GCC Gator Camp &
Junior Sports Program Overview
GCC Gator Camp is offered to all 3-9 year old children and grandchildren. The camp is made up of two 3-week sessions and runs Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (3 & 4 yr olds will end at 1pm). The dates are as follows:
Session I: June 25-July 13 Session II: July 16-August 3
GCC CAMP ACTIVITIES
In addition to swim lessons and other sports activities, our campers participate in daily arts & crafts led by an Arts & Crafts Director. Scott Moroney, our GCC Camp Director, has planned several new activities such as Field Day, a camp-wide Scavenger Hunt and Carnival Day replete with dunk tanks, face painting and games. The kids’ favorite visitors from Krazy Kool Kreations and Donny Magic will return.
All campers partake in weekly activities such as cooking with Chef Keith, Tae Kwon Do and Free Swim. During free swim periods, counselors swim with the children to keep a watchful eye on our campers. Please note that our youngest campers play in the Baby Pool with their counselors during Free Swim.
Each session will end with an awards ceremony where the counselors and swim instructors will recognize your child by giving them a special award.
PROGRAMMING
Minnow Activities3 - 4 yr olds 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Arts & Crafts
Tennis Lessons by Tennis Pros (2x/wk) Snack
Swim Lessons by Swim Staff (5x/wk) Lunch Cooking Field Games Special Activities Free Swim Pollywog Activities 5 - 6 yr olds 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Arts & Crafts
Golf Instruction by Golf Pros (2x/wk) Tennis Lessons by Tennis Pros (2x/wk) Squash Lessons by Squash Pros (1x/wk)
Snack
Swim Lessons by Swim Staff (5x/wk) Lunch Tae Kwon Do Cooking Field Games Special Activities Free Swim
Gator Activities
7 – 9 yr olds 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Swim Team/Lessons *
Arts & Crafts
Golf Instruction by Golf Pros (3x/wk) Squash Lesson by Squash Pros (2x/wk)
Snack
Tennis Lessons by Tennis Pros (5x/wk) Lunch Tae Kwon Do Cooking Field Games Special Activities Free Swim
*All 7-9 year olds will start camp in the pool for swim team/lessons. The campers who are advanced swimmers will participate in a more traditional style of practice whereas our more inexperienced swimmers will receive instruction and learn how to swim the different strokes. All of our 7-9 yr olds will be considered part of the Gator Swim Team. Please note, however, that if your child does not want to participate in the formal swim meets, it’s perfectly fine. There is no requirement to do so. If your child would like to participate in a meet, please give 24 hrs advance notice to the Swim Team Coach.
Lunch & Snacks
Chef Keith offers a daily lunch for our Gator Campers (3-9 yrs old). Sample menu items will include grilled chicken sandwiches, hamburgers, baked organic chicken nuggets, wraps, pasta, etc….served with fruit, vegetables, organic milk and water. If the selection does not suit your child’s taste, bagels with butter/cream cheese, yogurt, hard-boiled eggs & fruit will be available. Cost: $90/session, which will be applied toward the member’s
If you would prefer not to sign up for the catered lunch, then please pack a bag lunch for your child.
We provide snack every day. We try to serve a variety of crackers so that most children will eat something for energy. We sometimes serve popsicles on extremely hot days and occasionally celebrate a special event with a treat. Please let us know if you would like to bring in something special for a birthday.
All children who are 10+ can order their lunch from the snack bar.
What to Wear
Every day your child will need a backpack or bag with a towel, bathing suit, swim goggles (if your child uses them), sun block and tennis racquet. Please label everything.
All campers should wear a white GCC t-shirt or white GCC rash-guard with white shorts, although white shorts are not required for our 3 and 4 yr olds. We do this for safety as well as team spirit. We ask that you send your child to camp with their swim suits on under their clothes. All campers must wear tennis sneakers daily. NO FLIP FLOPS OR SANDALS.
You will be able to buy camp t-shirts and rash guards at the Camp/Swim Kick-Off held at the pool on June 5, 2012. Please note that GCC white camp shirts from previous years are acceptable.
Also please note that all campers need to be potty-trained and pull-ups are not allowed.
Sunblock
Please be sure to send your child to camp with sun block already applied and pack extra sun block in their backpack or bag with their name clearly labeled on the bottle. If you would like it reapplied to your child, please inform Scott Moroney on the first day of camp to ensure the counselors apply to your child's face, neck and ears. If you would like the counselors to reapply to your child's entire body, then you must pack a SPRAY bottle of sun block
A Note about Swimming
All campers receive daily swim lessons, aided by counselors if needed. The GCC Swim Staff has put a system in place where the swim instructors will chart his/her progress and ability level. Some examples of the skills the Minnows will try to master are floating on their back, kicking with and without a kickboard, holding their breath, and learning the arm movement in the freestyle stroke. Pollywogs will develop the proper arm motion, the flutter kick, and the correct breathing technique used in the freestyle. And the focus for our Gators will be to master the four main swim strokes through swim instruction and practice. All progress reports will be emailed to the parents.
Safety is our utmost priority, and no children enter the pool without lifeguards present. If your child cannot swim or is afraid of the water, please be sure to tell his or her counselors on the first day of camp. Lifeguards are on duty and counselors are ever watchful, but we prefer to be over-cautious at the pool.
Additional Clinics:
If your child would like to sign-up for diving, water polo, synchro or additional golf, tennis or squash clinics, you may do so on the Gator Camp Registration Form. Clinics are offered on a weekly basis.
Allergies
If your camper (3-9 yr olds) has allergies or special dietary needs, please be sure it is noted on his or her medical form and that any additional information is given to us in writing. A list of all allergies is posted in the staff cabinet so that all counselors are aware of any health concerns.
As per CT State Statute, if your child requires an Epi-Pen or other medication to be stored at camp, this must be brought to the camp office. An “Authorization for Administration of Medication” form must be on file and the original pharmacy prescription label with directions must be attached. The medication must be in its original container.
Drop-Off & Pick-Up
Drop Off: All campers should be dropped off in the morning at the field
next to the Camp House. Children who are late often feel nervous about how to find their group and worry that they have missed something fun. To avoid this, we strongly encourage a timely drop-off. Gator Campers should arrive a few minutes early, so they can drop off their bags and head straight to the pool for 9:00 a.m. swim team/practice.
Pick Up: All campers (excluding our 3-4 yr olds) should be picked-up at
the field next to the Camp House. The Minnows can be picked up in the Fairfield Room at 1pm. If your child is attending a sports clinic after camp, be sure to inform the counselors in the morning and they will walk them to the appropriate location. Additionally, if someone other than you is picking up your child, please be sure to let us know.