Camp Sol Taplin Parent Manual Summer 2014
Camp Sol Taplin Parent Manual Summer 2014 Welcome to Camp Sol Taplin Camp Sol Taplin is a place for children and teens to grow individually, athletically, socially, and culturally. As a Jewish Day Camp, we strive to provide all our campers with a happy and meaningful Jewish experience, in a safe and secure environment. This manual has been developed to assist parents/guardians with camp policies and procedures. It provides important information about our summer program. Mark Your Calendars! Parent Orientation – Wednesday, May 28 Swim/Sports Academy 5:30 – 6:30 pm Nitzanim/Kitanim 6:30 – 7:30 pm All Other Camps 7:30 – 8:30 pm Meet the Counselor NIGHT! – Wednesday June 11 All Camps 5:30 – 7:30 pm FIRST DAY OF CAMP – MONDAY, JUNE 16 MAR-JCC Mission Statement The MAR-JCC is dedicated to the enrichment of Jewish life and to foster the spiritual, emotional, and physical development of its individual members through all of life’s stages and circumstances. The JCC represents a model of acceptance, understanding and diversity. As such, people look at the JCC as a center of excellence that epitomizes how shared Jewish values support a vibrant and evolving constituency. The JCC is a beneficiary agency of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, and the United Way of Miami-Dade County, and is a member of the Jewish Community Center Association of North America. Camp Sol Taplin Mission Statement At Camp Sol Taplin we strengthen our community and develop future leaders by fostering physical, intellectual, social and spiritual growth in our campers all within a welcoming and fun environment guided by Jewish values and culture. Independence Day – Friday, July 4 Camp is Closed Parent Orientation Session II – Sunday, July 13 All Camps 9 – 10 am Camp Carnival & Show Day – Sunday, July 13, 10am – 1pm Last Day of Camp – Friday, August 8 JCC Phone Numbers 305 932-4200 Camp Director – Neal Buchholz ext. 178 Assistant Camp Director - Jenny Moscatel ext. 190 Camp Reception - ext. 110 Camp Nurse – ext. 169 Camp Hours Monday – Friday *AM Kid Konnection *PM Kid Konnection Friday Hours *Additional fee required DID YOU KNOW ??? Our campers & staff represent over 19 nations! 8:30 am – 3:45 pm 7:30 – 8:45 am 3:45 – 6:00 pm 3:45 – 5:00 pm LET THE FUN BEGIN! Wacky Wednesday, Jewish Values, and Friday Spirit Themes… Week Week Week Week Week Week Week Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 JEWISH VALUE Welcome All Friendship Hebrew Wholeness of Mind, Body & Spirit Community of Friends & Family Repairing the World Love for Israel Jewish Life WACKY WEDNESDAY Crazy Sunglass Day Princess & Pirates Peace, Luv & Happiness Day Pajama Day Crazy Hat Day Twin Day Crazy Hair & Mustache Day Mix & Match Day FRIDAY FUN THEME Sports Day Wanna Be Day Red, White & Blue Day Neon Day Hollywood Silver Screen Day Celebrate Your Country Day Israel Day Circus Day COMMUNICATION Talk to us… If you have any special concerns, please contact us BEFORE CAMP and arrange for a meeting with the Camp Director. If there is a need for special instructions about your camper, please put them in writing and send them to our office well in advance. Verbal instructions given are impossible for us to remember. Should there be any issues that may arise during the summer, please contact your child’s Unit Leader or the Camp Director immediately. If we are aware of the issue, then we can address it quickly. Do not wait to see if the issue goes away! You may contact your camper’s Unit Leader or Senior Counselor by email, written message, or by leaving a telephone message. Since all staff are involved with their camp groups during the camp day, please be patient and do not expect a return phone call prior to 4:30 PM. Unit Leaders are required to check for email messages and voice mail before leaving at the end of every day. For emergencies, all staff can be reached through the Camp Receptionist at 305-932-4200, EXT. 110. We promise you will hear from us a lot! Every Friday we will be sending our Taplin Times weekly newsletter sharing the highlights of the week including important updates. Also on Fridays, a Camp-O-Gram from your child’s unit will be sent home with your camper and by email highlighting your camper’s week and pertinent information for the upcoming week. Please confirm with our membership services department that we have the correct email address you would like to receive your emails on file. DID YOU KNOW ??? We serve over 51,000 lunches during summer camp and we consume 400 loaves of challah celebrating Kabbalat Shabbat! ACADEMY CAMPS Half Day Swim Swim Academy Sports Academy [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] SPORTS CAMPS Soccer Aquatics All Sports Tennis Academy Elite Basketball Gymnastics Super Sports [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] CULTURAMA & SCIENCE CAMPS Tiny T’Nuah T’Nuah J-CAT Girls Inc. Science Camp [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] TEEN CAMPS Teen Travel Madatzim [email protected] [email protected] CAMP STAFF Neal Buchholz Jenny Moscatel [email protected] [email protected] Andee Kochavi Elisa Duenas [email protected] [email protected] VARIETY CAMPS Nitzanim Kitanim Tsofim Yeladim Chaverim Giborim Madli-teen [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] EXTREME CAMPS Extreme Adventure Extreme Sports [email protected] [email protected] SPECIAL NEEDS Koach Ometz MACCABI CAMPS Maccabi Sports [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Camp Director Assistant Camp Director Support Staff Support Staff CARPOOL, BUS TRANSPORTATION, & EARLY PICK-UP What you really need to know… Drop-Off: Drop-off for all camps begins at 8:30 AM and concludes promptly at 9 AM. Academy campers are dropped off by the JCC playground; all other campers are dropped off from the carpool line in front of the JCC Main Building. All campers will be taken out of the car by a JCC staff member and escorted directly to their groups where they will be checked in. For your convenience, arrive as early as possible after 8:30 AM to avoid the heavy traffic flow. Parents arriving after 9 AM MUST park their car and escort their camper to the JCC Camp Receptionist located in the lobby of the Lipton Building. The camper’s Unit Leader will be contacted. The parent may leave once the camper has been picked up by a counselor. No camper is to be dropped off unescorted. PICK-UP TIMES & LOCATIONS: You must have an assigned carpool pass displayed in the windshield on the driver’s side dashboard whenever you pick up a group of campers or just your own. You can get your carpool assignment by emailing [email protected] . In addition to your carpool pass, a current JCC parking permit must be properly displayed to facilitate entry to the JCC campus. Half Day Swim Academy pick-up is at 12:30 PM at the JCC Playground. Camps are dismissed at 3:45 PM at one of three locations assigned to you: The Jordan Savage Playground, the JCC Main Building or the Samuel Scheck Hillel Community Day School. Please do not line up for carpool prior 3:30 PM, as this causes traffic flow problems for the returning field trip buses and parking problems for our members. Pick-up during Inclement Weather: In the event of inclement weather, campers will be moved to the Scheck Family Gymnasium. On these days, pick-up will take longer than usual. Please be patient. In case of lightning, carpool will be delayed until it is safe to resume. SAFETY for all our campers and staff is our number one priority; we ask that everyone follows these safety precautions: Keep your eyes and ears alert during carpool. The use of Cellular Phones or other Smart Phone devices while driving on campus and through the carpool lines is strictly prohibited and will result in a monetary fine. Follow directions given by staff, JCC security, and/or Metro-Dade Police. Drive cautiously and slowly to ensure the safety of campers and staff. Do not leave your car during carpool. Campers will be brought to you. A counselor will escort your camper and assist with car seats and seat belts. Drive your car to the front of the line as directed by staff and security. If you wish to park, go to a designated parking area and turn off your car. Free Bus Transportation: A1A Transportation has been transporting our campers for more than 15 summers. We have created several bus stops from North Miami Beach, Aventura & Hollywood to help serve our community . All bus stops are located within your neighborhood, and some stops have been created at local businesses for convenience and safety. A Camp Sol Taplin staff member will be assigned to each bus. This service is offered on a “first come, first served” bases. Please contact Membership Services for more details. DID YOU KNOW ??? Within 20 minutes 1,100 campers are picked-up during afternoon carpool! To ensure your camper’s safety, we ask that you stay with your camper until the bus arrives in the morning and that you be on time to greet the bus in the afternoon. If your camper is permitted to walk home unescorted from the bus stop, a signed release from the parent/guardian is required. An A1A Transportation Supervisor will call and/or email you with the pick-up, drop-off times and location for your camper. To minimize travel time, group pick-up locations will be established. Please have your camper ready and waiting at the bus stop. It is not the driver’s responsibility to honk the horn (disturbing the neighbors) or wait for late arrivals (delaying other campers). An authorized adult must be waiting to receive your camper when he or she returns home. If someone not known to the bus driver/counselor needs to meet your camper, please inform your camper’s Unit Leader in advance and in writing. Any camper NOT met by the authorized adult will be brought back to the Michael-Ann Russell JCC where the