This document may change at any time at the discretion of Douglas County Libraries (DCL). Parents or guardians of registrants for upcoming Camps will be notified of changes in service, policies or procedures via email, letter or phone.
Library staff answer this phone number during DCL operating hours: 303-791-7323. For non-emergency communication, please call Kristen Kallio at 303-688-7627 or Kerri Morgan at 303-688-7628.
Children attending Camp DCL must be between the ages of 4 and 12 years old (children age 4 will need to be either enrolled in kindergarten or accustomed to an all-day school-type setting).
DCL will make a reasonable effort to accommodate/integrate special needs children into Camp DCL. You must disclose any special needs or behavioral issues on the registration form. Camp staff will assess individual cases for staffing requirements and accessibility before approving. Sign language interpreters may be provided with adequate notice. DCL will comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination provisions.
Summer Camps: Each DCL Camp runs for one week, Monday-Friday, during regular business hours.
Day Camps: Each DCL Day Camp runs for a single day or as multi-day packs, during regular business hours.
Parents must sign out child(ren) within 15 minutes of the Camp’s conclusion. Failure to pick up within the allotted time will result in a late fee of $1 per minute, per child.
After 15 minutes have passed following the Camp’s conclusion, staff will phone the child’s parent, leaving a message if necessary. After 30 minutes, if parents are not reached in person, the authorized emergency contact will be called to pick up the child. In an emergency, the child may also be released to an adult for whom the child’s parent or guardian has given verbal authorization. If the staff member who releases the child does not know the adult, identification will be required to ensure that the adult is authorized by the child’s parent/guardian to pick him/her up.
If child(ren) are not picked up after 30 minutes past the end of Camp and no provisions have been secured with parents or authorized emergency contacts, Camp staff will contact local law enforcement and release child(ren) to law enforcement personnel.
At the end of any Camp, staff members will reference the sign-in/out sheet and ensure that all children participating that day have been picked up by an authorized adult.
If you anticipate arriving late for the start of Camp, please text the main contact person noted in your pre-Camp informational email with the following information:
Provisions will be made for indoor activities in case of inclement or excessively hot weather. Children are encouraged to bring appropriate clothes (including hats, rain jackets, and closed-toe shoes) and a water bottle.
Registration is secured when DCL receives completed registration forms, along with full payment for each session. Children are admitted to Camp at their designated session only after all required forms have been submitted and a parent or guardian has received a copy of Camp policies and procedures.
Camp fees vary based on content and materials. Fees are subject to change.
For security purposes, a sign-in and sign-out sheet for parents and guardians will be maintained daily for each Camp. It will include:
A parent or guardian must sign each child in and out each day; outside drop-off is not permitted. Please walk your child into the Camp classroom daily, and return to the room for pickup. Children will not be released from Camp without a parent, guardian, or approved caregiver present.
Parents shall advise Camp staff via the registration form of any unique disciplinary issues. Any necessary discipline will be appropriate and constructive or educational in nature, and may include such measures as diversion, withholding privileges, separation of the child from the problem situation(s), and/or talking with the child about the situation(s).
A child whose behaviors are disruptive, inappropriate or unsafe for a library, such as screaming, running, jumping off furniture, misusing Camp/library equipment, verbally or physically mistreating other campers or staff/volunteers, etc., will be subject to the following disciplinary protocol:
If inappropriate behavior continues for multiple Camp days, DCL staff may contact the parent or guardian to create a behavioral plan, which may include removal from remaining Camp days. Refunds will not be given in the case of disciplinary removal.
The Camp will not use—or permit a staff person or child to use—corporal or other harsh punishment, including but not limited to pinching, shaking, spanking, punching, biting, kicking, rough handling, hair pulling, or any humiliating or frightening method of discipline.
Written authorization for emergency medical care must be provided during registration and will be kept in the child’s file. Parents must provide contact numbers for themselves, as well as the child’s primary care physician.
DCL staff and volunteers may not administer medications to any child during Camp. If a child needs to bring an EpiPen, inhaler, or something similar, the parent must request a medication form and turn it in prior to Camp.
Children may be transported by ambulance in case of emergency. Off-site field trips requiring the transportation of children in other vehicles will not be conducted.
DCL is committed to maintaining a 7:1 ratio of campers to staff. Staff includes paid DCL employees, Camp DCL volunteers (age 15 or older), and vendor-provided employees and volunteers.
Children may bring a bag or backpack into the Camp classroom, but must take it home with them each day. No secure personal item storage is available during Camp; please refrain from sending electronics or other valuables to Camp with your child.
Full-day summer campers need to bring a nut-free lunch each day. DCL will provide light snacks, which will be given at designated times during Camp. Children may bring additional snacks if preferred. Please refrain from sending peanut products with campers; other allergies will be noted in a pre-Camp email sent to all parents or guardians.
Camp DCL will occupy spaces reserved exclusively for Camps. These spaces will be off-limits to the general public while Camp is in session. Some activities, particularly outdoor activities, will take place in spaces shared with other DCL guests and/or the general public (e.g., in parks, etc.). Campers will be supervised at all times when in general-use areas.
Parents and guardians will receive a pre-Camp email the week prior to the child’s Camp start date. It will include a basic daily Camp schedule (when possible), tips for the week, information about allergy concerns, etc. Parents and guardians are expected to read all Camp communications.