Parent Handbook
2023-2024
Acres of fun supported by tuition.
Acres of fun accepts vouchers distributed through the Child Care Circuit. Call 1-800-897-6400 for information.
The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) is our licensing authority.
Their Central Mass Office, Region 2 address is 324 R Clark Street, Worcester, MA 01606 Phone: 508-798-7180
A copy of EEC regulations is available in the Acres of fun office.
EEC may be contacted for information regarding our program’s regulatory compliance history.
Acres of Fun
Phone: 425-306-7203
E-mail: hello@goodpickinfarm.com
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to Acres of Fun - a unique outdoor based Child Care program. We are so pleased that your child is joining us this year and we look forward to having you as a part of our Acres of Fun family.
Parents are allowed to visit the program anytime their children are in attendance.
Acres of Fun was established by three determined women who dreamed of a place where people could reconnect with nature and all it has to offer; a place where people could experience the joy of living a sustainable life; a place where children could learn by doing. Most importantly, we wanted to give the community a place that will remind us all of our roots in nature. An educator, a farmer and an artist, each of us brings a unique perspective to make our dream a reality.
Leveraging the original barn, 1850’s schoolhouse, cider mill and 89 acres of pristine farmland and woods of the original Meadowbrook Farm allows us to provide the most unique educational experience.
Good Pickin’ Farm
Acres of Fun
2021-22 fee schedule and policies
(Subject to change with notice)
Required membership application forms
All program application forms must be completed before your child may participate in any Acres of Fun program. An annual $75 enrollment fee must also be paid prior to acceptance into the Acres of Fun program.
Rates for scheduled care
AM Tuition:
2 Days: $3750
3 Days: $5600
4 Days: $7500
5 Days: $9250
Full Day Tuition:
2 Days: $7400
3 Days: $10,600
4 Days: $12,000
5 Days: $14,900
School year tuition does not include school vacation days or teacher professional days
Permanent schedule changes:
All changes in registration status must be put in writing (Drop/Add form) and submitted to the Acres of Fun office one month prior to Drop/Add
The availability of days to add to a child’s schedule should be confirmed with the office
There is no refund of charges for dropped days if a Drop/Add form is submitted after the one-month prior deadline
There are no refunds when a child is absent on any scheduled day due to illness, personal family vacations or other personal reasons
When school closes due to snow on a day your child is scheduled at Acres of Fun, you will not be refunded for that day
Late Arrival/Absences from scheduled care
Please notify Acres of Fun if your child will be arriving late or will be absent on a day he/she is scheduled to attend.
Late Pick-up fee
The late pick-up fee is $10.00 for pick after 10 mins, an additional $1.00 per minute will be added to the fee until a parent or authorized pick-up person arrives. Late pick-up fees are billed weekly and must be paid with tuition. For example, if pick up is at 4:00pm and you arrive to pick up your child at 4:03pm, you will be charged $10. If you arrive at 4:16pm, you will be charged $16.
Locations
On all school days, Acres of Fun operates at Good Pickin’ Farm:
5 GOULD ROAD
WESTFORD MA 01886
Pick up and drop off will be at the Schoolhouse
Holidays
Payment and Billing
Tuition payment is due on the first of the month in advance of service (e.g., October 1, 2021 for all care scheduled in October, etc.). At the start of each month invoice statements will be emailed to parents/guardians.
School year tuition does not include costs for school vacation days. Accepted forms of payment are:
MasterCard/Visa/AmEx/Discover – contact the Acres of Fun office to make auto-pay arrangements using your credit card. Each month you will be billed automatically and sent an email notification when the charges run.
Please note that you must complete the auto-pay form with your credit card information annually, as we are not allowed to carry your credit card information from one year to the next in our system. Service fee of $30 Monthly/$7 Weekly will be charged when using a credit card.
Check payable to Good Pickin’ Farm– place in the tuition payment mailbox outside the director’s office. There is a $25 penalty fee for all returned checks .
