Welcome to Badger Day Camp! We are excited to have you become part of the family. This handbook gives you the general camp information. If you do have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us!

Our Mission

Badger Day Camp strives to foster the mental, physical and social growth of our campers. We focus on developing confidence, self-esteem, and we encourage campers to accept new challenges and have positive attitudes. Our goal is that each camper will have a strong sense of belonging to an environment that is accepting, healthy and fun.

Communication

Please add our email address of info@badgerdaycamp.com to your contacts to ensure that you receive all of our updates and information as email is our primary form of contact. Additionally, we may send home fliers or post other information on our website on occasion. Like and follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

Applications and Health Forms

Our camper application and health forms can be found here. Each camper must have a completed on-line application as well as completed health forms no later than June 15th. The health form may be completed by a parent or guardian. The immunization records must be the most current year and have the physician’s stamp or signature.

What to Bring (and not to bring!) to Camp

** COVID CHANGE, PLEASE REFER TO COVID-19 PARENT HANDBOOK ON PARENT DASHBOARD**

Parents can drop off early or send their child on the first day with the following items, clearly labeled with your child’s first and last name:

• 3 bathing suits
• Sunblock
• Goggles (suggested)
• Sweatshirt
• Change of clothing (pre-schoolers only)
• A reusable water bottle (to bring to and home from camp daily)

ALL CLOTHING WORN TO CAMP EACH DAY SHOULD BE CLEARLY LABELED WITH YOUR CHILD’S FULL NAME. Not having your child’s name in clothing can cause confusion and lost items. Campers should wear sneakers and socks or closed-toed athletic sandals every day. Crocs and flip- flops may be worn for swim only, but are not necessary. We provide clean towels at each swim period. Please do not send your child with cash, electronics, toys, trading cards of any kind, or any other personal belongings other than those mentioned above. Cellphone use is prohibited at camp – we want to unplug! We are not responsible for any lost or stolen personal property.

Transportation

** COVID CHANGE, PLEASE REFER TO COVID-19 PARENT HANDBOOK ON PARENT DASHBOARD**

For parents with children who will be utilizing camp busing:
You will be emailed your child’s pick up and drop off times. Each bus or van will have a Badger Day Camp bus counselor in addition to an appropriately licensed and certified driver for every ride. Please keep in mind that the first week of camp there will be variations in the pick-up and drop off times until the routes become routine. In the event of a delayed pick up or dismissal due to weather or any other emergency reason, we will send a mass email to all parents.

Transportation Safety

There is no food allowed on camp transportation. Parents are not allowed to board or ride on camp vehicles. Please wait at a safe distance from the curb and do not attempt to have your child board the bus until it has come to a complete stop and has turned on the appropriate safety signs, lights, etc. Please wait for the bus counselor to get off the bus to assist your child to safely board the bus. ALWAYS cross in front of the bus, NEVER behind. When crossing in front of the bus, you should be able to maintain eye contact with the driver. Make sure that you are at least 10 feet ahead of the bus before crossing. Campers are required to wear safety belts and or child restraints. Children need to remain seated for the entire trip. Badger Day Camp is not responsible for campers prior to pick-up or after drop off. Your child will not be left at your drop-off location unless a known and listed parent, guardian or contact is present. The child will be brought back to camp and need to be picked up by an authorized contact.

For parents with children who will either pick up or drop off their child:

Morning Drop Off: Children who will NOT be utilizing morning transportation should be dropped off at 8:45am to a Badger Day Camp employee who will be located at the top of our driveway. Please DO NOT drive your vehicle into our driveway, as it will impede our buses from being able to maneuver properly. If you walk to camp, you may bring your child down the grass path next to the driveway and sign them in at the office. PLEASE DO NOT WALK IN THE DRIVEWAY. If your child is arriving late and there is no longer staff at the top of our driveway, you may drive down to drop the child off. Please sign in at the office.

Half Day and Mini Day pick up: Parents who will pick up their children at either 1pm for the Half Day Program or at 2pm for the Mini Day program, may drive their cars into the driveway where there will be staff instructing you where to park. Please leave promptly after your child has been dismissed to you as it will help to alleviate traffic in the lot. Sign out sheets will be available each day. Please make sure to sign your child out every day.

Full Day pick up: Parents who will pick up their children for the Full Day Program will NOT be permitted to drive their car into the driveway after 3pm until 4:15pm or until all camp vehicles have departed. Sign out sheets must be signed each day.

IMPORTANT: Please always make sure to sign out your child from the office. If your child arrives to camp late, please make sure to sign them in at the office.

