THE KElLER POINTE
PARENT MANUAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction The Keller Pointe Mission Summer Adventure Camp Goals Camp Rules Staff Contact Numbers Standards of Care Daily Activities First Day of Camp Attendance Drop Off and Pick Up Times Early Checkout/Emergency Pick-Up Procedure Parent Sign In/Out Open Door Policy Lost and Found Breaks Safety Lunch and Snack Time Camp Meal Plan Dressing Your Child for Camp What Not To Bring to Camp Photography Policy Tuition and Payment Policies Weekly Fee Deposits/Refunds Withdraws Absences Illness Guidelines Sunburns Medications Injuries/Medical Emergencies Custody Situations Discipline Policy Field Trips Water Activities Weather Additional Policies and Information Fire/Emergency Drills Reporting Abuse/Neglect Non Discriminatory Policies Staff Conduct Parent/Guardian Conduct Camp Swim Lesson Program Questions & Concerns Authorization to Administer Medication
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INTRODUCTION Welcome to The Keller Pointe’s summer day camp program for ages 6 to 11. This packet will inform you, the guardian, of our programs and help your child get off to a great start. THE KELLER POINTE SUMMER CAMP MISSION STATEMENT The mission of The Keller Pointe day camp is to provide a positive atmosphere for children, while giving them new challenges, opportunities, encouraging teamwork, and creating new goals for themselves. CAMP GOALS Summer Camp aims to develop each camper’s confidence and leadership through participation in group activities. By working and playing together, campers will relate to one another and appreciate the differences that make each person unique. Campers build lasting friendships with both children and counselors. CAMP RULES • Campers must listen to and follow the counselors’ instructions. • Campers must ask counselors for permission to use the facilities or to leave an activity. • Campers must be courteous and respectful at all times. • Foul/rude language or behavior will not be tolerated. STAFF CONTACT NUMBERS Customer Service The Keller Pointe Michael Queen Recreation Supervisor Tina Nikkilä Recreation Specialist
(817) 743-4386 (817) 743-4304 (817) 743-4308
STANDARDS OF CARE The Standards of Care have been adopted by the City Council of the City of Keller. The Standards of Care are intended to be minimum standards by which the City of Keller Parks and Recreation will operate the City’s Youth Programs. The Programs listed in the Standards of Care are recreational in nature and are not licensed day care programs. DAILY ACTIVITIES Keller Pointe Summer Camp will challenge each child’s imagination every day. Campers will be both indoors and outdoors, assuming the weather is acceptable. Please send sunscreen, towel and a swim suit every day your child comes to camp, labeled with your child’s name. Each week we will be shaping the camp around a theme. Weekly schedules will be available to all parents on the Monday of that session. Please note that schedules are subject to change to more effectively manage the camp. For summer 2024 off site field trips will continue and we will also work with vendors to bring the field trip to The Keller Pointe when possible.
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FIRST DAY OF CAMP Just like any first day of school, the first day of camp can be extremely overwhelming for campers. In an attempt to ease some of those nerves your child might experience, the counselors will be sure to settle everyone in, introduce each kid as well as themselves, explain the rules of camp, and explain the daily routine of that week. ATTENDANCE Daily activities are very important in the overall camping experience and regular attendance is encouraged. If your child will be absent, please leave a message with the Recreation Specialist, Tina Nikkilä as soon as possible at (817) 743-4308. DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP TIMES Participants may be dropped off as early as 7:00 a.m. and picked up no later than 6:00 p.m. There will be a $5 late fee for participants picked up after 6:00 p.m.; beginning at 6:15, there will be an additional $1-per-minute charge. In addition, emergency contacts will be notified if the child has not been picked up by 6:15 p.m. The late fee must be paid at the time of pick up. Each time a participant is picked up late within the same week, the late fees will double. If your child has not been picked up by 7:00 p.m., the City of Keller Police will be notified. They will file a report and then release your child into the custody of Child Protective Services. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact the The Keller Pointe Manager. We have modified camp times to better fit parent’s needs. From 7:00 a.m.–8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. campers have unstructured free play. EARLY CHECK OUT/EMERGENCY PICK UP PROCEDURE If you need to pick up your child between 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., please stop by the Customer Service Desk and give them the name of the child you are picking up and a staff person will bring your child to you. We ask that you please be patient with us as your child may be on a hike, at the pool or engaged in other activities that take time for us to gather and bring your child to you. If your child becomes ill or is involved in an emergency at camp, we ask you to come to The Keller Pointe as soon as possible. Once you have arrived, please stop by the Customer Service desk and give them the name of your child. Camp staff will come to the desk and guide you to the location of your sick or injured child. PARENT SIGN-IN/OUT Parents are required to sign their child in and out each day. Camp counselors are not allowed to take students that have not been signed in by a parent or authorized person. Camp participants must be escorted to and from the building each day by you or your authorized person. Campers are not allowed to sign themselves in or out of the program; nor are they allowed to leave the site without the accompaniment of an adult, parent, or authorized person. A STATE-ISSUED DRIVERS LICENSE or ID MUST BE PRESENTED at EVERY PICK UP. We require this for the safety of your children.
