Childcare
The National Recreation and Park Association has asked
its members to sign on and support National Wildlife
Federation’s three-year goal to get 10 million more kids
outside, reconnecting with nature and reaping the many
benefits to their health and happiness. As a part of this, our
2014 Camp Staunton theme will be Biophiliacs Unite!
Biophiliacs is a term popularized by Harvard University
myrmecologist and conservationist E.O. Wilson to describe
the extent to which humans are hard-wired to need
connection with nature and other forms of life.
Camp Staunton 2015:
Biophiliacs Unite
We take great care in the hiring process by only
interviewing qualified adult staff, keeping our camps at a
13 to 1 child to staff ratio. The majority of our staff have
been with Staunton Recreation over 10 years. Our Park
Setting makes us unique from some of our counterparts
who use institutional settings. We have acres of green
space, state-of-the-art playgrounds, woods to hike, outdoor
sport courts and fishing lakes. We value creativity and
have researched the many ways play in the outdoors
enhances creativity in children. The Enrichment we provide
is exceptional. We hire experts in their respective fields
to teach your children while our counselors interact and
assist your child. Choices and Interests: Your child will
choose from many activities like archery, creative writing,
flag football, hiking, disc golf and cooking. Field Trips are
a weekly occurrence as we go somewhere special almost
every day. Does your child need exercise? Whether it is
organized or unorganized play, there is no way around it.
We play numerous recreational activities each day. Age
Matters! It’s all about the age and appropriate
activities for each age group which includes
field trips. Our three camps are separated
according to age. The Staunton Parks and
Recreation Camp Staunton program is in 30+
years of operation. Our reputation precedes
us; just ask any previous summer playground/
Camp Staunton parent or camper about our
summer camp program. Register for the entire
8 week program, or pre-register for certain
weeks. Program Fees: $540 pre-paid or $80
weekly. Registration begins March 2 at 8am,
Montgomery Hall Park Administration offices.
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HEART: Healthy Environmental
Afterschool Recreation Time
The HEART afterschool program is a latchkey program that
provides a home away from home to children of working
parents. Concerns about safety and being home alone
or under-supervised is a good reason to enroll your child
in this program. We have little staff turnover from year
to year giving us confidence that your child’s caregiver
is both qualified and trustworthy. We have known each
member of our child care staff for at least five years
and they have extensive training and experience. They
understand that parents want their children to be kept safe
and feel acceptance and belonging. Most of our staff are
parents and grandparents themselves, which can be very
reassuring given staff maturity is the common denominator
when establishing security and trust in a caregiver
relationship. The HEART program has quite a tradition
with its roots beginning 30 years ago with the first pilot
program at McSwain Elementary School. We have since
branched out to each elementary school in Staunton and
have developed a credible and professional repu хѥ