General Camp Information

1. What to Bring

  • Extra Clothing & Appropriate Shoes for outdoor play
  • Water Bottle (labeled with your child’s name)
  • Sunblock
  • Snacks (NUT-FREE)

Tots Camp, Kids Camp, and Piano Camp - craft shirt that can get dirty, recycled tissue box and toilet paper rolls from home

Guitar camp - your own guitar

Percussion camp - drumsticks and ear plugs

Rock Band camp - your own electric bass or guitar (if applicable)

Woodwind camp - your own woodwind instrument

Note:These materials and instruments must be purchased or rented prior to the start of camp as our store will not be open during Monday morning Registration

2. Arriving at Camp

Sign-in Procedures:

Monday Registration: Please allow ample time for registration process (sign-in, hand in waiver form, and double checking information). For Monday morning only, sign-in takes place in the Recital Hall. For Vaughan camps, sign-in/out will take place in room 103. For the rest of camp week, sign-in takes place between 8:50am-9:00am, unless you have prepaid for extended care (8am drop off). For safety reasons all campers must be signed in and signed out by parent/guardian.  All sign in and out will take place at your child’s homeroom.

Campers will only be allowed to leave with the person authorized to pick them up.

Late Arrivals: It is important that campers arrive each day before 9:00am as programming begins promptly at 9:00am. Should you arrive later than 9:00am you must report to reception. They will assist in locating your child’s homeroom to be signed in with their counselor.

3. Departing from Camp

Early Departures: Should you need to pick up your child early (before 4:00pm) please contact your child’s counselor or reception as soon as possible.

Sign-out Procedures: For safety reasons all campers must be signed out by parent/guardian.  The sign out binder is located outside your child’s homeroom as the campers will wait to be called from inside the room by their counselor.  Campers will only be allowed to leave with the person authorized to pick them up.

Extended Care:

Summer camps run from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Early drop off is available from 8:00am-8:45am each day and late pickup runs from 4:00pm-5:00pm. During this time, campers will be provided with a variety of games and activities. There is a $5.00 per day charge for extended care. 

4. Friday Performances

All camps culminate to a final performance every Friday afternoon between 2-4pm. After your child’s performance, you have the option to sign-them out or leave them with the counselor to continue watching the other camps’ performances until 4pm pick-up time.

5. Cancellations & Refunds

Merriam School of Music reserves the right to cancel programs with full refund due to low enrollment. No reimbursements for missed days or refunds provided for cancellations without a doctor’s note.

6. Medication

If your child requires any prescription medications (including Asthma Inhalers) or carries an Epi-Pen, please fill out the Medical Information section on the registration form. All prescription medications must be turned in to the camp supervisor at morning sign in. Prescription medications must be in the original pharmacy bottle, labeled with the patients name and the physicians ordered dose on the bottle (e.g. pills in Ziploc bags are not accepted). Non prescription/over-the-counter medication, including vitamins and herbal supplements, will not be permitted. Asthma Inhalers and Epi-Pens will be carried by your child. If you wish to discuss your child’s medications or medical conditions in advance, please contact the Summer Camp Coordinator.

7. Accidents & Emergencies

If your child is injured, you will be notified following notification of the appropriate emergency personnel. Camp staff will administer first aid and complete an incident report. The Camp Staff, in conjunction with the Camp Supervisors, will make any decisions regarding further medical care. A waiver form was included in your confirmation email to allow the Camp Supervisors or designated appointee to authorize all procedures (including admission to the hospital and necessary treatment) in the event of an emergency.

8. Illness

If your child should become ill while at camp, you will be notified. We will ask you to make the decision whether to remove your child from the program for the day as we do not have a registered nurse on staff. We ask for your discretion on bringing your child to camp if he/she is ill.

9. Food

Pizza Lunch: A pizza lunch is available for an extra fee of $5.00/day. This comes with a choice of either 2 cheese or pepperoni slices, and a juice box.

Brown bagged Lunches: Should you decide to pack a lunch please ensure it is a non-refrigerated lunch and that there are no peanut products.

Please pack extra snacks as morning and afternoon snack breaks will be provided.

Our camp is NUTFREE.

10. Valuables

Campers are asked to leave all valuables at home as Merriam School of Music will not be responsible for any lost or stolen items while at camp. Please label all clothing and belongings. Any items unclaimed by the end of the summer will be donated to charity.

10. Discipline

Behaviour Guidelines:

It is the goal of Merriam School of Music to provide a healthy, safe, secure and respectful environment for all campers and staff. All campers are expected to follow the behaviour guidelines and interact appropriately in a group setting. Please review the following Behaviour Guidelines and Program Rules with your child(ren). Your co-operation is greatly appreciated and will help provide a safe, fun, and respectful environment for all campers and staff.

Camp Behaviour Guidelines and Program Rules:

  • Campers are expected to participate in camp activities, follow the directions of the camp staff and stay with their camp group at all times.
  • Campers must be respectful, honest and considerate of other campers, staff, volunteers and guests.
  • Campers must be respectful of Merriam School of Music property, property of other campers, staff or guests.

 

If a child does not follow the behaviour guidelines, the camp staff will take the following steps:

1st occurrence - Staff will redirect the child to more appropriate behaviour.

2nd occurrence -The child will be sent to see the Camp Coordinator or School Manager to be reminded of the behaviour rules and parents will be notified by way of an incident report or phone call.

3rd occurrence - Parent will be contacted immediately by the Camp Supervisor and asked to pick up their child.

Merriam Music Camps reserve the right to ask a parent to pick their child up early, temporarily suspend the child from the camp program or expulsion from the program in extreme cases with no refund.

The following are zero tolerance behaviour and will result in the immediate suspension from the camp program with no refund:

  • Using profanity, vulgarity, obscenity or acting in a lewd manner.
  • Use of alcohol or drugs.
  • Verbal or physical abuse of other participants or staff.
  • Stealing or damaging Merriam Music property or personal property of other campers or staff.

 

11. Communication

All camp confirmation packages are sent out via e-mail.  Please ensure you include your e-mail on the application form.

If you have any questions or concerns and would like to email the camp coordinator, feel free to do so at: summer@merriammusic.com.  If your concern is of a more urgent nature, please contact the school at 905-829-2020 and a school representative will be glad to help.