PP&R youth camp participant information

Portland Parks & Recreation camp programs provide healthy, active, engaging, safe, and fun activities for kids from preschool through elementary school. The daily schedule is flexible, and campers are encouraged to participate in all activities. For safety, all camps have one counselor for every ten children. Counselors are on-site with current First Aid and CPR certifications.

We have a fantastic team of people in place to make sure that your child is safe, having a great experience, and is well cared for. If you have concerns or important information to share, you should first let the lead counselor of your child's camp know. If you have a safety concern or ever feel that you are not getting help or the answers that you need, please contact the Recreation Coordinator or building Supervisor.

What to expect

• All emergency information for your child must be filled out online through a secure system called ePACT. You will get one email invite per child from ePACT that must be filled out by the first day of program. Your child will not be checked into our programs until their ePACT information is completed online. To keep your child(ren) safe, we must make sure that we have all the required forms and information in case of an emergency. 
• We believe that kids should be active and engaged with their peers and staff while here at camp. Please leave ALL electronic devices at home (iPods, phones, etc.).
• Tired children at the end of the day. We are very active!

Required emergency contact and health information: ePACT 

Portland Parks & Recreation uses ePACT to collect camper health and emergency information. All information is stored securely online and will replace paper forms. Before your first day of camp, you should receive an invitation by email from ePACT. If you have not seen the invite by Friday before camp, check your spam or contact us.

Campers must have completed health information to attend camp. Filling out the profile takes 15-25 minutes. Children who arrive without health information will need a guardian to log in, create an account, and complete information on-site. You will not be able to leave your child if ePACT is not completed.

1. Follow the link in the invite to create an account on ePACT.
2. Fill out the health information completely for each camper. Please include information about allergies, authorized pick-ups, emergency contacts, and waivers.
3. As a final step, click the Share button to complete the process.   

New to EPACT : Help Center

Returning members: Reconfirming your record

How to download the ePACT Family APP:

• How to Set Up Your 'ePACT Family App' on Apple Devices
• How to Set Up Your 'ePACT Family App' on Android Devices

Important things to know

• The ePACT invitation will be sent to the email address that is on the payer or guardian's Portland Parks & Recreation account.
• Every invite has a unique link for each child.
• Your login credentials for ePACT are different than the ones you use to sign in to your Portland Parks & Recreation account.

Inclusion Services 

Children of all abilities and interests are welcome to participate in our programs. Inclusion Services provides meaningful access to people living with disabilities. The program aims to provide every individual access to all PP&R registered classes and activities within their chronological age group. Each support plan is established on an individual basis.

Requesting Inclusion Services is a decision of the participant or their caregiver(s); recreation staff do not request or require the support of Inclusion Services. Please contact the coordinator at 503-307-4131 if you have any questions.

How to request PP&R Inclusion Services

1. Register for desired activity.
2. Once registered, please complete an inclusion request form. Once Inclusion Services receives the completed request form, you will be contacted by the inclusion program coordinator, who will establish a support plan for the participant. 

Accommodation requests should be made at least 10 business days before the start date of the class or program. Requests made fewer than 10 days in advance should still be submitted, and all efforts will be made to provide accommodation in a timely manner.

Portland Parks & Recreation Personal Care Policy: PP&R staff may provide personal care assistance for registered participants ages five and under, only if the participant has a disability and requires assistance with personal care. Participants ages six and over are encouraged to bring their own personal aide to the activity (must be 18 and older) at no charge to provide any necessary and unavoidable personal care.

Check-in and pick-up

A designated guardian (age 18 or older) must sign your child in and out of camp each day. While this helps keep your child safe, it also is a chance for the staff and guardian to speak directly about the day or ask any questions. Please keep in mind that we will be asking for identification at check-out. If you need someone who is not listed on your child's ePACT profile to pick them up, a Request for Alternative Pick-up form must be filled out prior to whomever is picking up your child.

During the summer:

• If your camp starts at 9am, check-in is available between 8 and 9am. Early check-in may not be available for preschool camps. Please check with your camp location.
• If your camp ends at 5pm, pick-up is available between 5 and 6pm

What to bring and what to leave at home

What to bring

Please label your child's items with their first and last name. A bag or backpack that includes:

• Water Bottle
• Lunch (youth camps only)
• Snacks (one for half-day, two for full-day)
• Sunscreen
• Athletic shoes or sandals with a back (no flip-flops)
• Appropriate clothing for being active
• A backup change of clothes
• Medication (if needed)

What to leave

• ALL electronic devices
• Pokémon or trading cards
• Money or any items of value
• Cell phones
• Water balloons/water guns
• Lighters/matches
• Personal items (games, toys, etc.)

If a camper brings an inappropriate item to camp, the item will be removed and returned to your child at the end of the day.

