Camp Family Information and Policies

ARRIVAL

Prior to arrival to your child’s camp:

Please take note of the drive up drop off and pick up map considering the grade level of your camper.
Read the confirmation email to learn which building your camper will be in for camp.
Check campus and parking maps to determine the best location for parking. It’s a busy time, try to arrive early.
Take note of camp policies (allergies, pick-up, lunch supervision).

First day of camp:

A parent or responsible adult must be present the first day of camps to register every child.
** Students 16 and over can drive themselves if the approval form is submitted.
Please arrive 10 minutes before the beginning of your child’s camp.
Drive up: You can drive to the correct parking lot (see this map) and drop off your camper with our staff (look for signs and staff). Registration will occur carside and campers will be escorted to the camp tent in the VanAndel plaza between A. Paul Schaap Science Center and Van Zoeren Hall and then to their camp once all campers have arrived. PLEASE NOTE: if you have to get out of the vehicle to remove your child from a car seat, we may ask you to pull through and park nearby to relieve traffic back ups.
Walk Up: After parking your vehicle (see this map), you can walk your camper to the front of the drive-up line, where they will be registered. Then you may leave your camper with our camp staff or walk them to the camp tent in the Van Andel Plaza behind the A. Paul Schaap Science Center. Campers will be escorted to their specific camps once all campers arrive.
Registration for K–5th graders: You will receive pickup sheets for each camper and camp. You may give these sheets to anyone you choose.
Registration for 6–12th graders: There are no pick up sheets required, but discuss with your child where you will pick them up. We will release campers in the same parking lot where they were dropped off (Lot 12 in front of the A. Paul Scaap Science Center).
Before you leave your child, please check that their snack does not contain peanuts or tree nuts (including coconut).
If you have signed up for lunch supervision, please ensure your child has a lunch. (Lunch is not provided.)

Remaining days of camp:

Drive Up: You can drive to the correct parking lot (see this map) and drop off your camper with our staff who will escort them to the camp tent in the VanAndel plaza between the A. Paul Scaap Science Center and Van Zoeren Hall after parking and then to their camp once all camper have arrived.
Walk Up: You can walk your camper to the camp tent after parking (see this map). Staff will escort campers to their camp once all campers have arrived.
Campers 16+ who choose to drive themselves can park in any parking lot on campus and walk themselves to the camp tent. From there, all campers will proceed to camp.

DEPARTURE (END OF CAMP)

Pick up:

Grades K–5:
- Drive Up: Proceed to the correct parking lot (see this map) and display the pick up sheet(s) on your dashboard. A camp staff member will locate your camper and walk them to your vehicle.
- Walk Up: You can walk to the front of the drive up line after parking (see this map) to pick up your camper. You must show the pick-up sheet(s) to camp staff in order to take your camper with you.
- If you lose your pick- up sheet, please leave your camper with camp staff and go to the camp office to show your photo ID to the camp administrator. The name on the ID must match the parent/guaridan name on the registration record. This policy is for all campers' safety.
- Parents/guardians may give the pick-up sheet to anyone they choose.
- Please do not arrive more than 5–10 minutes early, we will have campers out promptly.
- Please be patient with our staff as they work to check your pick-up sheet and release your child.
- Your patience and cooperation are greatly appreciated!
Grades 6–12:
- Campers will be taken to Lot 12 (in front of the A. Paul Schaap Science Center) at the end of camp each day. NOTE: This is the same lot they were dropped off. Campers with younger siblings are free to walk to the pick up for site for K–5 campers to be pick up there. Please discuss with your child where you will pick them up.
- 16+ campers who drive themselves are free to leave once they have been released in parking lot 12.

Medications prescribed by a licensed doctor (insulin, epi pen, etc.) for campers that have special health needs (e.g., diabetes, seizure disorder, severe allergies) are allowed in camps after completion of health form and informing the camp administrative staff. The medications must be able to be administered by the camper (or parent/caregiver) and be kept with the camper at all times.
Alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, nicotine, marijuana, electronic cigarettes and/or vape are not allowed on the campus of Hope College or in the ExploreHope Summer Science Camps.
Personal mobile phones are allowed, when necessary, in camps, but we can not guarantee their safety, and we respectfully request they are set to silent mode for the duration of camp.
Please leave personal computers/laptops/tablets home unless requested for use for camp purposes. We can not guarantee their safety.
Drivers age 16 and older who drive to camp must park their vehicle in a designated lot and leave the vehicle there for the duration of the camp. We require that a form giving permission to drive to camp be completed by a parent/guardian before the first camp day.
Animals/pets are not allowed on campus without the express written consent of the Animal Care and Use Committee.
Weapons of any kind are not allowed at any time during the youth program (Summer Science Camps).

Program Eligibility

Each camp has designated age limits. To be eligible for any camp, your child should fall within the age limits. These limits were determined based on the content and skills required for campers to have a positive camp experience in each camp. Campers too old for a camp may be bored while campers too young for a camp may become frustrated.

Special Needs

ExploreHope does not discriminate on the basis of disability and will provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. However, ExploreHope cannot guarantee that all requested accommodations will be reasonable and granted. For more information, please feel free to contact the ExploreHope office at 616-395-7628 or explore@hope.edu.

