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McCormick Day Camp
PARENT MANUAL
SUMMER 2014
Celebrating over 50 years and
going strong!!!!
To: Parent(s)ofcampersinMcCormickDayCamp
From: RobCarmichael,LakeForestParks&Recreation
Date: Saturday,June07,2014
Subject:
PARENTMANUAL
Welcometothe“McCormickExperience”!
YouarenowpartoftheMcCormickCampFamilyaswecelebrateover55yearsof
oneofthemostsuccessfulcampsalongtheNorthShore.Withthepristineglacial
ravinewoodsasourplayground,perhapsthefinestintheU.S.,yourchildwillnot
onlylearnaboutnature,theywillbeimmersedinnatureasweexploreand
participateinsomeofthemostamazinglongstandingtraditionsofanycamp
around.Eachdaywillbringanewsurpriseandweareconfidentthatyourchildwill
haveanincredibleexperienceinthiscamp.Pleasetakeafewminutestoread
throughthemanualwithyourchild.
Acoupleofimportantpoints:
 Bussing:Pleaselookattheenclosedbusroute.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsor
concernspleasecontactRobCarmichaelatcarmichr@cityoflakeforest.com(if
anemergencyoranurgentissue,contacttheRecCenterat847.234.6700,
andtheywillradiome).Pleasebepatientforthefirstfewdaysuntilthe
driverhastheroutedownpat.It’sagoodideatoarriveatleast5minutes
earlytobesafeatyourassignedbusstop.IMPORTANT:PLEASE
COMPLETETHEFORMONTHELASTPAGEOFTHISPACKETANDMAKE
SUREITACCOMPANIESYOURCHILDFORTHEFIRSTDAYOFCAMP.
 Parent/CamperMeeting:MeetingwillbeonWed,June11at7pmatthe
McCormickNaturePreservewhichisimmediatelynorthoftheedgeofthe
FortSheridancomplex.Weareaskingpeopletoparkontheeastside
shoulderofSheridanRoadandPolicehavebeennotifiedandyouwillnotbe
ticketed.Thisisagreatwaytoseethecamp,meetthestaffandgetyour
groupassignments.Trafficthesedaysismuchmorechallengingtopredictso
weappreciateyourflexibility.NOTETHATTHESTARTTIMEANDDATEARE
DIFFERENTFROMBROCHURE.
Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorconcernsduringthecampseasonpleasecontactthe
directors,or,youarewelcometocontactme.Thebestwaytoreachmeisbyemail
at:carmichr@cityoflakeforest.com,or,myofficeat847.810.3663butemailisthe
bestsay.Ifyouneedtoreachusrightaway,thebestthingtodoistocontacttheRec
Officeat234.6700andtheywillcallus.
Takecare,
RobCarmichael,ProgramManager/CuratoroftheWildlifeDiscoveryCenter
CityofLakeForestParks&Recreation
1401MiddleforkDrive
LakeForest,IL60045
PARENT MANUAL
CAMPSTAFF
AllcampactivitiesareundertheadministrationoftheRecreationDepartment’sfull‐
time,CuratoroftheWildlifeDiscoveryCenter,RobCarmichael.On‐sitesupervision
istheresponsibilityoftheDayCampDirectors,ChrisChouinardandTeriAlbus,
twoofthefinestdaycampdirectors…anywhere!AlthoughChrisisrecently
“retired”asafulltimeteacheratLakeForestHighSchool,Chrisstillcoachesand
substitutesatthehighschool.Hehasbeenrunningthiscampforover30years.We
arealsoverypleasedtohaveTeriAlbusjoinusasCo‐Director.Teriisaresidentof
LakeForestwheresheismarriedandhasthreechildren.Aformermanagerof
McCormickDayCampduringheryearsasaProgramSupervisorattheLF
RecreationCenter,Teriknowsthiscampverywell.Sheisalsoacertifiedteacher
makingheraveryimportantadditiontothiscamp.Additionally,wehaveavery
talentedstaffofhighschool,college,andcollegegraduatestoserveascounselors.
CIT’swhoarein8thto10thgradeareonhandtoassistthecounselors.
