A: All Full Day campers swim twice daily. Each day, campers receive Red Cross instruction as well as a free swim.
Q: What are your safety procedures while the children are in the pool?
A: We are extremely conscious of safety everywhere in camp, and especially at the pool. Children enter the pool in an orderly manner and follow our protocols to ensure that safety is of the highest priority. A buddy check system is in place at all pools and children are divided into small groups for instruction.
Q: What will you do if my child is afraid of the water?
A: Working with you, we will encourage your child to take small steps to feel more comfortable in the water. In most of our pools, children can stand anywhere in the pool, so that they can always touch the bottom.
Q: Who will watch my child in the pool?
A: The pool is very well supervised by an aquatics director, certified lifeguards, water safety instructors, and their counselors.
Q: What is the ratio of campers to lifeguards in the pool?
A: While the county requirement for lifeguard to swimmer is 1:25, our ratios are significantly lower with campers assigned to small groups according to ability. In addition, your child’s counselors supervise campers during swim activities.
Q: My child swims in the deep end of our pool at home. Will he/she be allowed to swim in the deep end of the pool at camp?
A: In order to swim in the deep end of our pool, children must pass a strict deep-water test. Campers are required to demonstrate their stamina in the water and display an understanding of safety while swimming with other children in the area. All deep-water swimmers wear bracelets for easy identification.
Q: Can my child be swim tested before camp?
A: Yes, we offer a pre-camp swim evaluation for new campers in June.
Q: How will I know what kind of progress my child is making in the pool?
A: Campers are assessed on a continuous basis. We will notify you every time your camper progresses to the next swim level. You are always welcome to call our office to speak to our Aquatics Director.
Q: Do you provide towels?
A: Yes. Ivy League provides daily towel service for all on-campus campers. Some of the campers prefer to bring their own towels. If that is the case, please make sure they are clearly labeled with the camper’s name.
Transportation
Q: How long is the bus ride?
A: Bus runs are written so that the greatest number of children have the shortest ride possible. We use air-conditioned buses for our runs. All of our buses are equipped with two-way radios and GPS - drivers are in constant touch with our office.
Q: How will I know my child’s bus run number and approximate pick-up time?
A: Our drivers leave a form in your mailbox and an Ivy League flag on your lawn the weekend prior to the beginning of the camp season. This will include the bus run number, driver’s name, and approximate pick-up time.
Q: Will my child ever be alone with the bus driver?
A: While the driver is attending to the road, a bus counselor will be able to assist your child with whatever he/she needs. Bus counselors ride the buses on a daily basis and handle any issues that might arise.
Q: Does the bus driver check the bus at the end of the day to make sure there are no children left on the bus?
A: Yes. At the end of every bus run, the driver does a check of the bus to be sure everyone is off the bus, and no belongings are left behind.
Q: What other children are on the bus and what are the ages of the other children?
A: All children on the bus are Ivy League campers. Mini-day campers attending 10 am - 3 pm have their own bus runs. Campers on full-day buses range in age from 3 years to 11 years old. Sometimes, teen travel campers (12-16 years old) will also be on the bus, however, they are often away on trips or have early drop-offs or late pick-ups.
Q: Do you provide car seats for the children?
A: As per the DOT, car seats are not required on mini-buses. Ivy League has a supply of 5-point harnesses that you can request on your application.
Q: What if no one is home when my child is being dropped off?
A: We will always try to contact a parent or emergency contact if possible. If no one is available to get your child off the bus, the driver will re-attempt to bring your child home at the end of the bus run. If this is not possible, or if no one is home at that time, the driver will return your child to camp where you may pick your child up.
Q: Can my child be dropped off at another location or can a friend come home with my child?
A: We always try to accommodate special requests. If there is room on the bus, we will gladly transport your child to another location or have a friend go home with your child. We ask that both parents contact the transportation office in advance so that we may make every effort to accommodate your request.
Q: What is the earliest time I can drop my child off at your camp and what is the latest I can pick him/her up?
A: In lieu of transportation, Ivy League provides a playgroup to accommodate working parents. Children may be dropped off as early as 7:00 am and be picked up as late as 6:00 pm.
Medical
Q: Is there a full-time nurse?
A: At least one registered nurse is always on campus along with LPN’s, athletic trainers or EMT’s.
Q: How will I know if my child has been to the nurse?
A: Every child who visits the nurse’s office during the day will receive a treatment report letter home that day. If necessary, the health office may also call you to discuss any issues.
Q: Can medications be dispensed at camp?
A: Medications can be given to your child at camp with written authorization from your physician. All medications need to be in the original bottle and accompanied by instructions from your doctor as to the dosage and times to be administered. Medications are dispensed by the camp nurse.
Q: When and where do I drop off my child’s medication?
A: Medication may be dropped off at the nurse’s office or sent to camp with the bus driver. Please do not send medication in with your child. If your camper is on a daily medication, it should be dropped off prior to the start of camp. If your child is traveling, we will ask you to bring the medications in the original bottles to be packaged into weekly sheets for travel by one of our nurses.
Q: My child has a medical condition and takes medication. Is it necessary for all of your staff to know?
A: We will inform only those people who need to know about your child’s medication in order to keep him/her safe at camp.
Q: Who provides medical care during off-campus trips?
A: On each trip, there is at least one member of our staff certified in Wilderness First Aid or Responding to Emergencies, an advanced first aid course.
Q: What is your policy for dispensing medication when children go off-campus or on trips?
A: As per the instructions of your doctor, our nurse will pre-package the medication to be given to your child by the trip leader.
Q: Can I leave an Epi-pen for my child?
A: Yes. Epi-pens may be left with the nurse with a doctor’s prescription and Emergency Action Plan. Epi-pens will accompany your child on any off-campus trips. The Division Head who is trained to recognize signs of anaphylaxis will assist your child in using the Epi-pen should it ever become necessary.
