Town of Halfmoon Recreation Department
Amanda Smith, Recreation Director
Shannyn McCarthy, Assistant Director
2 Halfmoon Town Plaza
Halfmoon, NY 12065
518-371-7410, ext. 2700

• Winter Camp
• Winter Camp Brochure

Winter Camp

Kids bored? Looking for something to do over February break? Come join us for an all inclusive WINTER CAMP!! We will be taking a new adventure each day to beat the winter blues.

This camp will run Tuesday, February 21 through Friday, February 24 from 9am to 3pm at the Town Hall (no transporation to and from camp will be provided). The cost will include a daily trip and lots of winter fun!! This program is available to Halfmoon youths grades 1-6, (maximum of 75 participants).

Registrations will be held inside the Recreation Office beginning in January. Winter Camp brochures will become available starting November 15th, please contact our office to receive a copy.

Click here for Winter Camp Brochure

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2012 Summer Program

The information below is for the 2012 Summer Program. For more detailed information, please see our Summer Brochure/Parent Handbook. Brochures will be mailed out to families on our mailing list around February 15th , if you would like to be added to the mailing list please contact our office . Brochures will be available in the Town Hall starting February 20th . For specific question about our Summer Camp, please contact the Recreation Office. For up-to-date information on all our programming, please like us on Facebook !

You must be a resident of the Town of Halfmoon to register for any of our Summer Programs and EVERYONE must submit new immunization records for our records before registering.

• Employment Opportunities
• Changes for 2012
• Clubhouse Summer Program (Entering grades 1 – 2)
• Mechanicville Summer Program (Entering grades 3 - 5)
• Pavilion Summer Program (Entering grades 6 – 10, age limit of 15)
• Before and After Care Summer Program
• Tot Summer Program (Ages 3 – 5)
• How To Register & Payment Policy / Registration Date
• What to Wear & Bring
• Expected Behavior
• Refunds
• Transportation / Busing
• FAQ Page (Frequently Asked Questions)

Employment Opportunities

The Town of Halfmoon’s Recreation Program is now accepting applications for the 2011 Summer Recreation Program. Positions available include:

• Arts & Crafts Director
• Assistant Tot Director
• Bus Drivers
• Counselor
• Head Counselor
• Sports Director
• Summer Secretary
• Tot Director
• Trip Coordinator
• Working Supervisor

Applicants must be at least 16 (Bus Drivers must be at least 21) of age and be available for all 6 weeks of the Program. Deadline for completed applications is March 2, 2012.

For more information, please see the Recreation Department.

Counselor/Specialist/Aquatics Application

Bus Driver Application

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Changes for 2011

• Registration Dates have changed and been moved to accommodate the Easter Holiday:
• Saturdays, March 31, April 14 21: 9am to Noon
• Tuesdays, April 3 & 17: 6pm to 8pm
• Again this year, participants of the Wrap Around Program will be required to pay for all 6 weeks of Wrap Around regardless of how many weeks they use. Please see “Before and After Care Summer Program” section for more information.
• Prices this year are as follows:
• Full Day Program: 1st child - $140, 2nd child - $120, 3rd - $100, 4 +: $80
• Wrap Around: $25 – Mornings, $35 – Afternoon
• Tots: 3yr olds - $55, 4 yr olds - $65, Kindergarten - $100

Please see our Summer Brochure for more information.

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Clubhouse Summer Program
(For children entering grades 1 - 2 in the fall)

This program is located at the Town Park on Route 236, Halfmoon. Activities offered include trips, lessons, arts n crafts, swimming and other recreational, social and educational experiences. All campers MUST be at least 5 and entering the 1st grade to participate in the Full Day Program.

Children may use site phones for emergencies only. We also run a before & after care program at the Town Clubhouse, 7am to 9am and again 3pm to 6pm.

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Mechanicville Summer Program
(For children entering grades 3 - 5 in the fall)

This program is located at the Mechanicville Elementary School, 25 Kniskern Avenue, Mechanicville. Children are offered a variety of recreational, social, and educational activities including trips, lessons, swimming, open gym and arts n crafts.

Children may use site phones for emergencies only. We also run a before & after care program at the Town Clubhouse, 7am to 9am and again 3pm to 6pm.

