Highlighted information is pending and will likely change
Dear Campers and Families,
Welcome to Camp Doodles! On behalf of all the staff, thank you for choosing to join our camp family. We have all been working hard to create a summer with a safe, caring and appropriate atmosphere that is jam packed with fun activities, games, arts & crafts, sports, fun camp songs, skits and much more.
Last year we made some changes in the overall structure of our camp program, most of which related to our program for older campers, Summer Club. These changes were very well received and all of our campers are yet again psyched to return again next summer. We have split our camp program so our entering Kindergarten - 1st graders will attend Camp Doodles and our entering 2nd - 6th graders will attend Summer Club. Camp Doodles will remain as it has always been and Summer Club will include more trips (bike to downtown Tiburon for ice cream, bus trip to Northgate to see a movie, etc.) and more zany activities like "Fun Factor" and even a camp-out/overnight at the school! We are sure that your child will adore his or her summer at Camp Doodles and also look forward to them reaching the age where they can join the club...Summer Club!
Please read and take note of the guidelines below to help you plan your daily smooth transition from home to camp and back again. If your child has other needs, please do not hesitate to let us know at once. We are all highly committed to running a top-notch camp for your children and openly welcome your suggestions. Please contact us directly or leave a note in our suggestions box with any questions or concerns that you may have.
Sincerely,
The Camp Doodles Staff
Veronica Cowen & David Hughes, Director
Their will (probably) not be a test on the following information. However, we recommend reading everything over.
Health Forms – We require a completed Health Form before accepting your child into our care. These forms can be downloaded off our website or if you send us an email, we will mail you one via the USPS. Because all of the camper information needs to get entered into our camp software, we greatly appreciate receiving the forms before camp begins so our office staff can spend all of their time with the campers! Click here to download a Health Form or have one automatically faxed to you.
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Sign-In / Sign-Out
– All campers are signed in and out with our custom
summer camp software, which allows only their parents or someone
pre-authorized (by their parents) to check them out using a touch-screen
monitor. Our software enables us to have real-time contact and medical
information pertaining to each camper available at all times.
When a parent signs-in, an "in" sticker prints and should be attached to your child's nametag (which is made at camp). At check-out, an "out" sticker can only be printed by an authorized pick up individual (mom, dad, babysitter, etc.) which allows the camp staff to ensure that your child is going home with an 'okay" person - we often have staff at the front gate saying "goodbye" to the campers whose primary responsibility is to check 'out' stickers, for safety purposes. While it may sound quite fancy (it is) and not very 'camp-like', this setup was included in our program as one of our many proactive methods to ensure the safety of your children, which is our #1 priority. You can feel comfortable knowing every step has been taken for your child's well-being. The parent, camper and staff reaction to this process has been great! |
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Authorized Pick Up
Individuals – Your child’s health form requested the names of
people you authorized to pick up your child. Any names included on your
child’s health form since June, 2001 have also been authorized to pick up
your child – All names will stay in our system until we receive, in writing,
a request to remove someone from the list. You may, at any time, request a
list of all authorized pickup individuals by asking the director.
To sign-in and out, our software requests a “Pin #”, which is typically your Drivers License #, without the preceding letter. (example: DL # B6004898 = PIN # 6004898). We are happy to change your pin # to something another 4 to 7 digit number.
PLEASE,
PLEASE DO
NOT SHARE YOUR PIN # WITH ANYONE. |
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Special Software Features -
When you
enter your pin # on the touch-screen monitor, a menu will be displayed which
includes all of the contact information we have on-file for you. This
is helpful for to ensure that we have your most recent contact information.
Additionally, you can review your child's attendance history, balance
or a number of other useful features.
If you are not a computer whiz, our technologically savvy staff members are always available to help! |
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Lost & Found – Is collected on a regular basis and displayed on our clothes racks. From shirts to sweatshirts, towels to shoes and lunches to toys, any items that are left at camp from one week to the next are given away or washed and kept at camp for any 'emergencies'.
Personal Property: |
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Recommended Check-In Hours:
– Check in at your convenience - anytime between 9:00am and 9:45am. Check out at
4:00pm. You are, of course, welcome to drop off or pick up your child at
anytime. Some lucky parents have the flexibility of getting lunch off
and are always welcome to drop by camp to say 'hello' or eat lunch with us. Extended Care – Extended care is available, for only $8 per day, from 7:15 – 9:00 and 4:00 - 6:00. If you’re running late, your child will automatically join the extended-care program and you will be expected to pay $8.00 at that time - you can also pay this fee when you drop off your child that morning. Extended-care closes at 6:00pm sharp. Late pickups will be automatically charged $2 a minute per child after 6pm. We will strictly enforce this policy. |
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Yummy Lunch Program -
Campers may bring their own lunch (with a drink & snacks), sign up for our
delicious lunch program, or do both. Each day we offer a different
lunch special ranging from Stefano’s Pizza to Pasta Pomodoro's pasta (duh) &
Caesar salads to Grilly's burritos, quesadillas & taco salad wraps to Arigatou's
sushi and chicken teriyaki.
Campers who sign up for lunch also receive free
drinks (milk, juice) and snacks.
