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club information
THE KID EXPLORER CLUB POLICIES
At Kid Explorer Club, we commit to providing every camper the best and safest possible club experience. From our programming to our policies, everything we do is steeped in our philosophical pillars of building holistically healthy kids through engagement with understanding, caring & professional counselors, as well as the Kid Explorer Club’s Dreme9 laying the foundation for future success.
SIBLING DISCOUNT ALL SCHOOL YEAR LONG*
Sibling discounts are available all school year long to give you 5% off of the second club member registered.
*Discount Rules & Regulations
Weeks are accumulated on a per-participant (not per-family) basis
The discount is applied to weeks purchased in a single transaction, and may not be combined with other discount offers
You must enroll online and register for all weeks in the same transaction
Discounts are only applicable for the cost of Kid Explorer Club programs, and may not be applied to
extended care or other purchase options
BUDDY POLICY
Buddy requests can be made during the registration process until September 30th. We always do our very best to accommodate buddy requests as we know how important this can be to our club members. The number of buddies that we guarantee varies both club age and the program for which you’re enrolling — please see our full Buddy Policy & Philosophy for details.
WALK-UP” REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Parents are encouraged to register in advance, but we understand that for unforeseen reasons, parents Parents are encouraged to register in advance, but we understand that for unforeseen reasons, parents through Sunday evening. If you’d like to enroll on Monday morning, you can do so by calling our office at (312)276-9001
REFUND & CREDIT POLICIES
If you wish to cancel your camp registration and apply for a credit to another week of camp, you can contact our office at (312) 276-9001 or support@kidexplorerclubs.com . The following policies and timeline apply.
If you notify us before July 1, you can apply for a 100% credit on your account for a future enrollment, or a 75% refund.
If you notify us between July 1 and July 31, you may receive a 100% credit on your account for a future registration, or 50% refund.
After August 1 , you may receive a 75% credit on your account.
Once a program begins, we cannot make any adjustments or offer any credits.
COMPLETING APPROPRIATE CLUB MEMBER HEALTH FORMS, IDENTITY FORMS & PAPERWORK
All club members must complete the necessary camp forms in order to participate in Kid Explorer Club After
school Program. These forms are required by both the County and the State — depending upon the location your
child will attend camp. Please upload these forms through the Parent Dashboard within two weeks of enrollment.
REPORTING ILLNESSES & ABSENCES DUE TO ILLNESS
Kid Explorer Clubs should be notified by phone (312) 276-9001 or email ( support@kidexlorerclubs.com if a child is ill, especially if the illness is communicable. Internally, we keep track of the instances of communicable diseases at clubs and when appropriate will notify the parents of all children that may have been exposed, while respecting the confidentiality of club members and families involved.
Communicable Diseases
Club members who have communicable diseases will be sent home and may not return to the club until the illness has been treated successfully and the club member is symptom free.
Lice
Club members who have signs of head lice (itching, head irritation, etc.) will be removed from their group and escorted to the camp office by the Safety Specialist. If we believe there is a possibility of head lice, we will ask the family to pick their club member up from club. In order to return to club a club member must have had all active lice removed from his or her hair & and no longer show any signs of infestation, itching or irritation.
DISCIPLINE POLICY
Kid Explorer Clubs staff uses the positive techniques of guidance, including logical or natural consequences applied in problem situations, redirection of children to more acceptable behavior, anticipation of and elimination of potential problems and encouragement of appropriate behavior rather than comparison, competition or criticism. Consistent and clear rules are established. Staff members encourage children to solve problems rather than imposing solutions and support children to recognize and respect one another’s feelings. Coaches encourage pro-social behavior such as cooperation, helping, taking turns and constructive verbal communication to solve problems. The goal is to support children internalize rules and become self-directed in their behavior.
Kid Explorer Club reserves the right to dismiss a child for consistent behavior that makes it difficult or impossible for the staff to meet his/her needs and/or the needs of other children in the group. This will occur without a refund (or portion thereof) or credit towards a future program. This will occur only after parent/staff discussion has occurred.
POTTY TRAINING POLICY
All club members attending Kid Explorer Club members are expected to be fully potty-trained by their first day of club. We ask that families provide an extra set of clothes with club members, if a club member has a history of bathroom accidents. If an accident occurs during club hours, the Staff and Safety Specialist will notify the club members primary parent/guardian.
KID EXPLORER CLUB’S SUNSCREEN POLICY & PROCEDURE
Sunscreen
Parents/guardians should provide sunscreen for use during the club day. Sunscreen sent to club should be placed in a sealed plastic bag and labeled with the child’s first and last name. Pursuant to careful research and the recommendations of the American Academy of Dermatology, all Kid Explorer Clubs are stocked with Oxybenzone-free Rocky Mountain Sunscreen SPF 50+ spray with broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection for use by any club member that does not supply their own.