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If an unauthorized person comes to pick up your child, the sign-in/out policy will be explained to them. You will be called and asked to verify their identity by providing their driver’s license number. Once you’ve made the verification and you grant permission for your child to be released to the unauthorized person, your child will be signed out and released. You will be required to add the unauthorized person to your authorization for pick up the next time your child attends camp. You may also email permission to summercamps@cityofkeller.com. Once permission is received, your child will be released to the person on site. If you are unable to grant permission, your child will not be released to the unauthorized person. If this person takes the child without permission, the police will be notified. OPEN DOOR POLICY Summer Camp has an open-door policy. Parents are welcome and encouraged to observe our activities at any time. We request that you limit the in-room/gym observation to 15 minutes due to our tight schedule. LOST AND FOUND Parents are always welcome to look in the lost and found bin if their camper is missing something. We ask that you remind your camper how important it is to keep track of their things and remember to label items with your child’s name. At the end of summer, unclaimed items will be donated to a local charity. BREAKS We have rest and water breaks built into the daily program. A camper may ask permission to stop and take a break at any time during the day. SAFETY Camp Counselors are the backbone of the program and we take extra care in choosing them. We strive to hire and train the best! We look for good role models with the following characteristics: high moral values, leadership abilities, a fun and outgoing personality, and a desire to work with children. We also require counselors to have current CPR and first aid training. Counselors receive pre-camp training that emphasizes risk management and emergency techniques to minimize the occurrence of accidents. Camps will have an average staff-to-participant ratio of 1:10. Currently, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services require a 1:22 ratio. Nevertheless, The Keller Pointe Summer Camp ratio will never exceed 1:15. Staff-to-participant ratios will not allow us to provide one-on-one attention to individuals who need assistance with daily activities (i.e., eating, toileting, etc.), are a flight risk, or exhibit severe behaviors (i.e., hitting, biting, explicit behaviors, etc). LUNCH AND SNACK TIME If you are not purchasing The Keller Pointe Camp Meal plan (see below), please send a morning snack, sack lunch, and drink, daily. Please DO NOT send your child with money. Please send your child’s lunch and snacks with proper utensils. The Keller Pointe does not provide refrigeration or heating devices for lunches. Please send your child’s lunch with an ice pack to keep food at the proper temperature. Nutritional foods are the best snacks, such as fruit, cheese and crackers, or pretzels. 4 |S u m m e r A d v e n t u r e C a m p
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CAMP MEAL PLAN For your convenience The Keller Pointe offers a Camp Meal Plan, where The Keller has worked with different vendors to provide lunch. Your camper will receive their purchased lunch at their designated lunch time. Participants who wish to purchase the Camp Meal Plan can do so online during registration, there is a $35 per week fee. The camp meal plan is a set meal plan. We are not able to substitute items on the meal plan. Please note that the menu is subject to change to more effectively manage the program. DRESSING YOUR CHILD FOR CAMP Children are engaged in various activities during the course of the day. Some activities may be messy or athletic in nature. Children should be dressed in seasonably appropriate, comfortable clothing. A pair of shorts, tights, or leggings must be worn under all dresses. Children are not permitted to wear open-toed or open-backed shoes, including sandals, except for the time that they are going to the pool. Crocs are not permitted in the gymnasium. Rubber-soled sneakers are the most appropriate type of shoes for participation. Wearing jewelry of any kind is discouraged as it is a safety hazard to your child and his or her peers. When walking to and from the pool, campers are required to wear shoes or sandals. WHAT NOT TO BRING TO CAMP Please do not send any electronics, toys, balls, or games. If any item is brought from home they will be asked to put it in their backpack. The Keller Pointe is not responsible for any broken, traded, borrowed, or stolen property. We provide a land line phone that participants may use for emergencies. PHOTOGRAPHY POLICY Photographs are occasionally taken of participants and are used to promote our City Parks and Recreation Programs. If you prefer that you or your child not be photographed please notify the photographer.
