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General Information

Location

All camps are located on our beautifully wooded Penn State Abington campus. The campus address is 1600 Woodland Road, Abington, PA 19001.

Camp Staff

Staff instructors are a mix of University faculty members and University approved local school teachers. Our team of counselors/camp assistants consists of current Penn State students. Counseling staff must be 18 years or older.

Instructor/counselor to camper ratio - Average 1:8

Average camp size is between 12 to 24 students. Each camp has one teaching-certified instructor and 1 to 3 counselors. The number of counselors assigned to each camp will depend on the enrollment and needs for each camp.

All instructors and counselors receive training and information about their responsibilities and expectations; campus policies, procedures, and enforcement; appropriate crisis/emergency responses and reporting procedures; safety and security procedures; and confidentiality issues involving minors. Per University Policy HR96, all camp instructors and counselors are required to pass reference and background checks, including a Criminal Background Check and Child Abuse Check.

Supervision

Counselors and staff members supervise campers throughout their entire day on campus.

All campers and students on campus who are under the age of 18 are considered minors. University Policy AD39 outlines appropriate supervision of minors involved in University-sponsored programs.

During the day, campers are escorted and supervised to and from all destinations. Counselors and adult camp staff are responsible for the supervision of campers during the entire lunch hour. Campers are not permitted to leave their camp area and/or classroom buildings without supervision by instructors and/or counselors. Additionally, campers are not allowed to leave the campus for any reason without written permission from their parents/guardians.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off

All camps begin at 9:00 a.m. Drop-off and pick-up takes place in the Athletic parking lot. Campers may be dropped off no more than 15 minutes prior to the start of camp. Parents must pick up their child within 15 minutes of the end of camp.

Parents/guardians of minors are required to “sign-in” each camper at the start of each day and “sign-out” their children at the end of each camp day. Parents/guardians must list on the program registration form all individuals authorized to pick up camper from the program. Minors will not be released to anyone not designated by parent/guardian.

**Early Pick Up

Parents/guardians who need to pick up students before the designated end time of camp must provide a signed note stating the time of pick up and who will be picking up the student. During early pick up, a parent/guardian will be required to sign out and pick up the student directly from their camp classroom.

**Late Drop Off

Campers arriving late to camp should report directly to the camp classroom and sign their students in with the counselor. Parents arriving late should notify the camp office at 215-881-7400 to find out the location of the classroom.

Illness

Please call 215-881-7400 if your child is not able to attend class due to illness or any other circumstance.

Contacting Your Child During Camp

If you need to contact your child for any reason during the camp day, please contact the Continuing Education/Camp office at 215-881-7400.

Summer Camp Safety/First Aid/Emergencies

Protecting our campers is our number one priority on campus. That means being ready for the unexpected. We are continually reassessing our safety practices to ensure an enjoyable experience by all.

All classrooms are equipped with basic first aid kits and the camp staff is trained in basic first aid procedures. During any issue involving injury, parents/guardians will be notified immediately. Penn State Abington does not have a nurse on campus during the summer, however all campus security officers as well as numerous campus officials are first aid/CPR/AED trained and certified. Our campus is located less than a mile from Abington Memorial Hospital.

In the event of an illness or injury that would require more extensive evaluation, every reasonable attempt will be made to contact the parent/guardian.

Please note that The Pennsylvania State University does not provide medical insurance to cover emergency care or medical treatment of your child.

Medications

Penn State Abington program officials are not permitted to administer any topical or oral substances to students, including topical antibiotic creams, sunscreens and insect repellents.

Penn State Abington program officials will not dispense over-the-counter or prescription medications to participants. Students will be allowed to possess and take medications on their own per the following conditions:

• Parents/Guardians must provide written permission and instructions for any medications taken during the program by any student under the age of 18.
• The student’s family must provide the medicine in its original pharmacy container labeled with the student’s name, medicine name, dosage and timing of consumption. Over-the-counter medications must be provided in their manufacturers’ container.
• Students must keep the medicine in their possession during the program.
• Students must self-administer medications per instructions.
• Parents/Guardians are expected to make arrangements for the administration of any medicine that the participant cannot self-administer.
• Personal “epi” pens and inhalers must be carried by the student during all camp activities.
• Parents/Guardians of students with severe allergies are required to complete an Emergency Health Care Plan. A copy of this plan will remain with the student’s counselor and instructor at all times.

Special Accommodations and Special Needs

Penn State encourages qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. Information involving special accommodations must be received by our office in writing at least one month prior to the start of the program for which you are registering your child. This information will be kept confidential and revealed only to the necessary staff and health professionals. Parents are encouraged to share any special issues that the program director and instructors should be aware of (diet restrictions, learning challenges, behavioral challenges, etc.).

Behavior Expectations

Students are expected to be respectful and courteous to one another and all staff members, participate fully in the camp program, observe the camp rules, and respect the campus facilities. Program participants and staff are expected to abide by all University regulations and may be removed from the program for non-compliance of rules. Students must allow abide by the following program rules:

• The possession or use of alcohol and other drugs, fireworks, guns and other weapons is prohibited.
• The operation of a motor vehicle by minors is prohibited while attending and participating in the program.
• Rules and procedures governing when and under what circumstances participants may leave University property during the program.
• No violence, including sexual abuse or harassment, will be tolerated.
• Hazing of any kind is prohibited. Bullying including verbal, physical, and cyber bullying are prohibited.
• No theft or use of tobacco products (smoking is prohibited in all University buildings) will be tolerated.
• Misuse or damage of University property is prohibited. Charges will be assessed against those participants who are responsible for damage or misusing University property.
• The inappropriate use of cameras, imaging, and digital devices is prohibited including use of such devices in showers, restrooms, or other areas where privacy is expected by participants.

Behavioral problems will be handled as follows:

• First Incident - Warning and discussion with student
• Second Incident - Discussion with parent/guardian
• Third Incident - Student will be withdrawn from the program and the parent/guardian will be contacted to pick up the child immediately. No refund will be given.

Lunch

Students have the option of bringing a brown bag lunch or purchasing a lunch in our cafeteria. The campus cafeteria offers a wide selection of menu items, including many healthy options for students. One to two weeks prior to the start of the camp, a “Camp Specials” menu will be e-mailed to parents/guardians.

Instructors and counselors are on hand during the lunch hour to assist and supervise.

Snacks are not provided during the morning or afternoon segments of camp. If needed, students are welcome to bring their own snacks.

Students should bring water bottles each day.

Camp photographs, videotapes and/or audiotapes

Camp photos, videos and audios taken during camp programs may be posted on Penn State Abington Kids Camps Facebook page and/or used for advertising purposes. Signed releases are required for any minors to participate in photo, video or audio taping. See our items posted on Facebook.

All data gathered in releases and registration forms shall remain confidential.

Enrollment

Enrollment is limited in all of our camps to ensure a quality learning experience for everyone involved. We encourage you to register early.

Camp Cancellation

The University reserves the right to cancel or postpone any camp due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen circumstances. If a camp is cancelled, registrants will be notified immediately and registration fee refunds will be processed.

Contact Deanna Bosley, 215-881-7339.