Positive behavior interventions and supports

We strive to meet the needs of all children and want everyone to have a successful camp experience. We recognize that children can only meet behavior expectations if they know what the expectations are. We teach positive behavior strategies, which focus on prevention through conflict resolution skills and empathy.

Our camp program has three main rules: Be respectful, be responsible, and be safe. We discuss expectations and boundaries on the first day of each week.

Our counselors are trained to:

1. Consistently reinforce positive behaviors when we see the group/individuals meeting the expectations.
2. Give a verbal reminder of the desired behavior.
3. Redirect any inappropriate behavior by describing the action we want to see.
4. Take a break from the current activity and get involved in something else.
5. Take a break away from the group.
6. Check in with the camp lead if the inappropriate behavior continues to determine next steps.

If your child has a hard day following expectations, we will tell you at pick-up. Depending on the circumstances of the behavior, we may ask you to sign a behavior log of the incident. This is a communication tool we use to work together to help your child be successful.

Health and safety protocols

We appreciate your help in keeping participants and staff healthy. Please screen your child and keep them home from camp if they have any of the following illness symptoms:

• Fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit
• Diarrhea (more than one abnormally loose, runny, watery, or bloody stool)
• Vomiting two or more times within the past 24 hours
• Severe or persistent coughing
• Unusual yellow color to skin or eyes
• Skin or eye lesions or rashes that are severe, weeping, or puss‐filled
• Stiff neck and headache with one or more of the symptoms listed above
• Difficult breathing or abnormal wheezing
• Complaints of severe pain
• Lice or nits

All camp activities are informed by Oregon Early Learning Divisions Child Care Provider Requirements.

Medication

If your child needs to take medications while at camp:

1. Fill out and submit the Authorization for Medication Administration Waiver & Release form on your child's ePACT profile.
2. Provide only a single daily dose of medication in its original container. It must be properly labeled with your child's full name, the date prescription was filled/or the medication's expiration date, and legible instructions for administration.
3. Give the medication directly to your child's Camp Lead at check-in. Medications are stored out of the reach of children. We cannot receive medications in other containers, and we cannot accept them from your child. Only trained staff will administer medication at the appropriate time.
4. Medication will be returned to the guardian at the end of the day. We cannot keep medication overnight.

The following non-prescription medications require written consent and can be given only at the dose, time, and method listed on the manufacturer's label for the age or weight of your child. 

• Antihistamines
• Non-aspirin fever reducers/pain relievers
• Decongestants
• Anti-itching ointments or lotions, intended specifically to relieve itching

A doctor's note is required for non-prescription medication that is not included in the above list, or for any of the above medicines that are to be taken differently than what is listed on the manufacturer's label. We cannot give aspirin except with written authorization from a physician. Any unused medication will be returned to you or properly disposed of.

Please bring your child to camp with sunscreen pre-applied and send them extra to reapply if needed. Full-day camps will take breaks to apply sunscreen, and campers will be asked to rub in their sunscreen on their own.

Portland Parks & Recreation Camp staff are not allowed to assist children with applying anti-itching ointments or lotions.

Medical emergencies

For minor emergencies and injuries, there will always be a staff person on duty who is trained in first aid and CPR and will administer as needed. A staff member will contact you to come and care for your child if additional care is needed.

For minor injuries that do not require us to notify you immediately (bumps, small cuts, etc.), a Bumps & Bruises Report will be provided when you pick up your child.

In the case of life-threatening emergencies, a member of our staff will immediately call 911 and perform first aid and CPR, if needed. We will notify you as soon as possible. If you cannot be reached, your designated emergency contact will be notified. If transportation to the hospital is needed, a staff member will accompany your child and stay with them until you arrive. We will utilize your chosen hospital if possible.

Extreme weather

PP&R activities may be canceled due to extreme weather. Weather information and closures are published online, or you can call 503-823-2533 for up to date information. 

Safety is our top priority. Our program reserves the right to make decisions in real-time as conditions change. Refunds are given if a full day of programming is canceled due to extreme weather.

Withdrawals and refund policy

If you need to withdraw your child, you will receive a refund if notice is given before the start of camp. If you need to withdraw after the program has begun, you may request a prorated credit or refund. If there are more than seven days before the start of camp, you can complete your withdrawal online. If less than seven days, you should call or visit a recreation site or the PP&R Reservations and Payments team.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

• What happens if I forget to pack a snack/lunch for my child?
  • We do not have the ability to store backup snacks. If your camper arrives without a snack/lunch, we will contact you to arrange for a snack/lunch to be dropped off. 
• If my child has an epi-pen or an inhaler, do I have to include that information in their ePACT profile?
  • Yes, these are considered medications and will need to be added to your child's profile in ePACT. 
• Who should I call if my child is sick and won't be at camp?
  • Please call our front desk and let them know. Staff will make a note that your child will be absent for the day.