Logistics

QUESTIONS & EMERGENCY INFO

If you have questions or concerns about the Kids Camp, please tell your child's counselor or speak directly with the camp director during camp hours.  If you have any questions about babysitting, please speak with the Babysitting Coordinator.

Daytime children’s staff and evening baby-sitters will contact FPU Security case of medical emergencies.  You should also have completed a permission /emergency form.

Unless there is an emergency, please do not approach Kids Camp staff with business during meal times, evening programs or on Shabbat.  Camp staff is also members of our community and deserve to enjoy their “down time” with the rest of us.  Office staff is available to receive and relay any concerns during office hours. Our partnership makes this week a safe, fun and enriching experience for the Institute’s youngest participants.

WHAT TO BRING TO CAMP EACH DAY:

·        Apply sunscreen thickly to your child each morning prior to drop-off and reapply the sunscreen each day at lunch time.

·        If you child wears diapers, please send them to camp each morning in a clean diaper and change them during the lunch break.  This makes caring for many little ones at one time much easier on our staff.

·        PLEASE MARK ALL ITEMS INDELIBLY so they won’t be lost.  Please also bring a permanent marker with you to label things once on site.

·        Each child should have a small backpack or tote that is clearly labeled with their name that they will bring to camp each day. 

·        Make sure that your child has a water bottle, hat, bathing suit, sunscreen, towel andchange of clothes, in the classroom every day.

·        The building being used for Kids Camp this year can be chilly.  Please make sure you child has a sweater or jacket to keep at Camp.

·        Children should wear or bring closed-toe shoes every day for sports, hiking and other activities.

·        Babies/Toddlers – Please bring baby food, formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, plastic bags (for dirty diapers), a few favorite toys and stuffed animals daily.

LUNCH BREAK:

You are responsible for your child(ren) during lunch.  Because Kids Camp runs all day, the counselors need the mid-day lunch break each day and use part of the time for a daily staff meeting.  We have found that the youngest children (6 months-6 years) need a little time with their parents in the middle of the day. 

Camp reopens at 1:30 p.m. and ends promptly at 4:30 p.m.

·         Seating and supervision.  Kids in the oldest groups may eat unsupervised, provided they behave appropriately.  However, children in the younger groups must be seated with an adult or teen who is responsible for them.  Individual arrangements are the responsibility of parents

·         Lunch line flow.  Families are admitted to the dining hall at 12:15 p.m. to make the process easier.  The rest of the community is admitted at 12:30 p.m. 

·         Kid-friendly food.  Each day peanut butter, jelly, bread, plain pasta, pizza, carrot sticks or baby carrots, celery sticks and more will be available at every meal.

Keeping Track OF CHILDREN:

Each group of children will have a sign-in and sign-out sheet with the counselor or work-study assistant.  Please be diligent in signing in/out your child with the group leader, so that we always know where your child is and where to find you. 

Please notify your child(ren)’s counselor if they can leave without adult sign-out and complete the release form counselors have.  Only children ages 11 and 12 are allowed to sign themselves in and out.  All other campers must be brought to camp and picked up by an approved adult. 

Snacks:

We will provide snack each day.  If your child has any food allergies or cannot eat solid food yet, please let us know.  If you child is not eating solids please send babyfood/formula as needed.  Please list on the Children’s Program Consent form any food allergies and your child’s reactions.

SHARING SUPPLIES & RESOURCES:

We are renting space in college classrooms that are not equipped for children.  The camp staff does a wonderful job of making the space kid-friendly and safe.  You can be of enormous help by bringing age-appropriate toys, materials and books (especially with Jewish content) for everyone to share or donate. 

If you have any of the following that you would be willing to share or donate, please let Aileen know in advance for planning purposes and bring the items with you to the camp open house on Monday:

If you are not donating the items, please label everything, indelibly, with your child’s name, and pick it up before 1 pm on Friday.  

Donations of crafts materials, games and toys

We do a lot of arts and crafts projects with the children throughout the week, including preparing special decorations for the entire community for Shabbat.  If you are able to donate any of the following, please let us know as soon as possible and bring the materials with you to the camp orientation.

• smocks
• Fabric markers or paints
• modeling clay, plasticine,
• glue sticks
• Crayon maker (for recycling crayons)
• Tie-dye paints 
• White t-shirts in various kid sizes
• White sheets
• Rolls of craft paper or newsprint
• Empty glass jars (pasta sauce size)
• Tissue paper
• Pipe Cleaners