2024 Playground Program Guidelines
Parents/Guardians: Please carefully read the guidelines below and discuss with your children so they may be aware before attending. These rules were created to ensure a safe, rewarding, and enjoyable experience for everyone involved and must be adhered to at all times. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
NOTE: Guidelines are subject to change. All youth camp programs must follow the requirements set forth by the State of Connecticut's Office of Early Childhood.
General Rules
- Children must be on their best behavior at all times.
- Challenging authority, disregarding the rules, rude language, and/or bullying will not be tolerated. Parents/guardians will be notified.
- Children must be independent and able to use bathroom facilities without assistance.
- Children are responsible for cleaning up after themselves.
- Children may not leave designated playground/activity areas unsupervised for any reason.
- Sneakers must be worn. Flip-flops, backless shoes, and "heelies" (shoes with pop-out wheels) are not allowed as they are a safety concern.
- Cell phones, tablets, hand-held computer games, trading cards, portable music players (iPod, MP3, etc.) and any other electronic devices are not allowed.
- Please do not bring toys from home. The Recreation Department and Playground Program staff members will not be responsible for lost or damaged items.
- There is no public phone access at the school or Recreation Park. Please call the Recreation Department office at (860) 276-6219 with any information that needs to be relayed to program staff.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures
- Please do not drop off children before 9:00 am or pick up after 2:00 pm as staff is not available. There are no before or after-care services available for this program.
- You may drop off your children late (except on field trip days) or pick up them up early, but must check in with staff.
- On field trip days, all children and staff members will leave the school property. Late drop-offs on these days will not be permitted. (Early pick-ups may still be possible; check with a staff member in advance for estimated return times from scheduled field trips.)
- A valid photo ID must be presented to a staff member in order to pick up any child from the program.
- A permission form is required in order to allow someone other than a child's own parent/guardian to pick them up at the end of the day. You may list all individuals approved for pick-up on your child's registration form; extra pick-up permission slip forms will also be available at the program. You may request to add or remove names from your child's form at any time.
- Before playing, children must be signed in with staff and receive a wristband.
Pool Use
- Swimming will be permitted only at a designated time during the morning. Pool time is not mandatory; children who do not wish to swim may participate in other activities.
- Bathing suits should be worn under clothing (except on field trip days) and sunscreen should be applied at home before arriving to the program.
- There will be no swimming on field trips days as we will be leaving the premises.
- Program staff as well as a certified lifeguard will supervise all activity at the pool and splash pad.
- Parents must indicate their child's swimming ability on the registration form. Those marked as "non-swimmers" will only be permitted to use the wading pool. "Swimmers" will have the option of using either the wading pool or the full-size swimming pool.
- Life jackets and/or flotation devices of any type (even those that are Coast Guard approved) are not permitted in either pool during this program. Children who cannot swim without the aid of a flotation device should be marked as a "non-swimmer" on the registration form.
Food & Beverages
- Lunch, snacks, and drinks must be provided daily by parents. A secure cooler is needed (no paper bags).
- Please send your children to the program each day with enough to drink in order to stay hydrated in the heat. Water fountains will also be available to use at the pool and inside the school.
- There is no snack bar at the park, but children may bring money for the ice cream truck.
- Children may not ask others for money and must be responsible for their own.
- Dietary restrictions and/or allergies must be noted on the registration form. If your child is unable to make appropriate food choices on their own (i.e. at the ice cream truck), please alert staff at the beginning of the program.
Medical
- There is no nurse or other medical personnel on staff at this program.
- All program staff members are Red Cross certified in CPR and First Aid procedures.
- A parent/guardian should be able to be reached during all program hours in the event of an emergency.
- It is important that at least one reliable Emergency Contact be listed on the registration form in case a parent/guardian cannot be reached.
- Children who require use of an Epi-Pen or inhaler must bring these items on the first day of the program. It is preferred that children are able to self-administer the Epi-Pen and/or inhaler; however, all staff members are trained and certified to assist, if needed.
- All other medications, if necessary, must be administered by a parent/guardian. Staff members cannot legally administer or assist in the administration of any medications other than Epi-Pens and inhalers.