Future Reflections Special Issue on Advocacy
NFB Kids Camp Adventure
by Carla McQuillan
If you are between the ages of six weeks and twelve years, NFB Camp (child care) is the place to be at national convention this year in Orlando. During meetings and general convention sessions, NFB Camp will be open for fun.
Our camp rooms are divided by age with toys and activities appropriate to the ages served in each room. We have rooms for infants and toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children. The infants and toddlers spend much of their time in the room with occasional walks around the hotel and stories read from Braille books. The preschool group will enjoy Braille story time, arts and craft projects, and small group play on the hotel lawns. The school-age children will have special-guest activities such as science and technology, music and movement, beep kickball, art and drawing, and visits from blind people employed in different professions. In addition, we will have daily excursions to the hotel lawns for outdoor games and water play.
Field Trips to Monkey Joe's
Just down the street from the hotel is an indoor fun house called Monkey Joe's. This air-conditioned party room has several giant inflatable structures with slides, obstacle courses, bounce houses, and ball pits. In addition, there are several carnival and arcade games.
We will be taking small groups of children to Monkey Joe's several times throughout the week. The cost will be $10 per child, which includes transportation on the local shuttle that runs up and down International Drive and admission to all the attractions at Monkey Joe's.
Children must be between the ages of five and twelve, and priority will be given to children enrolled in NFB Camp for the week. Look for sign-up sheets at the NFB Camp registration desk when you get to the convention.
Banquet Night
NFB Campers will enjoy their own banquet night activities beginning with their meal. After dinner, the children will enjoy games and win prizes at the camp carnival.
NFB Camp Workers
NFB Camp is under the supervision of Carla McQuillan, president of the NFB of Oregon and a longtime member of the Federation. Carla is the executive director of Main Street Montessori Association, operating three Montessori schools and a teacher education program. She has directed NFB camp since 1996. Alison McQuillan serves as the activities and staff coordinator for camp. Alison monitors the daily programs, drop-off and pick-up, and staff-to-child ratios, ensuring that only parents and authorized adults are allowed into camp rooms.
Each of the three camp rooms has a supervisor who is responsible for the activities of that age group. These leaders are chosen because of their experience and demonstrated capacity to handle groups of children and workers. Other workers and camp volunteers are drawn from within the organization. We usually have a mix of blind and sighted teens and adults who work with the children.
Blindness Professional on Staff
Michelle Chacon is a certified orientation and mobility instructor and a teacher of blind children. She will be available throughout the week to consult with parents and staff, as well as provide some individualized instruction for our campers.
Babysitting List
NFB Camp maintains a list of people who are interested in providing care outside of the scheduled hours for camp. The list is at the check-in desk for NFB Camp. Parents are welcome to review names on the list if they are in need of caregivers during off hours. NFB Camp and the National Federation of the Blind are not responsible for the actions and behavior of those on the babysitting list. We do not screen the people; we merely maintain a central list for the convenience of convention attendees.
Preregistration
Because of the limited space, we require that parents wishing to enroll their children in NFB Camp complete and return the registration form below no later than June 15, 2013. You may also email or call to reserve your child(ren)'s space: <[email protected]> or (541) 653-9153. Any questions can also be directed to Carla McQuillan at the same address, email, and phone.
2013 NFB Annual Convention,
Orlando, Florida. July 1-6
NFB CAMP REGISTRATION FORM
Completed form and fees must be received on or before June 15, 2013.
Parent’s Name________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________
City__________ State___________ Zip______ Phone _______________
Cell Phone _______________ Cell Phone _______________
Child(ren)’s Name(s)
___________________________ Age_____ Date of Birth___________
___________________________ Age_____ Date of Birth___________
___________________________ Age_____ Date of Birth___________
Include description of any disabilities or allergies we should know about: ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Who, other than parents, is allowed to pick up your child(ren)?__________
____________________________________________________________
Per Week: $100 first child, + $75 x ____ siblings: # of Children _____ $_________
(Does not include banquet)
Per Day: $25 per child per day:
(Does not include banquet) M W TH F S (circle)
# of Days_____ x $25 child $_________
Banquet: $25 per child: # of Children _____ x $25 child $_________
# of each: _____Turkey Sandwich _____Cheese Sandwich
We understand that NFB Camp is being provided as a service to make our convention more enjoyable for both parents and children. We will pick up children immediately following sessions. We understand that, if our child(ren) does not follow the rules or if for any reason staff are unable to care for our child(ren), further access to NFB child care will be denied.
Parent’s Signature _____________________________________ Date ______________
Make checks payable to NFB Camp. Return form to NFB Camp, 5005 Main Street, Springfield, OR 97478; (541) 726-6924; and <www.mainstreetmontessori.org>.
NFB CAMP SCHEDULE
NFB Camp will be open during general convention sessions, division and committee meeting day, and the evening of the banquet. The hours for NFB Camp are tentative. The actual hours will be based on the beginning and ending of sessions so that parents can drop off their children thirty minutes before the start of session and must pick up their children within thirty minutes of the end of session. On occasion the actual end or beginning of session may be earlier or later than the agenda indicates. We charge a $10 per quarter-hour per child late pick-up fee. NFB Camp provides morning and afternoon snacks. You must provide lunch for your children every day.
Date NFB Camp Hours
Monday, July 1st 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 2nd Camp is closed.
Wednesday, July 3rd 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 4th 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
Friday, July 5th 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 6th 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
Banquet 6:30 p.m.–30 minutes after adjourn.
Additional forms (emergency info, waivers, etc.) will be mailed or emailed after we receive the registration form above.
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