Families are responsible for applying the first layer of sunscreen prior to morning drop-off and provide it for use during the club day. Upon receipt, counselor/ coaches will label all sunscreen and place it in a tote bag that will be in their possession throughout the day. Any remaining sunscreen will be sent home Friday, the last day of club. During the club day, Kid Explorer Club staff will take all reasonable and appropriate steps to help each child reapply sunscreen to exposed skin– including the face, the tops of ears, and bare shoulders, arms, legs, & feet– prior to Club members’ participation in outdoor programs. Counselors/ coaches will not apply sunscreen when skin is broken or an adverse reaction has been observed. When staff notices these reactions, they will report them to the Staff and Safety Coordinator who will contact the camper’s family. If, for any reason, counselors cannot apply sunscreen on a camper, s/he may not be able to participate in outdoor activities for his/her own protection. If parents/guardians have more than one camper attending camp, we ask each club member to have their own supply of sunscreen so that it is readily accessible throughout the club day.
POLICY ON ELECTRONICS, TOYS, TRADING CARDS & PINS
Kid Explorer Clubs strives to provide a program free from video games, cell phones, audio players, toys and other distractions. Please do not permit your child to bring any of these items to club as they will be busy throughout the club day and these items also tend to get lost or misplaced when brought to clubs.
KID EXPLORER CLUBS FAQs
Our Kid Explorer Clubs are located in Chicago Park District and facilities that amenities aligned with our program .
Kid Explorer Club Pre K goes from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm 10:00 am to 3:30 pm or ( coming fall 2024) with options of full day for PreK and Kindergarten through 6 grades 2:30 pm to 7:30 pm available includes pick up and drop off.
The program includes all classroom materials needed. We request that all Jr Club members please clearly label all of your child’s belongings with their full name to ensure that all belongings can find their way home at the end of the day.
Yes. During the registration process, you’ll be asked to enter your Club member’s rising grade. This will select their age group and the available programs at that rising grade level. This is to ensure a developmentally appropriate curriculum and experience for Club members of all ages.
Just click on ENROLL and you will be taken to Kid Explorer Club site login and registration. 4-H stands for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. 4-H-membmembers pledge ” My head to clearer thinking; my heart to greater loyalty; my hands to larger service; my health to better living for my club, communication.
Yes! Kid Explorer Club members has a wide variety of Club s for every interest and our average Club members enrolls in up to 36 weeks of sessions per school year. Many of our Jr Club members enroll for 16-36 weeks giving them the chance to build long-lasting friendships and develop new skills, such as swimming and the Kid Explorer Club reading enrichment is also in their daily schedule. We offer the flexibility one-week sessions to allow families to tailor their summer Club experience to their schedule.
Please Note: Parent must be receiving TANF/RASP or working and/ or in school/training to qualify. Upon clicking on Enroll Now button to register you will complete information required and you must click yes for financial assistance to be sent an electronic New application (and change of provider form) via email.
PLEASE NOTE: Your Child(ren) will not be able to attend until approval of the Tuition Grant through Act for Children is completed or full payment is rendered until approval is received. Follow these instructions: Fill out the information that pertains to your family and sign with your e signature. Type N/A (Not Applicable) in every space that does not apply to you. You will receive a confirmation email upon completion and you will receive a copy in your email. SCAN or take a picture of verification documents needed to complete your application.
Examples: School letterhead with days and hours of classes and/ or check stubs dated from the last 30 days. Remember, incomplete applications can add an additional two or more weeks for processing. It will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Important: Please email all additional information that is required as an attachment (scanned documents or pictures are acceptable). Email attachments to: enroll@kidexplorerclub.com
We do. Always check the website or call the Kid Explorer Club customer service for availability as programs can reach capacity for many weeks. We encourage parents to register for programs in advance, but we understand that for unforeseen reasons, parents sometimes need to register at the last minute. If you find yourself in this situation, you can enroll online only up until 7:30 am on Monday mornings before Club program begins for programs that have availability.
Once you register and pay for your Club program(s), you will receive a confirmation email for your own records. For those applying for financial assistance you will receive confirmation of receipt of application, but approval communications will come from Act for Children. In addition to that confirmation email, you will receive a pre-program email the week before your session(s) of program. This email will provide you with all necessary information including: what to bring to Club, directions, links to our blogs and more.
You are able to upload all your Club members’ health forms through the link on registration page. Once there, select the “Forms” link to fill out or upload the required forms.