Please order no later than 10:15am each morning. |
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It Takes A Community –Summer camp teaches and enforces a wide variety skills that may or may not be learned in the classroom. While playing sports activities, the children are learning about working together as a team and beginning to better understand their bodies. When doing art projects, their creative sides are being further developed. When listening quietly to instructions, they are learning self control. One could go on and on about the benefits of camp, but we feel we can offer this and more. The
Camp Doodles staff feel a certain obligation to teach and encourage a
variety of healthy habits, including washing hands before eating and
choosing nutritious items. We are doing our part
to educate and properly nourish our future by providing all of our campers
with fresh milk (we'll pick up the extra cost) and trying to provide wholesome snacks,
including a variety of different fruits. If you have any suggestions to
improve our lunch options, we really want to hear them! |
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Please Keep Some Foods At Home (peanuts, etc.): In past years we have had an increasing number of children with severe, life-threatening allergies to peanuts & cashews. While it is understood that it is impossible to make as public a place as a camp completely safe for children who have life threatening allergies, we can try to make it a safer place for these children...with your help. Please refrain from sending your child to camp with products containing the above products (M&M's, brownies, PB&J sandwiches, etc.). A peanut/nut sensitive environment is one where peanut and nut products are avoided. Foods that carry the warning, “May Contain Nuts” are okay to bring to camp, (even though they are unsafe for the peanut and nut allergic children), as the risk of contamination of these products with peanuts or nuts is low. However, if possible, please leave even these foods at home. Avoiding nuts is not enough for anyone that has a nut allergy. Even tiny amounts of nut residue on table tops, toys, books, and playground equipment can be harmful and potentially fatal. Nut residue will remain on a surface until it has been thoroughly cleaned with soap and water. As safety
is by far our #1 priority, we will provide your child with a free camp hot
lunch if it is an inconvenience for your family to use peanut-free products. Please contact us
ahead of time if you would like to pursue this option. What would
you do if it was your child who was allergic? What steps would you
want us to take to protect your child? |
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New Campers – We recommend that new campers, who may have difficulty transitioning, arrive at around 9:30 as we usually bring the entire group together and split into groups around 9:45/10:00. If your child is new or is having any difficulties adjusting, please let the front desk staff know and they will pair him/her up with a camper or staff buddy to help smooth the transition. Please remind us each day your child may need an extra little boost - it can make a large difference in their day if we can start them off on a good note. Camp Attire – Loads of sunscreen & closed-toed shoes are highly recommended. While we do encourage the use of smocks, some of our activities and arts + crafts can get a wee bit messy, so please dress your child appropriately. Please try to bring your key-chain nametag to camp each day which indicates their lunch preferences, awards earned, etc. Lost Or Forgotten Nametags: Near the check-in desk we have a container with lost nametags and awards. It is not uncommon for children to occasionally forget their nametags...if this happens, just ask the front desk staff for a temporary nametag. If your child leaves his/her nametag at home, please make sure they have a new lunch sticker on one of our temporary nametags in order to help ensure they receive their hot lunch.
Camper
Reminders –
If your child has
medications or needs to be reminded to re-apply sunscreen or eat their
carrots, please bring a note with you to camp. Regardless, we try to apply
sunscreen to all campers after lunch on hot days and constantly remind the
(younger) children to use the bathroom. |
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Trips Off Campus – On Tuesdays we go on either on walk to “The Cove”, “downtown Strawberry” or on a short hike to get ice cream – our treat! Once a week, the entering 2nd –6th graders will go off campus to go swimming. In addition, the camp may walk to the Strawberry Recreation District (next door) and on trails around the school and/or Richardson Bay on a regular basis. Occasional excursions to the Strawberry Shopping Center (we walk) may also occur. See the weekly schedule for other trips off campus. |
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Water Day. Prepare yourself for a fun water day on Thursday afternoons, complete with "get-wet" relays, water balloon tosses and more. and Please send your child to camp with a swimsuit on (ideally under their clothes) and have a towel tucked away in their backpack. Children are not required to participate in the water activities, but we recommend sending your child with the above supplies as experience shows us many children change their mind once they see the fun we're having! We typically watch a video during Water Day extended-care as everyone is exhausted from playing in the sun. |
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Safety –
Our
#1 priority. We play safely, cross streets safely and continuously scan for
any potential hazards, before they can occur. For high visibility and easy
communication, our counselors have powerful Motorola walkie-talkie radios,
STAFF shirts and nametags. Our Camp Director is a Red Cross Instructor and
is certified to teach CPR, First Aid and AED classes. Any significant
injury or illness will result in a call
to 9-1-1 as well as parent notification. In the event of any natural or
other disaster, children will remain under the direct care and supervision
of the Camp Doodles & Summer Club staff until an authorized individual is
able to check them out. If your child is still in our care 24 hours after a
major disaster occurs, they may be released to a neighbor or other person
the child feels comfortable staying with. Sick Children: "How Sick Is Too Sick for Camp?" |
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Daily Slideshows – Most days, at approximately 3:45pm, we have a digital slideshow of picture taken throughout the day at camp. This serves as a great way to ‘wind down’ and to think back to the fun projects, games and activities we participated in that day. Parents are always welcome to join us at camp or later, on the web by clicking "camp photos" from our menu bar. |
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Unsatisfied Camper - We understand that occasionally some children may not enjoy camp as much as the others. Our registration process includes the option to purchase refundable "Doodle Days", an option we strongly recommend for new families. Our refund policy is available on our website. |
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Contact Us– www.campdoodles.com/contact |
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Special ENTERING KINDERGARTEN Information