Things To Know Before Your First Day Of Winter & Spring Camp
BUT FIRST–REALLY IMPORTANT SITE INFORMATION
Check out the links below for important dates, site details, and drop off and pick up procedures. Families planning to attend camp in NY & NJ must also use the links below to download some super important state-required paperwork to send before your first day of camp. Our lawyers told us so. If you’re attending any other location, don't worry about this part.
San Mateo – The Carey School: Feb. 21 - Feb. 25
Local drop-off & pick-up instructions coming soon.
San Francisco–Noe Valley - Alvarado Elementary: Mar. 28 - Apr. 1
Local drop-off & pick-up instructions coming soon.
Torrance–Jefferson Middle School: April 4–April 8
Local drop-off & pick-up instructions coming soon.
Chicago Public Schools also requires that all families complete their daily CPS checklist before joining us on campus. While families do not need to submit their answers, it must be reviewed daily.
Chicago–Lakeview – Bell Elementary School: April 11–April 15
Montclair–Lacordaire Academy: Apr. 18 - Apr. 22
Montclair Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures Coming Soon
Click here for the New York state-required Child & Adolescent Health Examination Form as well as paperwork FAQs.
Mid-Winter Camps:
Manhattan - Upper West Side: Holy Name School: Feb. 21–Feb. 25
Local drop-off & pick-up instructions coming soon
Manhattan - East Village: St. George Academy: Feb. 21–Feb. 25
Local drop-off & pick-up instructions coming soon
Spring Break Camps:
Manhattan–East Village: St. George Academy: Apr. 18 - Apr. 22
Local drop-off & pick-up instructions coming soon
Manhattan–Upper West Side: Holy Name School: Apr. 18 - Apr. 22
Local drop-off & pick-up instructions coming soon
Kirkland - Bright Horizons Totem Lake: April 4 - April 8
Kirkland Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures Coming Soon
DC–Capitol Hill: Van Ness Elementary: April 11 - April 14
DC Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures Coming Soon
Virtual Orientation
CAMP IS ALMOST HERE. GET PUMPED.
Camp life is needed more than ever—to make real connections in person. Also more than ever, we need to be totally in sync with camp families given all of the new safety precautions. That’s why we’ve developed this handy guide to get on the same page.
Required Daily Express Check In
Every family will need to use Express Check In before they arrive at camp each day. You’ll also need to bring your campers QR code, similar to a boarding pass for a plane. You can print this from your account and bring a paper copy each day or snap a photo and bring it to camp on your phone each morning. You’ll see this code after you answer the required screening questions (find this in your S&K online account) each day before arriving. Upon arrival, staff will scan your camper code, and take camper temps. As long as they are under 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, they can cruise into camp.
In order to make sure any sick campers have someone to take them home, campers will need an adult over the age of 18 to drop them off each morning. They can check themselves out at the end of the day though, with adult permission.
Stay Home If...
In order to help ensure the well-being of our campers and staff, please follow the guidelines below as to when your child should stay home from camp. These also represent instances when we will require a child to be picked up from Camp if they become ill while attending. If county guidelines mandate additional quarantine, testing or a medical release to return to care, Camp will follow whichever is most restrictive. Directors are kept up to date with county and CDC regulations.
Fever: At a minimum children must be fever-free (meaning an oral thermometer reads 100.4° or less, or an ear thermometer reads 101.4° or less (Cleveland Clinic - fever) for 24 hours, without the aid of fever-reducing medication, before they come to Camp. If our staff determine that a child has a fever, we will contact the child’s parent/guardian and ask that they pick the child up from Camp. If county guidelines mandate that a fever, or a fever in conjunction with other symptoms, warrants more than 24 hours quarantine we will follow whichever guideline is most restrictive.
COVID-19: Children should stay home if they have, or someone in their household has, any COVID-19 symptoms including: fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, chills, body aches, fatigue, headache, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, new loss of taste or smell or eye drainage or infection. If a child has been in close proximity (closer than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes, without wearing a face covering) to anyone who was experiencing any of the above symptoms, or who has experienced any of the above symptoms since being in contact with them, or tested positive for COVID-19, are waiting to receive test results, or are presumptively positive based on a health care provider's assessment or symptoms they should also stay home for the amount of time recommended by your state's Health Department.
Contagious illness/parasitic infection: If your child has a contagious illness, even without fever, beyond a mild cold (for example: pink eye, a contagious skin rash), or if your child has head lice/nits, please do not send your child to Camp. If we believe that a child likely has a contagious illness or head lice/nits, we will contact the child’s parent/guardian and ask that they pick the child up from Camp. You may send your child to Camp with a doctor’s note if their condition has been treated such that it is no longer contagious.
