HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023 Summer Camp Parent GuideIowa City Parks and Recreation Department
Summer Camp 2023
Parent Guide
Iowa City resident registration begins March 8, 2023
Non-resident registration begins March 9, 2023
2023 Camp Sessions
● Session 1: June 12- 23
● Session 2: June 26- July 7 (Excluding July 4)
● Session 3: July 10 - 21
● Session 4: July 24 - August 4
There will be a limited number of one-week, pro-rated camps available.
Please contact Joyce at Joycec@iowa-city.org to make a request.
Camp Hours:
● Camp activities take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
● Supervised play is available before and after camp from 7:30 to
9:00 a.m., and 4 to 5:30 p.m. at no additional charge
Fees
● $390 per two-week session for Iowa City residents (persons living within the city
limits of Iowa City).
● Session 2 is $351 as it excludes July 4.
● Nonresident fee is an additional $5 fee per session per child.
● AM and PM play available at no additional fee. Registration for AM and PM play
is not necessary.
Age & Grade level eligibility
● Students who have completed grades K-6 in the 2022/2023 school year.
● Those completing Kindergarten by June 2023 must have also turned age 5 years
by Sept. 15, 2022.
Location
Home base will be the Ned Ashton House (820 Park Road) with many activities taking
place at City Park and City Park Pool.
New this year
Check in for Summer Camp will be at the Ashton House. Sign out will be at
Upper City Park Shelter # 2. If the weather does not cooperate, we will check in
and sign out at Ashton House.
Admission
A child is eligible to enter the Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department Summer Day
Camp program under the following conditions:
1. Space is available
2. The child will have completed any grade K-6 by June 2023
a. Those completing kindergarten by June 2023 must have also turned age 5
by Sept. 15, 2022
3. All required forms are properly completed and returned with full payment
Summer Camp
Memories to last a lifetime, opportunities to become more independent, and self-
confident,
and chances to make new friends are what you can expect for your child at the
Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department Summer Camp.
Does your camper enjoy connecting with nature, learning new skills, making unique art
and having fun? If so, you have come to the right place. Throughout all four of our 2-
week sessions, we will participate in nature discoveries, hands-on STEAM Investigation
Stations, arts and crafts, and campfire fun. Some examples of activities your camper will
participate in are fishing, archery, pond life explorations, swimming, special visitors with
very cool talents, darts, boomerangs, rockets and catapults, 4 square, tag and
badminton, campfire sing-a-longs, and learning weird and easy skills that may just make
you the life of the party someday.
Activities
Each session will include some old favorites and many new engaging, hands -on
activities. We will spend time outdoors on the Ashton House grou nds and at City Park
learning and experiencing so many different activities. Activities your child may
participate in include:
● Swimming (M, T, W, F)
● Campfire Safety/Cooking/Singing
● Badminton
● Cat’s Cradle
● Fishing
● Drones, Indi Cars and RC
vehicles
● Knot tying and Friendship
bracelets
● Friday Special Events
● Special Visitors
● Hands-on STEAM Investigations
● Pottery and other crafts
● Games
● Archery
● Gaga
● Camp Crafts
● Gardening
Daily Schedule
Below is a rough schedule of what each day may look like for your child. Campers are
divided into groups according to age.
7:30- 9:00 am AM Play and Check in
9:00- 9:15 am Introductions & “house-keeping”
9:15-9:45 am Wash hands and AM Snack
9:45- 10:10 am Walk to City Park Shelter 8
10:10-11:40 am Activities in rotations
11:40- 11:55 am Wash hands and clean up
11:55 am-12:30 pm Lunch and Restroom
12:30-1:00 pm Head for the Pool
1:00-1:15 pm Go over pool rules at City Park
1:15-3:30 pm Swim at City Park Pool
3:30-3:45 pm Head for Shelter # 2
3:45-4:00 pm Wash hands and PM Snack
4:00- 5:30 pm PM Play and sign out
Arrival and Departure for Summer Camp
● Check in at Ned Ashton House between 7:30 and 9:00 am
Parents must check their child(ren) in with camp staff every morning, by signing
and time stamping the log. Please check your child(ren) in by 9:00 a.m.
● Check out at Upper City Park Shelter # 2 between 4:00 and 5:30 pm
Please park your car, come to Shelter # 2, and sign your child(ren) out. You must
sign and time stamp each day. You must present a valid I.D. as a form of
verification when your child is being signed out. Campers will not be allowed to
leave for any other reason without advance, written notification to the Supervisor.
