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Summer Program Family Handbook 2022
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February 1, 2023

Dear Passport Families,

Greetings from Passport at CMS!  As the start of summer rapidly approaches, we are gearing up for an amazing summer full of smiles, fun, learning and excitement.  In order to better prepare you for camp, and to maintain the highest level of safety and security for your camper(s), it is vital that you read this handbook in its entirety and that you call the Passport office if you have any questions.

This summer, camp will be in operation for the following weeks and corresponding dates:

        

Week 1          June 27 - July 1

Week 2           July 4 - 8 (Closed July 4th)

Week 3        July 11 - 15

Week 4           July 18 - 22

Week 5           July 25 - 30

Week 6           August 2 - 6

Week 7           August 9 - 13

Week 8        August 16 - 20

Camp Hours are 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

We have a wonderful program and a fabulous staff all ready to begin!  We look forward to having your camper(s) join us soon.  Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Passport Program office at passport@cambridgemontessori.org.

Sincerely,

Allison M. Lynch

Director of Passport Auxiliary Programs

Passport Mission

Passport at Cambridge Montessori School offers a vibrant summer day camp that serves children ages toddlers through 11 years.  The excitement of summer camp happens in and around our school buildings in diverse Cambridge, MA.  Our camp has been offering memorable summers for campers from all over the globe since 2005.  

Passport embraces the mission of Cambridge Montessori School: CMS encourages independent, self-directed learning for life in a child-centered, international community valuing peace, respect for others and pride in individual difference.

The Passport Program employs the following core values

Peace   -   Respect   -   Creativity   -   Exploration   -   Collaboration

Independence   -   Environmental Consciousness   -   Global Stewardship

Goals of the Program

The goals and objectives of the camp are far reaching, and involve not only the children, but our families and staff as well.  As a staff member, we ask for your commitment and enthusiasm.  All campers, regardless of age or ability, will be exposed to all of the aforementioned activities. Each camper has the right to be taught at his/her learning level in a way that is supportive and informative whilst still encouraging growth and curiosity.  Furthermore, we encourage and support all staff in setting and achieving their own personal and professional goals.  Highlighted below are some of our goals:

Within our program the goals we set have outcomes that vary for each child.  Many children will progress through various activities that are appropriate for their age and learning style. All of our campers are encouraged to try new things and explore activities new to them, so that they may have a full camp experience.  The best part about camp is that children can come to our program, experience a day full of activity and feel good about the choices they make throughout their day!

Programs and Activities

At Passport Summer Camp, your child will engage in a variety of fun and enriching activities.  Campers will spend lots of time outdoors and take advantage of beautiful Danehy Park, have special visitors and work with specialists in areas including: athletics, visual arts, nature exploration, music and movement, recreational water sports, games and more!                

A detailed description of level specific program daily schedules is available on our website and will be included in your welcome package upon completion of your child's registration.

Camp Staff

The Passport Summer Camp staff is extremely dedicated.  Our team is an all inclusive community of experienced educators and students who are committed to the Passport Program Core Values.  Our highly qualified staff members are carefully selected and receive extensive pre-camp and ongoing training, in order to be outstanding camp role models.  Prior to the start of camp, all members of the Passport Team will receive over 50 hours of training specifically but not limited to CPR, First-Aid, Covid-19 protocols and procedures, and crisis management drills. All camp staff are vaccinated and up to date on their booster shots.

Safety

Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our campers.  We have developed safety procedures that you can trust to ensure your child’s physical and emotional well-being.  Our staff are fully trained in these procedures through rehearsals and simulations, and are prepared to supervise children in the classroom, at the park, and across our campus.

In case of camp, local or national emergency you will receive an automated call from camp with instructions and information. We will also notify families of pick up changes and other camp related changes through our automated alert system – Passport Day Camp at Cambridge Montessori.

Parents and guardians are welcome to call the Camp Director with any questions or concerns regarding safety policies and procedures.

Registration Policies

General

Please visit our website for more information and for easy on-line registration at www.cambridgemontessori.org/summer.  Registration is processed on a first come, first served basis.  We encourage you to register as soon as possible.  Registration will be complete once all required information is provided.

A $100 deposit per week  must be made at the time of your online registration.  Once your registration has been processed, you will receive confirmation via email.

Deposits are not refundable or transferable.  They will be applied to your balance once your registration is complete.  

If you choose to pay in installments, a payment of 50% of the balance is due on April 1st. Full payment is due by June 1st.  Any applicant whose balance is unpaid by this date will not be guaranteed a place in camp.

Cambridge Montessori School may provide financial aid to current students.  Award packages will be based on the upcoming academic year.  

Refunds

All deposits are non-refundable. No additional refunds will be available after June 1st.  Changes in camper schedules may be accommodated if space is available.

