This parent handbook is your guide to assist us in providing the best experience possible for your child(ren) during their time at camp at Jericho. Please take the time to review the handbook and keep it as an information resource. Jericho Youth Services believes that recreational programs and sports provide your child with the opportunity for healthy growth and development. To ensure the programs are of the highest quality, we incorporate the HIGH FIVE® principles of healthy child development into all program designs.
Supervisors, Inclusion Facilitators and Camp Counselors
A caring leader is an essential component in ensuring a positive experience for your child. You will take comfort in knowing that all Jericho Camps are run by a Camp Supervisor who looks after the day to day functioning of each camp. Our summer camps also include an Inclusion Facilitator who works specifically with any child who may need additional support. The Inclusion Facilitator works in partnership with the Camp Supervisor to ensure that all abilities are being considered in planning. Our Camp Counselors work to create a fun and engaging day at camp. Our Camp Counselors often run the different games, activities and experiments that happen at camp, you can see them playing alongside your children.
In addition to the HIGH FIVE® training, all of our program staff hold a current Standard First Aid CPR Certificate and we provide an extensive training program which include topics such as program planning, understanding child behaviour, problem solving, planning special events, working with children who have special needs, emergency procedures as well as practical experience leading games, crafts and singsongs.
Volunteers
During our camps we often have a number of volunteers who assist with camp. During the summer camps we often see a number of high school students working toward completing their required hours while connecting with their community. We often also will have local business owners and community leaders come in for a few days to connect, learn and grow with our campers. All volunteers are required to interview with the Program Coordinator or Camp Director, and are always supported by the Camp Supervisor and other staff to ensure they are set up for success.
Supervision Ratios
Our staff/child ratios reflect our commitment to safety and high quality program supervision. Our camps with a maximum ratio of one leader to every 10 children (1:10). During camp this ratio is often supported by volunteers who have completed the volunteer screening process in accordance with the Jericho Youth Services Policy.
Concerns and Suggestions
If you have any concerns or suggestions regarding any aspect of our program throughout the year, please do not hesitate to talk to the Camp Supervisor. They are responsible for the direct supervision of all participants and staff as well as handling any concerns or questions parents/guardians may have. Please also feel free to contact the Program Coordinator Chantelle Oosterhuis at 905 722 5540 ext 5518, who is responsible for the operation of all our program locations.
Camp Hours
Summer camp hours are from 8:30am to 4:30pm at all sites. On a regular camp day please be sure to drop your child off at the beginning of camp and pick up promptly at the end of camp to ensure that all activities run smoothly. If your child arrives early or is picked up late on more than one occasion, you will be asked to register them for our extended hours program. Before care and after care runs for an additional half hour at the beginning and end of camp. For additional information please contact the Program Coordinator or Camp Director to outline costs and arrange registration. March Break and PA Day Camps run from 8:00am to 5:00pm at all sites. We ask that you respect camp hours by not dropping your child off early or picking up late.
Safe Departure
The safety and well-being of all children participating in Jericho’s camps is of the utmost importance to us. Parents/guardians or their designate are required to personally pick up their child from camp. Please ensure the Jericho staff is aware you have arrived or that you are departing with your child. Departure times are recorded by a Jericho Camp Counselor prior to parents/guardians leaving the centre.
Authorized Drop off/Pick up and Emergency Contacts
At the time of registration, you will be asked to provide the names and contact information including telephone numbers and addresses of any adults 16 years of age or older that you authorize to drop off/pick up your child or come to camp in the event that you cannot be contacted when your child is ill or has been involved in an emergency. If you require an alternate person to pick up your child who is not on the list, please provide this information in writing (email) to the Jericho staff. Any new visitors to Jericho who come to pick up a child will be asked to provide photo identification.
Unknown Person Pickup
Should an unknown person come to camp to pick up a child which the staff is unaware of there will be a reference to the file on record. Should the person not be listed on the participants file, Jericho staff will attempt to contact the parents and/or emergency contact on file for the participant. Should the staff be unsuccessful the Jericho staff will proceed to contacting the police. To ensure the safety of the child is the top priority.
Should these events take place the Jericho Supervisor and additional staff will work in partnership to communicate with the Program Coordinator or Camp Director to ensure all attempts were made to reach the parent, guardian and emergency contacts, prior to contacting the police.
