Report on 2017 Summer Camps

Year 2 - District Initiative to Return Camps to District Administration and Operation

December 6, 2017

Barbara Pinsak, Interim Superintendent
Dr. Felice A. Harrison-Crawford, Director of Operations and School Support Services
Valerie E. Hampton, Summer Camp Program Director

Program Overview

Year 2008
(MPS)
2017
(Vendor)
2016
(MPS)
2017
(MPS)
# of Camps/Programs 29 11 10 12*
# of Staff 118 55 36 43
# of Campers/Students 2,016 606 775 740 (1,282
registrations)
# of Scholarships 100 85 84 76
# of Extended School Year Participants - - 16 17
*7 additional camps cancelled, due to low registration/ enrollment

Budget Overview

Funding 2016 2017
Balance as of June 30 $169,610 $138,326
Income/Revenue $179,410 $311,864
Expenditures $210,340 $313,398
Net Loss/Net Profit -$31,284 $-$1,534
Balance $138,326 $136,796

Benefits (2016)

  • Lower cost to parents/families
    • Camps were not charged $500 for Insurance
    • Camps were not charged a 35% Administration fee
  • Budget Based Program Operations
  • Established a "set" salary for camp directors
  • Enrollment increased from previous year (2015)
  • On-line registration
  • Scholarships
  • Vendor fee of 3.95% per transaction (No $40 registration fee)

Benefits: (2017)

Maintained all of the benefits, except where highlighted

  • Lower cost to parents/families
    • Camps were not charged $500 for Insurance
    • Camps were not charged a 35% Administration fee
  • Budget Based Program Operations
  • Established a "set" salary for camp directors, paraprofessionals, counselors and junior counselors
  • Enrollment decreased by 35, still higher than the 2015 enrollment (note: *1,282 registrations through MySchoolBucks.com )
  • On-line registration
  • Scholarships
  • Vendor fee of 3.95% per transaction (No $40 registration fee)
  • Established "set" prep hours
  • Established nursing staff coverage for the well-being and safety of all campers

Action Items: (2016)

  • Earlier start:
    • Distribution of camp booklets
    • Training of staff
    • Budgeting and ordering supplies
  • Institute consistent guidelines for all camps/programs (i.e. numbers of prep. hours)
  • Distribute survey to parents/families (also in process for 2016 camps)

BOE - Recommendations from 2016 for 2017 (Goal and Result)

  • Goal: Earlier start in the distribution camp booklets, training of staff and budgeting/ordering or supplies
  • Result: The coordination by each department occurred in late fall 2016/early winter 2017. Resulting in a distribution of the camp booklet in March 2017 (1 month earlier than 2016)
  • Goal: Consistent guidelines for all camps
  • Result: Established "set" prep hours
  • Goal: Distribution of surveys to parents/families
  • Result: 740 parent surveys were distributed with a 24% (180) response

Parent survey results/feedback: (2017)

  • 180 Parent Surveys
    • 180 rated "very satisfied/satisfied" regarding the camps/programs
    • 180 rated child attended camp "always or most of the time"
    • 172 rated staff as "excellent"
    • 7 rated staff as "satisfactory"
    • 1 rated staff as "unsatisfactory"
    • 171 rated camp/programs as a "good value"
    • 9 rated camps/programs as "too expensive"

Suggested Changes/Improvements

  • Extend offering of camps into August
  • Lower the cost
  • Purchase new equipment
  • Temperature controls (fans, air conditioners)
  • More cooking, pizza, swimming, & art projects
  • Football camp
  • Curbside drop off

Positive Comments

  • Friendly environment
  • Great staff
  • Flexible day/hours
  • Great balance of fun, activities and learning
  • Safe, caring environment
  • Organized activities

Action Items: (2017)

  • Earlier start:
    • Distribution of camp booklets: Beginning of March
    • Program Information Fair - Mid-March
  • Training for new/returning camp directors (budgeting, staffing, supplies/materials)- Jan/Feb
  • Improved coordination of services with other summer programs (i.e. nurses ) - Jan/Feb (preliminary planning)
  • On-line forms/access:
    • Emergency Form - Beginning of March
    • Parent Survey - Mid-June

Special Thank You to

  • Melissa Beattie and Wendy Hatchett, Business Office
  • Karen Bell, Operations and School Support Services
  • Betty Strauss, Supervisor of Nursing, and
  • The Montclair Fund For Educational Excellence (Scholarships)
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