Yes. Buddy requests can be made during the registration process until classes are full. We always do our very best to accommodate buddy requests as we know how important this can be to our Club members. The number of buddies that we guarantee varies by both Club member’s age and the program for which you’re enrolling — please see our full Buddy Policy & Philosophy for details.
Yes — over the course of the summer, we’ll distribute (via email) Swim Logs for all Club members in programs with instructional swimming that have updates for the skills that your Club member worked on as well as notes on their proficiency and progress. These reports are meant to provide feedback to both Club members and parents to aid Club members along their developmental journey as swimmers. The swim log will also touch on the Kid Explorer Club Dreme9, and each Club member’s growth and progress with these in the context of swimming, along with the swim-specific skills that they work on at Club.
Families with children who have peanut or nut allergies can feel safe and comfortable at Kid Explorer Club programs. We are well aware of the dangers and concerns with severe allergies and take our allergy procedures and systems very seriously.
Our Process: If your child requires an EpiPen at Club, we ask you to place the EpiPen in a clear plastic bag along with a head shot photo of your child, noting the name of your child on the outside of the bag. This bag (and any necessary instructions) should be presented to the Kid Explorer Club Safety and Staff Coordinator on location, upon check-in on Monday morning. Upon registration (and in the morning of each Club day), Kid Explorer Club Safety Specialists take special note of our Club members with allergies by placing a mandatory, but inconspicuous, colored bracelet around each child’s wrist, as well as placing their EpiPen or other medication in a bag that stays on their counselor at all times throughout the Club day. We highly recommend that all EpiPens and any additional medication stay on location throughout the week. Our counselors in charge of Club members with life-threatening allergies wear a first-aid fanny pack at all times containing their Club members EpiPen. Any additional medication and necessary instructions for that medication stays with your child at all times.
Our Nut-Free Policy: During both lunch and snack breaks, to prevent contact with any nut products, we have a designated nut-free area. We require our Club members who have nut allergies, peanut or tree nut, to eat meals in our nut-free area during lunch and snack. We take special care not to make the Club members with allergies feel alienated during our eating breaks, and we encourage these Club members to invite a friend to sit with them at lunch, provided their friend’s lunch is also nut-free. At least one Kid Explorer Club staff/counselor is seated at each nut-free area for the duration of the lunch period, and these counselors take care to not bring an item to the table that could cause an allergic reaction. If you would prefer your child to sit at a non nut-free area please complete our Allergy-Free Table Waiver* prior to attending Club . To ensure that our Club members with allergies at our nut-free area have a safe lunch experience at Club , we ask that absolutely no nuts, nut related products or alternative nut products, such as soy, cashew, pistachio, walnut, almond or sun but tmembers be permitted. At the end of each eating period, we require all Club members to wash their hands with soap and warm water to ensure they thoroughly clean their hands prior to their next activity.
If you have any questions about our policies, please feel free to contact the Kid Explorer Club Customer Service Team at (312) 276-9001.
*Allergy-Free Table: Release Waiver > Submit Via Online Form: Click here for the form for all Kid Explorer Club Program sites.
In each Kid Explorer Club program, we provide a unique environment where Club members are able to benefit from individual and small group learning and instruction. Each individual program is supervised and run by a leadership team member (Program Leader) to ensure consistency and proper supervision. For our younger Club members, we aim to maintain a counselor to Club member ratio of approximately 1:6. For our older 1 through 6 grades, that ratio is 1:8. Junior Club members (Pre-K and K) are limited to 18 and 24 Club members respectively to ensure both an appropriate ratio and also facilitate Club member interaction and development.
Safety is our number one priority at all times, and we are extremely mindful of the weather. If we see or hear a thunderstorm approaching, outdoor Club programs are immediately brought inside as we take extreme precaution to ensure that all outdoor Club programs are safe.
We’re well aware that the summer heat can drain a Club member throughout the day and week. Water is always available for each Club program and Club members are encouraged to take water breaks approximately every 15-20 minutes. We take the heat, the humidity index, and the air quality index seriously. Daily, the Executive Director of Kid Explorer Club s communicates with the Site Directors at each Club location to discuss the heat and air index. On extremely hot days (Code Red) and for those Club members spending the majority of their time playing outdoors, participants will take mandatory and extended breaks throughout the day, an extended lunch break, plenty of water and misting fan breaks, and lower impact activities during the day. In addition, we ensure that sunscreen is re-applied on your Club member multiple times throughout the day. We typically plan to re-apply sunscreen every 2 hours. We always have sunscreen on-site if your Club member forgets or loses their sunscreen. All sunscreen applications are logged in our Sunscreen Log Book so that we can easily monitor all Club members. Please see our sunscreen for more information.