Late Pickup Charge
Parents of children left after 5:30 pm will be charged $5.00 for each additional 5 minutes.
If you run into a problem, call ahead- we’ll help in any way we can.
Camp Staff
Counselors are carefully selected for their interest and experience in leading children’s
recreation activities. Staff trained in First Aid and CPR are always on-site. In addition to
our regular camp staff, certified lifeguards will be on duty during all pool activities. Our
expected staff-to-child ratio will be 1:10 for most activities. Specialists and special
visitors will lend expertise in creating unique recreation programs offered at camp,
assuring you and your child well-planned, safe, and exciting activities every day.
What to Bring for Camp
All children should bring their daily needs inside a backpack or bag, as we may be
carrying our possessions with us most of the day.
● Swimsuit and Towel: Campers will swim about 4 times per week
(Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday) at the City Park Pool. In cases of
inclement weather campers will not be swimming.
● Lunch: Campers should bring their own lunch every day. Refrigerators and
microwaves are not available during camp hours. Due to storage restrictions,
bulky coolers are discouraged.
● Supplemental Snacks (if desired): We will provide two simple snacks each
day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Parents may wish to
supplement according to their own child’s needs. We suggest packing fruit,
cheese, crackers, etc.
Note: Parents/Caregivers of children with special dietary needs should plan on
providing snacks for their child.
● Water Bottle: As we will be spending as much time outdoors as possible, a
water bottle is important to keep your child hydrated throughout the day. Glass
water bottles are not allowed at camp.
● Non-water-soluble sunscreen: A medical release is necessary for staff to apply
sunscreen and is included with the Camper Information Form you will complete
from the website. You are responsible for providing sunscreen for your child. We
have found in past summers that spray sunscreen can be highly ineffective and
easily wasted. Please note that spray sunscreen is not allowed at camp. We
recommend lotion sunscreens and/or sun protection swim shirts in order to
sufficiently protect your camper from the sun.
● Non aerosol insect repellant: A medical release form is necessary for staff to
apply insect repellant and is included with the Camper Information Form. You are
responsible for providing insect repellant for your child. Please note that insect
repellant in aerosol form is not allowed at camp. DEET based repellants are
not allowed at camp.
What to Leave at Home
● Electronic games/devices
● Trading cards
● Personal cell phones: If a camper needs to contact a parent throughout the
day, a phone will be provided. Playing games and holding conversations on cell
phones or other technology is not allowed.
● Jewelry and other valuables
● Money for Vending Machines: Children are not allowed to purchase items from
the vending machines or anything similar during camp. Please purchase items
for your child(ren) before or after camp.
Please make sure your child does not have any of the above prohibited
items, and make sure their bag isn’t too heavy.
What to Wear
● Camp t-shirt (every day): One camp t-shirt is provided with camp registration.
One Camp shirt will be given per enrollment, not one shirt per session. Additional
shirts will be available for purchase for $6.00 while supplies last.
● Closed toed shoes and socks: We will be walking off paved pathways for many
of our activities and there may be poison ivy in the area. Closed toed shoes and
socks are recommended to protect your child and allow them to participate in
camp activities. Sandals, crocs, flip-flops or any similar footwear may be brought
for use at the pool, but they are not allowed during daily activities.
● Shorts or Pants: Shorts or pants that are comfortable and allow movement are
recommended. Clothes may get dirty depending on activities.
● Regulation Swimwear is required at the pool.
Please mark the inside of all apparel, particularly camp shirts with the child’s name and
phone number.
Transportation
Instead of public transportation, we will be walking to City Park and City Park pool via
Manor Drive. Under no circumstances will your child be walking along Park Road.
In lieu of field trips, many special guests will travel to the Ned Ashton House and City
Park to present a variety of new activities several times each week.
Camp Visitors
Parents and caregivers are welcome to visit with children and counselors prior to and
after activities, but please do not interrupt activities unless it is necessary. Only
registered children may participate in camp activities. Parents and guardians may
observe, but please identify yourself to staff upon arrival and be prepared to show
valid identification.