Refund Policy – COVID-19 

Should the pandemic force our program to suspend operations for any length of time throughout the summer, refunds will be processed in full. We would automatically refund deposits/registration fees paid (if applicable) to the credit card used. You would NOT need to email a request to the office. Please allow up to 15 business days for us to process your refund and send you a confirmation via email.  After the process date, your account may take up to 7 business days to reflect the refund.

For individual absences due to Covid or otherwise, refunds will not be applied. Please contact us with any questions.

Wait List

Once camp groups have reached their maximum enrollment, your child will be placed on a wait list.  There is no cost to remain on the waitlist.  You will be notified of any openings as soon as they become available.

Changes

We make every effort to accommodate changes to your child’s enrollment.  Please contact the Passport Office with your specific needs.  All requests for changes should be sent to the camp email at passport@cambridgemontessori.org.  All changes are dependent upon availability.

Conditions

Passport Summer Programs strive to offer a group experience and opportunities for learning within the bounds of safety.  We reserve the right to dismiss any camper without refund whose behavior interferes with the rights of others, the smooth functioning of the group, or violates the camp’s philosophy.    

Special Needs

It is our goal for every camper to thrive at Passport Summer Camp.  However, some prospective campers' physical or emotional needs may require extra help.  Please contact the Passport office to discuss any special needs and to find out if Passport Summer Programs are the right fit for your camper.

Licensing and Accreditation

Passport is licensed through the City of Cambridge Department of Public Health, as well as accredited by the American Camp Association.

Communication

Please contact the Passport Office at 617.308.0388/617.308.9458 or email us at passport@cambridgemontessori.org with any questions or concerns.  We are happy to speak with you regarding your child and/or our program.  

        

Addresses:                  Toddler/Primary                             Explorers, Scouts and Navigators

                        161 Garden Street

                        Cambridge, MA 02138

                        Cell: 617.308.9458

                        Elementary                                 Voyagers and Pioneers

                        129 Sherman Street

                        Cambridge, MA 02140

                        Cell: 617.233.1302

                         Middle School

                         96 Sherman Street

                         Cambridge, MA 02140

                                

Telephone:                  617.308.0388/617.308.9458 (T/P Camp Office)

Fax:                           617.576.5154

Website: https://www.cambridgemontessori.org/extended-programs/passport-camp-programs

Summer Office hours:         8:00am-4:30pm

Field trips & Pool

Due to COVID, and in order to minimize risk, we will not offer field trips to outside vendors. Instead, we will visit McCrehan pool in North Cambridge, and travel to other outdoor destinations. Additionally, we will look for creative ways to bring the world to our campers through onsite special events and guests.

Indoor/Outdoor Activities

Health officials recommend maximizing the use of outdoor space for students. Passport at Cambridge Montessori School has the unique privilege of being located on the edge of Danehy Park. It is a beautiful 50-acre sprawl of greenery that has been the expansive playground and backyard for CMS for almost three decades. All three of our buildings are within a stone's throw of the “emerald necklace” in the City of Cambridge. It is large enough for each group of campers to have scheduled recess, activities and classes while social distancing. We also own the parking lot adjacent to the Elementary Building. We have transformed many of our open spaces on campus to accommodate the distancing recommendations set forth by the state and local regulations.

Camper Composition

Separation and transitions are challenging for many, especially students in the Explorer, Scouts and Navigator programs. However, we have an incredibly talented and experienced faculty and children adjust quickly. Once campers have arrived, they will become very familiar with their classmates and classrooms. In order to make sure that safety protocols are being maintained, we kindly request that parents and guardians not linger once students have been dropped off or picked up. That way, we can ensure that drop off and pick up times are safe and physically distanced for everyone. Communication will need to take place mostly via email and phone, to make sure that the arrival and dismissal flow is steady.

An important strategy we are implementing for student safety at all levels is the formation of cohorts, or “pods.” According to the CDC, the cohort/pod approach helps mitigate the spread of the virus. Ideally, students and staff within a cohort would only have physical proximity with others in the same cohort. This practice may help prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID 19, by limiting cross-over of students, teachers, and staff to the

extent possible, thus:

● decreasing opportunities for exposure to or transmission of SARS-CoV-2,

● facilitating more efficient contact tracing in the event of a positive case, and

● allowing for targeted testing, quarantine, and isolation of a single cohort instead of school-wide measures in the event of a positive case or cluster of cases. (CDC)

Each program level will be considered its own pod. Different pods will not have

proximity to one another.

