Fern Hollow Nature Center · 2024 Policies and Procedures

Participant Information

Please fill out this form for each of your children if you have multiple participating.

Child's Name (First and Last) *

Child's Age *

Arrival and Dismissal

Families should make every effort to be on time. Your child will need to be signed in and signed out each day.

Anyone arriving more than 10 minutes after their session’s start time is responsible for accompanying their child to meet up with their group if necessary.

Please be aware that there will be a fee assessed for late pick-ups. For the first 10 minutes past pick-up time, it is a $10 fee. Every 5 minutes after the first 10 minutes is a $5 fee. The total late fee maximum is $25.

Please check that you have read and agree to the above Arrival and Dismissal Policy. *

I have read and agree to the above Arrival and Dismissal Policy.

BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

EXPECTATIONS Here at Fern Hollow Nature Center, we strive to make our programs and events an enjoyable community where children can have fun, learn, & connect with others & nature. Our first priority is the safety & well-being of all participants and staff, so we have implemented the following “3 R” expectations, which also will be discussed with children in an age-appropriate manner when we come together.

The "3R" expectations:

RESPECT: Be respectful of yourself, & all students, staff, property, & nature.
RESPONSIBILITY: You are responsible for your actions, your body, & any supplies or materials provided.
READY TO LEARN: Arrive to each session with a positive attitude & conduct yourself in a way that gives you & the rest of your camp group the best experience possible.

DISCIPLINE PLAN

A caring & positive approach will always be taken regarding behavior management & discipline, & staff will focus on reinforcing expected behaviors rather than drawing attention to infractions. For the protection & safety of all participants & staff, the following guidelines & subsequent consequences if behavior is not modified, are in place.

Minor Incidents:

Minor Incidents: relating to behavior that does not endanger the immediate safety of the child or others. Examples include, but are not limited to: using inappropriate language, disrespecting materials provided, disrespecting nature, consistent disruptions that take away from the supervision of the group, disobeying group rules or staff instructions.

Staff Actions:

Redirection/Counseling
Verbal/visual reminder of rules or directions
Child will be given an age-appropriate break from the current activity & have the opportunity to calm themselves, re-focus, and/or problem-solve with staff. When both the child and staff member feel that the child is ready, he/she will be permitted to rejoin the group.

If the child needs to be removed from activities more than 3 times per program day, a staff member will be required to complete a behavior incident report that will be sent home & need to be signed by a parent.
If the child is picked up by someone other than a parent/guardian, staff will contact them by phone or email.

Major Incidents:

Major Incidents: relating to behavior that endangers the safety or well-being of the child or others.
Examples include, but are not limited to: pushing, biting, shoving, hitting, throwing objects at/around others, theft, running off, destruction of property, destruction of nature, and bullying.

Staff Actions:

Child will be given an age-appropriate break from the current activity & have the opportunity to calm themselves, re-focus, and/or problem solve with staff. When both the child and staff member feel that the child is ready, he/she will be permitted to rejoin the group. Staff is required to complete a behavior incident report that will be sent home & need to be signed by a parent.
Parents will be contacted immediately and informed of behavior.
Parents will be required to pick their child up from camp.

If 2 incident reports are needed to be completed in one week, the child will need to stay home for one day; a behavior plan must be put into place that is mutually agreed upon between the child’s family, the lead educator and either a member of Fern Hollow’s education committee or the Executive Director.

FHNC reserves the right to remove a child from the program after the first infraction if the seriousness of the incident warrants.

Please check that you have read and agree to the above Discipline Plan and Behavior Management Policy. *

I have read and agree to the above Discipline Plan and Behavior Management Policy.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Please see our COVID-19 statement listed on our website for the most up-to-date information on Fern Hollow’s protocols & policies.

Other Illness

Please closely monitor your child’s health to protect our community. Children with a fever, diarrhea, stomach ache/vomiting, deep cough, sore throat, heavy nasal discharge, rash, or infectious eye condition may not return to FHNC until 24 hours after the last episode.

Sunscreen and Insect Repellent

Sunburns & ticks are two of the most common issues that can arise with spending extended time outside, therefore sunblock & insect repellent is highly recommended. It is the parent’s responsibility to apply sunscreen and/or bug spray. Fern Hollow will not supply either, nor will staff be permitted to apply it to participants. For further protection from Lyme Disease, please make sure to check your child every day to ensure there are no ticks present.

HOW TO CHECK FOR TICKS:

Check your clothing for ticks. Ticks may be carried into the house on clothing. Placing clothes into a dryer on high heat for at least an hour effectively kills ticks.
Shower soon after being outdoors. Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease. Showering may help wash off unattached ticks and it is a good opportunity to do a tick check.
Check your body for ticks after being outdoors. Conduct a full-body check upon return from potentially tick-infested areas, which even includes your backyard. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Check these parts of your body and your child's body for ticks:

- Under the arms
- In & around the ears
- In & around the hair
- In between the legs/private areas
- Back of the knees
- Around the waist

** If you find a tick, call your doctor for medical advice. You can also call your pediatrician to get their recommendations on tick prevention/repellent. **

Please check that you have read and agree to the above Health and Wellness Policy. *

I have read and agree to the above Health and Wellness Policy.

Electronic Signature

By writing my name below, I certify that I have read the above information. My signature also certifies my understanding of and agreement with the above policies. The information provided is correct to the best of my knowledge.

First & Last Name *

First Name

Last Name

Email *

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Date *

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I understand that checking this box constitutes a legal signature confirming that I acknowledge and agree to the above Policies and Procedures.