School Break Day Camp

There are two camp groups and campers are separated by the grade that are in for the current school year:

• Children in Pre-K & K (age 4+)
• Children in 1st-6th grade
• Jr. CIT’s are in 7th & 8th grade

• A current TNC for Two Membership or higher is required for all camp participants.
  • TNC for Two covers one adult and one additional adult or child.
• Families with multiple campers need one qualifying membership (Family Membership or higher required for more than one child).
• Membership is annual and only needs to be purchased once per year.
• Not a member? Join or renew to enjoy TNC benefits year-round.

After registering your child, you will receive a confirmation e-mail. This e-mail contains the followup requirements necessary to complete your registration.

1. Please wait to receive an email and then log into our online health system: CAMPDOC.
   Click below for
   Online Enrollment
   This is where you will tell us about your camper, fill out health information, emergency contacts, other important safety data, and submit the following required files:
   • The Mandatory Health Packet: Universal Health Record from your child’s health care provider.
     1. Including an Immunization History:
        Please note, if your health care provider will not be including a complete immunization form the Health Department requires a written statement signed by the parent or guardian explaining how the administration of immunizing agents conflicts with the camper’s exercise of bona fide religious tenets or practices. General philosophical or moral objection to immunization shall not be sufficient for an exemption on religious grounds.
   • A copy of your insurance card.
   • A copy of any information regarding your child’s activity restrictions/learning plans (ex. IEP, ISFP).
2. Complete the form submission through CAMPDOC 7 days prior to the start of the camp session (New Jersey state law requires that campers submit a current health record each year).

Failure to submit all forms to TNC 7 days before the first day of camp will result in forfeiture of your registration fee.

The Tenafly Nature Center’s first priority is the safety of our campers. Here at Tenafly Nature Center we strive to make camp a healthy and safe community, one in which campers can have fun, connect with others and with the Earth. Therefore, we expect all campers will:

1. 1. Stay with their group
   2. Participate in camp activities
   3. Interact with other campers and staff members in respectful ways
   4. Be supportive of other campers’ needs and efforts
   5. Always act in ways that are safe for themselves and others
   6. Treat other campers’ (and the camp’s) property and belongings with respect and consideration
   7. Never threaten, imply a threat or “get in the face” of another camper
   8. Not engage in put-downs of any type or make “fun” of another camper
   9. Not purposefully and with ill intent exclude another camper
   10. Never intentionally physically harm another camper or staff (No hitting, kicking, pushing, biting, etc.)
   11. The Tenafly Nature Center embraces diversity and values the integrity of our community. Individual differences of religion, culture, socioeconomic status, national origin, race, ethnicity, biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical appearance, and ability are acknowledged and respected. Campers strive to behave in a sensitive, open, and respectful manner and will not deliberately exclude another individual for these reasons.

The consequences of not following the camp’s code of conduct are:

1. First time- meeting at camp with the camp staff and parent(s) to discuss the incident.
2. Second time- the camper will miss one day of camp in order to better understand that there are better behavior choices to be made relative to the incident.
3. Third time- a decision-making meeting with parents in order to look at the real possibility that perhaps Tenafly Nature Center Day Camp is not a good match for the camper and his/her needs.

Our goal is to help each camper have a successful and positive camp experience. Of course, each incident will be looked at individually and in terms of degree of seriousness.

Please go over the behavior policy and expectations with your camper(s), including the consequences for not following them. Clarity and consistency, at camp and at home, are the keys for making our camp a healthy, nurturing environment for children. The staff reserves the right to cancel registration without refund during camp week for behavior violating these policies.

If your child is going to be absent or arriving after 9:00 am for ANY reason, please contact the Nature Center office at (201) 568-6093. You may leave a message if your call is outside office hours — please try to call before 9:00 am each day your child will be absent. Refunds will not be given for absence.

Signs to note if a child is too ill to attend camp?

A few sniffles or a dry cough are okay, but if a child has a fever over 100°F, diarrhea, vomiting, a sore throat, a rash, red draining eyes, thick yellow or green nasal discharge, please keep them at home until 24 hours after these symptoms are resolved or a note from your doctor is sent to camp stating that the child can attend. If your child is diagnosed with an infection, it is very important to keep them out of camp for at least 24-48 hours after starting antibiotics to prevent the spread of infection.

Other health reasons a child may not attend camp

A camper who shows symptoms of any of the following communicable diseases will not be allowed at camp without a note from a doctor or specialist:

1. Chicken pox
2. German measles (rubella)
3. Measles (rubella)
4. Mumps
5. Streptococcal infections (including scarlet fever, sore throat, and erysipelas)
6. Whooping cough (pertussis)
7. Fifth disease (erythema infectiosum)
8. Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
9. Impetigo (staphylococcus infection)
10. Meningitis-meningococcal
11. Hepatitis infectious
12. Head lice (pediculosis)

A camper who is found to have live head lice will not be permitted to attend camp until there are no active lice in the camper’s hair, proof of treatment has been provided to the camp director, and until all live and/or dead head lice are removed from the camper’s hair.

The presence of nits (the eggs of lice) without active head lice will not prohibit a child from attending camp provided proof of treatment has been provided to the camp director and there is no evidence of active head lice in the camper’s hair.

We encourage participants to consider converting refunds into a donation to help support TNC’s mission of nature education and conservation.

All CAMPDOC forms must be submitted at least 7 days prior to the first day of camp. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of your registration.

Membership

Memberships are non-refundable, as they are considered tax-deductible donations with year-round benefits.

Rescheduling

Rescheduling to another camp day may be available based on availability and at the discretion of the Camp Director.

Cancellations & Fees

• All refunds are subject to a $50 processing fee.
• No refunds will be issued once the camp has begun.
• Refunds (minus the $50 processing fee) are issued based on cancellation notice:
  • 30+ days’ notice: 100% refund
  • 15–30 days’ notice: 50% refund
  • Less than 14 days’ notice: No refund
    • In this case, the program fee may be issued as a charitable donation receipt.
• Cancellation notice must be given in business days prior to the first day of camp.
  • Business days are Monday–Friday; weekends and holidays are not included.
• If TNC cancels a day or dismisses a program early, due to weather or other emergencies, a partial refund may be issued.

Program & Reservations Changes by TNC

TNC reserves the right to cancel, reschedule, or modify programs as needed.

Facility Use

A fee to cover the costs of replacement  may be charged for damages to property or facilities caused during camp. You will be notified by phone if an invoice is created.

Other Policies

• TNC reserves the right to cancel a registration without refund due to inappropriate behavior or if a participant is registered outside the appropriate age or grade range.
• Refund policies vary for Summer Camp, Scouts, Seasonal Programs, Gifted & Talented, Homeschool, Professional Development, Field Trips & TNC to Go Programs, Birthday Parties, Facility Rentals, and Special Events. Please refer to those program pages for specific details.

* These policies help cover the costs of staffing and program preparation and ensure we can continue offering high-quality programs as a nonprofit nature preserve.

Tenafly Nature Center does not want to turn any child away from making a connection with nature and strives to give all children access to time spent in nature, regardless of their ethnic, social or economic backgrounds. Therefore scholarships are made possible each year for a select amount of campers through grants and the generous donations of individuals and organizations.

Read more about our camp scholarship option