Parent Handbook

High Park EcoCampJunior & Youth

Children’s Eco ProgramsSummer 2019

Contact Information

Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Office Location:Hillside Gardens, High Park142 Colborne Lodge Dr.Toronto, ON

Office Contacts:Keely Forth: Office - 416-392-1329 | Cell – 416-936-4983 Program Coordinator: Office - 416-392-2349 | Cell - 416-676-0884Email: kidsgrow@toronto.caFax: 416-392-1319childrensecoprograms.ca

Camp Staff Contacts:

Eco Camp Jr. : 416-676-0529Eco Sprouts Camp: 416-676-0725

Mailing Address:Hillside Gardens, High Parkc/o Etobicoke Civic Centre Mail Room399 The West MallToronto, ON, M9C 2Y2

Eco Camp Youth: 416-676-1172

Welcome toEco Camp!

Summer 2019

Thank you for registering your camper(s) in Eco Camp this summer!

This Parent’s Handbook has all of the information you’ll need to make sure your camper is ready to join us in High Park.

This handbook includes information about: Filling out and sending in forms Pick-up and drop-off times and locations What to bring (and not to bring) to camp A sample schedule Camp and office staff contact information

Tips for filling out your EcoCamp forms: We need all of your camper’s information so they can

have a safe and happy time at camp. Please remember to fill out and return those Participant Information and Multimedia Consent forms by Friday, June 14th 2019!

Emergency Contacts: Please include the names and phone numbers of two people (aunt, uncle, grandparent, friend, etc.) IN ADDITION to parents.

Pick-Up: Please include the names of anyone who has permission to pick up your child(ren), INCLUDING parents.

You can submit forms by mail, fax or e-mail.

Please note: If your child requires 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.

Our CounsellorsMany of our camp counsellors are in teacher’s college and/or environment related programs. At least one counsellor each week is a qualified Lifeguard. Our staff excel at making nature exploration, organic gardening and healthy cooking fun and educational.

Program ThemesHigh Park Junior Eco Camp Themes:

Programming each week will be similar but with a different focus:• Critters & Creatures – July 2 - 5 & July 29 - Aug 2• Nature Arts – July 8 - 12 & Aug 6 - 9• Habitat Detectives – July 15 - 19 & Aug 12 - 16• Veggies & Ventures – July 22 - 26 & Aug 19 - 23

High Park Youth Eco Camp Themes:

Programming each week will be similar but with a different focus:• The Wild Hood – July 2 - 5 & July 22 - 26• The Wild Kitchen – July 8 - 12 & July 29 - Aug 2• Urban Gardeners – July 15 - 19 & Aug 12 - 16

Camp Info

Camp Hours:

Monday – Friday9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Extended Care Hours:

Morning - 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. - $20/weekAfternoon – 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. - $20/weekBoth require preregistration. Call 416-338-4FUN or register online.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 and ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather.

There is a lot of hiking/walking each day at Eco Camp. A daypack or school backpack 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.

What to wear:o Good, closed-toed hiking shoes or sneakers are important for

your child’s safety and comfort.o Campers should wear comfortable clothing that is appropriate

for the weather, that can get dirty in the garden and around the park and that helps protect them from the sun.

o Please apply sunscreen before bringing your child to camp in the morning. Staff will remind campers to reapply sunscreen throughout the day, however staff are not allowed to apply it for campers. This also applies to insect repellent.

Stuff To Pack Every Day: Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen 500ml to 1L reusable water bottle (please fill before camp) Raincoat/pants for rainy days! Lunch and 2 snacks (Note: campers will NOT have the opportunity to purchase lunches or snacks at camp.)

Extended Care Participants: Additional Snacks

Tuesdays and Thursdays: Swimsuit and towel (may also be needed for trip day on Wednesdays)

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

What To Pack

Please Do Not Send:

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

Lunch and Snacks

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. Check ingredient labels to ensure that products are nut free and look for warnings such as “may contain traces of peanuts or tree 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. 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, bananas, 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.

You will need to pack lunch each day for your camper plus 2-3 additional snacks. (Note: Campers are not able to purchase food during the camp day.)

CompostWe 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.

High Park Eco CampDrop-off for Junior (6-9 year olds) and Youth (10-14 year olds) campers is at Picnic Shelter #15, across from the pool and baseball diamonds.Pick-Up is at the High Park Children’s Garden (closer to the south end of the park.Sprouts (4-5 year olds) start and end their day at the Children’s Garden.Please ensure that your campers are on time so that we can start the day on time. (We are a little flexible with drop-off times if you are dropping off campers at separate locations.

*See map on following page*

Pick-Ups and Drop-OffsTo 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 Participant Information Form including all caregivers , including parents!

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.

Late Arrivals, Early Pick-Ups and AbsencesPlease call/inform camp staff 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 staff written notice ahead of time.

Children’s Garden

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

Children’s Eco Programs

Birthday Party Programs

Fun nature adventure or cooking birthday party programs are available from September to June!

Please contact Keely Forth at 416-392-1329 or kidsgrow@toronto.cafor 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 4th – August 29th.

Some of our other fun programs include:

High Park Harvest Festival

In collaboration with Colborne Lodge & High Park Nature Centre

Sunday, October 6th, 2019 from 11am to 5:00 pm.

REMINDER CAMPER FORMS DUE BY

FRIDAY, JUNE 21ST, 2019

Children’s Eco Programs