Diarrhea/vomiting: If your child has experienced diarrhea or vomiting within 24 hours before camp, please do not send them to Camp. The Camp is not equipped to handle cases of diarrhea or repeated vomiting except on an emergency basis, until the child can be picked up from Camp by a parent/guardian.
Any symptoms of COVID-19 present in a camper or staff member will result in a two day absence from camp at minimum, and will require a medical clearance or alternate confirmation to return before a 10 day quarantine has lapsed.
Travel:The CDC recommends travel be delayed until all folks travelling are fully vaccinated. If you do have to travel internationally to the US we are asking all families follow the most recent CDC recommendations. As of December 6th, 2021, the CDC requires that every international traveler, regardless of vaccination status, get tested 1 day before traveling to the US. If anyone who is unvaccinated is travelling internationally they will need to self-quarantine upon their return for 7 days, if they receive a negative COVID-19 test upon returning, or for 10 days if no test is done. We ask that families follow these requirements when planning camp attendance.
Safety Precautions
Staff and directors are trained to recognize COVID-19 signs and symptoms. Directors will conduct health screening questions and temperature checks at check in. If, at any point, campers exhibit symptoms throughout the day, they will be removed from the group and isolated following CDC guidelines until an adult can pick them up. Siblings of the camper will also need to go home. Other families in the Squad will be notified and encouraged to watch for symptoms, but will not be required to go home since we're cleaning and distancing like pros. Campers, and siblings, can return after 24 hours, if they are fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medications (see above).
In the event of a confirmed COVID-19 case (of a camper or staff member on site) the director will immediately notify local health officials and S&K Headquarters. Health officials will help determine a course of action for the program. We may need to close the site, or room, where the exposure was reported for a time if required. This would most likely be a 24 hour room or facility wide closure, allowing time for local health officials to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation. HQ will coordinate with local health officials to communicate closure decisions and any possible COVID-19 exposure. In the event of a positive camper, all children in contact with that camper will likely be recommended to self-quarantine. Depending on local regulations, vaccinated campers without symptoms may be allowed to return with proof of vaccination. We will, as always, refund for days missed if this happens.
Camp will be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly, and HQ will assess all health and safety procedures, site operations, and any need for increased monitoring and/or training. If, for any reason, camp does close for an extended period of time, families will be refunded for any in-person days missed.
Plan for Care of Mildly Ill Campers
All camp staff are trained in first aid and CPR. Staff will assess each mildly ill or injured camper. Parents will be notified if symptoms or complaints warrant, or if the camper desires them to do so. The camper will be able to rejoin activities if symptoms/complaints and medical assessment allows.
Procedure for Emergency Care
All camp staff are trained in first aid and CPR. The closest staff member to the injured camper will ensure the child is safe and not in any immediate harm, offering basic first aid if needed, and call the Camp Director. The Director will assess the injured camper and make a plan for emergency care treatment. If needed, they will designate a staff member to call 911 immediately and the Director or the Assistant Director will notify the parent of the emergency. If the parent cannot be reached the emergency contact person(s) listed by the parent on the camper’s registration will be called in order. If the situation does not indicate an immediate 911 call, the camp director or assistant director will call the child’s parents and emergency contacts until someone can be reached or until such a time as emergency transport is deemed necessary. The director or assistant director will accompany the camper to the hospital until a parent, guardian or care taker arrives.
Masks Are A Must
All of our staff and campers will be required to wear a mask at all times during the day, except for when eating or drinking or contraindicated per CDC recommendations. Campers will not need to wear them if they are playing or sitting outside at least 6ft away from others, or during water activities (looking at you–Southern California!). We ask that you provide a mask for your child each day in anticipation of this.
Mmmmmm. Food.
This winter we’ll have pizza, and sunbutter & jelly sandwiches daily, plus rotating local options. You can find your location's menu on your local camp page. A vegan or gluten free option can also be available upon request - please coordinate with your local director in advance.
If you decide, for whatever reason, to pack a lunch or additional snacks, please leave out any products containing nuts for the safety of other children who may have severe allergies. Our HQ staff will check any foods brought from home, so be sure to clue them in if you are. Any food from home will need to be in a disposable, labeled bag each day. We don't have the ability to store items in a fridge this winter, so please pack food accordingly.
Refund & Attendance Policies
First and foremost, any unused Day Passes will get automatically refunded in January.
Aaaand now for an unbashful plea: for over 41 years, we’ve offered refunds for unused days. This year, however, refunds represent an unusual financial risk for us due to COVID regulations that don’t allow us to fill unoccupied spots at the last minute. It’s factored into our model that there may be days missed here or there for totally unanticipated issues—illness, etc. But if someone only intends to come part time, we’ll sadly find ourselves upside down. So our ask is that you attend the days you reserved as best you can. If you do happen to miss a day, please let us know if you know in advance. If you are absent, expect to hear from your director to make sure everything is okay.