Prompt Pick Up Time
Parents or guardians are expected to respect the start and end times of the program when picking up their children from Camp. If you are running late, please arrange for another authorized adult to pick up your child. You must provide consent for another adult to pick up your child from the program, and the authorized adult must be prepared to show photo ID.
Late Pickup Procedure
Families/caregivers are asked to ensure they are able to plan sufficient time to collect their child and collect all their child’s supplies and speak to Jericho staff (if necessary) and leave camp by the end time. If a parent/caregiver are aware they will be late they are required to contact the supervisor of the program to inform them of such lateness. All late pick ups are subjected to a required charge of $10.00 per fifteen minutes following the end of camp. Invoices will be provided at the end of each week for any late charges.
Jericho thanks all families for their assistance in ensuring the effective and successful operations of our Programs.
If Your Child is Unable to Attend
It is important for us to know if your child is unable to attend camp. Please send a note with your child (in advance if possible) so we can plan accordingly and advise his/her supervisor not to expect them. If your child is ill, please call the Jericho Youth Services office at 905 722 5540 ext 5519 to advise us that they will not be attending. We will inform the location Supervisor immediately. Please do not send your child to camp when they are sick. If your child is not able to fully participate in camp due to health reasons (i.e. flu) you will be called to come pick them up.
Participant’s Safety
Jericho staff members are trained to inspect each site daily for any potential hazards. Activities and games are planned with participant’s safety in mind and are always watched to ensure that safety standards are maintained. All camp sites have access to a telephone and all programs have a First Aid Kit. All staff holds current First Aid Certifications. In the event of a minor injury to your child – scraped knee etc., staff will apply basic first aid by cleaning the wound and applying a bandage. In the unlikely event of serious injury to your child, emergency services will be called immediately to respond to the situation. You will be contacted immediately with information regarding the incident. If an ambulance is required to transport your child to the hospital, a member of our staff will accompany your child.
Camp Plans
Our Program Coordinator and Camp Director work to create a fun and engaging camp programing. We understand that our Camp Supervisors will shift things as needed to accommodate the needs of the kids during a given day. Should you have any questions or suggestions regarding these plans, please see the Camp Supervisor.
Lost and Found
Each location will have a lost and found box. Please check the box regularly to see if anything belongs to your child. Please put your child’s name on all of their belongings to assist us in finding the rightful owner. Any items not claimed by the end of summer will be donated to charity.
Extreme Weather
During extreme weather conditions, advisories or alerts, (heat, smog or wind chill) the Jericho staff follow the guidelines of the local health department. Our first priority is to keep all campers safe from serious adverse health effects such as frostbite and sunburn. Jericho staff will adjust the amount of time spent outdoors or provide an alternative indoor plan.
Behaviour Management Policy
We believe that positive camp experiences strengthen and builds each child’s self-esteem. Jericho staff members are dedicated to providing your child with a creative and innovative day at camp which will keep them involved and engaged. Any behaviour which does not contribute to the well being of all participants will be addressed directly by camp staff.
We understand that each child brings different experiences to camp and therefore on occasion may not handle each part of camp in a positive way. Which is why our staff is committed to working with participants to ensure they are able to explain how to feel and why they reacted in such a way. Our staff knows that the best way to address unwelcome behaviour is by talking with the child and appropriate consequences when necessary. As a result we follow the following processes when addressing conflict:
a. Our staff will ensure the safety of all involved, by removing any additional equipment or people from the situation
b. our staff will work to get on the same level of the child to have a conversation, to get to the root of the problem
c. The staff will work with the child to be able to express their feelings and facilitate any apologies should they be necessary
d. The staff will work with the child to explain any consequences that may be required (sitting out of the next game, last to line up for snack ect)
e. finally the staff will complete an incident report should it be necessary to explain the event for our record keeping
The Jericho staff is committed to speaking with the parents of those involved in an incident. We do this to ensure that you are aware of what has occurred for your child at camp. We are committed to ensuring you are aware of what has happened in your child's experience. Any feedback and opinions around other children is asked to be kept to yourself, or brought directly to the Program Coordinator or Camp Director.
Should the behaviour continue following conversations with both the child and parent the Jericho staff will be required to implement our three strike process:
Strike one: One day off camp
Strike two: One week off camp
Strike three: Removal camp
Based on the severity of an incident, a participant may be withdrawn from the camp without the strike policy. We do not enact these measures lightly therefore you will receive communication from both the Camp Supervisor along with the Program Coordinator and the Camp Director
Friendship Act
Jericho Youth Services has a set of guidelines that all children at our programs are required to follow, called the Friendship Act. Supervisors and Jericho staff members will go over the Friendship Act with the group the first week of camp and when needed. These are posted at all of our programs for parents/guardian and children to see.