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TUITION AND PAYMENT POLICIES Member Weekly Tuition: Non-Member Weekly Tuition: Camp Registration Fee:
$180 per week $220 per week $30 per week – non-refundable (The $30 Camp Registration fee will be added at checkout)
Camp Meal Plan - Optional
$35 per week (additional optional fee added on to tuition)
WEEKLY FEE All camp fees are due at the time of registration following the schedule below. If you are registering after the deadline, you must pay in full for each week you register following the schedule below. For the remaining weeks, if the payment is not received by the due date your camper will be withdrawn and your $30 fee will be charged and/or forfeited. Balances will be due following the schedule below. Camp Week Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11
Camp Dates May 28-31 June 3-7 June 10-14 June 17-21 June 24-28 July 1-3 July 8-12 July 15-19 July 22-26 July 29 -August 2 August 5-9
Payment Date May 15 May 15 May 15 May 15 May 15 June 15 June 15 June 15 June 15 July 15 July 15
Withdraw Date May 20 May 27 June 3 June 10 June 17 June 24 July 1 July 8 July 15 July 22 July 29
REFUNDS We will not prorate fees or provide credits due to withdrawals. WITHDRAW If you need to withdraw your child from camp, please provide a written notice 5 days prior to the withdrawn week. If you give notice by the required day, you will receive a tuition credit or refund minus the $30 registration fee. If the withdrawal is less than 5 days from the start of camp, the amount paid for camp will be refunded minus the $30 registration fee and an additional $25 withdrawal fee. Please email mqueen@cityofkeller.com or tnikkila@cityofkeller.com to give written notice to request a withdrawal of a participant. ABSENCES Due to financial obligations of the program, payments or parts thereof will not be refunded because of absences, an unscheduled vacation, or withdrawals. A written doctor’s notification is the only time a refund is considered.
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ILLNESS GUIDELINES Any camper who arrives with the following conditions will be asked to leave: a discharge from the eyes or nose, a fever 100 degrees or higher, a condition resulting in vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours. Children developing symptoms after arrival will be isolated, and the parents/guardians will be contacted to make arrangements for pick up as soon as possible. Campers must be symptom free for at least 24 hours without the aid of medication to return. Children will be asked to leave camp if they have been exposed to head lice and are untreated, or who have been treated but are not nit-free. Please inform the staff if your child has been exposed to a communicable disease in another setting. A written notice from your physician will be required before your child will be able to return to camp. If a child has a temperature higher than 103 degrees and the parent is unable to immediately pick up the child, 911 will be called. Staff illness guidelines are the same as those stated above. SUNBURNS Please send sunscreen with your child each day. All children will have sunscreen applied before going outdoors and throughout the day. Please alert the camp counselors of any heat-related illnesses your child may suffer. When campers are participating in water activities, they will be asked to re-apply sunscreen approximately one hour after entering the water. If your child has a light complexion or is prone to sunburn, please send them an extra T-shirt and hat to wear on water days. Participants with extensive sunburns will be allowed to participate in the program, but their outdoor participation will be limited. MEDICATIONS If your child requires medication while in camp care, we must have a completed medication form before a staff may administer medication. The medication must be a prescription in its original container, and the label must include the child’s name. We will only give the medication according to the directions on the container. We are not permitted to administer over-the-counter medications without written approval and directions from a physician. If you give your child medication before coming to camp, please inform a staff member so we are aware if side effects develop. Inhalers and peak flows must follow the same instructions as the prescription medication. INJURIES/MEDICAL EMERGENCIES By signing The Keller Pointe – Registration and Liability Waiver form, you have given The Keller Pointe employees the ability to secure medical care for your child in your absence. You will also assume liability for payment. We will make every effort to contact you at the number(s) you have provided on your child’s registration form. If we are unable to contact you at those numbers, we will call your emergency contact persons. Please keep us informed of any changes to your contact information. 7 |S u m m e r A d v e n t u r e C a m p
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CUSTODY SITUATIONS From time to time, staff is placed in a situation regarding a custody dispute. Without a court order, The Keller Pointe staff cannot deny a parent access to his or her child. If a custody document is present, staff will notify the guardian parent of any contact made by the unauthorized parent. Staff will also notify the authorities, no exceptions. Staff is instructed not to put themselves or children in jeopardy in order to mediate a family dispute or attempt to enforce a court order. If a parent chooses to leave a child in the care of The Keller Pointe’s Summer Camp with a court order in force, the custodial parent will be required to sign an acknowledgement stating The Keller Pointe’s inability to physically obstruct a hostile effort to take the child from the center. Non-custodial parents cannot act as a parental volunteer on fieldtrips or other center events without written permission from the custodial parent.