parent/guardian will be called for pick-up. Your Unit Leader and the transportation company must be notified a day in advance, if your bus camper will be absent from camp, only requires one-way transportation on designated days, or will not be riding the bus. Please notify your Unit Leader before 1 PM for afternoon changes. Please follow these rules and discuss them with your camper(s) to ensure a pleasant and safe bus ride: • Arrive at the designated location a few minutes ahead of time. • Campers must remain seated at all times during the bus route. Inappropriate and/or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and will result in your camper’s suspension/expulsion from the bus service. Campers are not permitted to eat or drink on the bus. Non-registered bus riders will not be permitted to go home with friends or family on the bus. • • Carpool Changes: Alternative carpool transportation arrangements will be permitted with written permission from the parent/guardian. We will not accept a verbal request for a change of transportation from a parent or camper. Please notify your Unit Leader in writing before 1 PM that day. For the safety of your camper, friends or relatives may not pick up children unless your Unit Leader receives written permission before 1 PM, from the parent/guardian of the camper. In addition to written permission, a Driver’s License (or other official photo ID) must be presented to establish identification. No camper(s) will be released from the MAR-JCC campus unless identification is established and permission from the parent/guardian of the camper is submitted in writing. Early Pick-up Procedures: We request that early pick-ups be reserved for important appointments only. Parents who wish to pick-up a camper before 3:45 PM dismissal must inform their Unit Leader in writing prior to 1 PM. If an early pick-up is required, parents are asked to meet their camper at the JCC Camp Receptionist located in the lobby of the Lipton Building prior to 3 PM. Please be prompt. For the safety of your camper, proper identification must be established and a sign-out sheet must be signed in order to release your camper from the MAR-JCC campus. DID YOU KNOW ??? Teen Travel & Extreme Camps travelled 15,632 miles last summer! HEALTH FORMS, MEDICATIONS, & CAMP NURSE We really really need those forms… Health forms are required by Florida Law to be on file in our Camp Infirmary before the first day of camp. Please schedule your child’s doctor’s appointment early and have your physician fill out the DH680 and HRS3040. All health exams must take place within the current year. Emergency contact and release forms (page 11 in the Camp Brochure) provide the necessary information to contact you in case of an emergency. This information is taken with us on all field trips and is critical to your camper’s safety. Medication: All medications must be kept at the Camp Infirmary and dispensed by the Camp NURSE. The medication must be in the original bottle, labeled with the camper’s name and group. A note from the parent/guardian must accompany the medication, along with detailed instructions. Please be specific. Make sure to include the name of the medication, dosage, and time of day the medication is to be administered. Medication prescribed by a doctor must be accompanied by the instructions given by the physician. The Camp NURSE is located in the Camp Infirmary from 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (in the main building across from the Fitness Receptionists.) We request that the parent/guardian bring any necessary medication on Meet the Counselor Day and review all instructions with the Camp NURSE. In case of suspected illness, please keep your camper home for his/her protection, as well as for the health of other campers and staff. Upon arrival at camp or during the camp day if a camper displays any symptoms such as cough, fever, lice, skin rash, or open wound, the parent/guardian will be contacted to pick up the camper. Please be prompt. In the event of an extended absence (longer than 3 days) and/or a contagious illness, please notify your Unit Leader and Camp Director immediately. A physician’s note will be required prior to the camper’s return to camp. Any medical emergencies on campus are handled by the Camp NURSE. The Emergency Medical System (911) will be activated immediately if medical stability is not immediately established. We will use the emergency contact and release form to contact the parent/guardian. If the parent/guardian is not reached, the designated emergency contact person will be called. We will also make every effort to contact the physician listed on the camper’s form. It is not unusual during the summer to report to you cases of head lice. If your camper has head lice, as diagnosed by the Camp NURSE you will be contacted immediately. Your camper will be brought to the Camp Infirmary for pick-up. Written information