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Pavilion Summer Program
(For children entering grades 6 – 10 in the fall, age limit of 15)

This program is located at the Halfmoon Town Complex, Harris Road, Halfmoon. Children are offered a variety of recreational, social, and educational activities including trips, lessons, swimming, open gym and arts n crafts.

Children may use site phones for emergencies only. We also run a before & after care program at the Town Clubhouse, 7am to 9am and again 3pm to 6pm.

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Wrap-Around Program

This program is located at the Town Park on Route 236, Halfmoon. The program wraps around the Town program in the morning and afternoon. Activities include sports, games, arts and crafts and other traditional camp fun. This program is limited to 70 campers on a first come, first served basis.

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Tot Program

For Children ages 3 – 5 (must be 3 by May 1 and fully potty trained to enter the 3 year old program; must be 4 by May 1 and fully potty trained to enter 4; must be entering Kindergarten in the fall and fully potty trained to enter Kindergarten Program)

Located at the Temple Baptist Church, 142 Lower Newtown Road, Halfmoon. Activities include Circle Time, Art n Crafts, Stories and Outdoor Fun. Children provide their own snack.

** After June 8th fees double **

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How to Register & Payment Policy

You must be a resident of the Town of Halfmoon to register for any of our Summer Camp Programs.

IMPORTANT: Children are registered and separated by GRADE level. Children will REMAIN IN THE SAME GRADE ALL SUMMER LONG. The groups are organized as follows: 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th through 10th grade groups. For the safety of the children, organization of our Program and reliability of our staff, a child MUST REMAIN IN HIS/HER GROUP ALL SUMMER LONG.

At the time of registration make absolutely sure that the Grade entering in the fall column is correct. Take into consideration your child’s peers and grade level, ask around, including the staff registering you. No grade level switching will be possible after June 8th. All changes after registration must be submitted in writing (no fax or e-mails) before June 8th.

Registration Forms:

Forms will be available in the Town Hall beginning March 26th and at registrations.

Resident Registration Dates:

To Register Residents need:

• Proof of residency: Current phone, gas, or electric bill with your name and current address
• Picture ID (drivers license, passport)
• To have read and understood the Brochure / Parent Handbook.
• Due to new Department of Health regulations, EVERYONE must submit new Immunization Records obtained from the primary physician or school nurse. The record must include the child’s name. Even if your child has attended camp in previous years, you must provide a new copy for our records. NO child will be allowed to register for camp without a new immunization record.
• Current Doctors name and phone number
• Payment in Full for:
1. Registration Fee
2. Lessons
3. Trips (1st week)
4. T-Shirts
5. Wrap Around (at least first week)

**Please Note: Please do not fill out checks ahead of time. Please wait until the actual registration. If paying with a check, two separate payments are required.

Return Check Policy:

A $20 fee will be added on all returned checks. Returned checks must be paid for within one week. Cash or money order must be used when paying for the returned check and must include the original amount of the check plus the $20.00 returned check fee(s). If a check is returned, ALL future payments MUST be in cash or by money order.

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Lessons

The Summer Program offers a variety of lessons for youths to attend during camp hours. Lessons are held once a week. They are to be paid in full at registration and are NON-REFUNDABLE. If your child is interested in taking a lesson, you must register before June 9th.

Note: Lessons WILL conflict with trips. Since lessons are non-refundable and trips are refundable, lessons take precedence over trips. If you sign your child up for a trip when they are assigned to a lesson, they will be sent to the lesson unless a note is handed in that day specifically stating you prefer your child to go on the trip. Instructors are responsible for scheduling make-up days.

Lesson course information will become available closer to registration.

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What to Bring / Wear

Please bring / wear clothing appropriate for the activity or trip. Swimsuits, towels, sun protection, tote bags …SHOULD ALL BE LABELED & BROUGHT NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF WEATHER.

Big Trip Days - Please plan appropriately. Wear Recreation T-shirts and check permission slips for times of departures & arrivals. LABEL all belongings. Money given to a child will be his / her responsibility. A waist or money pouch is suggested.

**Due to the nature of activities, we suggest that your child WEAR SNEAKERS DAILY. DO NOT send your child in flip-flops or sandals.