First day jitters? We know first days can be hard, staff will be sure to give every camper the full run down on their first day, and make sure they know how to get from the classroom to curbside for drop off and pick up. Where it’s possible staff will meet campers outside on Monday mornings to welcome them to camp and gather everyone together as each week gets started.
Payment Stuff
If we owe you a refund after winter, we’ll take care of that automatically by mid-January (10 business days after our last camp closes) or sooner if you paid with an electronic check (ACH). Refunds will usually come back to you in the same method you paid. It’s as easy as that.
To Bring Or Not To Bring
We’ve got most things covered – lunch, snacks, water, limitless fun, and so on. We'd love if you could send a labeled water bottle with your child, since it means less wasted plastic and a generally happier planet. Please also provide a face covering for your camper to wear whenever possible. If you decide to bring a lunch, please send it in a disposable bag, labeled with your child's name. Keep an eye out for announcements at camp to see when we’re doing special activities, since they might call for special things to bring. Most sites have regular water activities, so it's a good idea to pack a suit and towel.
If you’d like to pack extra layers of clothing, you’re welcome to do so, and we’ll have shelving available for storage. Add your child’s name to the tag so we can return anything that gets lost. We generally encourage kids not to bring any personal items to camp (other than the ones mentioned above) so that they don’t get used or damaged by others who may think they are a camp item. We also don't allow, weapons, alcohol, illegal substances or animals on campus at any time (unless a service animal or part of a featured show). Want more info about our policy around camper belongings? You can find that here.
Medications? Be sure to bring these in a labeled box or bag and in the original packaging. You'll be asked to fill out a Medication Authorization form when checking in on Day 1 (if you haven't already). Meds will be kept in HQ and given by directors when needed. Make sure you complete the Medication Authorization form for any meds you are sending to camp.
Daily Game Plan
Camp opens at 8:00am each morning and closes at 6:00pm. For drop-off, there is no set time—feel free to roll out of bed whenever. For pick-up, anytime after 4:30pm is pretty common. If you come early, don't be surprised if your child sends you home so they can stay longer!
Please be sure to check out your camp's local drop-off & pick-up procedures, linked at the top of this page.
Ready For Pickup?
For campers to leave, they need to be picked up by someone who has been pre-authorized by you to do so. You can add pick up peeps by logging into your account or the primary account holder can call us at camp. To keep your kids the safest, we will be asking every individual to show ID when they pick up.
We HIGHLY recommend that you text camp when you are about 5-10 minutes away for a quick and painless pick up (and to reduce those pesky lines). Where it's possible, staff might even approach your vehicle and ask for ID through the window—a truly contactless pick up. You can find more details on your site's specific drop-off & pick-up procedures linked at the top of this page.
Visitors On Campus
Any adult performer or visitor who is on-campus (beyond our Curbside Check-in/out area) will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms like staff and campers, and escorted the entire time by one of our staff members. This is for the safety of all children in our care. Parents, guardians, or other pick-up people will not be permitted to come into camp this winter—expect true curbside service.
Lost & Found
Lost and found items are kept on a clearly-marked shelf at camp. If you notice that your child has come home without a precious item, please contact your camp location immediately. To make it easier for everyone to find your kid’s stuff, be sure to label it. Items that have not been claimed by the end of the week are donated to a worthy cause the following Friday.
Gender Identity & Bathrooms
At Steve & Kate's, we want to support all of our campers and create an environment where campers feel safe and respected. As such, we stand behind and support the ability of campers to use bathroom facilities and pronouns that align with their Gender Identity. And since we have campers that attend Steve & Kate’s that don’t identify as either a girl or boy, we strive to provide gender neutral or private restroom options. If gender neutral bathrooms are not possible at some locations due to the physical limitations, we will work with campers and parents to determine a safe and comfortable bathroom option.
Online Account
Your online account is a hub for all things camp. In addition to updating your information and adding Day Passes, your account is also where you’ll find all of your child’s creations. All finished music recordings, camper-created films, stop-motion animations, and images will be uploaded into your account for your viewing (and sharing!) pleasure. We also upload any action shots that were taken of your kid throughout the day. Grab a sneak peek while you are taking a break during the day, or wait until the evening for a grand viewing with the whole family.
Due to COVID regulations and best practices, this winter & mid-winter all families are also required to reserve their weekly sessions in advance. For Spring Break Camps, families will be required to reserve & attend the full weekly session where states require. Please see your local camp page for details on reservation requirements. Once registered, you can see any local reservation requirements by logging into your account and navigating to the "Squads" tab. If required, you'll be able to see any existing reservations and add new reservations in the "Squad" tab.