Policies

NO REGISTRATION IS ALLOWED AT DROP-OFF & PICK-UP TIMES.

YOUR CHILD MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED TO ATTEND.  DO NOT DROP OFF ANY CHILD WITHOUT PRE-REGISTERING.

Payments:  Tuition payments are required prior to the day of attendance.  Payments for pre-registered students may be made on weekdays after 8:30am.

Please write your child’s full name and age on your tuition payment check.

Donations:  Willowbrook is a non-profit organization. Because our program costs exceed our tuition revenue, we appreciate any tax-deductible donations you are able to make.  Our most immediate needs include tents, film making equipment, a sound system, stage lighting, and musical instruments.  If you would like to contribute to Willowbrook, please include a separate check with your registration.  You will receive a donation receipt by mail.  THANK YOU!

Returned checks:  There is a $20 charge for any returned check.

Refunds: NO REFUNDS FOR PRE-REGISTRATION OR UNATTENDED DAYS. Because you are allowed to pay on a daily basis for your child’s attendance, we recommend you pay-as-you-go if you are unsure of future attendance.

A processing fee of $20 will be added to billings for late payments.

Photographs in Brochure: By registering for this program, you give Willowbrook permission to use your child’s photograph for publicity purposes.

Discipline Policy

Willowbrook’s priority is to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for every child. Campers are always expected to exhibit appropriate behavior. We want to encourage respect for people and property. To help achieve this goal, a discipline policy has been established to ensure the health, safety and well being of all Willowbrook participants.

Discerning appropriate and inappropriate behavior is a continual learning process, and children sometimes don’t understand the difference. Camp Staff will reinforce appropriate behavior primarily through firm statements and redirection of activity. Discipline will be handled with kindness and consistency. We will use a four-stage system of progressive consequences to help a camper modify inappropriate behavior, solve and correct a negative situation, and become a positive part of the Willowbrook community. Methods employed will be age and developmentally appropriate.

Willowbrook does not practice corporal punishment, verbal abuse, or shaming as means of behavior control or correction.

Staff Guidelines for Camper Discipline

Discipline is most often thought of synonymously with punishment; it involves much more. We want to approach discipline with a positive action so there is reinforcement for acceptable behavior and a learning process taking place as a part of natural growth and development. In order to help us accomplish these goals, we will use the following steps: 

  • OBSERVE and LISTEN in order to prevent conflict
  • RE-DIRECT the child to another activity
  • TALK to the child individually
  • SEPARATE the child from his/her group. A time out/away of reasonable duration (5 to 10 minutes) is acceptable.
  • DISCUSS the situation with the child
  • TELL A DIRECTOR if these measures are not effective.

Some Unacceptable Behavior

  • Leaving camp without permission
  • Abuse of Willowbrook’s site or equipment
  • Destruction of other’s property
  • Stealing
  • Inappropriate touching of others/self
  • Swearing
  • Teasing, bullying or name-calling
  • Hurting, intimidating or threatening others
  • Fighting
  • Overly disruptive behavior
  • Violent behavior towards others/self
  • Disrespect of Willowbrook Staff, other adults, or campers
  • Use of impermissible substances
  • Bringing weapons to camp, including firearms (plus water guns), explosives (plus poppers, fireworks, matches or lighters), or knives (plus pocket knives)

Progressive Consequences Disciplinary Procedure

Stage 1

  • Verbal Discipline: Attempt to redirect and correct behavior verbally. The camper will receive a verbal warning and an explanation as to why the behavior is inappropriate (whenever possible, this will be done in a one-on-one setting removed from other campers). The camper will be encouraged to act in a more positive way.

Stage 2

  • Staff will determine an appropriate consequence for the camper’s actions (examples may include a "time-out/away" or exclusion from an activity).
  • Time out/away: during a time out/away, a camper will have to leave activities and sit in a specified area for a reasonable duration of 5 to 10 minutes. A time out/away takes the child away from the friends and activity in which the misbehavior occurred, and gives time to calm down and start over. We hope this will encourage the child to understand the importance of acceptable behavior and result in an early return to the group.

Stage 3

  • A Director will be notified. An Incident Report will be made and filed. The camper’s parent/guardian will be notified of the behavior issue.
  • Incident Report: If a child persists in unacceptable behavior, a written Incident Report will be made and kept in the child’s file. A Director will speak/meet with the child’s parent/guardian to try to solve the problem. The parent/guardian will be required to sign the incident report.
  • If a parent/guardian refuses or fails to speak/meet with a Director to discuss available options for behavior modification, or will not sign the report, the camper will be expelled. No refund will be issued.
  • Suspension: A child who receives two Incident Reports will be suspended from camp for a day without a refund.

Stage 4

  • Expulsion: A child who exhibits unacceptable behavior after a suspension will receive a third Incident Report, which is just cause for expulsion of the camper for the remainder of the camp session. No refund will be issued for missed days due to unacceptable behavior.

*Up to 7 stages of consequences are possible in the Assertive Discipline model. Most camps follow a 3-strikes policy.