Please realize that your child is at Recreation Day Camp and not at school. Everything is open to view / hands of all campers. There are no separate rooms or lockers to keep money, toys, clothing, etc. HALFMOON RECREATION IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST OR STOLEN ITEMS. DO NOT BRING ANY TOYS / ITEMS TO REC.

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Expected Behavior

Responsibilities Of Parent & Child:

Please prepare your child for camp. Explain all rules and regulations to him/ her. Talk with your child about wanting or not wanting to spend his / her summer with us. Please make us aware of any problems that your child may be experiencing at Day Camp. Parents must guide their child (ren) to display appropriate, acceptable behavior. The child must be prepared to be accountable for his/ her actions. Parents should know and understand the rules their children are expected to follow and be aware of the consequences for any violations. (See section Three Strikes Plan)

Please talk with your child about responsibility and safety:

• For him / herself and actions and language toward staff and other campers
• For his / her belongings; all clothing, uniforms, towels, etc. (LABEL)
• For his / her money; do not send small children with lunch or spending money in hand, it will NOT last long. Please plan, waist pouch or money pouch is recommended.
• For his / her respect of the building / facility they are in.

Appropriate Behaviors:

• Non -aggressive actions
• Respectful of others, staff and equipment
• Uses appropriate language

Behavior Rules On The Bus:

• Remain in seats at all times
• Respect others. Keep your hands to yourself.
• All objects inside bus windows
• Keep the bus clean (no garbage / writing on the seats)
• Listen to all Bus Drivers, Counselors, Trip Coordinators, etc.
• Keep feet out of the aisles; no changing seats
• Listen carefully to all role-calls whenever necessary
• Eating / drinking on the bus is at the discretion of Bus Drivers

Any damage / vandalism charges at a recreation site, on a bus, or at a field trip will be paid by the child / parent

Behavior Rules On All Trips:

• Always listen for directions from Counselors & Trip Coordinators
• Make sure you can always see your counselor
• Always go with a Buddy, Never Alone!
• Keep track of the time (lunches; departures)
• Be aware of the 1st Aid Station and alert counselors of any problems
• Wear your Recreation T-shirt on all major trips and whenever possible.
• Bring bag lunches on all trips. (Coolers are too heavy and buying is often too expensive)
• If your child is dismissed from camp, all program fees will be forfeited. Trip fees will be refunded as long as they are $5.00 or more.
• Wear appropriate clothing (sneakers at all times, appropriate bathing suits, etc.)
• No glass bottles!

"Three Strikes You're Out" Plan

1. Warning: Staff separates child from group and rules / policies are reinforced. Considered a WARNING; child sits in the office, a call to parent is made
2. Strike One: Staff fills out Referral Form, calls the parent, and removes the child from camp for one day
3. Strike Two: Staff fills out Referral Form, calls the parent, and removes the child from camp for one week.
4. Strike Three: Staff fills out Referral Form, calls the parent, and removes the child from camp for the remainder of the Summer Program.

Depending on the severity of the inappropriate behavior, one or all of the above steps may be skipped. A child may be removed immediately without warning or referral at the Directors discretion (Records are kept). Any staff member can give referrals on a bus, trip, lesson, or site. If a parent is unable to pick up a child due to his / her Referral, they will remain in the office until their ride is available.

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Refunds

• Missed trips are refunded by the end of September (no request required)
• To minimize processing costs, NO TRIP REFUNDS will be issued for $20.00 or less (per family, not per child)
• In the event a trip vendor will not refund money for absent children to the Town of Halfmoon, the Town will not be able to provide a refund to the child for the missed trip
• In the event a trip is cut short due to inclement weather, the facility is responsible for refunds given, not the Town
• ALL OTHER REFUNDS (lessons, registration fee, wrap around fees) must be requested. All requests must be submitted in writing and received in our office BY June 22, 2012
• Emailed & faxed refund requests will NOT be honored. Requests must be dropped off to our office or sent by mail
• Refund requests received AFTER June 22, 2012 WILL NOT BE HONORED

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Bus Transportation

Below is a list of all bus stops we will be utilizing this year. Each bus stop has been assigned a number. Please have your child memorize their bus STOP number, not their route number. At registration you will be asked to sign up for a bus stop. This will help us to establish how the buses will run.

