How will I know what group my child will be in? Can we request them to be in a specific group?
Each child is placed in a group for the week by their birthdate. This can fluctuate from week to week as the registered campers change. Children who attend multiple weeks of camp will not necessarily be in the same group or have the same counselors each week. Please be aware that requests for your child to be grouped with friends may or may not be granted based on staff-to-camper ratios.
When is the weekly schedule available?
The weekly camp schedules are available by Friday afternoon before the weekly next session. Schedules are subject to change based on weather and availability. Contact your camp location directly for more information.
What should my camper wear?
- Participants should wear weather-appropriate, comfortable clothing and athletic shoes to participate in recreational or athletic activities each day. Due to active play, swimsuits should provide full coverage, and be able to securely stay in place.
- Unacceptable attire: sandals, Crocs™, or flip-flops; shirts with spaghetti straps; clothing that displays drugs, alcohol, tobacco, sexual, or gang references; speedo briefs; excessively loose pants or shirts; revealing clothing; jewelry. Certain camps may allow exceptions to this list.
- If appropriate attire is not worn, therefore preventing participation, the parent/guardian may be asked to bring appropriate clothing or will be required to pick up the participant. Certain programs may have additional clothing requirements.
What food should I bring for my camper?
- Campers in full-day camps must bring a bag lunch, two snacks, and a drink in a non-glass container each day.
- Select summer camp locations partner with Wake County Schools Nutrition Services to offer 1 snack and lunch. See the camp brochure for locations.
- Packed lunches should be in a paper, plastic, or reusable bag with their name clearly labeled. Each child should have their own lunch, including siblings. Refrigerators and microwaves are not available.
- Children will not be allowed to use the vending machines at facilities where they are present unless accompanied by a parent.
- The City of Raleigh does not have any allergen-free facilities due to being open to the public. To best serve your camper- please speak directly with camp supervisors about specific accommodations requested.
Do you go on field trips? What type of transportation do you use?
- The Summer X-Press program goes on 1 field trip per week and to a City of Raleigh pool every other week.
- Raleigh Parks will transport participants offsite in vehicles provided by or contracted by the City of Raleigh where applicable.
- If a program participant arrives at the program after the scheduled departure for a field trip, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to either:
- Transport the participant to the field trip location and sign in the participant with a Raleigh Parks program staff member at the field trip site, or;
- Transport the participant to the program site once the program returns from the field trip location and sign in.
- Buses will leave the program location at the advertised scheduled time and will not be delayed waiting for participants to arrive to the program site.
- Participants cannot be left at the program location while the camp is on a field trip. Refunds will not be awarded if a participant misses a field trip. Raleigh Parks does not accept responsibility for a program participant until they are signed in with program staff.
If my camper goes on a field trip are there additional fees?
No, all field trip fees are included in the registration price for the camp.
It is hot today will you go outside?
It is our goal at Summer X-Press to go outside every day. We monitor the heat index and ozone daily and make schedule adjustments as needed. Please ensure your campers are prepared with sunscreen and water bottles.
My camper doesn’t like the activities on the schedule today. Can they hang out in the office or do something else?
Campers are required to stay with their camp group. They are not able to leave the area that their counselors and fellow campers are assigned. We ask that campers try activities to see if they will enjoy it. If they choose not to participate after trying, they may select a personal activity that does not distract from the scheduled activity. Examples of this might be: reading, coloring, legos/plus plus, puzzles, being the referee in the activity, and cheering on the other campers that are participating.
It is our goal to make campers as successful as possible in our programs. We use the following general “Camper Expectations” as a guideline on how to achieve this goal.
- Participants are expected to maintain a positive attitude while using appropriate language and behavior.
- Participants are expected to stay with their counselors and follow their instructions.
- Participants are expected to be willing to try all activities with a positive attitude.
What is the Behavior Management policy?
We utilize and encourage the practice of praise and positive reinforcement as effective methods of behavior management. We believe that when participants receive positive and understanding interactions, they can develop good self-concept, problem-solving abilities, and self-discipline. Our programs will create an environment that encourages positive choices through understanding participant’s basic needs and explaining program expectations.
Raleigh Parks supports and practices the following Behavior Management practices:
- Monitoring – Noticing program environment-daily check-in with participants-active participation with participants and proper staff placement.
- Positive Reinforcement – providing participants with a positive program environment.
- Redirection – stop the undesired behavior and redirect the participant to make a positive choice.
- Time Out – Provide an opportunity for discussion between staff and the participant by asking questions about the behavior.
What is the drop-off/pick-up policy?
The Security Key Tag Identification Process is in place to properly identify individuals that have the parent/legal guardian’s permission to sign out a participant from any program. Legal guardians and other individuals listed on the participant form as an authorized pick-up person will be issued a security tag by showing a photo ID. A parent/guardian will not be issued multiple key tags to be given to other individuals authorized to pick up the participant. All authorized persons must be prepared to show a legal form of identification, such as the current year’s key tag and photo ID, each time a participant is released.
What happens if I pick up my camper late?
Participants who are picked up after the closing time of the program will be charged a late fee. The fee is as follows: Once the parent/guardian is up to ten minutes late a $10 fee will be charged per family. An additional $1 per family will be added for every minute past ten minutes late. Payment is due at the time of late pick-up. Continual late pickups may lead to dismissal from the program in relation to excessive late pick-up policy forms.
If my child is going to be absent, do I need to tell anyone or does lack of attendance automatically withdrawal you?
We ask that you let us know if your camper is not going to attend. It helps us plan the day for activities, staffing, and field trips. Non-attendance does not entitle you to a refund or credit. If you need to withdraw from camp you will need to email camp.registration@raleighnc.gov. See the camp brochure for the full refund policy.
Does the camp provide sunscreen and bug spray?
It is recommended to apply sunscreen and/or bug spray to your camper prior to arriving at camp each day. You may send labeled sunscreen/bug spray with your camper, however, they must be able to apply themselves under adult supervision. Campers are not to share these products with other campers. The City of Raleigh does not supply sunscreen or bug spray.