Parent Handbook

Eco Sprouts

Children’s Eco Programs

Contact Information

Camp Staff Contacts:

Eco Camp Jr. 1: 416-676-0529 Eco Camp Jr. 2: 416-676-0725

Mailing Address: Hillside Gardens, High Park c/o Etobicoke Civic Centre Mail Room 399 The West Mall Toronto, ON, M9C 2Y2

Eco Sprouts Camp: 416-676-0884 Eco Camp Youth: 416-676-1172

Office Hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Office Location: Hillside Gardens, High Park 142 Colborne Lodge Dr. Toronto, ON

Office Contacts: Keely Forth - 416-392-1329 | C – 416-936-4983 | kidsgrow@toronto.ca Andrew Puchalski - 416-392-1846 | 416-771-2496 | apuchal@toronto.ca Fax: 416-392-1319 childrensecoprograms.ca

Welcome to Eco Sprouts!

Summer 2015

Sincerely,

Keely & Andrew Children’s Eco Programs Parks, Forestry & Recreation

Thank you for registering your sprout(s ) in Eco Camp this summer! We know that he or she is in for a real treat! It’s a great camp experience here in the City of Toronto filled with hiking, gardening, veggies, crafts, drama, cooking, music and more.

This Parent’s Handbook contains all the information you’ll need to make sure your wee sprout is ready to join us this summer in High Park. Included you’ll find information on pick-up/drop-off times and location, what to bring to camp, a sample schedule, camp and office staff contacts and of course … forms!

Honestly it’s all about the forms folks! Those forms are very important. We need to make sure we have all of your campers information so they can have a safe and happy time at camp. Please remember to fill out and return those camper information and photo permission forms by Friday, June 19th 2015!

Please note: If your child is on medication (to be taken at

camp) or carries an epi-pen there are extra medical forms to fill out. You can contact us for the forms or find them on our website under Programs/Eco Camp/Extra forms.

We’re very excited for the opportunity to pass along our love of nature, gardening and healthy cooking to your camper!

Our Counsellors

Many of our Camp Counsellors are in teacher’s college and/or environmental studies. At least one Counsellor in each camp is a qualified Lifeguard. Our staff excel at making nature exploration, organic gardening and healthy cooking fun and educational.

Eco Camp – Eco Sprouts

A City of Toronto, Parks, Forestry and Recreation Day Camp

Our Eco Camps offer your Sprout a unique opportunity to learn about nature and organic gardening in an urban environment. We combine traditional camp activities such as crafts, games and swimming with healthy cooking, organic gardening, nature hikes and access to our amazing natural spaces here in the City. One of our program goals is to educate children and youth about environmental, physical and social health. The ingredients for a happy, healthy child should always include a personal relationship with nature and an opportunity to explore. As a major urban centre Toronto is fortunate to have many diverse natural areas. The Children's Eco Programs are here to help kids learn, play and discover a whole new world right in their own backyard!

Camp Info

Camp Hours:

Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Extended Care Hours:

Morning - 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. - $14/week Afternoon – 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. - $14/week Both require preregistration call 416-338-4FUN Rainy Days:

Eco Camp will continue to operate on rainy days. In case of rain, please continue to meet us at the drop-off location .

Program Themes Eco Sprout Camp Themes:

Programming each week will be similar but with a different focus: • Nature Crafts – July 6 to 10 & Aug. 4 to 7 • Wee Critters – July 13 to 17 & Aug. 10 to 14 • Veggie Sprouts – July 20 to 24 & Aug. 17 to 21 • Hoppin’ Habitats– July 27 to 31 & Aug. 24 to 28

Sprout Appropriate Activities:

High Park is a big place with lots to explore. Your little sprout will have a great time hiking through the forest, cooking in the Kitchen and learning in the organic garden. All activities will be age appropriate and care will be taken to make sure enough rest stops for sunscreen application and food/water breaks are taken for little legs.

What To Pack All your “how to?” questions answered!

Please Remember – There is a lot of hiking/walking each day at Eco Camp. A Daypack (school backpack – preferably with a waist/hip belt) is necessary to hold what your child needs for the day.

