2020 SUSAN ORTEGA Dear Parents and Campers, Thank you for choosing The City of El Cerrito’s Summer Day Camp program. We provide a fun camp experience that focuses on enrichment, friendship, and unique experiences: spending lots of time outside, creating art and science projects, taking walks, field trips, and building relationships with new friends and great role models. We know that your camper will enjoy their time at camp! Whether you are new to camp or a returning family, we want to ensure the best possible summer experience for your camper. Please make sure to read through this handbook as it contains important information to help you prepare for the summer. We have done our best to answer any questions that you might have about day camp, our policies and our procedures. If you still have questions after reading through the handbook, please don’t hesitate to reach out via email [email protected] or phone (510) 559-7000. We look forward to welcoming your child/camper at camp on your first day! Happy Camping, Taylor Melton, Recreation Supervisor – Specialty Camps & Camp Ravencliff Eden O’Brien-Brenner, Recreation Supervisor – Classic Camps, Mix & Match, Extended Care Stephen Dunkle, Asst. Aquatics Supervisor – Aquatics Programs & Camps Lila Banuelos, Community Services Coordinator – Adventure Camp and LIT Camp Anthony Billups, Community Services Coordinator – Discovery Camp and Mix & Match Camp Sheryl Shute, Community Services Coordinator – Explorers Camp Jenya Jawad, Community Services Coordinator – Specialty Camps & Camp Ravencliff 1 Page 3 The Classic Camps Experience Page 4 The Classic Camps Schedule Page 5 Swim Camp Page 6 Mix & Match Page 7 Specialty Camps Page 9 Extended Programs Page 10 Good to Know Page 11 Camp Procedures Page 13 Behavior Expectations & Policies Page 14 Policies to Prevent Child Abuse Page 15 Emergency Procedures Page 16 Refunds, Cancellations and Balances Page 17 Zero Waste Lunch Ideas PHOTO BY EVAN CLARK 2 WHERE WILL I BE? Classic Camps are in different locations based on the campers’ entering grade. Each camp location is outfitted with games, sports equipment, art supplies and themed decorations to fit each camp week. City Run Camp Group Location Location Adventure Camp Grades K-1 Harding Clubhouse Week 1 Prospect Sierra Weeks 2-10 Discovery Camp Grades 1-3 Fairmont Clubhouse Week 1 Prospect Sierra Weeks 2-10 Explorer Camp Grades 4-8 Castro Clubhouse, Side B Mix & Match, Extended Care Community Center Week 1 Prospect Sierra Weeks 2-10 Leaders in Training (LIT) Community Center Swim Camp Swim Center Lawn Area Classic Camps are supervised by a Recreation Supervisor and managed directly by the Community Services Coordinators. Each camp will have a Coordinator, Camp Specialist, and a team of Camp Counselors. We make sure that all our camp staff are qualified in a variety of different areas such as CPR & First Aid, Water Safety, Field Trip and Transportation Safety, Positive Discipline, Age- Appropriate Activities, and keeping camp fun! WHAT WILL CAMPERS DO? Classic Campers participate in organized outdoor games, swimming, enrichment activities, field trips for older children and guest visitors for the youngest group. See the Activity Guide on our website, www.el-cerrito.org/recguide for some of the specific activities and field trips that we offer at camp. Swim Lessons and Recreation Swimming are part of the camp program. Adventure & Discovery Campers have instructional swimming included in their activities twice a week beginning Week 2. Adventure Campers visit the Splash Park three times per week, while Discovery Campers participate in Recreation Swim three times per week. Explorer Campers enjoy Recreation Swim three times a week, and have field trips the other two days. Please see page 5 of the camp brochure for details. While at the Swim Center, all campers must wear their dry-wick Camp Shirt for visibility and sun protection. Campers must be 48 inches tall to ride the water slide and must pass a swim test for entrance into the lap pool. Themed Weeks: Each week has a special theme at our Classic Camps! There will be activities throughout the week that tie in with the theme. On Fridays there is usually a Special Event – sometimes held in an all-camp large group, and sometimes held in smaller camp groups. Events include a carnival, a Dance & Drama Camp performance and more! 3 FUN AT CAMP Below are some of the activities your camper may participate in while at a Classic Camp (all equipment provided). Staff set an intentional and varying schedule for the week where each group will get to participate in a variety of activities. Part of the camp experience is learning that while we can do fun things that we know we like, trying something different or new can also be exciting! SOCCER FRISBEE CAPTURE THE FLAG NATURE WALKS RELAY RACES SONGS SKITS