Thank you for choosing the University of Washington's Summer Youth Program for your child. Please take a few minutes to read through the information below. Hopefully most of your questions will be answered. But should you still have concerns please don't hesitate to email our staff at: youth@extn.washington.edu or contact me directly at: lromenagata@extn.washington.edu or 206-685-6431. We are looking forward to a great summer!
UW Year Round Staff
- Leslie Rome-Nagata — Director, Summer Youth Programs:
Leslie is responsible for all of the Youth Programs (elementary, middle and high school) offered through UW Educational Outreach. She manages program operations, development of courses, camps and academies, and the hiring, supervision and evaluation of all staff. She also works closely with campus units to manage all of the complex logistics and sophisticated programmatic activities associated with the Summer Youth Programs (SYP). This is Leslie's 5th year with the Program.
- Cathrine Kattula — Youth Program Coordinator:
Cathrine is responsible for all of the administrative management of the UW Summer Youth Programs including the coordination of the SYP database, purchasing of supplies and communicating with parents, instructors and staff. This is Cathrine's 2nd year with the Program.
UW Seasonal Staff (Bios will be provided in the Parent Information Packet sent in the late spring)
We challenge our staff of experienced coordinators, instructors and caring counselors to create a memorable summer for the students we serve. The people who work for the UW Summer Youth Programs are our biggest asset bringing experience, enthusiasm, and creativity. Each summer we hire experienced coordinators who bring camp management and recreational leadership skills to the program. Instructors are generally certified teachers who work in public or private schools throughout the school year. (We also hire non-certified instructors with subject expertise, in particular for our art and drama classes.) Counselors in the program are often UW undergraduate or graduate students who have experience working with school-aged children. All counselors and senior camp management staff are CPR and First Aid certified. In addition, the UW Human Resources Department runs background checks on Summer Youth Program hires through the Washington State Patrol.
When should my child arrive each day?
Participants should arrive between 8 and 9 a.m. Staff are not available prior to 8 a.m.
A parent, or guardian designated on the registration form, must sign their child in and out of the program each day. Check in is located at Archery Playing Field in the NE corner of parking lot N-5, just east of Gate 2 at NE 45th and 17th Ave NE.
When should I pick up my child?
Check out runs from 4 to 5 p.m. A parent, or guardian designated on the registration form, must sign children out each day. Staff are not available after 5 p.m. It is critical that all students are picked up by this time. Children who are repeatedly picked up after 5 p.m. may be asked to leave the program before their session has ended.
What should we do if we're running late?
For arrivals after 9 a.m., parents/guardian will need to walk their child to his or her first scheduled class. Please call the Summer Day Coordinator with an estimated time of your arrival.
How do I arrange for my child to leave early?
If your child needs to leave before 4 p.m., a parent/guardian should send a note at least one day in advance to the Summer Day Coordinator. For safety and security reasons your child must be signed out of the program before you leave campus. When picking up your child early, please go directly to his/her classroom. If the departure time falls outside of the parking permit time limits, you may need to purchase an additional parking permit at the University entrance gates. If no notice can be given due to an emergency and the child must be picked up immediately, please call and alert the Summer Day Coordinator.
What are my options for parking on campus while I pick-up/drop-off my child?
Before the start of the Summer Program you must download a parking permit (or several if you need). To find the permit for your child's specific camp, visit the Commuter Services web page. (Parking permits for the 2009 program will not be available until late spring). Choose the camp that your child is registered for. Print the permit and place it on your dash. The permit includes information about where and when you can park. Please note that you will be ticketed for parking outside of the designated lot or time shown on the permit.
Attendance
What should I do if my child will be absent from the program?
For safety and security, please notify us if a student will be absent. Please contact the Summer Day Campus Coordinator through his/her cellular phone, and he/she will update Summer Day staff as needed.
Can I receive a partial or full refund for any absences my child may incur?
There is no refund available for days or weeks that students do not attend Summer Day.
If my child cannot attend on a given day, can we select a guest to take his place for that day?
Due to safety and liability issues, Summer Day is reserved for registered participants only. No guests or substitutes may attend.
Sample Schedule
Curricular activities are held daily, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. All participants have the option of using extended day services from 8-9 a.m. and 4-5 p.m. The extended program provides additional supervised outdoor activities.
View sample schedule:
Where are Summer Day classes located?
Summer Day classes are held in classrooms and outdoor areas across the UW campus. Students also walk to and from the swimming pool and Archery Field.
How does my child's Summer Day schedule work?
Students follow a daily schedule, rotating among classrooms set up for specific activities: art, drama, creative writing, and science. Students have the option to swim or join in organized games led by the Recreation Leader during swim time. Between 8 and 9 a.m., at lunch, and from 4 to 5 p.m. students can participate in supervised outdoor activities. Parents will receive their child's specific schedule the first day of each session.
What if my child wants to be placed in the same group as a friend?
Due to the size of UW's Summer Day Program we are no longer able to accommodate "buddy requests." If there are extenuating circumstances that parents need to discuss with the SYP Director or Campus Coordinator they should do so prior to the start of the program. We are unable to move children around from their assigned groups once the program gets underway.
How are children assigned to groups?
Children are sorted into groups of 15-18 chronologically by date of birth. The result is that children in similar age ranges, for example, 6-7 year, 7-8 years, etc. will be placed together. This allows our instructors to develop age-appropriate curriculum plans and related activities for their classes.
