SPARK Summer Camp Welcome Letter - City of Vancouver

2013Dear Parent (s) or Guardian (s):Welcome to SPARK Youth Day Camp for Firstenburg Community Center but held at FircrestElementary School. This is a program held during school breaks for elementary aged children that issponsored by the Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation. The goal of the SPARK Youth Day Camp is toprovide activities that encourage and promote confidence, respect, fitness, compassion, environmentalawareness and to have fun. We strive to maintain a staff/child ratio of 1/8.Below you will find detailed information regarding the youth day camp program.Program Hours:Drop off as early as 7:30am and pick up by 6pm. Structured activities will be from 9am-4:30pm.Child Information Form/Waiver:Please go online to www.cityofvancouver.us/fcc and click “Day Camps” to complete ParticipantInformation Form. This form needs to complete once a year.What to wear:Wear tennis shoes (we prefer no flip flops or sandals) and comfortable clothes to play in everyday.Sign In/Out – Pick Up Policy:Parents/guardian must sign in and out their children each day. Only people listed on the ParticipantInformation Form will be allowed to sign children in/out of camp. Be sure to have your Photo IDavailable during pick up, you may be asked to verify who you are.Late Pick Up PolicyAll children must be picked up by 6 p.m. each day they attend camp. The first late pick-up offense willresult in a warning letter. The second offense will result in a late pick-up charge. The third offense couldresult in the removal of your child/children from the program. Late pick up policy is on the participantinformation form.Contact NumberParents should provide at least 2 contact numbers where they can be reached during the time theirchild/children are in our camp.Lunch and SnacksIn an effort to promote a healthier lifestyle for today’s youth, please make sure your child has enoughhealthy snacks, drinks and a lunch to last the day. Healthy items may include: 100% juice boxes, fruit,granola bars, string cheese, and veggie sticks. Please limit the following items: candy, pop, and othersugar-filled items.

Field Trips:We will be taking the children on a field trip on Wednesdays from 9am-4pm. Some locations requirean additional waiver; these will be available at camp. Some also include lunch so please thoroughlyread the itinerary.Swimming – Each child will have the opportunity to swim. Parents will be able to indicate if their childrequires a life jacket on the participant information form. Each child will wear a bracelet that indicatesthat they are in the day camp program and a special mark will be made on those that require a lifejacket.Children must be 48” tall in order to go down the slide. Life jackets are provided by the pool.Games – During this time children will be able to play small and large group games with friends.Climbing Wall – Children will have the opportunity to use the climbing wall. A separate waiver isrequired for this activity and will be available at camp.DisciplineOur expectation is that the children enjoy the program and respect others in all activities. We take apositive approach to discipline, striving to be fair, reasonable and consistent. When discipline problemsarise, if we need to use a discipline form, the staff person and the child will discuss the situation anddiscover ways to redirect and problem-solve the behavior. In most cases a discipline form will be senthome with the child for a parent/guardian to read over and sign. The signed form must be returned tocamp before the child can return to the program. If there are continual discipline problems, staff mayrequest a meeting to discuss alternative solutions which can include dismissal from the program. If theoffense is serious, the child may be dismissed from the program without a refund.How to reach SPARK DAY CAMP STAFF: Please call the Camp Leader during the program hours at360-991-3540. You can also call the office between 8:30-5pm Monday-Friday at 487-7014 or theFirstenburg Community Center front desk at 487-7001 ext 8.Personal Items: Gameboys, cell phones, Ipod’s, MP3 players and other electronic games, or toys willNOT be allowed at the program. Please leave these and other personal items at home. If a child bringsan item, it will be taken into protective custody by staff and returned to the parent at the end of the day.Backpacks, Coats & Personal Items Staff have the children line their items up in an orderly fashionalong the wall. Please be sure your children’s names are on their items. Day Camp is not responsiblefor any damage or loss that might be caused to personal items.Medications: Parks and Recreation employees and volunteers cannot administer medication. However,they can keep medicine for children in a locked box. This is only if the child can administer theirmedication and remember when to take it. A medical authorization form provided by Parks andRecreation must be completed by the parent and a doctor prior to the child attending the program. Call487-7014 for more info.InclusionThe city is committed to providing special services at no charge to you so that all children may attendthe program and be successful. If your child is on an IEP at school and/or meets essential eligibilityrequirements of the inclusion program, we can help your child by placing an inclusion staff with him/herto ensure success. To request an inclusion form, go online to www.cityofvancouver.us/fcc and click“Day Camps” to complete the request and/or intake form or call 487-7057. Please know that once theinclusion request form is submitted, it will take 10 working days to make accommodations for your