Wewouldliketowelcomethisyear’sMcCormickDayCampstaff:ChrisChouinard
(Director),TeriAlbus(AssistantDirector),JessicaAndersen,MaxMoore,Jack
Landis,StephanieGoebel,andClaireWilliams.TheWildlifeDiscoveryCenterwill
haveoneofitsstaffonsitetwodayseachweekthissummer!
Whatatalentedgroup!
CONTACTINGTHEDIRECTORORASSISTANTDIRECTOR
There is no public phone at McCormick. If you need to reach one of the directors please
call the Lake Forest Recreation Department at 847.234.6700. Also, there are two camp
cell phones and you will be given those numbers in the first newsletter. Once you receive
those numbers, please call their cell phones first.
BUSTRANSPORTATION
BustransportationwillbeprovidedtoallparticipantsresidingwithintheLake
ForestCitylimits.ParticipantsresidingoutsidetheLakeForestCitylimitsmustbe
transportedbytheirparentstothenearestconvenientbusstopalongourroute,or,
droppedoffatthecampsite.Ifyouregisteredafterthedeadline,youwillneedto
findastopclosesttoyourhomeaswewillnotchangetheroutesoncetheyare
finalized.
Pleasebesuretoteachyourchildthenameornumberofthebustheywillberiding.
Thebusname/numberforyourchildislocatedatthetopoftheBusRoutePage.
Thescheduleofthebusrouteisattached.Ifyoufindanyerrorsintheschedule,or,
ifyouhaveanyquestionsorconcernsregardingthebusroute/scheduleplease
contactRobCarmichaelatcarmichr@cityoflakeforest.comor,ifurgent,contactthe
RecCenterat234.6700andtheywillcallhim.Remember,thebusroutemaynotbe
exactforthefirstfewdays,sohaveyourchildoutfiveortenminutesbefore
yourscheduledtime.Thanksforyourpatience.
WhatifIneedtopickupmychildearlyfromcamp?
YouMUSThaveyourcamperbringanotefromyouthatmustgotooneofour
directors.Ifyouaregoingtopickupyourchildafter1:00pm,youwillneedtopick
yourchildupatLakeForestBeach(W/TH)orLFHSPool(M/T)wheretheywillbe
spendingtheafternoons.Priorto1:00pm,youcanpickupyourchildatthenature
preserve.Youmustparkintheparkinglotandwalktheresttothecampsite.You
WILLNOTbeallowedtodriveonthedirtroadintothecamp.Therearetoomany
campersthatrunaroundandwedon'twanttotakeanychances.After2:40pmyou
willneedtopickupatbackofDPSchoolby3pm.
PROPERATTIRE/CLOTHING/SWIMMING
AMcCormickDayCamp“T”shirtwillbedistributedtoeachcamperonthefirstday
ofcamp.Backpacksareprovidedaspartofyourregistrationfee.Camp“T”
shirtsMUSTBEWORNONTHEFRIDAYFIELDTRIPS!Putyourchild’snameon
his/herbackpack.
Dressyourchildforthewoods!Unlesstheweatherisextremelywarmorhumid
youshoulddressyourchildinlongpants.Noopentoeshoesareallowed(NO
crocs,flipflops,sandals,etc.).Youmaywishtosprayyourchildwithmosquito
repellentbeforetheyleavehomeorsendacaninhisorherbackpack.The
mosquitoscanbenasty.Afterrainthenaturepreservebecomesverymuddy.We
recommendNOTsendingyourchildinnewshoesorclothes.Theywillcomehome
dirty,rainorshine.