After registration is complete, we will then be able to determine the actual bus routes depending on how many children sign up for each bus stop. Once the bus routes have been established, all participants in the program will be mailed a full bus schedule including approximate times for pick up. We will not estimate times for drop offs in the afternoons. Anyone picking up a child from a bus stop will need to be at the bus stop at 3:05pm the first couple days of camp to determine drop off times.

DO NOT CONTACT SHENENDEHOWA TRANSPORTATION.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should my child bring to summer camp?

We ask that all children bring in a water bottle and towel. In addition we also ask that all children wear socks and sneakers everyday in order to participate in all the activities we offer. Please keep in mind that everything is open so anything your child brings to camp should be labeled with their name.

We also recommend that children DO NOT bring toys, games and electronics to camp. We do not have lockers or a locked area to keep these items in; everything is open to the view and hands of all campers. The Town is not responsible for items lost, broken or stolen. We do have a lost and found at each site in the Site Office.

What are the lunch options?

All children are more than welcome to bring their lunch to camp, keep in mind we do not have refrigeration. In addition we also offer pizza or chicken fingers with fries, depending on the day. We also offer a choice of drinks: Water, Iced Tea or Gatorade. All lunch orders must be placed by 9:30am; if your child arrives to camp after 9:30am, the parent is responsible to provide lunch that day. Schedules of lunch options will be mailed along with the bus schedule prior to the first day of camp.

What is a typical day on site like if a child does not attend a trip?

All our trips are optional; we offer a full day of activities for the campers who prefer to stay on site. Below is an example of a day for the 1st & 2nd graders, please keep in mind this is an example and is not necessarily the schedule for this year.

What is the policy for rainy or extremely hot days?

Days that are extremely rainy or hot the on-site schedule will change as the weather changes. On these days, time playing outside is limited depending on the weather. If children aren’t able to play outside we will provide movies and indoor activities for the campers to enjoy.

Can I pick up or drop off my child to a lesson or trip?

Due to insurance regulations and the safety of the campers we do not allow parents to drop off or pick up children to trips or lessons. In order for campers to participate in our trips and lessons the Town of Halfmoon must transport them to and from the facilities.

What happens if I need to pick up my child early from camp or drop them off late?

If your camper arrives to camp after 9am, you will be asked to sign them in for the day. If you need to pick up a camper early, please let us know by writing a note to the Site Director. When you pick up a child from camp you will be asked to provide Photo ID and will be required to sign them out for the day.

Is there transportation after the Wednesday late trip?

No, we do not provide transportation home after the Wednesday late trips. You will need to pick up your child at the Town Pavilion (this is for all sites). You will be asked to provide Photo ID and to sign them out.

What happens if my child is sick or we are on vacation and cannot hand in a permission slip?

Permission slips are available in the Main Office throughout the summer. We will always have permissions slips at least 2 weeks ahead. If you are planning a vacation or your child is ill, it is your responsibility to make sure a permission slip is handed in on time. Our staff is at the Clubhouse until 6pm every night and permission slips are available at all sites. Likewise, if your child does not come home with a permission slip on Monday, please let us know to make sure we send one home on Tuesday. Permission slips are handed out to campers as they board the bus at the end of the day.

Does my child have to attend everyday from 9am to 3pm?

No, once you pay the registration fee, your child is entitled to come as much or as little as they like for the six weeks. Some campers choose to only come to camp certain days of the week or certain hours of the day. If your child is going to be absent for a day, you do not need to contact us to let us know. Please be aware of deadlines and make sure to hand in permission slips on time if your camper does not plan on attending on deadline dates.

If my child is signed up for a lesson and a trip on the same day, can they attend both?

In most cases, campers signed up for a lesson and a trip on the same day will not be able to do both. We will always send the camper to their lesson unless it is marked on the weekly permission slip or a note is submitted giving the camper permission to skip the lesson and to attend the trip that day.

If my child misses a trip they were registered for, can I get a refund?

All trips are refundable. We keep track of all absences in the Main Office. After camp ends, we will refund any missed trips towards the end of August to the beginning of September.

If my child attends a trip and it is sent home early, will we get a refund?

We always travel to the daily trip in hopes of good weather. If we are sent home early due to bad weather or the facility closing, it is up to the facility to compensate for the early departure. Some facilities choose to give monetary refunds, other give tickets for the campers to return another day. It is the facilities decision to refund the campers and what the compensation will be.

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