EDUCATION — Camp cbg

Camp Guidelines

ILLUSTRATION: sunflowers

General Guidelines

ladybug illustration

Communication
All confirmation and other important camp correspondence will be sent via email. Please make sure your camp registration includes a working email address and please add registrar@chicagobotanic.org to your safe senders list.

Age Limits
Please note the age groupings for each camp group. Campers must be the appropriate age on or before the start of Camp June 14, 2010. We regret that we cannot make any exceptions to this policy. Should any discrepancies arise, we reserve the right to ask for a notarized copy of the camper’s birth certificate and make any necessary changes to the camper’s registration. Campers in the Green Sprouts group and above must be toilet trained.

What to Bring
Children will be outdoors and active in this program. We strongly recommend that campers bring a water bottle to camp in order to stay well hydrated. Campers may also wish to bring a backpack to carry projects home. Please send your child with appropriate weather gear if the forecast calls for rain. All clothing should be marked with your child’s name. Your child should wear clothes that are comfortable for outdoor activities and hands-on, occasionally messy fun.

Weather Weather
Camp CBG utilizes the natural environment of the Garden as much as possible. Your child will be spending a good portion of the camp outside, weather permitting. During extremely hot or inclement weather, camps will move indoors.

Parent Guidelines

Parent Information
A weekly plan for each camp will be available during orientation, and at the pick-up and drop-off location on the first day of camp. Each syllabus will list the day’s activities and include suggestions to help you and your camper share the camp experience. Please note that the order of events may change due to weather or other circumstances beyond our control.

Medical Authorization Forms
Camp CBG does not require a medical examination to attend camp; however we ask that you fill out our Medical Authorization Form as soon as you complete your online registration. These forms are used in an emergency and to identify any special needs such as allergies or medical alerts such as asthma as well as identify who is authorized to pick-up your child from camp. In order for your child to attend camp, we must have a completed health form on file by May 21, 2010. If we do not have a form for each child registered at that time, the registration will be cancelled and Camp CBG will retain all payments previously made. You can submit a form by visiting www.chicagobotanic.org/camp.

Photo Release
By registering for Camp CBG, parents/guardians consent children may be photographed and to the use of such photographs in future Chicago Botanic Garden publications and promotional materials. You will be asked to confirm that you consent to your child(ren) being photographed and to such use of the photographs on the Medical Authorization Form.

pickup/drop-off Pick-up/Drop-off
Campers (other than My First Camp) should arrive at the Children’s Learning Center (CLC) 10-15 minutes prior to the start of camp. An authorized adult needs to sign in the camper each day. Pick up will be with the camper’s instructor at the CLC at the end of camp. The registrant or a responsible party listed on the camper’s Medical Authorization Form will sign out each camper each day. Camp groups will leave the sign-in/sign-out area promptly at 9:30 am for morning camps and 12:30 pm for afternoon camps. If a child misses the departure of his camp group, it is the responsibility of the caregiver who brings that child to escort the camper to his/her camp location for that day.

My First Camp Locations
My First Camps campers and their accompanying caregiver should proceed to their camp location each day. Camps begin at 9:45 a.m. MFC Age 2 will be meeting at the Poetry Meadow across the service road from the CLC. MFC Age 3 will meet at the Buehler Enabling Garden. Once you have completed your online registration, please check your confirmation for a link to maps of these locations. Registrants will receive an e-mail the week prior to camp confirming My First Camp locations.

Siblings
Registration for My First Camp is for a child/adult pair. While we understand it may be hard to make arrangements for your other children, to make My First Camp enjoyable and fair to all, we ask that you do not bring unregistered children, including siblings to camp. This includes babies in carriers.

Orientation
On Saturday, May 8 from 1:00-3:00 p.m., we will offer an orientation open house for parents and campers who wish to attend. This is an opportunity to meet the child’s instructor(s), review pick-up and drop-off procedures, and purchase or pick-up pre-paid T-shirts. Camp staff, including the director, will also be available to answer any questions. This event will be held in the Children’s Learning Center located in Parking Lot 7. Registrants will receive an e-mailed invitation, which includes a parking pass, the week prior to Orientation.

Snacks
We provide a healthy snack that is free of peanuts. If your child has food allergies, please specify to what degree on the Medical Authorization Form. Given that our snacks are donated, we regret that we are unable to provide special snacks. If your child has food allergies that may prevent him or her from consuming the provided snack, please notify us on the Medical Authorization form and pack an alternative.

Special Needs
Camp CBG is committed to providing accessible experiences for all children. If your child will require special accommodations, please call (847) 835-6950, option 2 to discuss your situation prior to registering.

Staffing
In order to provide the best possible experiences for your children, all camps are limited to 15 campers. My First Camp is limited to 12 child/adult pairs per camp. Please plan to register early. Camps are led by Chicago Botanic Garden staff and qualified teachers, with assistance from interns and volunteers. Biographies of your campers’ instructors will be available at orientation and at the drop-off location on the first day of camp.

Registration Information

All-Day Option
When you enroll your child in morning and afternoon sessions, you must also enroll in our Lunch Bunch. Pack a peanut-free lunch for your child that does not require refrigeration, and we will supervise your camper during the lunch break and escort your camper to the afternoon class. The additional $10 fee (per camper/week) for this service allows us to provide dedicated supervision and activities for children during the lunch period. Please note that the All-Day Option is only for those campers enrolled in morning & afternoon camps. Additionally, all-day camp is not recommended for Green Sprouts who are not accustomed to full day preschool.

Confirmation of your registration
You will receive an automated reply immediately upon completion of your online registration. Once your registration is processed, you will receive a confirmation/receipt in the form of an email PDF attachment. This email message will include a link to a website where you may submit a Medical Authorization form, print maps and parking passes and reread these guidelines. If you are on a waitlist, you will not receive a confirmation receipt/email.

Wait Lists
Many of our camps fill early! We repeat several camps to allow more families to register for their first choice. Please note that a spot may open up at any time prior to the start of a camp. When cancellations occur in full camps, vacancies are filled from the waiting lists in the order of registration. You will be contacted via email and/or telephone to inquire if you remain interested in accepting the available spot(s). If accepted, your credit card information will be obtained, and participation confirmed. Please note that the Medical Authorization Form must be completed immediately upon acceptance. Call (847) 835-6950 for a current list of camps that are full or visit www.chicagobotanic.org/camp.

Cancellation Policy
You may transfer or cancel your child's Camp CBG registration up to three weeks before the first day of that camp. We are not able to give refunds for cancellations or transfers with less than three weeks notice. A $25 administrative handling fee per child per camp will be assessed for all transfers and cancellations. To cancel, please call (847) 835-6801. Registration cancellations cannot be completed online. If your child is unable to attend camp due to medical reasons, you may receive a refund (minus a $25 handling fee) by providing a doctor's note. We are unable to refund for missed days of camp. Camp CBG registration fees are nontransferable. Camps cancelled by the Garden because of low enrollment or Garden closure will be automatically fully refunded. The Garden reserves the right to cancel a camp due to low enrollment.

Membership
Garden Plus and above members receive a discount on all Camp CBG programs! This discount is reflected in the rates listed for Garden Plus members on the registration page. Those holding Garden memberships will not receive this discount. Please call 847-835-8215 if you would like to upgrade your membership in order to receive the discount. You will need to provide a member ID number at the time of camp registration. Please note that Garden membership is nontransferable.

Registering Friends
Registrations for children other than family members will not be accepted.