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City of Courtenay

Summer Camp 2020Handbook for Parents

Thank you for choosing Courtenay Recreation Summer Programs!

We look forward to having your child at camp this summer for a fun-filled line up of activities, rewarding

experiences, enjoyable moments, and new friendships!

Health Programs Tips for Parents/Caregivers:Parents, we need your help to prepare your kids for camps! Please explain to your child how important it is to work with and listen to their leaders to help ensure a fun and safe camp experience. Some of the things to explain to them are:• Practice good hand hygiene, wash hands frequently for at least 20 seconds and avoid touching your face.• Practice physical distancing by maintaining a distance of at least 2 metres (six feet) from others.• Cough and sneeze into your bent elbow, not your hands.• Stay home if you, or anyone in your household, are unwell or sick.• Use a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated.• Stay well rested and get plenty of sleep before attending a program.• Don’t forget to apply sunscreen before attending a program and teach your child to be able to apply their own effectively.• Parents, please do not enter the “camp zone” when dropping off and picking up your child and maintain a 2 metres (six feet) distance between yourself and all of the other participants and staff. Please do not bring spectators or other siblings on site.

Sun Protection: We require all participant to be protected with sunscreen and a hat each day. Use of UV protected sunglasses is encouraged but not required. Children are to come to camp with sunscreen already applied and be able to re-apply independently upon reminders from Camp Leaders.

All the information you need about Summer programs is in here!

Find summer daycamp forms at courtenay.ca/recforms

Contacts:Summer Day Camp Coordinator: Sarah LewisEmail: daycampsupervisor@courtenay.caPhone: 250-703-6082

Summer Inclusion Coordinator: Helen CampbellEmail: hcampbell@courtenay.caPhone: 778-585-0472

Camp Location: Parktime, Discovery & KidsPlay will be located in Lewis Park this summer. Inclusion camps will receive an email with location instructions after reg-istration. There will be no public access to the Lewis Centre or any other facility in Lewis Park.Sign in/Sign Out Procedures: Sign-in and sign-out will take place in Lewis Park by the totem pole entrance. Parents/Guardians will be required to verbally sign their participant into camp with camp staff. At sign-in camp leaders will be available to help direct parents and campers on where to line-up to get signed in to camp when they show up each day. We recommend parents/guardian park their vehicle in Lew-is or Simms Park. We will ask that parents stay near the sidewalk by the parking lot and do not enter the “Camp Zone”. Camp Zone will be the area were camp leaders are interacting with participants. Once everyone is signed in the camp leaders will be taking the participants to wash their hands. Please follow all signage and mark-ers that are set-up to ensure physical distancing. At sign-in parents will be asked to declare the health of the participant as well as inform staff who will be picking up the participant at the end of the day. At sign-out the parent/guardian will be asked to line-up in the same area as the morning drop-off. They may be asked to show ID to prove who they are before the participant is released to them. We will have staff available again to help direct parents but we ask that parents please respect physical distancing, when it is their turn let staff know who they are, who they are picking up and once identification is confirmed the participant will be released to their care. Please leave extra time and be patient with staff as this is a new process for us and may take a little longer than usual. Participants in the Inclusion camps will receive an email from the Inclusion Coordi-nator, Helen, with their drop-off and pick-up instructions.Hours of Operations: Camps will start at 9am and go until 4pm, unless registered in KidsPlayKidsPlay (Before & After Camp Program): Will be available from 8-9am or from 4-5pm with an additional cost for both. It will be located outside in Lewis Park. Staff will be available for drop-off starting at 8am. Participants must be picked up by 5pm.Late Pick-ups: If, for any reason, you are unable to pick up your child on time, please call and notify the Lewis Centre as soon as possible. When possible your child will join the KidsPlay program and you will be billed for the cost. Late pick-ups from the KidsPlay program will also be billed an additional fee.Absences: If your child will be absent from cap, please call the front office by 8:30am.Swimming & Beach Days: Unfortunately, the outdoor pool will be closed this sum-mer so our camps will not have the option to go swimming. We will also not be able to do our regular beach days this year as we cannot safely transport everyone to the beach while maintaining physical distancing.

What to Bring: Weather appropriate clothing that can get wet or mucky, change of clothes, comfortable closed toe shoes, water bottle, bag lunch and 2 snack (peanut free), waterproof sunscreen, and rain jacket. Please Leave at Home: Electronic devices, food with peanuts, flip flops, toy weapons, money or anything else of value or sentiment that they would be upset if lost or stolen.Lost & Found: Will be kept in the Tsolum Building until September 4th. After September 4th it will be donated to an organization in need. Please make sure to label everything the participant brings to camp so we can ensure it is safely returned to them.Camper Medication: Please contact the Inclusion Coordinator if your child is required to take any medication while at camp (including Aspirin and Tylenol). Allergies: Please treat day camp like a school environment. We do have campers with severe peanut and other nut allergies. Please do not send your child with nut products. If your child has food allergies or dietary restrictions please ensure these are identified when you are registering or call the front desk to confirm that it’s been noted on your account. Please do not hesitate to contact the Summer Day Camp Coordinator or the Inclusion Coordinator if you would like to discuss your child’s allergies or dietary restrictions.Adapted & Inclusive Program: We make it fun and easy for children with special needs to attend our camps. Contact the Summer Inclusion Coordinator for more information on the support available.Parent Communication: If parents would like to connect with staff we ask that they contact the Summer Camp Coordinator to go through any questions or con-cerns they have prior to the start of camp and while camp is running. Change in Family Status: If your child is experiencing any emotional stress or trauma outside of camp, it is important to inform one of the Camp Coordinators. This will allow our staff to better understand your child and communicate more effectively should any behavior changes occur.It is the responsibility of the parent to notify the front desk or Summer Day Camp Coordinator of any changes to custody orders, spousal restrictions, or living ar-rangements. If there is ever concern about your child’s wellbeing please call the Summer Day Camp Coordinator to discuss.Removal of Participants from Program: If a child comes to day camp with an infectious disease (ex. COVID-19 or Pink Eye) or condition (ex. Head Lice), the par-ents will be notified and the child will be sent home immediately. The child will not be able to return to the program until they are no longer contagious. During Covid-19 pandemic this means any child with cold or flu symptoms must go home unless accompanied by a Doctor’s note stating they do not have Covid-19 or any other contagious illness. Parents can discuss this further with the Sum-mer Day Camp Coordinator.

Find summer daycamp forms at

courtenay.ca/recforms