Details and Policies for Summer Camp

The drop-off window is from 8:30-9:15. (Drop-off until 10:00 is acceptable for campers not participating in literacy, but they’ll need to enter quietly and promptly transition to a ‘quiet time’ activity.)
The pick-up window is from 3:30-5:00.
A staff member or a tween/teen assistant will sign kids in and out.

Each camper will be assigned a numbered cubby to put their belongings. We'll help children find their cubbies on their first day.
We have an indoor no-shoe policy at Activate for kids. Their shoes will go in their cubbies. Some kids wear socks, and some go barefoot. Parents don't need to remove their own shoes.

Campers get one camp shirt per summer.
We prefer that campers wear their Activate shirts as swim shirts on swim days, which are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, because it helps us keep track of campers in the crowded pool and offers some sun protection. We’re not overly strict with this policy because we understand that sometimes shirts are in the laundry, and some kids resist wearing them. If kids don’t wear their Activate shirt swimming, they should wear a different swim top that covers their torso and shoulders for sun protection.
They don’t need to wear their camp shirts on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Additional Activate shirts are available for purchase at this site: https://activate.gearupsports.net. If you have a sun-sensitive child, consider buying a long-sleeve shirt.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (pool days), campers should arrive at camp wearing their swim clothes and Activate shirts, if available.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, campers should wear play clothes that can get wet or dirty or swim clothes because every park we visit has a water play option.

We recommend Crocs or similar shoes because kids can wear them as their regular shoes and wear them around sand and water by just pulling off their socks (if they're wearing them). Another reason that Crocs are ideal is that they’re closed-toe and stay on easily, unlike slides and flip-flops.
Campers who play in Johnson Creek on Tuesdays must wear footwear for safety reasons.

Lunch and Snacks
Water Bottle
Change of Clothes in a Plastic Bag
Sunscreen (recommended)
Towel (recommended daily but only necessary on swim days)
Goggles (recommended on swim days)
Large Backpack or Tote Bag to Carry all Belongings (lots of small bags are challenging to manage)

Portland Parks and Recreation now requires all children entering the deep end to pass the swim test during every swim session. Fortunately, their test is the same one that we’ve always used. It involves swimming 25 meters without touching the bottom of the pool. Parks and Recreation distributes bracelets for those who pass.
Children under 48 inches will stay within arm’s length of an adult.
There will always be at least a 1:10 staff-to-camper ratio in the pool.

Johnson Creek Park has two creeks: Johnson Creek and Crystal Springs. We allow children to wade in either creek under supervision, and we use stretches of the creek without drop-offs, deep water, or swift currents.
For safety reasons, kids must wear water shoes, preferably closed-toe, quick-drying shoes like Crocs. Flip-flops and slides are not recommended because they are open-toe and can come off easily. On a few occasions, they have gotten lost in the current. Children can also wear old sneakers in the water.
Children are allowed to go as deep as their knees.
Children are required to wash their hands when they return.
Children are given the option to have their legs and feet hosed down upon returning.

Children are allowed up to their waists, and we use a small stretch of the beach with clear boundaries and no drop-offs.
An adult is always in the water with the campers.

*Technically, we don’t go to Sellwood Riverfront Park; we park at the southern end of Oaks Park and go to that beach area.

We advise parents to apply sunscreen to their children before camp.
If a child brings sunscreen, we will ensure they reapply it after lunch.
Campers must wear tops that cover their torso and shoulders in and out of water.
We recommend hats for sun-sensitive kids.

Campers will take home all of their art projects on Fridays.
Campers will take home a thumb drive with digital projects on their final day of camp.

We have a private password-protected blog for Activate families. The blog features photos of campers and students and reflections on teaching, art, special events, word studies, and other thoughts.
We post on the blog at the end of the camp week.
For privacy reasons, we don’t post photos of children’s faces on social media or in non-password-protected portions of our website.
If you're part of the Activate community and would like the password, send an email to greg@activateschoolpdx.com.

If your child requires medication during camp or has an inhaler or EpiPen, please fill out the Medication Administration Form, and let us know. Remember, medication must be kept in its original packaging.

If a child's behavior is unsafe, extremely disruptive, or defiant, they will be sent home and may not return to camp for the remainder of the summer. A prorated refund will be given.
If a child teases or name calls, an incident report will be written, and staff will contact the child's parent/guardian. If it happens a second time, we will document it again and contact the child's parent/guardian. If it happens a third time, they will be sent home and may not return to camp for the remainder of the summer. A prorated refund will be given.

If you need to contact us during camp hours, you can text or call us at 503-389-0153. Texts are preferred. If you text us, please identify yourself.
If you need to contact us outside of camp hours, email is preferred: greg@activateschool.pdx.com.