about treatment is available in the Camp Nurse’s office. Upon returning to camp, your camper must be brought to the Camp Infirmary to be re-checked by the Camp Nurse. Your camper can only return to the group with written permission from the Camp Nurse. Accident/Incident Reports, Confidentiality: In case of an accident/incident, a written report will be completed and submitted to JCC’s HR Director - Ruthie Williams-Cass, at 305-9324200, ext 133, within 12 hours of the incident. Copies of said reports may be submitted to our funding source, The Children’s Trust. The Michael-Ann Russell JCC takes every step necessary to safeguard your confidentiality. Privacy notices are posted in the Membership office and are available upon request. DID YOU KNOW ??? We go on 234 field trips over the summer! BEHAVIOR POLICIES, CONSEQUENCES & SAFETY: Safety first, fun next… Although it is essential that campers understand the expectations and limits for conduct during the camp day, we believe that children should remain involved in camp activities as much as possible. Kids come to camp to be active, to socialize with other kids, and to have fun; therefore we do not believe in removing a child from an activity unless the child demonstrates behavior that is unsafe to him/herself or unsafe to others. In order to promote consistent behavioral expectations among campers, we have an established a 10-point good behavior program. Our program stresses good citizenship with an emphasis on the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Safety Cooperating and participating in group activities and with fellow campers Respecting those around you Respecting property Appropriate language and dress at all times Not borrowing from others without permission Good sportsmanship Keeping your hands to yourself Having a positive attitude Staying with your group Proper behavior is very important for a child’s development. Please be advised that the following behaviors will detract from a positive camp experience and will affect the group environment: physical aggression (including hitting and biting), bullying, stealing, defiance in following instructions, and/or repeated incidents of inappropriate language. Camp Sol Taplin has a ZERO TOLERENCE POLICY FOR BULLYING. Campers are expected to behave in a socially acceptable manner. Camp Sol Taplin reserves the right to suspend a camper from the camp program for inappropriate behavior. The Camp Director will determine the length of the suspension. Recurring behavior of this nature will result in suspension/expulsion from summer camp without a refund. If a camper has difficulty with our behavior program, our first response will be to verbally intervene and help your child understand the impact his/her behavior is having on the positive camp experience. If the behavior continues to be disruptive, the parent/guardian will be contacted to pick up their child. The child will then be asked to not return for the remainder of the day and possibly for the remainder of the camp depending on the nature of the behavior issue. Camp administration will record the incident and outline the consequences of the behavior with the camper and his/her parent/guardian. We will practice the following 3-Point Good Behavior Plan: 1. Verbal warning or time out to the camper. (Parent/guardian will be notified of the incident). Options 2 and 3 will be implemented based on the nature of the behavior issue and a decision will be made after consultation with the camp administration. 2. Parent/guardian contacted to pick up the child immediately with the child missing the rest of the camp day. 3. Parent/guardian contacted to pick up the child immediately with the child asked to not return to camp. Camp Sol Taplin hires experienced and qualified staff. In the event that our staff feels your camper is having difficulty within the structure we provide, we reserve the right to have our behavioral specialist conduct an observation and oversee the implementation of behavior modification programs with staff and your camper. If, after the implementation of these procedures, your camper continues to experience difficulty, we may recommend that your camper participate in a shadow program, which we provide in cooperation with the Or Gadol Department for an additional fee. Mandated Reporting: In the State of Florida, all professionals who care for children are “mandated reporters” of suspected child abuse, and as such, are required by law to report “reasonable suspicion” of child abuse to either a law enforcement agency or a county child protective agency. This law was created to protect children and to provide services for families. Child abuse (including physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional and physical neglect) must be reported when a legally mandated reporter, such as our camp staff, has knowledge of or observes a child in his professional capacity, or within the