OurafternoonsarespentenjoyingthewonderfulLakeForestHighSchoolPoolor
theLakeForestBeachwhichisconsideredoneofthenicestinIllinois.Wewillbeat
LFHSMondaysandTuesdaysandtheBeachonWednesdaysandThursdays.Lake
ForestBeachishighlysupervisedandwewillbeschedulingadditionallifeguards
andstafftoensurea100%safeexperience.We’lldoavarietyofbeachactivitiesso
ifyourchilddoesnotwanttoswim,or,ifyoupreferthemnottoswim,we’llhave
many“dryland”activitiestakingplace.Wewillcloselymonitortheheat,sunand
otherfactorsandthereareplentyofshadyareastorest.Onthefirstdayofcamp,
allchildrenwillgothroughaswimmingproficiencytestledbythecertifiedlife
guards.Thiswilldeterminewhatareasofthepoolandbeachtheywillbeallowedto
go.Pleasesendatowelandbathingsuitinyourchild’sbackpackMondaythrough
Thursdays.Wedonotprovideswimlessons,however,forthosechildrenwhoare
tooyoungorunabletoswim,wewillkeepthemattheshallowareas,additionally,
wewillprovidespecialflotationdevicessotheycanenjoythebeachandLFHSpool
safely.Wewillhaveasmall,“kiddie”areaatthebeachthatwillbehighlysupervised
anddesignatedforyoungercampers.
CLEARLYMARKyourchild’snameinsideallofhisorherclothes,toweland
backpack.
Last,childrenshouldshowerwhentheyarrivehomebecausetheyoccasionally
comeincontactwiththepoisonivyatthecamp.Althoughweaggressivelytreatthis
plantwithherbicides,and,havenothadanycasesinthepastfewseasons,itisstilla
goodideatodoaquick“lookover”(includingforticks)whenyouchildcomeshome.
LUNCHES
Childrenshouldbringasacklunchanddrinktocampeachday.Ifyourchildwillbe
drinking“BugJuice”(powderedmixdrink)atcamp,theyneedtobringacupeach
day.Please,nopaper‐wearetryingtocutdownourwasteatcamp.Putyour
child’snameonthecupsowecangetthemtotheirowners.Theonlycooling
systemwehaveisMotherNaturesoyoumaywishtoavoiduseofmayonnaiseor
meatsonveryhotdays.The“great‐out‐of‐doors”isveryappetitestimulatingsobe
suretoprovideanamplesupplyoffood(ziplockbagsof“trailmix”consistingof
cereal,raisins,granola,etc.workgreatforaquick,energybuildingsnack).Please
don’tsendnutsorpeanutbutterastheRecDept.istryingtobenutfreeincaseof
allergies.
RAINYDAYPROCEDURES&“Whathappensifwegethitwithasuddenstorm…
OnrainydayschildrenwillbetakenbythebustotheRecreationCenter.Wedo
havebussesonsiteatalltimessoifwegethitwithasuddenandunexpectedstorm;
wewillgetrightonthebusandgototheRecreationCenter.WehaveaYurtand
smallhouseonsiteshouldweneedtoseekshelterimmediatelyoncecamphas
started.Ourstaffhavepagersandassoonasthereisasevereweatheralert,theyare
pagedbyourRecCenterOfficeStaff.Wehaveagreatsysteminplacetoensurethe
safetyofEVERYcamperandparticipant.YoucanalwayscalltheHotlineat
847.234.6701(ext.1958).
DISCIPLINE
ToinsureanenjoyableandsafeprogramtheRecreationDepartmenthasdeveloped
aCodeofBehaviorwhichprogressesfromaverbalreprimandtopossibleremoval
ofthechildfromtheprogram.Wefeeltheseguidelinesarefairandappropriatefor
theprogram.
CODEOFBEHAVIOR
1.
Firstoffense,thechildisgivenaverbalreprimand.
2.
Secondreprimandinonedaythechildisrequestedtositoutthecurrent
activity.
3.
Thirdwarning,theparentsofthechildwillbecalledandtheproblem
explainedto
them.WrittenreporttobefiledwiththeExecutiveDirectorofRecreation.
4.
Fourthoffense,theparentswillberequestedtoremovethechildfromthe
program.WrittenreporttobefiledwiththeExecutiveDirectorof
Recreation.
CAMPACTIVITIES
McCormickhassomethingforeveryone!Eachcamperwillparticipateincrafts,
hiking,drama,archery,naturestudy,gamesandmore.
A“FamilyNight”forthewholecampwillbescheduled.Anoptional“Overnight
Campout”forsecondandthirdgradersisplannedaswellasanicecreamsocialfor
allK‐1stgraders.Pleasecheckyourcalendarsforscheduleddates(calendars
availableduringthefirstweekofcamp).