When is lunch held?
Lunch is held outdoors (weather permitting) from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Is lunch provided for my child?
No. Summer Day staff does not provide lunches or snacks. Please be sure that your child comes to camp each day with a lunch and morning and afternoon snack. Students should also have a (non-glass) water bottle.
What changes, if any, are made for rainy days?
On rainy days, we use regularly scheduled classrooms for classes, and we eat indoors, too.
May I join my child for lunch?
Parents and designated guardians (as listed on the Transportation Form) are welcome to join their child at any time. We typically hold lunch at Archery field next to the Penthouse Theatre (located on the north edge of campus). If raining, we move indoors and hold lunch in the class students are scheduled in just prior to lunch.
Activities
Is a lifeguard on duty during swimming time?
Yes, lifeguards are on duty during all designated swimming times at the Hutchinson Hall pool. The campus coordinator and/or the groups' counselor are also present in the swim area. The swimming pool is 4 feet to 9.5 feet deep. Strong swimmers may go to the deep end after a lifeguard has verified their swimming ability with a short swim test. PLEASE NOTE: children are not allowed to wear personal flotation devices in the pool. Various pool toys are provided.
Are swim lessons available?
No, we do not offer swim lessons in the Summer Day program.
What if my child does not like to or cannot swim?
Alternate supervised activities are always provided for students who chose not to (or who cannot) swim.
What materials should my child bring with him/her each day?
Students are responsible for their own belongings; they should carry a small pack or tote bag to store them. Each student must bring a lunch, beverage, morning and afternoon snack, and a water bottle. Since lockers or cubbies are not available please try to minimize what your child has to carry throughout the day. If it's something that's not essential it should be left at home.
What materials should my child NOT bring with him/her any day?
Students should not bring beverages in glass containers, electronic games, stereos, trading cards, or valuables. These types of items may be confiscated from the student and returned to the parent at the end of the day. The University and Summer Day staff are not responsible for loss, theft, or damage of any item.
How should my child dress for Summer Day?
Students should bring gym or tennis shoes, comfortable clothing, and a light rain jacket, sweater, or warm-up top. They can wear an old shirt for art classes if desired and bring a swimsuit and towel for swimming. If the weather is wet or cold, please make sure your child wears warm, waterproof clothing.
Safety and Discipline
What is the adult to child ratio during the program?
We maintain a ratio of one counselor to 18 students of similar age (1:18).
Is the staff CPR/First Aid certified?
Yes, all counselors must have current CPR/First Aid certification to work in Summer Day programs.
What happens in case of an emergency?
Emergency procedures are outlined in the "Summer Day Emergency/Safety Plan" document that will be sent to you prior to the start of the program. The Summer Day Coordinator's cell phone number will also be sent to you on a small card for easy reference.
Do I need to submit a consent form?
Yes. You must fill out the Risk and Consent and Transportation Forms. Please see the registration page to download these forms. These forms provide Summer Youth Program staff with contact and emergency phone names and numbers; they also provide information regarding pick-up and drop-off for your child. We will need one form for each child. If we do not receive this form prior to the first day of the program, your child will not be allowed to participate in UW Summer Youth Programs.
My child takes medication. How does Summer Day treat this issue?
In general, our staff members cannot administer medications, including suntan lotions and non-prescription pain relievers, to participants. However, our staff is trained on the use of the Epipen. Please make arrangements for your child to bring his/her medication with him/her to camp and share as much helpful information as you can on the Risk and Consent Form.
How are discipline issues handled should they arise?
Minor offenses will be handled on the spot. Interventions may include verbal reminders, an apology, etc. Repeated minor offenses will result in more formal disciplinary intervention, including a contact or conference with a parent.
Major offenses will always result in parent contact. These types of issues may lead to short-term student suspension: physical endangerment of others, damage or stealing of property, or, as in a regular school setting, a total expulsion for the remainder of the program for such things as the possession of dangerous or illegal objects or substances (e.g., drugs, alcohol, tobacco substances, weapons). Please note that such behaviors will result in immediate parent/guardian contact and an emergency removal. Should a child be removed from the program for any of these reasons, no tuition will be refunded.
How do you accommodate disabilities?
The University of Washington is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation, contact us at 206-543-2320, or the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 (voice), 206-543-6452 (TTY), 206-685-7264 (fax) or dso@u.washington.edu (e-mail) at least 10 days in advance of applying.
Special Conditions: For your child's comfort and safety, please indicate on the "Risk and Consent Form" (downloadable from the registration page) if there are special conditions we need to know about (allergies, medical prescriptions, recent illnesses or injuries.) Please inform camp counselors of specific allergies.
Questions
Should my child lose a belonging, whom should I contact?
Throughout each session, lost and found items are brought to the check in/check out area at the Archery Field. Unclaimed items are donated to charity the week after the Summer Day Program ends.
Are there any other summer programs offered by the UW?
If you're interested in other UW summer programs, please see our list of other UW resources for elementary, middle and high school students.
Whom should I contact should I have additional questions not addressed here?
If you have questions prior to the start of the program, contact us at 206-685-8936 or by email at youth@extn.washington.edu. For questions after the program begins, please contact the Summer Day Coordinator or the Summer Youth Program office at 206-685-6421.