DISCIPLINE POLICY Our policy centers on a “positive discipline” philosophy. We use positive reinforcement as well as redirection. Prevention of problems is the key to a happy summer for the campers. At the beginning of camp, participants are given the rules and the consequences for breaking those rules. If a serious incident takes place (i.e., violence or misconduct against a person or property, a false 911 call or fire alarm, etc.) the child may be sent home immediately without going through the steps listed below. No form of physical correction, including spanking, shaking, or withholding snacks, will be allowed under any circumstance. If a camper breaks the rules, the following consequences will be administered: Verbal Talk to the participant and explain what they did wrong and why it was Report wrong. We will explain what actions will be taken if the behavior continues. They will be asked to tell the counselor how they will handle the situation in the future. A discipline report will be completed documenting the verbal warning. st 1 Report The participant will be reminded of what rule they broke. The camper will be taken out of the activity and placed in time-out for up to 1 minute per year of age. A camp counselor will complete a discipline report. The parents will be notified at pick up. nd 2 Report A camp counselor will take the child out of the activity and complete a discipline report. The Recreation Specialist or Supervisor will be notified and intervene by helping the child to understand their actions and better direct their feelings. A second discipline report will be completed, and the parent will be notified by phone of the report and informed that the next incident will result in a one-day suspension. rd 3 Report The parent will be notified of the third discipline report. They will be asked to pick up the camper immediately. The camper will be suspended for one day. In order for the child to return to camp, the parents and camper must meet with Recreation Specialist and Recreation Supervisor. The next discipline report will result in a three-day suspension. 8 |S u m m e r A d v e n t u r e C a m p
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4th Report
The parent will be notified of the fourth discipline report. They will be asked to pick up their child immediately. The camper will be suspended for three-days. In order for the child to return to camp, the parents will need to meet with the Recreation Specialist, Recreation Supervisor, and the Keller Pointe Manager. The next discipline report will result in termination from the program for the remainder of the summer.
Additional Violence is taken very seriously. Any child whose behavior is deemed as a threat to him or herself or to other children may be removed from the program until staff believes the problem no longer exists. If a camper were to engage in physical violence or cause a false 911 call or fire alarm, a discipline report will be filled out, and the child will be sent home immediately with three days of suspension. Accounts will not be refunded or credited for any suspended days. DISCIPLINE PICK-UP/CHECKOUT PROCEDURES If you are required to pick up your child due to a disciplinary action, please do so in a timely manner by stopping by the Customer Service desk. Please give them the name of the child you are picking up and a staff person will come to the desk and guide to the location of your child.
