Camp Information, Policies & Procedures

General Statement

We believe in the restorative value and educational benefit of learning both indoors and out surrounded by nature. We have developed these policies and procedures to ensure the health and safety of all program participants and staff. We appreciate the trust you have placed in us by enrolling your child(ren) in our science education programs.

Guidelines, protocols and procedures outlined in this document may change quickly, without notice, due to updated guidance and notices from local, state and federal agencies. CuriOdyssey will make every effort to quickly notify caregivers of any changes or updates.
By enrolling a program participant in a program at CuriOdyssey, the caregiver is certifying that they have read this document in full and that they and the program participant will be able to comply with all requirements contained therein.
For the safety of all the program participants, CuriOdyssey staff, and volunteers, if a program participant fails to comply with all personal safety protocols during the program, the caregiver will be called to pick up their child.
To ensure the safety of all program participants, program staff receive Mandated Reporter, First Aid/CPR/AED, Inclusion and Accessibility, and Safety & Emergency Protocol Training.

Staff : Program Participant Ratios

CuriOdyssey recognizes the gravity of caregivers trusting us with their program participant’s safety and has systems in place to protect them. For the maximum benefit for program participants, we plan programs to operate with a low staff: program participant ratio and find program participants learn best in small groups.

All eligible CuriOdyssey staff and adult volunteers undergo a LiveScan background check.
At no time during CuriOdyssey’s programs will a child be alone with a staff member or volunteer.
All staff and volunteers are trained not to be alone with a child.
CuriOdyssey has several administrative education staff “on call” to be present to make sure that a child is never alone with a staff member or volunteer.
CuriOdyssey staff never go into the bathroom stalls or single use bathrooms with program participants.

Program Participant Behavior Expectations

In order to ensure that CuriOdyssey programs are safe spaces for participants, a participant may be removed from a program under certain circumstances.

This decision will be made by the Education Lead Staff, with input from the CuriOdyssey Safety Officer.
Each case is unique and each decision will balance program participants’ sense of safety with the severity of behavior(s), the context around the behavior(s), the individual participants involved, and all other relevant information available at the time.
In each case, that decision will evaluate these factors through a lens inclusive of physical, neurological and cultural diversity.
Except for egregious circumstances, this decision will be made only after CuriOdyssey education staff have engaged in interventions to prevent or manage the behavior(s).
Any behaviors which would constitute grounds for removing a participant from a program must be communicated to that participant’s caregivers.

Behaviors which may constitute reasonable grounds to remove a program participant from a program include:

Intentionally causing physical or emotional harm to another participant and/or staff,
Threatening violence against another participant and/or staff
Extremely physical play/horseplay that is not safe in a group setting
A pattern of careless or reckless behavior that puts other participants and/or staff at unnecessary and nontypical risk, including, but not limited to, disregarding safety guidelines
A pattern of behavior imitating violence toward other participants and/or staff
Continuous bullying, of either a physical or psychological/verbal nature
Consistent self-separation/isolation from group such that safe staff:student ratio is not able to be maintained

Potential Program Participant Risks

CuriOdyssey Education programs take place on CuriOdyssey’s campus and in Coyote Point Park.

Wild plants and animals
Public place

Where possible, CuriOdyssey staff provide program participants with guidelines and resources to mitigate risk associated with our setting, other students, and educational activities. These guidelines, training and/or materials are:

Guidelines for how we expect students to interact with one another
Guidelines for how to engage in specific behaviors safely.
Training for how to use tools safely.
Safety equipment relevant to specific activities.
Guidelines for safely exploring Coyote Point Park, including identifying poisonous plants and safely interacting with wildlife.
Water breaks and access to water refill stations, extra water bottles, and electrolyte powder (for extreme circumstances only).
CuriOdyssey does not assume the responsibility of providing sun protection or applying sunscreen to program participants. When programs take place outdoors, staff will provide advance email reminders to caregivers and verbal reminders to program participants about using sun protection.
Air Quality: If air quality reaches 101 or above, all camp groups will move inside. If air quality reaches 151 or above, CuriOdyssey will close, and we will request immediate pick up. We monitor air quality using Purple Air, applying the AQandU conversion.
Wind Conditions: If both the wind speed and wind gusts are over 25 mph or if the wind gusts are higher than 32 mph, all camp groups will move inside. If wind speed reaches 32 mph or higher and/or wind gusts reach 35 mph or higher, CuriOdyssey will close, and we will request immediate pick up.

COVID-19 and Injury

CuriOdyssey staff are instructed to stay home if they feel sick. The education team has built flexibility into the program's schedule so that staff do not feel obligated to come to work sick.
Program participants should not come to CuriOdyssey programs if they are sick or show signs of illness.
If a program participant shows signs of illness during a program, that program participant will be escorted away from the program, and a caregiver will be called to pick up the program participant.
The staff will carry a complete first-aid kit. If a program participant becomes injured and requires more care than an ice-pack and/or band-aid, the caregiver will be contacted.
In the event of a major injury, emergency services will be contacted.