Q: Who will go with my child if there is an emergency?
A: In case of an emergency, your child will be transported to the nearest emergency room accompanied by a responsible staff member. We will call you immediately to have you meet us there.
Q: Is Ivy League a peanut-free camp?
A: We are a peanut and tree nut-aware camp. We do not serve peanut butter or any foods containing peanuts or tree nuts.
Q: Do you supply sunscreen and how often is it applied?
A: We have sunscreen on campus and will apply it after each swim for our youngest campers. Some parents prefer to send in their own sunscreen which we will apply after swims as per your request. Our older campers, whether they use our sunscreen or bring their own, apply it themselves.
Q: Do you spray for ticks, mosquitoes, and poison ivy?
A: Yes, we spray periodically for all of the above.
Programming
Q: Is the program the same every day?
A: The program varies on a daily basis in order to expose children to all of the activities on campus. Lunch and two swims are always at the same times, as are club. Our schedule runs on a rotation using color days.
Q: How long are the activities?
A: Most sessions are 20-45 minutes in length. Each swim, including change time, takes about 1 hour. The number of activities varies from group to group and the program your child is enrolled in. Your child’s schedule will be posted online and is available in our office.
Q: Are there teachers at every activity?
A: Our Creative and Performing Arts, Athletics and Adventure areas are led by teachers and/or coaches. This ensures a high-quality curriculum for each activity. In addition to specialists, your child’s counselors participate at each activity area to help your child succeed.
Q: What will you do if my child won’t participate?
A: Your child’s counselors and Division Leader will work with your child to find ways that he/she is comfortable participating in each activity.
Q: What do you do if it rains?
A: If a rainy day is called, our Full Day campers will typically take a trip to a gymnasium, movie theater, roller-skating rink or bowling alley. The remainder of the day will be spent in our indoor, air-conditioned rooms.
Food
Q: How will I know what is being served for lunch each day?
A: Before camp begins, you will receive a full menu for the summer. Additionally, the lunch menu will be posted on the parent dashboard for you to view throughout the summer.
Q: What if my child does not like the food?
A: Our daily lunch program includes a large variety of food so that there is usually something everyone loves. During the pre-season call with your child’s Division Leader, please let us know what your child likes to eat and we will do our best to accommodate.
Q: What about food allergies?
A: Please let us know what your child is allergic to so that we can be sure your child is not exposed to any food allergens. For children with very restrictive dietary needs, parents may supply the food and we will prepare it daily for your child.
Q: Do counselors monitor what the children eat?
A: We will monitor what your children eat and encourage them to make good choices. If your child is not eating, your Division Leader will contact you so we can work together to ensure that your child eats. Counselors will also cut up food as necessary.
Q: Are there drinks provided?
A: A variety of drinks are provided, including water, lemonade, and fruit punch.
Q: What snacks do you offer?
A: Afternoon snack is generally ices or ice cream. Alternates, such as fruit, are also available, if your child needs a special snack, due to allergies or dietary needs. Please discuss any dietary concerns with your child’s division leader before the start of camp. For Mini and those with later lunchtimes, we offer a morning snack as well.
Q: Who prepares the food?
A: Our food is prepared by our kitchen staff under the supervision of our certified Food Service Director. The kitchen is cleaned daily and sanitized by our kitchen staff.
Q: Is the kitchen inspected?
A: The kitchen is inspected each summer by The New York State Department of Health.
General
Q: What security measures are in place for visitors?
A: Every person entering our campus is stopped by camp personnel at the entrance. In addition, all of our staff wear camp shirts so that anyone not in uniform will be stopped and questioned immediately. No visitors are allowed on campus unless they obtain a visitor’s pass and are accompanied by a staff member.
Q: How big is your camp?
A: Our camp is a medium-sized camp spanning over 16 acres.
Q: How many campers attend your camp?
A: We generally have about 500 campers on campus at any given time.
Q: How old are your counselors?
A: Our counselors range in age from high school juniors to adults.
Q: If I sign my child up for less than 8 weeks, can I add weeks at a later date?
A: Sure. As long as there is room in the group and on the bus, we will be happy to extend your camper’s weeks. Just call our office.
Q: Can my child be in the same group as his friend?
A: Children entering the same grade can be placed in the same group by request. Our campers are kept with the same group of children summer after summer unless otherwise requested.
Q: Do I need to send my child with water?
A: No. Drinking water is located throughout the campus. Counselors encourage children to drink often. In addition, all camp staff members are trained to recognize signs of dehydration.
Q: Can my child bring money on camp trips?
A: In order for us to best supervise your child, and for your child to partake in the entire activity, we have found that it is better for young children to leave money at home. Older children are permitted to bring money on trips.
Q: Do you permit “shadows” at camp?
A: Yes. Shadows (1:1 staff members) must be interviewed by one of our directors and must wear a camp shirt throughout the summer. Please discuss your child’s needs with the directors so we can ensure the most successful camp experience.
Q: What is your policy on custodial issues?
A: Please discuss any issues with our directors and provide the necessary paperwork to document custody. Without paperwork from the courts, either parent has the right to take their child from camp.
Mini Campers
Q: Can my Mini camper wear diapers?
A: Sure. If your child is not potty trained, we ask that you provide a supply of diapers and baby wipes as well as swim diapers so that he/she may swim.
Q: Who will change my child if they wear diapers?
A: Counselors and division leaders will change your child as necessary.
Q: Can my child go in the pool with a puddle jumper or bubble?
A: Camps are not permitted by law to allow children to wear a flotation device such as puddle jumpers in any pool. Campers swim in pools shallow enough for each child to stand comfortably.