Illness and/or Injury
Please do not bring your child to camp if they:
● Have or have had a fever of 100°F or above in the last 24 hours
● Are vomiting or has vomited in the last eight hours
● Have a communicable illness such as chickenpox, strep bacterial infection,
Covid-19, or any illness considered to be contagious by the Johnson County
Health Department. You will be contacted immediately if your child exhibits any
of the above symptoms. You will be asked to remove your child until all
symptoms have subsided.
○ If your child is ill or will not be attending camp, call the Recreation Division
Office after 8 a.m. at (319)356-5100
○ If your child becomes ill or injured during the day, we will call according to
the emergency contact information you provided. If this information
changes during the summer, please notify us.
Medications
● Medications* should not be sent in your child’s backpack.
● Parents must complete and sign a medication release form during check-in
for medication(s) to be administered. This includes prescription, non-prescription
drugs, creams, lotions, etc. Please leave your child’s medication and release
form with the check-in staff. You may pick it up at the end of the day if necessary.
● All medication MUST BE in the original container with the name of the
medication, physician’s name, and amount to be given printed on the label.
Pharmacists are usually willing to divide medication into two separate bottles
upon your request.
● All medication will be administered by Recreation Division staff
○ A new medication release form is to be filled out for each two -week
session.
*Epi-pens, emergency inhalers, and other medications used for emergency conditions
will be carried in the child’s backpack. All other medications will be held by staff.
Inclement Weather
In case of inclement weather, children will remain at the Ned Ashton House. Should
severe weather occur during the afternoon, children will either be transported back to
the Ned Ashton House or will take shelter at the City Park Pool.
Rain Out Line
Any changes to your child’s pick-up location will be posted on Rain Out Line
To access this information, Go to the City Website: www.icgov.org/rainoutline
• Create an account. Search for Iowa City Parks and Recreation. Locate the
Summer Camp Program. Select the star to favorite Camp. Select the bell to
enable notifications.
Special Needs
Parents of children with disabilities or children requiring special arrangements should
note these special needs on the registration form and make a special accommodation
request by email or in writing to Joyce Carroll at joyce-carroll@iowa-city.org. The more
time we have before the program begins, the better we will be able to meet the needs of
the individual. Insufficient or lack of notice may delay your child’s attendance. Contact
us and we’ll be glad to help.
Rec Assist- Financial Assistance
ICPRD accepts applications for discounts on programs and pass fees for patrons that
are income eligible. Applications are available online at https://www.iowa-
city.org/Forms/RecAssist. Eligibility applies only to residents of Iowa City. One
application must be filled out per calendar year. For more information, contact Brad
Barker, Recreation Superintendent, at 319-356-5102 or brad-barker@iowa-city.org.
Camp Specific Refund Policy
All camp refund requests must be made in writing to the Program Supervisor, Joyce
Carroll at 220 S. Gilbert St. or at joyce-carroll@iowa-city.org. Full refunds will be made
for withdrawals requested by May 26th. All other withdrawals will be subject to a
$50.00 cancellation fee per session cancelled. No refund will be made for
withdrawals requested less than 1 week in advance of session start date. Prorated
refunds for health reasons may be considered after camp begins and requests must be
made in writing to the Program Supervisor, Joyce Carroll at 220 S. Gilbert St. or at
joyce-carroll@iowa-city.org. A doctor’s certificate may be required. No refunds will be
given for programs which have been completed.
Dismissal
The following will warrant camper dismissal:
● The child cannot adjust and requires individual attention at a level that prevents
the leader(s) from caring for other children.
● The child exhibits social or emotional problems that are detrimental to
themselves, other children, or staff.
○ We will work closely with parents to discourage inappropriate, disruptive,
or dangerous behavior. In all cases, no child will be permanently
withdrawn without an attempt to conference with parents.
○ Behaviors such as fighting, physical aggression, choosing to leave the
group/camp area, bullying behaviors, severe or consistent noncompliance,
and disrespect will require parent conferencing. If behaviors do not
improve, dismissal from camp will be an option.
○ Physical aggression, disruptive or dangerous behavior may be cause for
immediate dismissal from camp.
Please discuss concerns in advance of attendance.
This can save us all from needing to discuss issues later.
We look forward to providing exciting summer recreation activities for your child(ren). Please
participate in your child’s experience through comments and suggestions.
Warmest Regards,
Joyce Carroll, CPRP
Program Supervisor
Iowa City Recreation Division
(319) 356 5223
joyce-carroll@iowa-city.org
Federal I.D. # 42-600-4805