Camper Schedules and Transitions

Staff will offer a class schedule for their cohort. Campers will establish daily routines upon arrival that will help them acclimate, like putting their belongings in a designated space, washing their hands frequently, entering their designated classroom independently, and beginning their camp day. This is an opportunity to help children understand how they will spend their time while at camp safely. They will engage in a variety of activities including: specials (music, art, sports and games, and water play) that will occur outside (weather permitting). Each cohort will spend a significant amount of time outdoors, but in different locations, separate from other cohorts. These transitions will occur daily and often.

To summarize, the following steps that have been taken to ensure the overall health and safety of the community:

● Continuous deep cleaning and sanitization every building throughout the

summer (increased services with our outside cleaning company)

● Adhere to social distancing guidelines set forth by local and state regulations.

● The Passport Program at CMS will require masks for children ages 3 and up, in addition to all staff (fully vaccinated) and administrators, to wear masks while indoors. Masks are not required outdoors, but we will support your families preferences regarding masks outdoors for your child.

● Restricted access to buildings - only open to administrators, staff and campers. No parents or

visitors inside.

● Any staff or child exhibiting 2 or more COVID symptoms will be asked

to get tested and stay at home until test results are confirmed and symptoms

are gone. Staff/Students will be asked to contact the Passport Camp Office prior to

returning to school to determine if any additional steps are needed.

Absence

Please contact the Passport Office at 617.308.3088/617.308.9458 or via email at passport@cambridgemontessori.org f your child will be absent.  If your camper is not present and we have not received a phone call or note to the camp office regarding his or her absence, we will contact you by 10:00AM.

Arrival and Pick-Up

Each day campers must be dropped off and picked up at their assigned program building. We will offer older siblings (Voyagers or Pioneers) to be dropped off and picked up at the T/P building on Garden Street. Counselors will walk with the group across campus, leaving promptly at 9:15 and returning by 4:00pm. This arrangement requires communication with the Passport Office prior to the start of camp.

Camp drop off begins at 9:00am, the camp program begins at 9:15. Pick up begins at 4:00 and all campers need to be picked up by 4:10 or they will be charged accordingly.

The safety of our campers is our number one priority at Passport.  We will ask for identification from all persons picking up a camper until we recognize you.

Parking

St. Peter’s Field parking lot adjacent to the building at 161 Garden Street is available when dropping off and picking up children.  Please note the 15 minute “live parking” restriction.  It is important not to illegally occupy the handicapped spot or you will be towed.

Most on-street parking is for Cambridge residents only.  Additional non-resident parking on Sherman Street between the sidewalk entrances to the adjacent park is available, as well as parking at the Sherman St. entrance to St. Peter’s Field.  Parking during the day for non-residents is also available off Sherman Street on Cadbury Road.  

Please do not park in front or in our neighbor’s driveways.  This upsets our neighbors and can block their exits in an emergency.

Late Arrival

Camp begins for the day at 9:00 am; all campers should be at camp by 9:15 am.  We request that you please arrive promptly.  Children who arrive late should call the front desk and will be walked to their camp group by an administrator or staff member.  This is to avoid disruption of the groups due to late arrivals.  

Late Pick-Up

Please respect our daily pick-up times.  Full-day pick up is at 4:00pm.  Campers should be picked up promptly at the end of their sessions.  Those who are not will be billed $25 per day for that time.  

Early Pick-Up

If your child needs to be picked up early from camp, please send an email providing the  following information:

Pick Up By Someone Other Than a Parent/Guardian

If someone other than a parent/guardian will be picking up your child, they must be listed on the approved pick-up list.  Please notify the Camp Director in advance if someone not listed on your child’s forms will be picking up.  Until we recognize you, all adults picking up a camper must show a form of identification.  This includes the camper’s parent/guardian to ensure the safety of your child.

Clothing and Personal Belongings

Suggested Clothing

Please be sure that your child is dressed appropriately for outdoor play (water activities) and potentially messy activities.  Children should dress in light, comfortable, weather appropriate clothing and secure footwear, please no flip-flops.  All clothing should be clearly labeled with the child’s name. We ask that all campers keep a spare set of clothing at camp.  

Children’s belongings will be stored in assigned individual cubbies while at camp.  While we will do our best to help your child to be responsible for his/her belongings, we urge that you do not send your child to camp with their best or favorite clothing.  Sometimes belongings are misplaced, and we recommend that you notify your child’s counselors if he/she is missing any items.  Passport Summer Programs assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to campers’ personal property.

Toys

Parents are asked not to send toys from home. The presence of toys is often a distraction and can lead to hurt feelings.  Counselors will reinforce the explanation that some things are for camp and some things are for home.

Rest or Sleep Periods

The MA Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) regulations stipulate that Toddler and Primary Age children attending less than four hours per day shall have a mid-session quiet activity, appropriate to the needs of the individual child.  A child attending longer than four hours per day shall have a rest, quiet activity time, or nap.

