Staff Information To Start Camp

2020 Staff Procedures & The Camp Day

Dear Staff,

As we begin the start of camp next week, I want to thank you for being part of the 2020 MBDC Staff team. It has been a strange year so far but the kids are counting on you to make their summer something they will WANT to remember.

It is important that you read and understand the MBDC Staff Manual. I hold the MBDC staff in high regard as does the camp community at large. Therefore, since you will be signing your affirmation statement stating that you did read the manual and understand it, as the owner of Mill Basin Day Camp, I will hold you to it.

While the entire manual is important, this email lists some points that I want to re-iterate to you so that together we will make 2020 a spectacular and fun program. Please pay particular attention to the highlighted and bolded text.

I look forward to working with you and seeing all of you on Monday, July 06.

Sincerely,

Jack Grosbard, Owner, Mill Basin Day Camp


All staff paperwork must be in by Friday, July 03.

First time staff orientation is Thursday, July 02 at 4:00 pm

  • First Day Of Camp: Monday, July 06, 2020
  • All staff must arrive by 7:30 for the first week of camp. 8:00 every day afterwards.
  • The camp day ends at 4:30 when you are dismissed by your directors.
  • Wear your staff shirt only on the first day. DO NOT cut or alter the staff shirt in any way.
  • Come dressed comfortably and ready to be able to participate in activities.
  • All staff MUST wear a mask or face covering. Masks must be worn as often as possible and ALWAYS when around the kids, other staff and parents. Once again, this is a must.
  • All staff will have their temperature taken with a non contact thermometer each morning.
  • All staff MUST sign an affirmation statement each day declaring that they feel well and have no symptoms of COViD-19. (see potential symptoms by clicking here).

Morning Drop Off
  • At 8:25 a staff person from each group must go to Early Drop Off to get any campers that may be in your group. We prefer they not be Head Counselors.
  • When campers arrive with their parents or anyone who drops them off, you will greet them with a “good morning” or “hi”.
  • After greeting them, the head counselor will take the temperature of the camper and record the reading next to their name on your group’s attendance sheet.
  • A normal temperature range is 98.6 – 99.3.
  • If a camper registers anything above 99.3 degrees, you will have the parent and camper wait 5 minutes before taking it again.
  • If it still reads above 99.3 after a second try, you will call your director over for further assistance.
  • Campers are NOT required to wear masks unless we receive written instructions from their parents.

Lunch: 12:15 – 12:45 & Snack: 2:40 – 3:10

All campers and staff must bring their own lunch each day. Have the campers put their lunch box in your designated cooler and their camp bag in your designated bin.

There is NO ordering from outside vendors at any time. Doing so can be cause for dismissal from your job. If you forget to bring lunch, contact your Director.

During lunch & snack have the campers take out their lunch boxes themselves but under your supervision. Make sure your campers have brought lunch and snack with them and are eating and drinking. If they do not have either lunch and/or snack, TELL YOUR DIRECTOR!

Campers are NOT to share food ever! Do not eat or touch the campers’ food with your hands.

Watch for signs of illness. Report any unusual behavior such as your camper not eating or looking very tired to your Director right away.

When lunch & snack are over, every group MUST clean up there area.


Activities:
Before leaving for your first activity, hand in your COMPLETED attendance sheet to your Director. Let them know of anything unusual such as incorrect information on your attendance sheet.

Example; a camper is present at camp on a day when your attendance sheet shows they are not supposed to be attending.

It is VERY IMPORTANT that you take the time to properly fill in the information we need.

First Activity begins at 9:00 am.
There are six (6) activities daily. Do NOT alter or change activities without permission from your Director.

If your activity schedule seems wrong or if there is another group already at the activity you are supposed to be at, let your Director know.

FOR 2020, all sports and events are to be NON CONTACT. That means that activities that require kids to be very close or in some cases in contact with each other are not allowed. 
Example: Basketball can be played however not in the traditional sense. Instead, they can have shooting or dribbling drills, dunk contests etc.  However, nothing that will cause them to be in contact with each other at all.

Encourage, but do not force the campers to participate in the activities. They will be more likely to participate if you do as well. Do not leave campers out and alone if they aren’t participating. They sometimes just need a little kindness and effort on your part.

