Handbook 2020 - Fiddlehead Care Farm
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Parent/Camper
Handbook
2020
Fiddlehead Care Farm Summer Camp
Parent and Camper Handbook
Welcome!
We are so excited that you have chosen Fiddlehead Care Farm (FCF) as your summer camp
experience this year! In this handbook, you will find some important information that parents
and campers need to know for every day of camp. Please make sure that you read this material
CAREFULLY to help your camper have a safe and fun experience at camp.
Fiddlehead Care Farm’s goal is to find each individual child’s strengths, interests and
motivations to provide an environment to help him/her reach their potential and become their
best self. Fiddlehead Care Farm’s Summer Day Camp is a unique experience as we collect
camper’s goals and strive to integrate them throughout their camp experience.
We are looking forward to providing our campers with a fun, interesting, and memorable
summer camp experience.
Due to COVID-19, camp will look a little different this year. Families and campers are an
important partner in helping to make sure everyone is safe and healthy. We appreciate your
cooperation in adjusting to these new procedures and rules.
Please read on for more specific details of the guidelines. Information is actively changing; we
are committed to staying updated and will inform you of any changes or information which will
affect the camp experience.
• Campers will be divided into cohorts of no more than 10 persons (including staff and
campers.) Each camp group will be completely independent of others and will be assigned
its own washroom, home base, equipment and outdoor space which is exclusively for their
group’s use. Staff will not be shared, and groups will not cross paths, which helps limit the
number of potential contacts for each camper.
• Campers will be assigned to staggered drop off and pick up times and will be screened for
symptoms upon arrival. (See Safe Arrival and Departure Procedures section on page 4)
• Enhanced wellness checks will be completed throughout the day by staff.
• Physical distancing of 2 metres will be emphasized and enforced and masks will be worn
when physically distancing cannot be maintained.
• Greetings which encourage or require physical contact (e.g. high fives, handshakes, hugs)
will be prohibited and new alternatives will be demonstrated and encouraged.
• Proper respiratory and hand hygiene will be taught and reinforced and increased
monitoring will take place to ensure adherence among campers and staff.
• Protocols are in place if a camp participant begins to show symptoms of COVID-19 while at
camp, (See Illness or Injury at Camp section on page 5 and Appendix A)
• Highly visual markers (e.g. tape, signage cones, etc) will be used to give guidance to
campers in settings where they must wait their turn or maintain distance.
• A system of enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of high contact surfaces (e.g. shared
equipment, door knobs, light switches, table tops) will strictly followed.
2 FCF Camp Handbook 2020
• Any camper who is showing any symptoms of illness or has been in close contact with
someone with symptoms will be excluded from camp. (See Appendix B on page 12)
• Strict no touching and no sharing policies will be enforced.
The Fiddlehead Care Farm Team
Our staff have vast experience working with children and youth with many diagnoses including
mental health needs, traumatic and acquired brain injury, Autism, anxiety, developmental
disabilities, ADHD, deafblind, complex medical issues, multi system diseases and mechanical
ventilation. Our staff are certified in First Aid and CPR.
Stephanie Deaken
Stephanie Deaken has many years’ experience as a registered social worker
working with children and youth with disabilities and their families. As a
registered social worker, Stephanie is a member of the Ontario College of
Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) as well as the Ontario
Association of Social Workers (OASW). As co-founder, Stephanie lives on the
farm with her husband and children where she grows organic vegetables and
enjoys gardening, yoga and creating art.
Breanne Mathers
Breanne Mathers has many years’ experience as a Certified Child Life Specialist
and Therapeutic Recreation Specialist helping to support and empower children,
youth, siblings and their families to master challenging events related to health
care. She has set herself apart as a leading expert and consultant on the use of
Multi-Sensory Environments and Snoezelen with children with disabilities. She has
a passion for non-pharmacological pain management techniques and is skilled at
creating behaviour management plans.
Additional Camp Staff
Each year, FCF hires two additional paid staff to assist FCF’s founders. These Inclusion
Facilitators/ Counsellors undergo a competitive interview process and the successful candidates
have extensive knowledge and experience in working with children with a variety of needs. You
and your child will have a chance to meet these staff before camp.
Meghan has been volunteering and working with youth for many years and is a certified dance
teacher (BATD). She is excited to be a part of the FCF team and hopes to bring creative and fun
forms of movement and activity to all of the farm programming.
Larisa is passionate about building connection and facilitating fun with learning. With over ten
years of tutoring experience including specialized experience with students with developmental
delays, autism, ADHD, brain injury, and anxiety. She is delighted to be working with FCF this
summer! In her free time, you can find Larisa cooking up elaborate feasts, hiking with her dog in
Mono Cliffs park, hanging out in her garden, and reading and making art.