HereisascheduleofatypicaldayatMcCormickDayCamp:
9:00‐9:30
Pow‐Wow
Attendance
Check‐InActivity
Announcements
GroupSong
Pledge
Reviewofthedailyrotation
9:35‐10:10 ActivityRotation1
10:15‐10:50 ActivityRotation2
10:55‐11:30 ActivityRotation3
(Archery/Jewelry&Woodworking)
(Arts&Crafts/Drama&Songs)
(Games/SportsandNatureCampCrafts)
11:30‐11:45 Clean‐upandmeetwithhomecounselor
11:45‐12:15 Lunch
12:15‐1:00 Camp‐wideActivity
1:00‐1:15
Pow‐wow
1:15‐2:45
Swimming
2:45‐3:00
Getonthebusandheadforhome
WILDLIFEEDUCATIONATMcCORMICK!
TheWildlifeDiscoveryCenterStaffwillbevisitingonTuesdaysandWednesdaysat
McCormicktointegratewildlifeconservationeducationintoournaturecamp.Of
coursethismeansthatyourchildwillseelotsofsupercoolanimals!
NEWSLETTER
AweeklynewsletterwillbeputtogetherbytheMcCormickStaff.Thenewsletter
willhighlighttheweek’sactivitiesaswellasupcomingactivities.Thisnewsletter
willbesenthomeonFridays.Ifyoudon’tattendthefieldtripthenewsletterwillbe
availableonlineandthenextdayyouattendcamp.Pleasemakesureyouread
yourcolanders/newsletters!
FIELDTRIPS
EachFridaythechildrenwilltakeafieldtriptoaChicagolandareaattraction.Thus,
thechildrenwillhavesix(6)fieldtrips.Makesureyouwearyourcamp“T”shirton
fieldtripdays.
PLEASENOTE:Becauseextensivesupervisionisneededtoobserveandprovide
safetyforthechildrenandwehavelimitedbuscapacity,visitingfriendsand
relativesareNOTpermittedtoattendfieldtripswithyourcamper.Instead,we
recommendthatonlyyourcamperattendthefieldtriporthatyourcamperremain
athometoplaywiththevisitingguests.
Anyparentwhodoesnotwanttheirchildtoattendafieldtripmustnotifythe
RecreationDepartmentorCampDirectorinwritingatleast2hoursbeforethe
event.Thereisnoregularcamponfieldtripdays.Thankyouforyoucooperation.
Listedbelowarethedates,locationandspecialinformationtohelpyouprepare
yourchildforthefieldtripouting.Ifyouwishyourchildtopurchaseany
refreshmentsattheattractions,pleasesendtheirmoney(nomorethan$6.00
please)inasealedenvelopewithyourchild’sfullnameprintedonthefront.
Remember,childrenMUSTweartheircamp“T”shirtonallfieldtripsandbring
theircampbackpack.Bringasacklunchtoeachevent.
PLEASENOTE:If,duetoinclementweatherconditions,wecannotattendan
outdoorfieldtrip,wewillvisittheMilwaukeeDiscoveryMuseum.Thedecisionto
changethefieldtripdestinationwillbemadeFridaymorningby8:00am.Callthe
campvoicemailat615‐4342forarecordedmessageortheRecCenterat234‐6702.
List of Field Trips
What to pack in your child’s backpack for field trip days (Always wear your camp T-shirt!):
- Sack lunch
- Sunscreen
- Clothes suitable for indoor and outdoor activities
- Hat
- Water bottle
Aquatic Parks additions: swim trunks, towel
Week 1, June 20 – Green Meadow Farms
Week 3, July 4 – NO CAMP
Week 2 June 27 – Lincoln Park Zoo
Week 4, July 11 – Mystic Waters, Des Plaines Park
Week 5, July 18 – Action Territory, Kenosha Week 6, July 25 – Wheeling Aquatic Ctr
1stDayofCampIDTag:Pleasefillin
andsendwithyourcamper(s)ontheir
1stDay.
Name:____________________________________
Bus#:_______________
Camp:____________________________________
Name:____________________________________
Bus#:_______________
Camp:____________________________________