Each group will be issued its own set of sports equipment.  It CANNOT be shared with other groups and you CANNOT use other groups equipment. After each activity that requires that you use your groups’equipment, gather it up, put it in your issued bag and take it with you to your next activity.
Camper Information Sheet:
Pay attention to your camper information sheet. It contains vital knowledge of your camper such as; any allergies or limitations they have (peanut butter, strobe lights), or special instructions from either the camper’s parent or our staff regarding the welfare of the camper.
The better you know your campers, the better you will be able to help them, and yourselves enjoy the summer.
Injuries, Illness, Bathrooms & Cleanliness

Hand Washing & Sanitizing: This year more than ever, it is very important that everyone including yourself keep their hands clean as often as possible. If you can, try to have the kids wash their hands with soap and water frequently or encourage them to use hand sanitizer.  Every camper was issued a personal hand sanitizer bottle for use throughout the day. It is just as good as washing their hands.  Have them do it often.  Make a game out of it to make it fun if you are creative in that way.

Bathroom: Campers, especially ones age 3-8 need to be reminded or asked if they need to use the bathroom.  Make “bathroom runs” part of your daily routine.

No camper can anywhere in the building alone, including the bathroom.  When escorting a camper to the bathroom, you can ask another camper to go along.  It is a very bad idea to ever be alone with a camper in any part of the building.

NEVER take anything for granted.  Assume every camper that complains about an illness or injury is telling the truth and take the appropriate action such as contacting a Director or escorting the camper to the medical office.

In case of a serious injury (real or imagined) DO NOT MOVE THE CHILD.  Contact a director immediately and keep the camper as comfortable as possible.

There is nothing too small or too insignificant to be ignored when it comes to a camper.

End of The Camp Day

The camp activities end at 4:00 PM.

At the end of activities, all equipment and supplies must be returned to David Schechter who is the Equipment Director at the end of the last activity.

After the final activity, all groups must return to their tables to get ready for dismissal.  Bathroom use and hand cleaning would be a good idea.


Dismissal, Authorized Pickups & Late Stay

Parents & Authorized Pickup persons will begin to be allowed to enter the building at 4:20 PM.

ALWAYS HAVE A VISUAL LINE OF SIGHT VIEW OF ALL YOUR CAMPERS. HAVE THEM SITTING DOWN BEFORE PICKUPS ARRIVE AND IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO HANDLE.

After the authorized person picks up the camper, you will circle the name of the person who is picking the camper up.

ONLY…REPEAT ONLY those people who appear on your authorized pickup sheets are allowed to leave your table with their camper unless you received a printed note from the office of a change for that day.

For the first few days, if you feel the needs to ask a parent politely for some identification, you may do so. However, if you do not feel comfortable doing it or they refuse your request call over your Director or any Director right away. After a few days, you will begin to recognize the parents and authorized pickups, though you should ALWAYS be on your guard.

IF SOMEONE ARRIVES TO PICK UP A CAMPER THAT IS NOT ON THE LIST, NOTIFY YOUR DIRECTOR IMMEDIATELY. IF YOUR DIRECTOR IS NOT AROUND, TELL ANY OTHER DIRECTOR.
THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU OR THE CAMPER KNOWS THE PERSON OR NOT!
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT DOESNT SEEM RIGHT SAY SOMETHING!

Late Stay Campers:

You may have some campers that are enrolled in the Late Stay Pickup Program.

AFTER your Director approves it, you can bring those campers to the designated Late Stay rooms.  Your Director will let you know where that is.

AFTER all your campers have been accounted for, you will hand in to your Director your Authorized Pickup Sheet, which will be in your daily folder that your Director will give you.

Your Director will dismiss your groups at the end of the day.  Please wait for them to do so.

THINGS TO BRING DAILY

  • Pens
  • Watch or way to tell time
  • Lunch & Snack
  • Backpack
  • Mask or Face Covering
  • Sneakers/ Bathing Suit/Towel/Flip Flops
  • Water Bottle

Names To Know:

Directors:
Bonnie Mahl – Pioneers
Lindsey Kleinman, Elicia Cruz – Adventures
Nicole Passalaqua, Eric Shapiro – Stars
Kevin Bowen, Daryl Francois – Explorers
Mark Jacoboson, Ben Glazer – Teens
Jason Schecter – Sports Director
David Schechter – Equipment Director
Matt Lesser – Aquatics Director
Danielle Atehortua – Medical Director
Marina Burrafato – Office Staff
Alexa Grosbard – Office Manager
Edith Katsman – Camp Managing Director
Jack Grosbard – Jedi Knight