3 FCF Camp Handbook 2020Volunteers
Our volunteers go through a rigorous application and interview process. They are required to
have an up-to-date vulnerable sector police reference check and have been carefully trained on
our COVID specific policies and procedures.
Before Camp Starts…
Intake
After your camper’s application is received, you will be contacted for an in-depth interview to
learn more about your camper’s special needs, interests and goals for camp.
Pre-Camp Farm Tour
We ask that all campers come for a mandatory tour prior to camp to go over the new routines and
answer any questions you may have.
At Home Practice
In preparation for camp, we ask that you practice the following routines with your camper;
Wearing a non-medical mask
Putting on sunscreen and bug spray
Greetings for friends and staff which are non-touch
Introducing and practicing social distancing
Reinforce strict no touching and no sharing rules
Completing a daily wellness check (ie. Standing still for temperature check, answering
symptom questions, etc.)
Camp Facilities
FCF summer camp utilizes indoor and outdoor space. These spaces include pond, forest, gardens
and grassy clearings.
• Each cohort will be assigned their own washroom and indoor space
• An accessible washroom with change table is available to those who need it
• Our indoor space includes an accessible horseriding arena with sand floor and a stable
which we call “the barn.
• Additional shaded spaces will be on site to allow further distancing
• There is a privately-owned home and garage on site however campers will not have access
to these facilities
• In extreme weather conditions (i.e. tornadic weather) we will be bringing the campers to a
safe shelter, which may include the basement of the house on site
• The entire property is smoke free
Safe Arrival and Departure Procedures
• Visitors, other family members, special guests and general public will not be allowed on
the property
• Drop off and pick up times will be staggered and assigned.
4 FCF Camp Handbook 2020• Individualized drop off instructions will be provided to you as part of the pre-camp farm
tour.
Drop-off:
• When dropping off, please park in the designated lot (please look follow signage)
• We ask that all campers and drivers stay in their car and wait for a designated staff to
complete mandatory daily screening.
• Staff will ask symptom screening questions and take campers temperature.
• Staff will indicate when the camper can exit the car and head to their cohort’s designated
home base
Arriving late to camp:
• If you expect you will arrive outside of your assigned drop off time please contact us.
Please stay in your car and staff will be with you as soon as possible.
Pick-up:
• Please park in the designated lot (please look and follow signage)
• We ask that all drivers and family members stay in their car. Campers and a camp staff
member will come to you in order to give a quick summary of the day
• Only authorized caregivers (previously discussed at intake) will be able to pick up
campers.
• For camper safety, ID may be requested
• If you wish to change the persons authorized to pick-up your camper during a camp
session, the camp will require notice of any such change.
• If you need to pick up your camper early, please advise the FCF camp staff in advance. The
camper will be brought to your car.
Please DO NOT attempt to find your camper directly by wandering through the farm. VISITORS
ARE NOT ALLOWED at Fiddlehead Care Farm during camp hours.
Illness or Injury at Camp
If your child becomes ill or injured at camp, immediate care will be provided. If they are unable
to participate in the activities of the day you will be contacted and asked to pick up your child
immediately. Every effort will be made by staff to keep your child comfortable until your arrival.
Should an accident occur at camp, where your child needs to be taken to the hospital, emergency
transportation will be provided. In all emergency situations, the parent and/or the emergency
contact will be notified. If a child must be taken to the hospital, a staff member will accompany the
camper in the emergency vehicle and wait at the hospital until the parents arrive. At no time will
the child be left alone.
For COVID-19 specific illness protocols, please see Appendix A on page 11 for more information.
5 FCF Camp Handbook 2020Weather/ rain or shine
Programs continue during inclement weather conditions and cohorts will be kept
separate and safe during this time. The farm has both indoor and outdoor shelter
options where the campers can get shade and coverage from the rain as needed.
Camp runs a full program schedule no matter the weather, so proper dress for
such days is essential (rain wear, boots etc.) For more information, please refer
our suggested packing list.
Food and Allergies
Lunch
Each camper’s lunch will be kept in their backpack outside and not
refrigerated. So please use your discretion as to whether a “cold pack” may
be useful to keep the lunch fresh. Please do not send any lunches requiring
heating, as no heating equipment/facilities will be available. Please pack a
nutritious lunch, one that your camper will hopefully enjoy and eat! In
keeping with our environmentally friendly farm, a “litterless” lunch is
appreciated to minimize waste.
Snacks and Drinks
Please send your camper to camp with TWO bottles of water labelled with their name. Please
pack 2 “litterless” snacks for your child.
Food Allergies
Fiddlehead Care Farm is extremely sensitive to the needs and concerns of campers with serious
nut and other food allergies. If a camper in the group has an allergy, all families in those groups
will receive a letter/e-mail requesting that they refrain from sending the product which is the
subject of the allergy.
Being Sun Safe
While our camp has the advantage of having both indoor and outdoor facilities, we are still
extremely conscious of protecting campers from possible negative effects of the sun. PLEASE
ENSURE THAT YOU SEND YOUR CAMPER(S) WITH BOTH A PROPER SUNHAT
AND SUNSCREEN LOTION (labelled with your child’s name).
Staff will be trained to be conscientious to ensure that campers wear their sunhats
and apply sunscreen at regular intervals during the camp day, but please ensure
that they are wearing sunscreen before they leave home. Campers will not be allowed to share
sunscreen due to concerns about allergies. All campers will leave their bottles of sunscreen at
camp in their marked bag. Your lotion will be returned to your child at the end of each session.
6 FCF Camp Handbook 2020Bugs!
Please note that due to the outdoor setting, your camper will be exposed to
mosquitos and other possible biting insects during their day of camp. Please ensure
your child brings bug spray. Some children benefit from having an after bite
treatment/ spray to reduce the itch. If this is your child, please ensure they bring it to
camp. During the intake we will collect information about any insect bite allergies
and will ensure every staff member is aware of the allergy and necessary treatment.
Medications
Please follow the procedure below when sending medication to camp:
1. If your child needs to take medication during camp hours, you will be required to
read, fill out, and sign a form stating the type of medication, dosage and
dispensing time. This form will be available at the Pre-Camp Farm Tour.
2. Send the medication in the original prescribed container.
3. Please send enough medication for the full week on the first day. We will store
extra medication in a locked drawer.
4. Camp staff will fill out the medication administration record each time medication is given.
If camper self-administers medication, this will be done under direct supervision of a camp staff.
Masks- all campers are required to bring at least two non-medical masks for use when social
distancing can not be maintained.
Inhalers/EpiPens: If a camper requires the use of an asthma inhaler or EpiPen (or other auto-
injectable device), staff must be informed. It is suggested that the camper wear this medication in
a comfortable waist pouch or have it placed in a front pouch of the camper’s backpack; the
location of the medication known to staff at all times. You may also provide a second inhaler or
EpiPen for your camper to be held by staff in a locked compartment in the office.
Toilet Training
In order for the individual campers and groups to maximize their experience, all campers must
be toilet trained (no pullups, diapers, potties, portable toilets, etc.) or they must come with a
support worker. You know your child best; if there is a chance of an accident, please send extra
clothing just in case!
Behavioural Expectations
The goal of the FCF Camp Program is to provide a healthy, safe, positive and fun experience for
all campers!
COVID-19 related policies will be treated with the same level of seriousness. Staff will discuss the
behavioural expectations and safety policies/guidelines with their campers during the tour and
7 FCF Camp Handbook 2020on the first day of camp. This will include the below consequences (red, yellow, green cards) as
well as camp boundaries.
Failure to abide by the expectations may lead to progressive consequences:
• Redirection
• Verbal warning (green card)
• Time out/ discussion (yellow card)
• Removal from activity (red card)
• Conversation with parents
If your child receives multiple red cards in the week and/or behaviour threatens the immediate
safety of themselves, other children, or the staff, parents will be notified and requested to pick up
their child immediately. This will result in removal of the child for the day OR temporary
suspension from the program. No refunds will be given if a participant is dismissed from the
program.
All incidents are documented on an incident reporting form and this information is kept in the
campers confidential file with all other paperwork.
Refunds and Cancellations
Your camp fee is refundable in full if we cannot accept your application (i.e. cannot provide a safe
position for your camper, cannot satisfy your choice of date for the session, program
cancellation.)
Recognizing that family and personal circumstances can change, Fiddlehead Care Farm’s refund
policy provides that, as long as written notice of cancellation of a particular session is received
more than three weeks prior to commencement of a camp session in question, a FULL REFUND
will be issued.
Pro-rated refunds/credits and/or make-up days are NOT available for days absent or as a result
of services not being fully utilized.
If the camper is absent for 3 or more consecutive days, requests for refunds or credits (i.e. full or
partial) will be evaluated on a case to case basis and are at the full discretion of the Fiddlehead
Care Farm Executive team.
What Not to Bring to Camp
Please do not bring valuables to camp such as electronic devices, cell phones,
tablets or money. As well as being districting to the campers, it has been our
experience that no matter how careful a child is, inevitably something gets
broken or lost. Our camp will not be responsible for lost or damaged items.