Try to keep backpacks and lunches an appropriate size for your child to carry. Good closed toe hiking shoes or sneakers are important for your child’s comfort as well as weather and gardening appropriate clothing (something that can get dirty and helps protect from the sun).

Please apply sunscreen to your camper(s) before you drop them off in the morning. Staff will remind campers to reapply sunscreen throughout the day; however, Counsellors are not allowed to apply it for your camper unless you sign the available permission form on Monday mornings allowing Staff to do so.

Stuff To Pack Everyday: Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen 500ml to 1L reusable water bottle (please fill before camp) Raincoat/pants for rainy days! Lunch and 2 snacks

Extended Care Participants: Additional Snacks

Thursdays: Swimsuit and towel for the trip to the wadding pool

Optional Items: Garden gloves Long-sleeved shirt for sun Insect Repellant

Please Do Not Send:

Cell phones Electronic games Electronic pets Any valuables iPods/MP3 players Trading cards, etc.

Please do not include foods containing peanuts/nuts or any traces of nuts when packing lunches, as some campers may have severe allergic reactions to peanuts and other nuts. Please check ingredient labels to ensure that products are nut free and look for warnings such as “may contain traces of peanuts or other nuts”. We thank you for helping to make our camp environment safe for all participants.

Litterless Lunches

In keeping with the spirit of our camp, please help us maintain the Three R’s when packing your child(ren)’s litterless lunches and snacks. The following tips might be useful in thinking about reducing, reusing and recycling waste:

Please pack lunch items with as little packaging as possible – fresh, nutritious snacks like apples, pears and oranges require no packaging Pack lunch items in reusable containers, rather than plastic disposable bags or plastic wrap Try to choose items packaged in recyclable materials.

Lunch and Snacks You will need to pack lunch each day for your camper plus 2-3 additional snacks.

Compost We have a variety of compost options at camp including vermicomposters (Worms!) and our backyard style composters. Fruit and veggie scraps from campers lunches and snacks will be composted. Things like dairy, meat and oils cannot be composted.

Late Pick-Up Fee: Parents/Guardians who pick up their

child(ren) late will be charged $1 per child for each minute that they are late. Children not registered for the extended care program must be picked-up by 4pm and those registered for the extended care program must be picked-up by 5pm.

Pick-Ups and Drop-Offs To help keep drop-off and pick-up times quick and easy please make sure to fill out the Pick-Up Information on your child’s Camper Information Form including all caregivers –

Yes parents too please!

Late Arrivals, Early Pick-Ups and Absences Please call/inform Camp Counsellors when your camper will be late, absent or picked up early. The staff can then coordinate with you an alternative drop off or pick up location within the park. If your child is being picked up by a person not on your current pick-up list please give the Camp Counsellors written notice ahead of time.

Eco Sprouts Due to the size of High Park we have our Eco Sprouts drop-off and pick-up location in the same spot – The Children’s Garden. Older Campers are dropped off at Picnic Shelter #15. Please ensure your campers are on time so that the activities can start on time. We are a little flexible with drop-off times if you’re dropping off campers at both locations.

*See map on following page*

Children’s Garden

Larger, downloadable maps are available on our website: http://childrensecoprograms.ca

Children’s Eco Programs

Birthday Party Programs

Fun nature adventure birthday party programs are available!

Please contact Keely Forth at 416-392-1329 or kidsgrow@toronto.ca for more information or to book a party.

Watch Me Grow Family Drop-In

The Family Drop-In Program runs out of the Children’s Garden! It’s a fun filled morning of gardening (watering!), games, crafts, storytelling and more! Parental supervision required. Thursdays 10 to noon from July 2 – September 3rd .

Some of our other fun Programs include:

High Park Harvest Festival

In collaboration with Colborne Lodge & High Park Nature Centre

Sunday, Oct. 4th, 2015 from Noon to 4:30 pm.

Children’s Eco Programs

REMINDER CAMPER FORMS DUE BY FRIDAY, JUNE 19TH 2015