Review the Camp Transportation Policy.

Snack

Camps will have a break for snacks in the middle of the session.
Campers will need to bring their own snacks or they may buy a snack from our “Snack Shack.”
Please no peanuts/peanut oil/tree nuts from home! We frequently have campers with allergic reactions to these products. Some are life-threatening.

Lunch-Hour Supervision

A lunch is not provided with lunch-hour supervision.
Campers will eat lunch inside and have time outside (weather permitting) to be active before the afternoon session begins.

You are welcome to bring a lunch and eat with your child at any time. Please stop by the camp office and let us know. Thank you!

Incidents

Incidents fall into three categories: near misses, slip and fall, accident

Near misses: You will be notified of any near misses of accidents by a staff member at pick up time.
Slip and fall: Sometimes campers run on the cement, despite being warned by staff, and fall. In this instance, we will help your child wash and dress the wound and fill out an incident report. A staff member will notify you of the incident at pick up and you may request a copy of the report at the camp office if desired.
Accident: Any accident that renders a child unable to continue with camps will be documented and you will be called at the emergency number provided to pick up your camper. We will provide you with a copy of the incident report.

Health

Healthcare Policies, Procedures and Limitations

Scope and Limit: Camp staff and administrators are not qualified to provide healthcare to campers beyond the scope of general first aid, for example, cleaning a wound and applying a bandage. Any incident beyond a scrape or cut may require staff to contact a parent/guardian and Campus Safety. Campus Safety will assess the incident and determine whether emergency personnel (local EMS) are required. Camp staff and administrators are trained in general first aid and CPR including the use of AED through Safe Colleges’ online trainings. Camp staff and administrators are not qualified to give medications to campers. It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to ensure the campers have the medications necessary to participate in camp activities.

EMERGENCIES: In the case that a camper cannot breathe or loses consciousness, CPR will be administered and/or AED used until emergency personnel arrive. In the case of all emergencies, call 911 first and then Campus Safety. Notify the camp office, where someone will call the parent/guardian.

Healthcare Administrator: ExploreHope Academic Outreach does not have a designated healthcare administrator or provider. In the case of incident or illness, parents are expected to pick up their camper and/or Campus Safety is enlisted, as is the policy of Hope College.
Responsibilities of Camp Staff (healthcare and emergencies): Camp staff are allowed to give general first aid to campers for scrapes that may happen during the course of camp. Staff are required to complete an incident form and notify administration of all illnesses/injuries. Camp staff are not allowed to dispense medication to campers. Camp staff/administrators are encouraged to call Campus Safety for any and all incidents in which they are unsure what to do.
Guidelines for when to call for external resources: Camp staff/administrators should call Campus Safety for help for any incident or illness that requires medical attention beyond the training of the staff/administrator. Campers that require non-medical assistance (mental health) beyond the training of staff or administrators, will be taken to a quiet location until a parent/legal guardian can assist and possibly remove the camper from camp for the remainder of the day.
Healthcare Treatments Allowed: Camp staff and administrators are not qualified to provide healthcare to campers beyond the scope of general first aid, for example, cleaning a wound and applying a bandage. Any incident beyond a scrape or cut may require staff to contact a parent/guardian and Campus Safety. Campus Safety will assess the incident and determine whether emergency personnel (local EMS) are required. Camp staff and administrators are trained in general first aid and CPR including the use of AED through Safe Colleges’ online trainings.

We must have the following on file:

Permission to treat
Statement of health conditions that may interfere with a child’s ability to participate fully in camp activities
Statement of most recent tetanus vaccine

Illness: If a camper becomes too ill to continue with a camp, we will call you at the number provided to us during registration and ask that the child be picked up. We will keep the camper in the office until pick up. We will document the illness and you can request a copy at the camp office if required.

Medications

Our staff is not qualified to administer any medications to your child.
If your minor child requires medication (i.e., allergy medication) during the camp day, we require you or a designated adult, come to camp and administer the medication.
We are not equipped to store campers’ medications on site.
Campers with EpiPens or diabetic medications are allowed and required to have their medications with them at all times. We assume campers will be able to self-administer such medication. Feel free to contact the camp office regarding any concerns about this matter.

Camp staff have all undergone background checks and are trained in camper safety, classroom management and learning techniques. First-aid-trained staff are on site.

We run the camps in campus buildings in which we can not completely control the environment, but we keep the classrooms and snack spaces cleaned and peanut free. Please inform us of all allergies for your child so that we can watch out for exposure and be prepared. Forms are provided for you to alert us to any issues.

We request photo and technology releases of all campers. If you have a concern with your camper being in photos or videos, please let us know. We make sure all staff are aware of your wishes and honor them throughout the week.

Liability forms are required of all campers. This is reviewed and agreed to at registration. You can preview the policy here in English and Spanish. ExploreHope is conducting evaluation of the camps for grant-writing purposes. Find information for parents on the consent form.

Rights and Dignity of Campers and Staff of ExploreHope Summer Science Camps

We, the administrators of ExploreHope Summer Science Camps, recognize and respect the rights and dignity of all participants, staff, volunteers and administrators involved in the camp program.