Children are allowed the amount of sleep, rest, or quiet time they individually need, beyond the required minimum.  Four and five year-olds generally rest in their camp rooms for about 30 minutes following lunch; napping children rest in their darkened, quiet room for at least an hour.  Soothing music helps children to relax.  Each child is provided with a rest mat.  Parents are asked to send a fitted crib sheet, blanket, small pillow and (if desired) a stuffed animal for nap time.  All nap items should be clearly labeled with each child’s name.  Nap items are sent home for laundering on a weekly basis.

Lunch and Snack

At this time, in accordance with health and safety precautions, we are not providing lunch or group snacks for campers. Consumable items should be packed in non-breakable containers and clearly labeled with the camper’s name. One way to help your child moderate their food, is to identify all snack items from lunch. They will have time for a morning snack and an afternoon snack, so please pack accordingly. Passport is not responsible for heating foods at lunch. All foods brought to camp must comply with the camp’s allergy policies and the camp group’s needs.

Allergies and Special Diets

Cambridge Montessori is a peanut- and nut- restricted environment.  To ensure the safety of numerous children and staff with life-threatening peanut and nut allergies, we ask your cooperation in keeping these allergens away from our campus.  While we recognize the difficulties involved in monitoring and maintaining a peanut- and nut-restricted environment, we are committed to the physical and emotional safety of our community.  Please read this policy carefully.  If you have questions about our expectations or your participation, please contact the Camp Director.

Allergy Policy 

No food containing nuts or peanuts, or traces of nuts or peanuts, are allowed on camp property or in any camp buildings.  No food containing nuts or peanuts or processed on equipment that also processes nuts or peanuts is served at CMS.  For clarification, this means:

In addition, children and staff may also have allergies to other foods and substances.  Staff will communicate group needs to all group parents at the beginning of each session; please refrain from sending these foods in for group use, as well.

Outdoor Play

Passport Summer Camp has access to Danehy Park. It offers 60 acres of space including playgrounds, fields, and walking paths providing a wonderful and varied outdoor environment for play and exploration.  Campers will go outside every day, weather permitting.

For purposes of safety:

Behavior and Discipline

Passport is committed to helping the child to develop self-discipline and appropriate behaviors in a variety of situations.  Passport’s discipline and guidance are consistent with and based upon an understanding of the individual needs of the child and child development principles.  The purpose of our disciplinary approach is to maximize the growth and development of each child and to ensure the safety of individuals.  Using the Montessori framework of “freedom within limits” children are guided toward pro-social behaviors that respect the rights and freedoms of others.  At our camp, age appropriate language and approaches are used, helping campers learn how to listen to one another and work toward win-win compromises as they resolve conflicts.  As children grow older and develop self-control, they are increasingly expected to take responsibility for their actions and to serve as role models and leaders at camp.

With all age groups we avoid using the time out concept, but rather redirect students’ behaviors.  Whenever necessary, children are encouraged to seek out a quiet area when they need a place to calm down or refocus their energy. In some extreme cases, parents may be asked to take their child home for the day.

Health Care

Health History and Physical Forms

Enrolled campers are required to complete the Health History. These questions are found in our online registration system.  Parents must supply the camp with a record of immunizations, a statement from a physician that the child is in good health, and a record of a recent physical from the past 12 months.

Medication

Medications that are required during your child’s camp day can be administered with written parent/guardian consent.  Consent must be provided to the camp.  Written authorization must include:

Health Policies and Information

It is the goal of Passport to promote optimal health and safety of staff, children, and families.  

For the overall health of the campers and staff at Passport, it is mandatory that campers remain home when ill.  Parents are asked to call the camp by 9:00am if a child will be absent. Exclusion (staying home/sending home) is indicated if:

Temporary exclusion is necessary for any of the following:

Covid-19 Policies and Information

Please refer to the Cambridge Montessori School COVID-19 information website.

Policies for procedures of positive cases are TBD

Returning to camp:

Children will be welcomed back 24 hours after they no longer have any of the symptoms listed above in our health policies.

Should your child become ill during the camp day, parents/guardians will be notified by phone immediately and require the camper to be picked up within 2 hours from contact.  

If a child is injured while at camp and does not require emergency care, the parent/guardian will be notified by phone letting them know of the injury and assess the situation over the phone.  Should emergency care due to an injury be necessary, 911 will be called and the camp director or designated administrator will go with the camper to the hospital and the parent/guardian will meet at the predetermined hospital.

Sun Protection and Hydration

At Passport, we understand the importance of keeping your child safe in the sun.  We ask that you please send your child to camp each day with the following:

Our staff will do the following to contribute to your child’s safety in the sun: