Parent Information

This information is applicable for all weeks of camp. You will receive additional information the week before your child comes to camp that will address the specific schedule for that week. In particular, lunch time and location, as well as swim days will vary from the standard on a few specific days. Please read all the information carefully.

Payment
Directions to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Gate passes for non-LBNL employees
Sign-in / sign-out sheet
Dropping off
Picking up
Lunch hour
Sunscreen, clothing and shoes
Parent volunteers
Donations
Snacks
Swimming
What children should or should not bring
Extra clothing
Emergencies
Behavior management
Illness
Parent Feedback
Questions

Payment

Full payment is due with registration. Send payment and forms to:

Science Exploration Camp
c/o Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
1 Cyclotron Road
Mail Stop 90R4000
Berkeley, CA 94720

Directions to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Detailed directions to the Lab can be found on their website at: http://www.lbl.gov/Workplace/Transportation.html

Gate passes for non-LBNL employees

If you are not a Berkeley Lab employee, you will need to stop at the main entrance gate (Blackberry Gate) on the first day of camp and get a pass for the week that will allow you to entrer the Lab and park in general parking. If the guard does not have your pass, please have him/her call one of the SEC Board members at x7326.

Sign-in / sign-out sheet

One of the counselors or volunteer parents will carry the sign-in/sign-out sheet at all times. When you leave your child at camp, take your child out to lunch, or pick them up at the end of the day you MUST ALWAYS sign them in or out. This is for your child's safety. If someone else will be picking up your child, you must leave written authorization with the counselors. There is a comment column on the sign-in sheet for any special instructions that you may want us to know about with regard to your child for that day (e.g. special medication, different telephone number for the day).

Dropping off

Drop-off hours are 7:45 - 9:00 a.m. in the lower cafeteria. Please make every effort to bring your child(ren) no later than 9:00 a.m. so that they can start the morning program with the rest of us. Remember, you must sign the sign-in sheet when you drop off your child(ren) and indicate the expected pick-up time.

Picking up

The children will return to the Lab by 4:00 p.m. and can be picked up from the lower cafeteria between 4:00 and 5:15 p.m. Please be considerate of the staff and pick up your child no later than 5:15 p.m. We have a standard daycare procedure and will charge $1.00 per minute that your child is here past 5:15 p.m. The late charge must be paid with a check payable to SEC upon picking up your child. You must also remember to sign your child out. If someone else is picking up your child, they need written permission from you.

Lunch hour

The children will arrive at the lower cafeteria for lunch at 12:00 p.m. Children whose parents do not meet them for lunch will either eat in the lower cafeteria or on the grass near the picnic tables. Since we are monopolizing the lower cafeteria for our six week camp, we ask that only children eating with their parents use the picnic tables. For those of you who bring their lunch, please pack a nutritious lunch for your child. The cafeteria staff has provided us with a "Kidz Menu" (for a charge) that you may sign up for on the first day of camp (see sign-in table for sign-up sheet). Lunches will be delivered by the cafeteria staff to the camp. If you meet your child for lunch, you are welcome to eat with us. If; however, you decide to take them elsewhere, you MUST sign them out and back in. Please have them back by 12:30 p.m. so we can be on time for our afternoon activities. Remember the cafeteria becomes very crowded at noon. You may want to purchase their lunches ahead of time instead of wasting time in line. Remember to check the schedule to see if we are eating lunch at Berkeley Lab or at an off-site location.

Sunscreen, clothing and shoes

Summer is here and so is the sun. If you want your child to wear sunscreen, send some with them and write their name on it. We will help them apply it. Please be sure that your child has appropriate clothes for that day's activities. We are away from the Lab every afternoon and on two days of the week we are swimming. It can sometimes get chilly as the fog rolls in, so it might be a good idea to have your child keep a sweatshirt at camp at all times. We will also be doing a lot of walking this summer so it is essential that your child wears good walking shoes. It is preferred they do not wear sandals as they do not have good traction and do not protect their toes.

Parent volunteers

Parents supervising the lunch hour need to check in with a camp counselor. All parents taking their children away from the group at lunch must SIGN THEM OUT and SIGN THEM IN when they return. CHILDREN MUST BE SUPERVISED AT ALL TIMES. If they need to go to the bathroom, they need to go with a buddy. Please be on time as this is the only chance for the staff to have a break. Thank you ahead of time for volunteering!

Donations

We always are looking for sports equipment and games for quiet time. Items like books, board games, art supplies, and puzzles will be put to good use by the children of camp! If you wish these items to be returned after camp ends, please label the items and they will be returned to you.

Snacks

A morning and afternoon snack will be provided. The snack may include fruit and some type of cracker or other munchie. We ask that children carry water bottles or juice boxes with them for an afternoon drink since we will be unable to carry one with us. If you think your child needs more snacks, then please send something with them. We request NO CANDY be sent with your child(ren).

Swimming

The group will swim two afternoons a week at Strawberry Canyon. These days will usually be Wednesday and Friday. However this may change so watch for the weekly agenda.

What children should or should not bring

Please send your child to camp with a BACKPACK, containing the following:

• Sun screen
• Lip screen
• Hat with visor
• Lunch
• Water bottle
• Layered clothing, labeled (typical Berkeley weather = a.m. fog and p.m. sun)
• Sturdy shoes. NO SANDALS
• Any special medication - must include written permission for the counselors to administer. (We can not refrigerate medication.)
• Swimsuit and towel (on swim days)
• Books or other quiet time items

Please DO NOT send your child to camp with:

• Candy
• Spending money - there will be gift shops at some of the off-site locations we visit in the afternoon. Due to supervision requirements and in fairness to the other children, we request that your child not purchase any items.
• Electronic games and stereos such as Gameboys, Walkman or MP3 players.

Extra clothing

Children, being children, may be muddy or wet when you pick them up. You may want to keep a change of clothes in your car or at camp for these occasions.

Emergencies

Please be sure that you have filled out all emergency forms. It is essential that we have a way to contact you in case of an emergency. Your child cannot attend the camp without this information. If you need to reach the camp staff in an emergency, please call 510-486-7326 or 510-486-4762 and we will relay the message to camp staff. Please respect that this phone is for emergency use only.

Behavior management

If any child behaves inappropriately, a staff will first speak with the child to resolve the issue. If this does not help, the Assistant Director will intervene and speak with the child and the parent. If the inappropriate behavior(s) continues, the Director will talk with the child and with the parent. As a last resort, the child will be removed from the camp.

Illness

Please do not bring your children if they are ill and not up to the activity level described in the schedule. You will be called to pick-up your child if they become too ill to participate.

Parent feedback

SEC directors welcome parent feedback. You can reach all SEC directors by sending email to sciencecamp@lbl.gov. Alternatively, you may leave voice mail at x6566, and an SEC director will return your call. In addition, this year we will send home a survey about the camp at the end of each week that your child attends camp, and we ask you to return the completed survey as soon as possible.

Questions

If you have any questions, contact: sciencecamp@lbl.gov or leave voice mail at (510) 486-6566.