plans change, of the traffic at the RA, this causes great concern from a safety point you can amend this form at any time. Arrangements can be made in of view! The roadway is a fire route so parking is prohibited. Central advance, should you need to drop your child off later than 9:00am or pick parking spaces cannot be used to drop off your child unless you have a them up prior to 4:00pm on any day. Stop by the camp office and our camp accessible parking permit. staff will take care of your request. Regardless of the camp that your child Summer Camps Parking lot Drop off location is registered in, campers arriving late should be dropped off at the Camp Office located in the Curling Rink in the central section of the building. Junior Aqua Camp West lot West Gymnasium Senior Aqua Camp West lot West Gymnasium We make every effort to ensure that our sign-in process runs quickly. From experience we know that you should plan a little extra time on the first day LifeSaving Camp West lot West Gymnasium of each session to complete this step. Girl-Centric Camp West lot West Gymnasium Fencing Camp West lot West Gymnasium IF YOUR CHILD IS UNABLE TO ATTEND CAMP Football Camp West lot West Gymnasium Please notify the camp staff any day that your child will not be attending camp. Soccer Camp West lot West Gymnasium A message can be left on the camp phone line at 613-736-6215 or a note can Ultimate Camp West lot West Gymnasium be sent to us by email to [email protected]. Please DO NOT send your child to camp if he/she is sick or not feeling well. Junior Day Camps West lot Curling Lounge Multi-Sports Camp West lot Curling Rink VISITING YOUR CHILD AT CAMP Day Camps West lot Curling Rink Regardless of the relationship to a child, parents, guardians, siblings, Computer Camp West lot Curling Rink family, friends etc. are not permitted to enter any of our camp rooms or Archery Camp West lot Curling Rink space occupied by campers. Camp staff will bring children to the parent or guardian upon request. Any authorized visitor must be identified by a Squash Camp West lot Curling Rink visitor’s badge that must be clearly visible the entire time they are on-site. Badminton Camp East lot Badminton Lounge All visitors must first go to the Camp Office and show id to be approved and obtain a visitor’s badge.
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RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive Ottawa, ON K1H 7X7 613-733-5100 www.racentre.com General Information | 3
BEHAVIOUR EXPECTATION SUN & WATER SMART RA Camps have behaviour guidelines that are grounded in the RA’s Code of Many of our camp programs include swimming in the RA’s outdoor Ethics. Staff will use approaches that are positive, supportive, consistent, pools. Swimming is not only fun but builds important skills so we pro-active and based on logical consequences. Disruptive behaviour will wish for campers to participate in this activity. Although the pool is be handled in a fair and consistent manner using progressive behaviour supervised by trained and qualified lifeguards, all campers must adhere management strategies. These rules are reviewed with the campers each to the pool swim test assessment with respect to access to the various day before the start of camp. Disrespectful behaviour, foul or hurtful sections of the pool (deep water vs shallow). Children registered in Jr language and violence will not be tolerated. The Association reserves the Day Camp will wear personal flotation devices (we provide) and remain right to withdraw your child from camp should their behaviour jeopordize in the teaching pool. If you have concerns about your child’s swimming safety of themselves, other campers, staff or property. abilities, please talk to the Senior Camp Staff. The RA has a supply of personal flotation devices available for use by any camper at any time. MEDICATIONS & ALLERGIES Hats, shirts, sunscreen are required for campers to protect themselves RA Camp staff cannot administer medication. We do permit campers who from the effects of the sun. We also encourage those campers can administer their own medication to bring medication to camp with registered in the aquatics camps to wear a protective sun/swim shirt. them. Please send only medications that absolutely must be taken during Camp staff will assist our younger campers to apply sunscreen. Please camp hours (i.e. if it can be taken before or after camp, please make all ensure to send a water bottle with your child. Your child will be efforts to do so). Required medication must be placed in a Ziploc bag and encouraged to drink a full bottle of water at least twice per day. clearly labeled with both the child’s name and dosage. Please list the details explaining what the medication is for, when and how it should be LOST & FOUND taken, and any specific storage information. If medication must be taken Although the RA is not responsible for lost or stolen items, we do during camp hours, please notify the camp staff prior to your child’s first maintain a lost and found box next to the Camp Office. Please look for day of camp. This ensures that the staff is aware of your child’s needs. We your child’s missing items there. Staff members will make efforts to ask that you talk to your child’s counsellor (or the staff member present reunite those items clearly labelled with their owners. Campers will when you drop off the medication) regarding your child’s safe use of the also walk through the Lost & Found on Fridays with their counsellors. medication. Unfortunately we are unable to retain items beyond 15 days, and all unclaimed items will be donated for charity. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES Your child’s safety is our number one priority. Our daily activities are REFUND POLICY designed with safety in mind however we do know that “minor accidents Refund of camp dues will not be granted unless a written notification can happen”. As such, counsellors carry fanny pack first aid kits allowing is received at least fourteen days prior to the beginning of the camp them to deal with the small bumps and bruises on the spot. Senior camp session. Please allow two weeks for the processing of refunds and note staff and counsellors are certified in first aid and CPR as are the RA’s that a $20.00 administration charge per child will be deducted. lifeguards who are available to assist with any incident. Counsellors also have access to the RA’s first response team and medical emergency services TRANSFER POLICY (911) at all times. In the unlikely event of a serious injury, emergency medical services will be called immediately to respond to the situation. Transfers within the RA’s Camp programs can be considered up to the You will be contacted immediately at the contact information that we have commencement of the session, and are subject to space availability on file. If an ambulance is required to transport your child to hospital, a and payment of fee differential (if applicable). Transfer requests member of our staff will accompany your child and remain with him/her received a minimum of two week in advance of the session are eligible until a parent arrives, ensuring that your child is not left unattended. for a credit or refund if there is a fee differential. No credit or refund can be issued for authorized transfers that are completed within two ILLNESS PROTOCOL weeks of the commencement of the program. If your child becomes ill during camp hours, parent will be notified PRIVACY POLICY immediately to pick up your child. For the safety of all campers, if your child is ill or has a communicable disease (ie. pink eye) please refrain from Your privacy is important to the RA. We are dedicated to protecting the bringing to camp infected. privacy and confidentiality of all your personal information. We ask for personal information to be able to serve you better. The RA’s Privacy Policy complies with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act of Canada. Further information is available by viewing our policy online at www.racentre.com.
RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive Ottawa, ON K1H 7X7 613-733-5100 e-mail: [email protected] 4 | Preparing your child for camp
NEW CAMPERS LUNCH & SNACKS For those new to the RA Camp, the first day of camp is very exciting Here are some helpful suggestions regarding food while at camp. yet can sometimes be as intimidating as the first day of school. For that • All our camps involve physical activity so it is important to provide reason, we recommend you bring your child to the RA before their camp lunch and snacks that are nutritious and that will not spoil. The RA’s program begins. Call us anytime and we will be happy to arrange a tour. Lunch Club is a great alternative for busy parents. Whether you pack On the first day of each session you will be greeted by camp staff in the lunch or register your camper in the Lunch Club, don’t forget to pack parking lot, at the various entrances to the building and at the check-in morning and afternoon snacks. desks. Our goal is to make the experience with our Summer Camps easy • With the majority of our camps, it is impossible to order food for parents and fun for campers! If you have any questions at all, do not from the RA’s Fieldhouse Bar & Grill or CaféRA, so please plan hesitate to ask! accordingly. • Parents and children need to be mindful of any products containing WHAT TO WEAR & SEND WITH YOUR CHILD nuts when it comes to lunches and snacks. Do not send products Please have your child wear comfortable clothes that allow them to with peanuts or nuts listed on label. Parents of children, who in the be active. The footwear of choice is running shoes. We suggest that past have suffered any anaphylactic reaction to foods or insect bites, everything that comes to camp is clearly marked with name tags or need to provide us with this information and the preferred medical labels. In addition, make sure your camper has the following other items action plan. for each day: • Remember to send refillable water bottle. • Lunch • We will be encouraging all campers to drink at least two bottles of • Snacks (morning & afternoon) water per day. If your child will have problems with this, please note your concerns with Member Services at time of registration and • Refillable water bottle speak to your child’s counsellor on the first day of the session. • Hat • Please refrain from bringing birthday snacks or shared food for • Sunscreen others as NO OUTSIDE FOOD is to be shared with campers. • Bathing suit, towel & plastic bag. If child takes swimming • Our campers do not have access to a refrigerator or a microwave lessons, please bring an extra bathing suit & towel. while at camp, so please pack accordingly. (Some parents opt to send a swim shirt along with their camper to help ward off sunburn.) • Finally, at the end of the day, many campers have to pass by a EXTRAS for rainy or cloudy days vending machine on the way to the parking lot. We have noticed Extra towels, sweaters, socks, and a rain jacket. parents being asked by their campers to purchase treats before leaving for home. We apologize in advance for any concerns that EXTRAS for specialty camps this may cause. Aqua and Lifesaving Camps : Extra bathing suit and towel – we recommend more than one towel and swim suit because we are in and Parent Survival Tip... out of the pool throughout the day. Protective sun/swim shirt is also recommended. Campers should bring both running shoes and sandals to Take a break in the morning be able to participate in all activities. and let us be the personal chef for your kids! Fencing Camps: long track pants (to be worn while fencing) and non-marking soled athletic shoes. RA’s Lunch Club Football Camps: Turf shoes or cleats are recommended, however not Presented in a full-week format, each lunch will include a drink, mandatory. fruit or raw veggies, a sandwich wrap and a small sweet treat. Soccer Camps: Shin guards, running shoes and soccer cleats. Our chef’s creations will change daily! We offer a slightly smaller A protective sun shirt is also recommended. portion at a reduced price for Junior Campers (4 & 5 year olds). Please do not let your child bring the following items to Camp! 5-day camp sessions $39 (plus tax) $34 (4 & 5 year olds - plus tax) • Personal items such as toys, trading cards, sports equipment 4-day camp sessions $32 (plus tax) $27 (4 & 5 year olds - plus tax) • Electronic devices including cell phones, electronic games, MP3 players, etc. Register for the Lunch Club with • Flip flops Member Services in person or by phone at 613-733-5100 • MONEY (Please note that our Vending Machines are or on-line at www.racentre.com OFF LIMITS during camp hours.) (click on the PlayRA icon). • Any product with nuts
RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive Ottawa, ON K1H 7X7 613-733-5100 www.racentre.com