Pawling Recreation
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YOUTH PROGRAM POLICIES


PAWLING RECREATION YOUTH PROGRAM POLICIES
(Summer Camp, Parents night out, sports programs, Rec Clubs, etc)
Behavioral expectations
  • Be Safe Children are expected to stay with their counselors/instructors, follow the rules/instructions/schedule of the program, as well as keep their hands and feet to themselves. 
  • Be Respectful (includes listening and following directions, using appropriate language, being kind to others, using equipment properly)
  • Be Responsible (includes using the restroom independently/no bathroom accidents, keeping track of personal items, telling the truth)
Pawling Rec Values- Inclusivity, Respect, Kindness, Anti-Bullying, Responsibility 

  • Inclusivity- zero tolerance of bullying or exclusion of any kind especially regarding race, gender, religion or sexual orientation. 
  • Respect- for campers, staff, patrons, the park, the town and all aspects of camp experience
  • Kindness 
  • Anti- Bullying
  • Responsibility - Campers are responsible for following rules and values of camp, their actions and belongings. 
It is our goal to use positive discipline to assist each child in learning to understand what behavior or actions are acceptable when involved in Pawling Rec programs, learn to take responsibility for their actions, and make socially acceptable behavior part of their regular routine.  Certain situations will not be tolerated and may require immediate parent communication & suspension or expulsion, including, but not limited to:  pushing or hitting others, bullying, threatening/acting out violent behavior, etc.
Progressive Discipline Steps (in the case of undesired/dangerous behavior)
  • Discussion with child: When a child engages in a behavior that does not align with Behavioral Expectations and/or Rec Values, the counselor/staff should immediately attempt to redirect the behavior. If the child cannot be redirected, the counselor or staff will speak with the child on why the behavior is not allowed and ways to improve the behavior. If the behavior continues, the next steps will be followed by the staff.
  • Time-Out: If subsequent incidents occur, the child may be asked to take a "Time Out". A "Time Out" is classified as when a child is separated from the activity but stays within ear shot & eye sight of a counselor/staff that the child spends quietly reflecting on the incident. Once the time-out is completed, the staff will discuss the incident with the child after the child has had some time to reflect on it, and the child then rejoins the group. Staff will inform the parent of the behavior and the Director/Supervisor will be notified of the behavioral incident.
      1. If the behavior is observed again but is deemed a non-threat to other campers and staff, a second time-out will be implemented and the director is informed. 
  • Parent Contact: If a series of discipline incidents occur, the director will address the behavioral incidents with the child and will contact the child’s parents regarding the behavior in order to agree on a plan for behavioral correction. 
  • Suspension: If inappropriate behavior continues after parent contact and enacting the Behavioral Correction plan, a child who continually disregards instructions will be suspended for 1 day. The parent / guardian will be advised. This stage is only to be conducted by a program director after consultation with Rec Director. 
  • Expulsion: If the child’s behavior continues, the parent or guardian will be informed and the child will be dismissed from the program. This stage is only to be conducted by a program director after consultation with Rec Director. 
**Refunds may not be issued in the event of child-expulsion due to behavioral conflict**


Medication & Illness:
  • All children must be able to self-administer any medication that is stored on site or that they self-carry (inhalers, epi-pens).
  • Without proper doctor documentation on file, medications cannot be allowed on site.
  • Should your child be ill with a fever or vomiting, parents will be called and expected to pick up their child in an expeditious manner. Children may only return to Rec Programming after being symptom-free for 24 hours without the use of fever/nausea-reducing medications. 
  • Children with illness may only return to camp activities following adherence to any and all State, County, or CDC regulations applicable to the given illness. 
  • While some of our staff is certified in CPR/AED & First Aid, there is no dedicated medical director on site.


Toilet Training & Toilet Accidents
Pawling Rec requires that all children enrolled in programming in which parents are not present must be able to use the bathroom facilities independently, not require/be wearing pull-ups, diapers, or training underwear, and be able to independently pull up & down their clothing/dress themselves.
Pawling Recreation defines a “toilet trained child” as a child who can do the following:
  • Communicate to the counselor/staff that they need to go to the bathroom before it’s an “emergency”
  • Alert themselves to stop what they’re doing to go and use the bathroom
  • Pull down their clothes and get them back up without assistance
  • Wipe themselves independently after using the toilet 
  • Get on/off the toilet by themselves
  • Wash and dry hands
  • Postpone going if they must wait for someone to escort them
Staff is not allowed in the bathroom stalls with children.
Accidents do happen so sending children with a change of clothes is encouraged- children must be able to change themselves.
Pawling Rec staff can assist children with verbal instructions only, but cannot physically assist or dress children. 
Parents will be called and expected to come assist their child if they need more clothes or need help with changing.  Wet or dirty clothes will be placed in a plastic bag & sent home or thrown out if deemed too soiled.
Kids who still have bathroom accidents:
1 accident: If needed, staff will verbally guide the child on how to change themselves; parents are notified at pick-up of the incident. If the child does not have a change of clothes, the parents will be contacted to either pick-up their child or drop-off a change of clothes. 
2 accidents: same as above; parents are reminded of our toilet-training policy and asked if there is anything we can do to help support the child to prevent more accidents; expectation is that the behavior will be addressed & corrected. 
3 accidents: parents are notified; child will be temporarily suspended until the child is successfully toilet trained according to Pawling Recreation Toilet Training Expectations
*The recreation department will take into consideration length of time between accidents and length of program upon discussing possible suspension from the program with parents/guardians. 


Refunds/Household Credit:
Refunds may not be issued once your registration is complete.
However, In the case that recreation programs are canceled due to an official order from the state, county, or department of health, the Town of Pawling Recreation Department WILL offer prorated refunds OR household credits for the program fees affected. Pawling Recreation will also discuss the possibility of refund/account credit issued IF the child must withdraw from a program for a medical reason.



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