Summer Camp Preschool

The summer program provides an opportunity to orient our program outside except for during stormy weather. To provide more space for social distancing we will start and end our sessions outside. The fall program will continue outside but will have some adjustment in aspects of the program based on what we learn from our summer experience and to recognize the cold weather realities. By August, the description of available scheduling options to allow for indoor programming will be announced. 

With the day camp scheduled to begin we are developing a safety plan for Sunshine staff and children. The safety plan will be specific to Sunshine and based on protocols recently published by LARA, the Michigan Childcare Licensing Dept. Once the plan is written, parents and staff will receive a copy. Staff will be trained in executing the plan and there will be a monitoring system that documents follow-through with the plan. Some things the plan will include are: • Staff and child daily health screenings and signed statements by parents and staff of exposure to someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the previous 14 days. • A plan for what to do when someone becomes sick while at Sunshine. • Hygiene: training on and a schedule for hand washing for children and staff. Bathroom for use of the toilets and to change a diaper and to wash hands. Also for changing to a swimsuit for all day children. Additional hand wash stations will be outside. • Cleaning: training of staff on cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and toys or other materials. A schedule for cleaning that documents the cleaning done throughout the day. Deep cleaning weekly by our cleaning contractor with documentation of cleaning. A plan for additional deep cleaning should a child or staff member be confirmed with COVID-19. • Toys and materials distributed for an individual child. No shared art bins or toy tubs. • Reduce the number of adults interacting with children. Drop off will  be at the sidewalk where health checks and hand washing at a hand wash station will be done. The same teacher(s) will remain with a group in a designated space. For summer, children's belongings will be stored in their designated basket in an outdoor storage area. • Staggered drop off and pick up times to reduce congestion. • Group sizes will be limited within a designated space to allow for social distancing or for play buddies limited to 2 to 4 children in a play group within the larger class group of between 6 and 8 children. • Masks: teachers, children, and parents will be asked to wear a mask when closer than 6 feet and when in the same room while indoors. Parents will be asked to provide a cloth or paper mask for their child each day. If they are not used to a mask, please practice with them before school starts and explain why wearing one is necessary. • Windows will be opened in each room throughout the day for ventilation. • Reduce food handling by staff. Children should bring their own snacks and beverages. Children staying all day bring a lunch and beverage. Water from a cooler outside will be available to refill water bottles. • Until we know the staffing and space needed to meet the group sizes who enroll, we are not providing a nap time. This may change as we know the number of preschool children whose parents desire an all day schedule. 

 Our educational goal is to develop in the child an active curiosity about the world they live in and an enthusiasm for learning which stimulates exploratory behavior and creativity. 

 Children are offered abundant opportunities to spend time with friends in a range of different and satisfying preschool activities, in large part inspired by a creative approach to childhood education based on artistic self-expression and classroom collaboration.