FIELD TRIPS Each field trip day at The Keller Pointe, we will display the field trip, location, time of departure, and time of arrival back to the center. On field trip days, all participants must bring a sack lunch and wear their summer camp T-shirt and The Keller Pointe identification wristbands. Drop your child off no later than 8 a.m. on field-trip days. If the buses have already left for the field trip, you will need to make alternate arrangements for your child’s care that day. Campers will travel in buses. The buses are air-conditioned and we follow all the safety procedures outlined by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. When taking a field trip, we abide by the following guidelines: 1. We carry a list of all children being transported and leave one copy with The Keller Pointe Manager on Duty. 2. We store a form in the bus that lists the names and phone numbers of the Center and Camp Director. 3. We carry a list with parent’s telephone numbers and emergency contacts for each child. 4. A fire extinguisher, approved by the local fire marshal, is secured in the bus. 5. We carry a first aid kit. 6. Attendance is taken every time the bus is loaded and loaded. WATER ACTIVITIES We will swim at the Keller Pointe most days of camp. Please have your child bring a bathing suit, a towel, and sunscreen daily. In accordance with H.B.59 (Cati’s Act), we prioritize water safety as a fundamental aspect of our programs. As such, parents will be asked to provide a written confirmation 9 |S u m m e r A d v e n t u r e C a m p
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of their child’s swimming ability without a flotation device. Should a parent indicate that their child cannot swim unaided, we require the child to wear a flotation device during any water-based activities. Parents will have the option to provide their own flotation device. However, for added convenience, we also offer a range of flotation devices on-site. WEATHER The camp is an indoor/outdoor camp and will strictly adhere to the ozone alerts. The schedules will be adjusted to accommodate severe weather conditions.
ADDITIONAL POLICIES AND INFORMATION FIRE/EMERGENCY DRILLS Our campers practice fire drills and tornado drills randomly throughout the summer. They are required to line up and exit the building with their counselor in an orderly fashion in three minutes or less. We must practice these drills regularly in case there is an actual emergency. REPORTING ABUSE/NEGLECT As childcare providers, it is our responsibility to report child abuse or neglect to Child Protective Services. To report child abuse, call (800) 252-5400. NON-DISCIMINATORY POLICIES The Keller Pointe welcomes and encourages all individuals and families from the community to participate in programs and facilities regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability. If you plan to attend any classes, or special events and have a disability that requires special assistance, advise The Keller Pointe Manager 48 hours in advance at 817-743-4301 and reasonable accommodations will be made to assist you. STAFF Staff will address issues and concerns in an appropriate manner with the participants, parents, and/or guardians. It is unacceptable for a staff member to express hostility in any manner toward staff, camp participants, parents, and/or guardians. Prior to employment, we require staff to complete a current Adult, Child, Infant CPR and First Aid with AED certification. Our staff has many years of educational experience and/or college courses in child development. The Keller Pointe staff is not allowed to transport campers in their personal vehicles. Staff is also not allowed to “baby sit” campers outside of Summer Camp. If a staff member violates these rules, the City of Keller and The Keller Pointe may not be held responsible for the actions of the employee. PARENT/GUARDIAN CONDUCT Parents and guardians need to address issues and concerns in an appropriate manner to the staff. It is unacceptable for a parent or guardian to express hostility in any manner toward staff or camp participants. All discipline issues are handled by camp staff and should not be discussed with other camp participants. If you do not feel your issue has been resolved by a staff member, Recreation Specialist, or the Recreation Supervisor, please call The Keller Pointe Manager at (817) 743-4301. 10 |S u m m e r A d v e n t u r e C a m p
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CAMP SWIM LESSON PROGRAM Camp Swim Lessons are not available for the 2024 summer. QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS It is our goal at The Keller Pointe to partner with our families in providing the best possible experience for your child. We are very interested in answering your questions and concerns. The Recreation Division supervises camp and is ready and willing to assist you in this area. We are available by phone and e-mail and are more than happy to set up a time to talk with you. Tina Nikkilä Recreation Specialist The Keller Pointe (817) 743-4308
Or
Michael Queen Recreation Supervisor The Keller Pointe (817) 743-4304
Camp guidelines are subject to change in order to better facilitate the program.
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AUTHORIZATION TO ADMINISTER MEDICATION Participant’s Name: _____________________________ I, the undersigned, being the parent or legal guardian of ___________________, a minor, do hereby authorize the Keller Pointe Program staff to administer the below specified medication(s) to the minor named herein at the times and in the dosage written below: NAME OF MEDICATION
TIMES TO BE GIVEN
DOSAGE
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Special instructions, or conditions to monitor after the administration of medication: ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________ AUTHORIZING PARENT/GUARDIAN ________________________________ Signature • •
_____________________ Date
All medications must be in the original container labeled with the participant’s name, date, and directions. At the end of the program, all medications will be disposed of properly.
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