Frequently Asked Questions = F.A.Q.'s
Who are we?
Highwood Outdoor Pool Day Camp is a moderately structured community run day camp at the Highwood Outdoor Pool facility. Highwood Outdoor Pool is a member of the Calgary Outdoor Pool Association (COSPA). We provide an opportunity for children in Highwood and the surrounding communities to come to our outdoor day camp to swim, play games, socialize, create craft projects, keep fit, and most of all have FUN!! During inclement weather, camps will move indoors.
Are swimming lessons included as part of my child’s camp experience?
Yes. All full day campers and & AM 1/2 day campers will participate in a one-week set of Red Cross swim lessons. Afternoon campers or drop in day campers will join us for public swimming only. All children will receive a progress card if they attend 3 or more lessons.
Do you pro-rate the camp fee or trade/make up days if my child misses a day?
No. In an effort to maintain reasonable camper to counselor ratios we cannot make up or trade days.
What is HOP Day Camp’s refund policy?
No Cash refunds will be given. All refunds will be made by HOP cheque mailed to the address listed on the Day Camp Registration form. We reserve the right for a 30-day grace period for all refunds.
Cancellation - If our program is cancelled for any reason by HOP, your child may transfer to another week that is running or receive a full refund.
Withdrawals –
- With minimum notice of 72 hours before camp has started, a $25.00 admin fee for each withdrawal is charged and the balance of the camp fee will be refunded.
- Once camp has started, a $25.00 admin fee is charged as well as the number of camp days passed prior to written notice being received. (i.e.: notice given on aTues.would be charged $25.00 + 2 days of camp fee) (notice of less than 72 hours or Monday would be $25.00 + 1 day of camp fee, etc.) Notice of withdrawal must be given by way of a dated letter to the camp coordinator/leader, pool manager or assistant manager.
Transfers - Parents may change their children from one type of camp to another in the same week (i.e.-from full day to 1/2 day) upon availability. If hours are decreased no refund will be issued. If hours are increased, the extra time will be charged. All transfers are subject to availability.
Medical Circumstances – Withdrawals and transfers for medical reasons are permitted with no penalty prior to the start of the camp upon presentation of a Doctor’s note. After the start of the camp upon presentation of a Doctor’s note, a refund pro-rated from the time you notify us of withdrawal or transfer will be given. No admin fee will be charged.
Child's Exclusion Due to Illness - Children should not be sent to camp if they are exhibiting the following:
1. Illness that prevents them from participating comfortably in all camp activities.
2. Fever, or symptoms such as lethargy, constant crying, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, and vomiting.
If children come to camp ill, or become ill after arriving at camp, parents will be called to pick them up.
* No refunds will be issued for children dismissed from camp or withdrawn after parents were notified either verbally or in writing about behavior issues.
Is There A Sibling Discount or Multiple Registration Discount?
HOP offers $75.00 off the 3rd + registration when 3 or more children from the same family/address enroll for camp. A $75.00 discount will also be taken off the registration of the 3rd + week for an individual child. Multiple registrations must be paid for in full at sign up to receive discount. The 3 + discount for the 4 day week of Aug. 3 to 6th is $40.00. The sibling / multiple registration discount is only applicable to full day ( 9:00 to 4:00PM) camp registrations only. There is no discount on before or after care fees.
Do You Provide Fee Assistance?
Fee assistance will apply to full day all week camps only. Assistance is a $70.00 discount off regular camp fee upon registration with proof of assistance. There is no discount on before or after care fees.
Is HOP Day Camp a peanut / nut free camp?
No. HOP Day Camp is a peanut / nut aware camp. This means that we ask parents to abstain from sending in any food containing peanuts / nuts to camp. This includes (but is not limited to) peanut butter sandwiches or crackers, peanut butter cookies, trail mixes, candy containing peanut butter, and peanut snacks. However because HOP is a public facility we cannot guarantee that HOP is a peanut or nut free environment 100% of the time.
What is the medication policy?
Due to the short time that the children are present, medication will NOT be administered or distributed unless an emergency situation demands it (i.e.Ventalin, or Epi-Pen); emergency medication will only be administered with written permission from parent or guardian (on registration form). All medication must be clearly labeled and handed in to the camp coordinator.
What does my Child Bring to camp?
