Parents Residential Camp Hand Book

Camp Locations 3

Online Consent Form 3

Who is Ecoventure 4

Why Send You Child away on an Ecoventure Camp 4

What We Provide 4

Our Staff 4

Camp Communication 4

Family Camp Get Aways 4

FAQ 5

Facilities 5

Camp Program 5

Welfare 6

Camp Locations

Online Consent Form

You will be given a link to an online disclaimer, this is mandatory for any child that is attending camp. It gives us important information like Emergency contact details, dietary and medical requirements so we can make sure we have everything your child will need on camp.

Who is EcoventureWe are the leading provider of outdoor education in the G.C.C region, offering both curriculum-based Field Studies and Adventure Based programs for students of all ages, families, private, and corporate groups. With qualified and experienced staff across multiple centres in the UAE we provide UAE-based and international programs. We offer a safe avenue for experiential learning and personal development.

Why Send You Child away on an Ecoventure CampOutdoor education has been proven to be beneficial to a child’s development in multiple ways. Improved grades, health, communication skills, motivation, self reliance, and self confidence are just some of the benefits of your child attending camp. We work closely with the school to develop a program catered to the groups needs, and to develop a progression plan for students that return in following years.

What We ProvideTransport - Pickup from the school and camp and from camp back to school at the end of camp Catered Food Activity equipment

Our StaffAll of our staff at Ecoventure are on 2 year work visas, and are selected because of their qualifications and experience. All of our staff are first aid qualified. The majority of our instructor staff are from the UK, Australia, NZ, and USA.

Camp CommunicationIf you need to get in touch with you child during camp for reasons of emergency, you can contact the school who will be able to get you in touch with your child. To follow what is going on at camp you can follow us at www.twitter.com/ecoventureuae or www.facebook.com/ecoventureuae

Family Camp Get AwaysWe get questions from parents all the time asking if they can come up with the whole family. Our site up in Al Jeer is open to public bookings on weekends. To book in a weekend retreat, contact us at wcamps@ecoventureme.com

FAQ

Facilities Q: What are the security facilities for the campsite? A: All of our camp locations have staff onsite 24 hours a day. There is also a perimeter fence around the camp. There are emergency spotlights to light the common areas at night, and all Teachers & Ecoventure staff sleep at the campsite.

Q: What are your tented accommodation arrangements? A: Boys and girls sleep in separate tents on comfortable mattresses. The girls tents are on one side of the camping area and the boys on the other. Teachers tents are in the middle. There are eight students to a tent and teachers aim to accommodate students with their group of friends. Toilets and showers are 40 meters from the tented area.

Q: What are your cabin accommodation arrangements? A: Boys and girls sleep in separate cabins on comfortable mattresses. Depending on the campsite, there are either five or eight students to a cabin and teachers aim to accommodate students with their group of friends. Each cabin has its own toilet and shower facility.

Q: What are your dormitory accommodation arrangements? A: Boys and girls sleep in separate dormitory rooms on bunk beds with comfortable mattresses. Teachers sleep in close proximity to the students in rooms attached to the dormitory. The Dormitories have attached toilet and shower facilities.

Q: What is the procedure in case of an Emergency? A: All instructors are first aid qualified and have their own first aid kits. A more comprehensive first aid kit is also available at each campsite. In case of an emergency the teacher will contact the parent immediately. A teacher & Ecoventure staff will escort the child to the nearest hospital, which is 15 minutes from our campsite, where the parent will be able to meet their child.

Q: What’s the food like? A: Breakfast, lunch & dinner are all created around food that children love to eat – but with health & nutrition foremost in mind. There is always a choice of hot & cold dishes, vegetarian selections and fresh salad bars.

Camp Program Q: How are these activities different from the activities my children have taken part in the previous year? A:Ecoventure works with the school to arrange an itinerary with varied activities, camp locations and activity locations. If there are any activities that are similar to the previous year, Ecoventure will arrange for a more advance level of learning outcome for the students as part of their progression program. Q: What is included in the cost? A: The cost covers fully supervised outdoor learning activities and programs operated by fully qualified instructors. All meals, tented accommodation, equipment and transport (unless organised by the school) and camp souvenir (for overnight trips) are included in the cost.

Q: How many adults will be supervising our kids on the various activities? A: Ecoventure recommends that schools provide one Teacher for every 12-15 students. Depending on the activity and group size you can expect there will be one lead instructor, one assistant instructor and one teacher during each activity.

Q: When is bedtime? A: Children are supervised until about 21:00. We generally suggest a lights-out policy of 21:30, but this may vary depending on the age of the group and their teachers’ preferences.

Q: Are the Ecoventure staff qualified? A: All Ecoventure staff are fully qualified Field Study or Adventure Instructors. All members of the team are first aid trained. Along with this Ecoventure conducts its own in-house training for all activities before the start of the season and offer continued observations and feedback to staff through out the season. We only employ staff who have clearance (i.e. Criminal Backgroud Check) to work with children.

Welfare Q: What care is available during the night? A: Teachers are located in tents next to the student ones. There is also an Ecoventure Duty Manager on call throughout the night.

Q: What if my child is afraid or can’t cope? A: All Ecoventure staff are trained to take responsibility for the well-being of the children who are in their care. We strive to create a warm & supportive environment at all times. Our instructors do their best to encourage your child to try every activity. Often after seeing their friends having fun and completing the activity is motivation enough. Our staff are all trained to access the situation and support your child in any way possible.

Q: What about children with special needs? A: We can cope with many needs as long as teachers make us aware of them at the time of booking. We will advise if we think we are not equipped to cope with a specific situation.

Q: Can parents telephone their children? A: In special circumstances, of course. However, it has been our experience that parents phoning their children just to talk often makes the children’s time away from home harder, rather than easier.

Q: My child has allergies and specific dietary requirements, can you cater for them specific meals? A: We can cater for children with special religious or dietary needs if we are informed well in advance. Please indicate any allergies or specific meal requirements on the disclaimer form you submit and inform the teacher.

Q: What does my child need to bring? A: We try to help children look after their things, but items regularly get lost or left behind. We therefore strongly recommend that you name all items of clothing – and provide your child with a packing list, so that he/she can check items back into their bag. The teacher in charge of the trip will provide you with a kit list.

Q: What should my child not bring to Ecoventure? A: Mobile phones, expensive cameras, electronic games, ipods or mp3 players, expensive or much-cherished jewellery, expensive or favourite clothing or shoes.

Q: Is my child covered under medical insurance? A: Whilst in our care, all students and staff are covered by Ecoventure standard Third Party Public Liability Insurance up to US$1,000,000. If parents have their own medical insurance there is no need for them to provide the medical card while away on camp.

Visit us at www.ecoventureme.com

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