scope of his or her employment, drawing when appropriate on his or her training and experience, to suspect child abuse. The MAR-JCC camp staff is experienced and trained in assessing situations which may lead them to make a child abuse referral, which includes, but is not limited to, the following: physical indicators of abuse, behavioral/psychological indicators displayed by the child(ren) during their time at camp, environmental problems, parents’ suspicions and statements made by the child. WHAT TO (and not to) BRING TO CAMP! Note to self: must wear camp t-shirt everyday… Campers spend the day involved in a diverse range of activities including sports, art, nature, music, swimming, and more. Campers should come to camp each day dressed in their Camp Sol Taplin camp t-shirt, comfortable shorts, sneakers, and a backpack. No flip flops or sneakers with wheels will be allowed. Backpack basics: bathing suit, towel, sunscreen, water bottle, plastic bag for wet items, hat, change of clothes, any athletic equipment (tennis rackets, shin guards, cleats). Please make sure all personal items are clearly labeled. What to leave at home: Game boys, PSP’s or other electronic games, MP3 players, including iPods, trading cards, expensive clothing, jewelry, cell phones, and money unless it’s field trip day. CAMP SOL TAPLIN IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOSS, DAMAGE, OR THEFT OF PERSONAL ITEMS, EITHER ON CAMPUS OR ON OFF CAMPUS FIELD TRIPS. Lost and Found: During the course of the summer, clothing and personal items get misplaced. Lost items will be placed on the 2nd floor balcony located in the back of the JCC Main Building. In an effort to minimize the number of lost items, please label everything with your camper’s name and check the cubbies area for a lost or misplaced item. DID YOU KNOW ??? Last summer we ordered over 8,000 Camp Sol Taplin t-shirts! Thing, things, & more things! Things you need to know… Food Service Policy: On-campus, as well as off-campus camp lunches are Glatt Kosher and are provided through the J Café (Kosher Subway, Inc.). In addition to lunch, kosher snacks will be provided during the camp day. In keeping with the JCC’s Kashrut (Jewish dietary laws) policy, no food or snacks may be sent from home. The camp menu prepared by the J Café and camp staff is reviewed by a nutritionist to ensure that the campers receive balanced and healthy meals and snacks. Please contact your Unit Leader to discuss any special dietary issues including specific food ingredients. Special diet menus are available for campers with medical issues. Your Medical Information and Emergency Contact Form should reflect any allergy or food sensitivity. Please Note: On extended trips, Glatt Kosher meals are available upon request. Please contact your Unit Leader no later than one week in advance of the trip to make the proper arrangements. Birthdays and Celebrations: The Camp Sol Taplin Committee offers a special Birthday/Celebration Doughnut party for your camper. Please complete the Doughnut Celebration form and return it to the camp reception located in the lobby of the Lipton Building, or call ext. 110, at least one week prior to the requested party date. In keeping with the JCC’s Kashrut (Jewish dietary laws) policy, no food or snacks may be sent from home. Staffing: All Camp Sol Taplin counselors go through a training process prior to the beginning of camp. Each member of the camp staff is background checked through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, fingerprinted and drug screened. We take staffing very seriously and make every effort to choose the very best candidates for the job. Gratuities: Each summer, parents ask us about our guidelines for tipping. We encourage tipping, however, our position is that tipping is personal, between parent and staff member. We only ask that the procedure be professional and low-key. If you choose to tip, please send clearly labeled, sealed envelopes with your child(ren) during your camper’s last week at camp. These envelopes can also be given to the camp office to be delivered. Security: Maintaining a secure environment is of the utmost importance to the MAR-JCC. Upon entering the MAR-JCC, appropriate identification must be shown at the security gate/guard house. Twenty-four hour surveillance cameras are located inside the buildings and on the MAR-JCC grounds. In addition, security guards patrol the campus during camp hours. To ensure the safety of our campers, staff, parents, and members, MAR-JCC security reserves the right to search all backpacks, handbags, or other items. The MAR-JCC maintains ongoing contacts with local and regional law enforcement officials to continually stay updated on security issues and measures. Looking forward to a GREAT summer! DID YOU KNOW ??? Summer 2014 is going to be the BEST SUMMER ever at Camp Sol Taplin!!!!!!
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