Medication
If your child requires medication during the program, a Schedule Medication Dispensing form must be completed. These forms are available from the Supervisor at the camp location. Only medications prescribed by a physician will be considered for administration by our staff. Medication must be stored in its original container with appropriate dosage and directions for administration on the label.
All medication must be signed into the care of the Supervisor by the parent or guardian. The medication will be secured in a lock box and will be signed back into the care of the parent or guardian at the end of the day or week as requested. Medication such as epi-pens and asthma puffers will be carried by the supervisor or carried by the participant if indicated on the Schedule Medication Dispensing form by the parent or guardian. Staff cannot administer medication but will supervise participants capable of administering their own. In case of a life threatening situation where the participant is unable to administer medication such as an epi-pen or asthma inhalers, staff will assist.
Children with Special Needs
If your child has a special need or health condition we ask for your help in letting us know well before the first day of camp. Please contact us at 905 722 5540 to discuss how we can best provide the support your child needs.
Jericho Summer camp does provide an Inclusion Facilitator for children that require support. Inclusion Facilitators will work with all children with special needs at the camp location to ensure they are integrated into the daily program. It is the responsibility of all program staff to work with the Inclusion Facilitator to make the program experience the best it can be for all campers. Our Inclusion Facilitators are there as a support, however do not work one-on-one with any one child.
Preparing your Child for our programs
What to Bring
Your child should bring the following each day: Indoor and outdoor shoes, weather appropriate clothing (winter clothing for March Break camps, hat and sunscreen for summer camp) reusable water bottle, we recommend a change of clothing for summer in a backpack, with the participants’ name on it!
Money/Valuables
The Jericho staff are not responsible for any money or valuables brought to camp. We strongly discourage participants from bringing any electronic devices (i.e. video games, iPods, cell phones, cameras, etc) and money. If a participant does bring any of these things to camp, they will be asked to put them away.
Lunch and Snacks
Please provide your child with a nutritious lunch, snacks and plenty of drinks for every day of camp. Refrigeration will not be available. As part of our attention to the camper’s safety, we have regular water breaks, so please pack a reusable water bottle. Due to the number of nut related allergies of our campers and staff, peanut butter, nuts and foods that contain nut by-products will not be allowed at camp.
Bike Policy
We understand that summer is the perfect time to ride your bike and some of our campers prefer to get themselves to camp. If you want to allow your child the ability to ride their bike to camp you must connect with the Program Coordinator or the Camp Director.
Should your child ride their bike to camp it is the individual's responsibility to ensure the bike is left in a secure location during camp hours. Please note that bikes will not be allowed to be used during camp hours and are used as a method of transportation to and from camp.
Sunscreen Policy
We are all concerned with the damaging effects of the UVA and UVB. For this reason, we request that parents send sunscreen, sunglasses and hats with their children to camp. Jericho staff members will periodically check to ensure that participants are wearing sunscreen. In order to assist the staff, please ensure your child knows how to apply sunscreen to his/her body and attend camp wearing sunscreen during summer camp.
Bus Trips
Our summer camps and March Break Camp go on a one-day bus trip weekly. You will recieve communication from the Jericho team which day of camp will be going on the trip and this will be posted on the camp board at your camp location. The safety and whereabouts of each camper is our primary concern during trips. On all trip days, campers must wear their camp T-shirt. All procedures are reviewed with the campers ahead of boarding the bus, including rules about behaviour on the bus, safety and the buddy system. Packed lunches are required for all trips – no lunch items will be purchased.
Bus Trip Supervision
We maintain our 1 staff member to 10 participant’s ratio on all trips. This ratio is enhanced to include the added support of youth volunteers from our Volunteer Program. To ensure the safety of your child, only Jericho staff will be allowed to supervise your child on trips.
Camp Evaluations
We care about what you think of our programs and we are always open to suggestions. Camp Evaluation forms will be distributed to all parents. Please complete the form and return to the supervisor or emailed to the Program Coordinator or Camp Director. Your assistance in completing the evaluation will help us to fine tune and to plan for next year.
Forms
Parents of participants must complete all forms as required.
