Summer Camp Parent/Guardian Information
We are so excited to be working with your children again this summer! Below is general information about current Paws Camp procedures, special Covid-19 protocols, and items your camper needs to bring to camp. Please let us know if you have any questions. See you soon!
We are so excited to be working with your children again this summer! Below is general information about current Paws Camp procedures, special Covid-19 protocols, and items your camper needs to bring to camp. Please let us know if you have any questions. See you soon!
General Camp Information
All adults and required personnel are background checked and cleared by the state.
Email: [email protected] Voicemail: 484-485-PAWS
Camp Schedule
Monday-Friday 9 am-3 pm
What to bring to camp!
What NOT to bring to camp!
Drop-off Procedures
Drop-off will be at the PAWSibilities Animal Adoption Center unless otherwise noted. The Adoption Center is located at 4045 Skippack Pike in Skippack Village.
Please plan to arrive promptly at 9:00 am. We will have an adult outside ready to welcome your campers. We ask that all parents/drivers do NOT exit their vehicles to minimize contact with other campers.
Pick-up Procedures
Pick up will occur at 4045 Skippack Pike in Skippack Village unless otherwise noted. Again, parents/drivers should NOT exit their vehicles. Once you arrive to pick up your campers, please lower your window to state which campers you are there to pick up. Please plan to arrive promptly at 3:00 pm. If an unavoidable delay occurs, please text or email one of the above contact numbers to let us know.
Covid-19 Procedure Updates
Campers will NOT be required to, but will always be welcome to, wear masks and keep a safe distance from all other campers. Hand washing and hand sanitizer is available and encouraged at regular intervals. Should the CDC change their recommendations, our policies will reflect that. Please note: PAWSibilities Animal Rescue Summer Camps has the right to change our Covid-19 protocols at any time.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Field Trips
Pawsibilities Animal Rescue has planned at least one trip to animal-related activities in our area. These trips depend on which camp your camper is in. Please let us know if you do not want your child riding in our school bus. The bus is equipped with seat belts and seats 20 campers. If we have more campers than will fit on the bus, we may need to transport campers in a car with an adult counselor. In a car, every child will be required to wear seat belts and/or have car seats. A child may only sit in the front passenger seat if they meet state requirements, unless parents specify otherwise. If a car seat is necessary for your child, please make sure that you provide one on the day of the trip labeled with the camper’s first and last name. (Note: car seats are not necessary on the bus.)
Parents are welcome to drive their own child. If you have opted to drive your own camper on the sign up form, we will be expecting you to drive for all field trips the week your camper is signed up. If you opted to have us drive your camper on the form but have changed your mind, please email [email protected] to let us know.
Please note: Field trip dates and times are not decided until the week of camp as weather can change. We will let you know in the first few days of camp when field trips are scheduled.
Camp Behavior Policy
To help maintain the safety and wellness of campers, staff, volunteers, animals, and the general public, the following policy has been established. Corrective action may be taken if a camper displays undesirable behavior that interferes with or disrupts the camp program. Examples of this behavior include inappropriate language, making fun of or insulting others, bullying, using profanity, harming or frightening the animals, physically harming others or animals, not following directions or unwelcome actions that make other campers feel uncomfortable. Every effort is made to accommodate campers with special needs, including campers with behavioral challenges. Parents/ guardians of children who need special attention or have behavioral challenges must notify us of the issue in the additional notes section of the online registration form or email us prior to camp. Camp staff is trained to manage many common health and behavioral disorders; however, campers with severe behavioral disorders that may continuously interfere with or disrupt the camp program may need an aide present.
Camp Curriculum
The camp curriculum emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, and the exchange of ideas with fellow campers. Campers are encouraged to find solutions to many of the challenges animals face in our society today. That being said, there may be topics that are uncomfortable to talk about, such as euthanasia, reproduction, and animal abuse. These topics can be sensitive, but are handled with care and if campers are uncomfortable with any subject matter, they can let us know and we will remove them from the discussion. Age-appropriate material and modified lesson plans have been created to tailor the curriculum for each age level, but sensitive topics may still come up in lesson plans. If there is a topic on the camp schedule that you would like more information about please feel free to discuss it with the Camp Director at pick up/drop off. All camp sessions include age-appropriate animal care and behavior learning activities, team projects, games, physical activities, crafts, and hands-on interactions with animals such as dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rats, birds, reptiles, rabbits, and horses. Please note we are unable to bring these animals daily, but ensure that your camper gets some time to interact with these animals. Not all of the animals will be present at every camp. The collaborative activities offered at PAWS camp are designed to encourage respect for all living things.
Hands-on Animal Interactions
We strive to provide an enriching learning experience and ensure the safety and comfort of all animals and participants in our care. As such, we must limit the time spent with animal interactions to approximately 1 hour per day. We have a limited number of animals with which our campers may interact, and the animal needs time to relax and recuperate from the excitement of our hands-on sessions. Camper interactions with animals may include grooming, petting, and cuddling.
A note about animal safety: Campers will interact only with animals that have been approved for safety and disposition by Pawsibilities Animal Rescue professionals. Campers will not interact directly with any aggressive animals, including feral cats, in the shelter due to safety and liability restrictions. This being said, many of the animal interactions are with cats and other animals which can scratch and bite. All precautions are taken to avoid this but should this occur, we will clean the wound and notify the parents by phone call or voicemail. Staff are trained to recognize minor issues versus major injuries and will take action accordingly.
All adults and required personnel are background checked and cleared by the state.