8 FCF Camp Handbook 2020Daily Packing Checklist
TWO non-medical masks
Nutritious Lunch
TWO snacks
TWO water bottles
Change of Clothes (especially extra socks)
Clothing for inclement weather (eg. Rain coat, extra
layers)
Closed-toe/running shoes
Rubber boots
Sunscreen
Sunhat
Bug Repellent/ spray
After bite treatment/ stick
1 full week’s medication in original prescription bottle
(if require medication during camp hours)
PLEASE CLEARLY LABEL ALL ARTICLES SENT TO CAMP WITH YOUR CHILD’S NAME!
Each camper will be provided with a hook to keep any of the above items in throughout the week.
9 FCF Camp Handbook 2020Collecting Information and Privacy
In order to properly service, meet the needs of and ensure the safety of our campers, we must
collect certain personal information about them and their families. All of the information gathered
on forms or from telephone or personal conversations is stored in our files; which are secured in a
locked filing cabinet. Fiddlehead Care Farm uses this information for the care of our campers, as
well as for program development.
We collect personal and medical information with your full consent. Your signature on all forms
acknowledges your consent. We depend on families and staff to update any personal or medical
information that may change.
We give information ONLY to those who are directly involved in providing a service to your child,
you or as required by law.
Photographs and Media
Photographs taken at camp allow us to showcase what happens each day. By signing the consent
line on the Media Release Form, you authorize Fiddlehead Care Farm to use photographs of your
child(ren) in advertising and promotional materials. If you do not want your child(ren) included in
any photographs please speak to the FCF Founders, Steph and Breanne.
Communication/ How to Reach us…
We place a very high priority on maintaining an open and effective line of communication with
parents.
If you have any concerns following a day of camp and want to discuss with staff, please contact
our staff by phone (Breanne Mathers 416-988-6689 OR Stephanie Deaken 647-624-8421). You
are welcome to write a note to staff and deliver on the following day of camp. If necessary, we will
be pleased to set up an appointment to discuss any concerns or questions you may have.
If you try to reach us before or after camp hours, please leave a message and we will return your
call as quickly as possible. If you try to reach us during the camp day, we will attempt to return
your call as quickly as possible, but may need to call you back after camp hours since we will be
very involved with the campers and actual camp programs.
Thank You!!!
Sincerely,
Steph Deaken and Breanne Mathers
fiddleheadcarefarm@gmail.com
10 FCF Camp Handbook 2020Appendix A
Dear Parent/Guardian,
The health and safety of camp participants and staff in our program is our goal. We strive to create safe spaces
for the camp participants and staff that use them every day, and working with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph
Public Health (WDGPH) to make this happen. As a result, some regular routines, procedures and physical
spaces may have been changed to control and prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
What are Day Camps doing differently to keep everyone safe?
• Staff, camp participants, and parents/guardians are being screened for illness and symptoms each day
• Staff and camp participants who are unwell are not allowed to attend the program and are sent home.
• The day camp has enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures.
• Staff and camp participants are being instructed on good hand hygiene including frequent hand washing.
• Staff are finding ways to maintain physical distance between camp participants and staff when possible.
How can parents help?
• Screen yourself, and your child, for symptoms daily. Use the provincial self-assessment tool (https://covid-
19.ontario.ca/self-assessment/)
• Pick-up and drop-off your child(ren) outside the day camp at the designated area.
What happens if a camp participant develops symptoms while at camp?
• A camp participant who shows symptoms will be moved away from other camp participants and
supervised until their parents or guardian can pick them up.
• Parents or guardian, of the camp participant who developed symptoms, will be called right away and
asked to come pick up their child.
• The supervising staff will try to keep a 2 metre (6ft) distance from the ill child and both staff and child will
wear a mask. Staff will wear other appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as necessary.
• You will be asked to take your child to be tested for COVID-19.
What if another child or staff has symptoms or tests positive for COVID-19?
• Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked to be tested for COVID-19.
• Anyone who was in close contact with the person who developed symptoms will be grouped together,
during their time in the day camp program, until more is known about the test results or further direction
is received from Public Health.
• If a staff or child tests positive for COVID-19, Public Health will work with the day camp operator to
determine other staff or camp participants who need to be tested or go home and self-isolate for 14 days.
Who can I call if I have questions?
• Parents and families may call the WDGPH COVID-19 Call Centre at: 1-800-265-7293 or 519-822-2715, Ext.
7006
Thank you for your cooperation during this unprecedented time.
11 FCF Camp Handbook 2020Appendix B 12 FCF Camp Handbook 2020
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