SPLASH PARK REC SWIM WATER GAMES ART SCIENCE CRAFT PROJECTS DANCE COOKING BUBBLES FIELD TRIPS CHALK PLAY BASKETBALL BASEBALL Camp emails will go each Friday before camp with detailed information about the upcoming week’s activities. Copies of this information will be available Monday morning at drop-off as well. TYPICAL DAILY SCHEDULE (subject to change) *Extended Care: Early Birds 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM Board Games, Art Activities, Indoor/Outdoor Free Play Camp Day 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM Camp Opening – songs, expectations, ice breakers 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM First Activity Period 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM Snack 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Second Activity Period HOT TIP! 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM Lunch Be sure to pack 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM Outdoor Free Play nut-free snacks 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Third Activity Period and lunches! 3:00 PM - 3:15 PM Snack 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM Fourth Activity Period 3:45 PM - 4:00 PM Camp Closing – group circle, songs *Extended Care: Late Birds 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Board Games, Art Activities, Indoor/Outdoor Free Play *Early Birds and Late Birds are included in the camp price for Adventure, Discovery and Explorers 4 Each week at Swim Camp, campers enjoy a daily recreation swim, fun water and land activities, plus a swim lesson grouped by ability (no lesson on field trip days). Campers spend the entire afternoon in and around the water, so a love of the water is a must! Campers should arrive at camp expecting to get wet every day. Swim Camp is a “become a stronger swimmer” camp, not a “beginning to learn to swim” camp. Daily activities are designed for campers who already have a solid swimming foundation. We require a swim test to determine swimming ability which will be administered on the first day of camp. Campers that do not meet the minimum swimming requirements will not be allowed to attend Swim Camp. This is a great camp for swimmers who meet these prerequisites: • Comfortable in deep water • Able to swim 50 yards nonstop of coordinated front crawl with rhythmic breathing • Can tread water for 1 minute Field trip excursions are on Thursdays, leaving from Prospect Sierra Middle School at 12pm and will be back by 6pm. TYPICAL DAILY SWIM CAMP SCHEDULE (Subject to change) 1:00 PM - 1:15 PM Camp opens, Camper check-in 1:15 PM - 3:30 PM Recreation Swim 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM Snack Break, reapply sunscreen, games 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM Group Swim Lessons 4:45 PM - 5:30 PM Water and land activities 5:30 PM - 5:45 PM Change into dry clothes 5:45 PM - 6:00 PM Camp closing, camper sign-out and pick-up HOT TIP! Registered for Swim Camp? No need for PM care! Unlike most afternoon camps, Swim Camp goes until 6pm. 5 Mix & Match mixes the Classic Camp atmosphere and matches the flexibility of Specialty Camps. Mix & Match Camp is the only City Staff-run camp that offers drop-in, half-day, OR all-day camp options. It’s a great option for campers who prefer mixed-grade programs, who don’t need a full week of care, or who are in a half day specialty camp and would enjoy spending the other half of their day participating in classic camp-like activities. Each day campers will participate in group games, classic themed camp activities and more. Weekly themes match with the Camp Classic themes. Mix & Match campers visit the Splash Park on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Half Day Full Day Weekly Full Day (M-F) 7am-6pm 9am-12pm or 1-4pm 9am-4pm (Early & Late Birds included!) HOT TIP! Drop-In for a full or If your camper is in Mix & Match is a half day or join us for Mix & Match on Tuesday great pairing to any the entire week! and/or Thursday Specialty Camp! afternoons don’t forget your swimsuit & towel! TYPICAL DAILY SCHEDULE (subject to change) 9-9:45am Greetings, Songs & Games 9:45-10am Story of the Day AM 10-10:15am Snack Time 10:15-11:30am Enrichment Activity (Science, Nature, Cooking, Arts & Crafts) 11:30am-12pm Morning Camp Closing Activities 12-1pm Lunch Time (for those campers participating in the full day – campers bring lunch) 1-1:30pm Songs & Games 1:30-2:45pm Enrichment Activity (Splash Park Tues & Thurs, Science or Sports PM on other days) 2:45-3pm Snack Time 3-3:45pm Performing Arts & Theater Games (includes outdoor games) 3:45-4pm Camp Closing Songs and more 6 Specialty Camps offer the opportunity for your child to explore age-appropriate activities and develop skills in specific subjects like visual & performing arts, athletics, engineering, cooking and more.