Camper Sign-in/Out & Late Pick-up

Each morning all campers must be escorted into camp and signed in by their parent/guardian, there is no curbside drop-off. Each camp has a “base” at CuriOdyssey where they will be signed in and out and do some of their program. Sign-in/out is a valuable opportunity to talk with camp staff and find out any important notes or bulletins pertaining to your child’s camp.

At the end of each camp day, campers MUST be signed out. Children will not be released to anyone other than the individual(s) you designate. Anyone picking up a camper must be prepared to show a photo ID. You can update the Emergency Contact and Pick-up Authorization anytime contacting us before your camp week or when you drop off your camper in the morning. Please have the contact’s name and phone number.

Camp sign-out time is:
1:00 p.m. for Preschool and Kindergarten campers, and 4:00 p.m.-4:15 p.m. for 1^st- 6^th grade campers. Post Camp Care ($50/camper) runs from 4:15 p.m.-5:00 p.m..

CuriOdyssey is very busy during the summer and parking in the afternoon may not be readily available. Please plan accordingly. There is no stopping or parking in the turnaround.

What-to-Bring List

Camp is a fun, active, and full of individual discovery. Be sure to check-in with camp staff at the end of each day to find out if there are any special items to consider for the following day. Here is a suggested list of items to ensure campers are prepared for their camp day.

Campers should wear & bring:

Layers- including a sweatshirt or jacket
Sun protection
Closed-toed shoes
Bag or Backpack to carry belongings
Extra shoes/socks for days where campers go to the marsh or beach
Low waste snack and/or lunch
Water bottle
Any necessary medications
Mosquito repellent (Optional)

Park Entrance & Parking

Parking for current CuriOdyssey members is FREE at Coyote Point Park when visiting CuriOdyssey. The park rangers will ask for your current CuriOdyssey membership card AND parking permit. Please have these ready when you enter the park. Place your parking permit on your dashboard before entering CuriOdyssey.

If you are a current member but do not have a parking permit you can contact Membership to get yours or request a new one at the front desk the next time you visit.
If someone other than the adults listed on your membership will be dropping off and/or picking up your child at camp, you can give them one of your parking permits to use that day.

Vehicles parked without a parking pass are subject to tickets by county park rangers. Members with an expired or invalid membership are subject to the park’s $6 vehicle entrance fee.

Parking can be a challenge for those with afternoon pickups (1:00 pm). Please allow enough time for you to find parking and pick-up your camper. There is NO parking or stopping anywhere in the turn-around area near the museum entrance. Park your car in the parking spaces provided near CuriOdyssey or in the lower lot.

Camp Snack and/or Lunch

Campers must provide their own snack/lunch. Campers should have enough appropriate food for an active camp day. Snack and/or lunch times vary depending upon the camp.

When packing your camper’s snack/lunch please avoid unnecessary packaging by using reusable containers, lunch boxes, thermoses, etc. Over-packaged items, such as juice boxes and single-serving packages, are discouraged. By reducing our solid waste and in alliance with CuriOdyssey’s mission, campers will help reduce waste that goes to landfill.

Cancellations & Refunds

Once you have registered and paid for your camps all refund/cancellation policies apply.

A full refund will be given if you cancel a camp session within 24 hours of registration.

A refund of 50% of your camp fee will be given if you cancel a camp session before May 30, 2023.

No refunds will be issued for cancellations made on or after May 30, 2023, for all camps.

All cancellation requests must be made in writing and can be emailed to [email protected]. The time and date stamp of the email will serve as the official time of your cancellation request.

If CuriOdyssey cancels a camp a full refund/credit will be offered.

Changes/Transfers

Emergency Information

Part of your registration includes the completion of important “Emergency Contact/Pick-up Authorization” for your camper(s). This instructs us on who can pick up the camper and who to contact in the event of an emergency. Please contact us if you need to update the “Emergency Contact and Pick-up Authorization” information. If any information has changed two weeks prior to camp please let the camp staff know the first day of camp.

Campers w/Special Needs & Inclusion

Our program aims to be inclusive of campers of varied learning abilities. Early planning and communication with the camper’s parent/guardian and camp staff will allow our Inclusion Specialist to work with families for camper success. Some children benefit from and require the support of an aide. CuriOdyssey is unable to provide personal aides or long term one-on-one assistance, but welcomes collaborating with an aide provided by the camper’s family.

The camper’s parent/guardian will be required to sign a release before any aide is allowed in camp. These arrangements do take time to set-up so we require that parent/guardians contact us as soon as possible before the camp season begins to ensure a smooth process when your child starts camp.

Camp Contacts

Please note that CuriOdyssey and Coyote Point Park are both undergoing construction projects that will be ongoing throughout Summer 2023.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are all looking forward to a wonderful, safe, and impactful season where we help kids explore the superpower of science.

Thank you,

Camp CuriOdyssey Staff

Summer Camps