Health and Safety

Badger Day Camp takes great pride in taking all the necessary precautions to provide a safe, happy and healthy summer. Please do not send your child to camp if they have a fever. We also ask that they not return to camp until they have been fever free for at least 24 hours. If your child is ill or becomes injured at camp, we will first contact the listed parent(s) and or guardian(s). The general camp practice is to contact parents when there is concern about a camper’s health and/or when a situation is not progressing as expected. Depending on the degree of illness or injury, we will then contact any emergency contacts listed on the application and/or 911.

Illnesses: Please notify us immediately if your child has a communicable illness or infection. This will allow us to notify the parents/guardians of their fellow campers. Campers with communicable conditions may not return to camp without a note from their physician.

Allergies: Badger Day Camp is peanut free and nut aware facility. We do not serve any foods containing nuts, however some products may be manufactured in facilities that are not nut free. If your child has allergies, please feel free to make an appointment with our nurse and chef before camp begins to discuss an allergy action plan.

Lice: Campers with head lice will not be allowed to attend camp. If we find that your child has lice, you will be contacted to come and pick your child up. We will also send a note home to all campers in any group where lice is found. Our camp requires that the child be nit-free to return to camp. Upon return, campers must be examined by the camp nurse.

Medication: Any medication that is to be administered at camp must be handed into the nurse in the original prescription container with the prescribing physician’s instructions. Medications must be brought to camp prior to the camper’s start date. Medications cannot be transported on camp vehicles. Any over the counter medications (i.e. Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl) will only be administered if the “Parent and Physician Authorization for Administration of Medication in Camp” section of the camper health form is completed and signed.

Child Abuse: Any individual working with children is required by law to report any suspected child abuse. This includes any physical, sexual, emotional, mental and neglect.

Attire: All campers must wear closed toed shoes such as sneakers or athletic sandals. No crocs or flip- flops can be worn other than during a swim period. Girls should wear a one-piece suit for swimming.

Release of Campers: Campers will only be released to those persons listed on the camper application. The camp is required to check the identification of anyone they do not know. This includes parents, relatives and friends.

Dining

Our lunches are prepared on campus fresh daily with the exception of pizza, which is delivered from a local pizzeria. If your child has food allergies, please make an appointment to meet with our chef before camp begins to discuss meals. Food of any kind brought from home must be presented to our chef with a list of all the ingredients. There are no nuts of any kind allowed at camp. Our menu will be posted on the website in advance so if your child does not like the lunch of the day, they may select an alternative. Their Head Counselor will ask them their lunch preference upon arrival each day.

Visiting

** COVID CHANGE, PLEASE REFER TO COVID-19 PARENT HANDBOOK ON PARENT DASHBOARD**

Badger Day Camp has an open door policy. There may be several days that we ask parents not to visit due to camper only events and or parking limitations. All visitors must have photo ID and sign in at the office. Once checked in, visitors will be given a pass to wear. Please  sign out with the office when leaving camp grounds. If you are taking your child with you, please notify their Head Counselor and sign them out at the office. Please be aware of all parking signage and regulations on the surrounding streets. Parking in our driveway is prohibited unless your child is enrolled in the Half Day or Mini Day programs and do not take a bus. Parking in our lot may be allowed at certain times, but this will be communicated per each event. Please note that pets, alcohol, tobacco, firearms or weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited on campus.

Our Program

Badger Day Camp provides a balanced program consisting of both sport and non-sport activities, they include but are not limited to: golf, playground, gaga, soccer, field sports, baseball, basketball, tennis, volleyball, swimming, arts & crafts, gymnastics, table games, drama, dance, yoga, music, nature, group games and martial arts. Full Day and Mini Day campers swim twice per day for an hour each. Half Day campers swim once for one hour. On a camper’s first day, their swimming abilities will be evaluated. We never assume a camper can swim. Once evaluated, they will be placed in subgroups according to their abilities. In addition to their regular group staff, pool staff and lifeguards will be on duty at every swim period.

Birthdays

** COVID CHANGE, PLEASE REFER TO COVID-19 PARENT HANDBOOK ON PARENT DASHBOARD**

We are happy to celebrate your child’s birthday here at camp. You may provide your own cake, cupcakes, or baked goods however, a complete list of ingredients must accompany the goods. Due to allergies, all food brought into camp should not contain nuts of any kind. Birthday celebrations take place after lunch has been served during their normal lunch period. You may feel free to come and celebrate with your child.

Tipping

Although tipping is not required, we welcome you to tip the staff that has cared for your child. It is very appreciated!