Email: [email protected] Voicemail: 484-485-PAWS
Camp Schedule
Monday-Friday 9 am-3 pm
What to bring to camp!
- A water bottle marked with your name
- A lunch as well as morning and afternoon snacks (Please no sugary snacks!)
- Clothing that can get messy
- Clothing for indoor and outdoor activities (including for rainy/foggy weather)
- Closed toe shoes for walking and working with animals
- Sunscreen and/or a hat
- Cell phones are for taking pictures only (not texting or playing games) and will be taken away for misuse
- Any medications for PAWSibilities staff to administer
What NOT to bring to camp!
- Open toe shoes
- Toys, mp3 players, or video game devices
- Personal pets
Drop-off Procedures
Drop-off will be at the PAWSibilities Animal Adoption Center unless otherwise noted. The Adoption Center is located at 4045 Skippack Pike in Skippack Village.
Please plan to arrive promptly at 9:00 am. We will have an adult outside ready to welcome your campers. We ask that all parents/drivers do NOT exit their vehicles to minimize contact with other campers.
Pick-up Procedures
Pick up will occur at 4045 Skippack Pike in Skippack Village unless otherwise noted. Again, parents/drivers should NOT exit their vehicles. Once you arrive to pick up your campers, please lower your window to state which campers you are there to pick up. Please plan to arrive promptly at 3:00 pm. If an unavoidable delay occurs, please text or email one of the above contact numbers to let us know.
Covid-19 Procedure Updates
Campers will NOT be required to, but will always be welcome to, wear masks and keep a safe distance from all other campers. Hand washing and hand sanitizer is available and encouraged at regular intervals. Should the CDC change their recommendations, our policies will reflect that. Please note: PAWSibilities Animal Rescue Summer Camps has the right to change our Covid-19 protocols at any time.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Field Trips
Pawsibilities Animal Rescue has planned at least one trip to animal-related activities in our area. These trips depend on which camp your camper is in. Please let us know if you do not want your child riding in our school bus. The bus is equipped with seat belts and seats 20 campers. If we have more campers than will fit on the bus, we may need to transport campers in a car with an adult counselor. In a car, every child will be required to wear seat belts and/or have car seats. A child may only sit in the front passenger seat if they meet state requirements, unless parents specify otherwise. If a car seat is necessary for your child, please make sure that you provide one on the day of the trip labeled with the camper’s first and last name. (Note: car seats are not necessary on the bus.)
Parents are welcome to drive their own child. If you have opted to drive your own camper on the sign up form, we will be expecting you to drive for all field trips the week your camper is signed up. If you opted to have us drive your camper on the form but have changed your mind, please email [email protected] to let us know.
Please note: Field trip dates and times are not decided until the week of camp as weather can change. We will let you know in the first few days of camp when field trips are scheduled.
Camp Behavior Policy
To help maintain the safety and wellness of campers, staff, volunteers, animals, and the general public, the following policy has been established. Corrective action may be taken if a camper displays undesirable behavior that interferes with or disrupts the camp program. Examples of this behavior include inappropriate language, making fun of or insulting others, bullying, using profanity, harming or frightening the animals, physically harming others or animals, not following directions or unwelcome actions that make other campers feel uncomfortable. Every effort is made to accommodate campers with special needs, including campers with behavioral challenges. Parents/ guardians of children who need special attention or have behavioral challenges must notify us of the issue in the additional notes section of the online registration form or email us prior to camp. Camp staff is trained to manage many common health and behavioral disorders; however, campers with severe behavioral disorders that may continuously interfere with or disrupt the camp program may need an aide present.
Camp Curriculum
The camp curriculum emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, and the exchange of ideas with fellow campers. Campers are encouraged to find solutions to many of the challenges animals face in our society today. That being said, there may be topics that are uncomfortable to talk about, such as euthanasia, reproduction, and animal abuse. These topics can be sensitive, but are handled with care and if campers are uncomfortable with any subject matter, they can let us know and we will remove them from the discussion. Age-appropriate material and modified lesson plans have been created to tailor the curriculum for each age level, but sensitive topics may still come up in lesson plans. If there is a topic on the camp schedule that you would like more information about please feel free to discuss it with the Camp Director at pick up/drop off. All camp sessions include age-appropriate animal care and behavior learning activities, team projects, games, physical activities, crafts, and hands-on interactions with animals such as dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rats, birds, reptiles, rabbits, and horses. Please note we are unable to bring these animals daily, but ensure that your camper gets some time to interact with these animals. Not all of the animals will be present at every camp. The collaborative activities offered at PAWS camp are designed to encourage respect for all living things.
Hands-on Animal Interactions
We strive to provide an enriching learning experience and ensure the safety and comfort of all animals and participants in our care. As such, we must limit the time spent with animal interactions to approximately 1 hour per day. We have a limited number of animals with which our campers may interact, and the animal needs time to relax and recuperate from the excitement of our hands-on sessions. Camper interactions with animals may include grooming, petting, and cuddling.
A note about animal safety: Campers will interact only with animals that have been approved for safety and disposition by Pawsibilities Animal Rescue professionals. Campers will not interact directly with any aggressive animals, including feral cats, in the shelter due to safety and liability restrictions. This being said, many of the animal interactions are with cats and other animals which can scratch and bite. All precautions are taken to avoid this but should this occur, we will clean the wound and notify the parents by phone call or voicemail. Staff are trained to recognize minor issues versus major injuries and will take action accordingly.