All children SHOULD attend camp with a backpack containing the following:
- Sweater & pants (for cooler mornings)
- Hat
- Water bottle (labeled with child's name)
- Swimsuit & towel and last swim lesson progress card
- Lunch & 2 snacks (or a maximum of $5.00 for concession for afternoon snack)
- Emergency medication i.e. - Epi-pen/Ventalin(placed in plastic zip-lock bag clearly labeled with child's name)
- Book or small toy for down time if needed
- Sunscreen and insect repellant in original containers clearly labeled with your child's name
What NOT to bring:
- Valuables or electronics
- Peanuts or nut products
- More than $5.00 for snacks
How does Drop-off and Pick-up work, and what are the Before & After care terms?
Parents will be given a 15 minute grace period for drop-off and pick-up at camp start and end. Camp start is at 9:00AM and camp ends at 4:00PM. Parents arriving outside of those times will be charged the before or after care fee of $5.00 per use per child. We request that all before and after care is booked and paid in advance.
Before care runs from 7:30AM to 9:00AM, after care runs from 4:00PM to 5:00PM (no grace is available)
Parents are asked not to drop off or leave children unattended outside the pool, hall, park, or playground. They must be signed in and out of our care each day unless alternate arrangements have been made with the Sr. Day Camp Supervisor. Parents are also asked to ensure that children arrive promptly for camp start. This will enable leaders to better plan activities, crafts and swim times.
What are the camper behavior expectations?
The HOP Day Camp focus is based on the staff providing positive roll models for all campers. It is the expectation of HOP Day Camp that all enrolled campers will be able to function within a group environment and to make positive behavioral choices that promote an emotional and physically safe environment. We wish to maintain a high level of safety and comfort of our other campers and inappropriate behavior is not conductive to this environment.
At the Highwood Outdoor Pool Day Camps, we strive to prevent conflict and frustrations by providing an environment that is comfortable and fun for the children in a group setting. Rules and acceptable behavior are discussed at the beginning of the week and all of the children are made aware of what is expected of them. Rules are such as a school environment that include but do not limit:
- Hands, feet, objects to themselves.
- Use of appropriate language
- No putting others down
- Ask permission to leave the designated camp area
- Cooperation and respect towards leaders, lifeguards, and other campers
Although our goal is to be conflict free, occasionally children may still become frustrated and disagree with a leader or another child at camp. If a child’s behavior becomes unsafe or unacceptable, discipline is necessary. If these situations arise, the following actions will be taken:
- First Occurrence- The child will be made aware of the limits and guidelines again and if the situation warrants it, may be removed from the other children to let themselves have some individual time with him or herself or the leader. *Individual activities will be made available for a child who is having trouble being in a group and needs some time away.
- Second Occurrence, same day - The child will sit in the office or another area for 20 minutes as a cooling off period. If this does not diffuse the behavior or a 3rd instance of the same or similar type behavior occurs, then...
- The parents will be contacted and the child will be sent home for the day. The child may return to camp the next day, but if a situation that needs discipline arises again, the child’s parents will be called and the child will no longer be welcome at camp for the duration of the week.
* No refunds will be issued for children dismissed from camp or withdrawn after parents were notified either verbally or in writing about behavior issues.
** At No time will a leader act aggressively with a child. If a situation arises where a child needs to be removed or restrained for the safety of themselves, the other children, or the leaders, staff will hold or remove them gently.
*** Please note: Although these procedures are taken, different situations require different discipline. The camp coordinator can skip or modify any procedure for different situations at any time if they feel it is necessary.
Any questions, comments, concerns may be directed to the camp coordinator at 403-221-3574.
Does the HOP Day Camp Qualify for the Children's Fitness Tax Credit?
Children’s Fitness Tax Credit Overview:
The Children’s Fitness Tax Credit became effective January 1st of 2007.
You can claim to a maximum of $500 per child, the fees paid in the calendar year that relate to the cost of registering your or your spouse's or common-law partner’s child in a prescribed program of physical activity. The child must have been under 16 years of age or under 18 years of age if eligible for the disability amount, at the beginning of the year in which an elibigle fitness expense was paid. You can claim this amount provided that another person has not already claimed the same fees and that the total claimed is not more than the maximum amount that would be allowed if only one of you were claiming the amount.
Prescribed program
To qualify for this amount, a program must:
- be ongoing (either a minimum of eight weeks duration with a minimum of one session per week or, in the case of children's camps, five consecutive days);
- be supervised;
- be suitable for children; and
- require significant physical activity (generally, most of the activities must include a significant amount of physical activity that contributes to cardiorespiratory endurance plus muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility and/or balance).
This and further information can be found on the Canada Revenue Agency website at www.cra-arc.gc.ca/fitness