Payment Due Dates:
School year tuition payments are due the first of the month.
A late fee of $10 per day may be charged for late payments.
Repeated late payments may result in suspension of care.
Questions or comments about billing and procedures?
Please contact Erin Chapman at hello@goodpickinfarm.com
Purpose of Acres of Fun
The Acres of Fun School Age Child Care program provides quality school year care for the children of the local area.
Mission Statement
Good Pickin’ Education is a student-centered experiential learning community that fosters curiosity, exploration and achievement. We are an outdoor nature-based program. We nurture well-rounded and independent thinkers, who create, collaborate, communicate and meet new challenges in preparation for continued academic success and life-long learning.
Philosophy
Our educational programs at Good Pickin’ Farm offer a unique opportunity for Pre-K and Elementary students to thrive through project-based, farm and arts-themed methods. We strive to develop an enthusiasm for learning and acquiring new skills. The benefit of blending multi-aged students further enhances that opportunity as learning is at the center, both socially and academically. Older students help teach the younger students by modeling more sophisticated, complex problem solving and critical thinking. At the same time, younger students may share their particular skills and intuitive questioning to the benefit of the older students.
Experiential learning and multi-sensory instruction is through farming as our students observe, engage with and care for animals, attend to farm ‘chores’ and enter into the process of the garden growth cycles. The majority of their learning time is spent outdoors, encouraging a life-long appreciation of our natural environment. The freedom of a small group on a beautiful big farm is essential to character-building and community engagement. We maintain a low student to teacher ratio to allow teachers the flexibility to implement strategies for differentiated, individualized instruction and build positive relationships with students. Teachers set expectations for high standards and academic achievement while also supporting social emotional health and wellness for all students.
We nurture creative minds through project-based learning, allowing students to engage in collaborative exploration to solve complex, real-world challenges. Our innovative methods of a farm and arts-themed curriculum is transdisciplinary, integrating elements across multiple areas of study in the problem-solving process. Students learn through questioning, investigation, research, reasoning, comparison, and reflection. They demonstrate their skills and knowledge by creating products and presentations for real audiences. We ensure that students are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged in their educational experience.
Students work collaboratively in both small and large groups developing important interpersonal and communication skills such as dialogue, negotiation, compromise, empathy, self-control, problem solving, and conflict resolution. Each student has the opportunity for his/her voice to be heard.
We assert that our educational programs are a unique alternative to mainstream education, meeting each child’s academic needs, nurturing their potential, encouraging their social and emotional growth, building character, fostering their sense of community and appreciation for cultural diversity. The outdoor farm environment further enhances their curiosity, creativity and physical health. Our goal is to prepare them to meet the challenges of our ever-changing, fast-paced world: to combine the simplicity of the past with the innovation of the future.
Line of authority
The Acres of Fun line of authority is as follows: Director-Program Director-Site Coordinator-Group Leaders. Acres of Fun is administered by Sandra Habe and licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). Parents may contact the EEC regarding Acres of Fun regulatory compliance history. The regional EEC Office for care in Westford is the Central Ma, located in Worcester, MA, (508) 798-7180.
Activities
Acres of Fun is an outdoor program where children experience a variety of farm and nature based age-appropriate activities each day. Activities offered on a daily basis in the barn, paddocks, greenhouse and surrounding woods and fields foster children's knowledge of farm life. All activities will reflect the mission of the program, the developmental level of the children, and will meet the children’s needs for choice, recreation, and enrichment.
Our multicultural activities provide children with information that fosters tolerance and teaches diversity. Each day’s activities promote physical, intellectual, and emotional growth, as well as social well-being and literacy. Also available at Acres of Fun are opportunities to participate in community service projects; work on homework, science, and math activities; and join in games that foster cooperation and conflict resolution. Each month’s activities are posted in the newsletter.
Non-discrimination and inclusion
Acres of Fun does not discriminate in providing service to children and their families on the basis of race, religion, cultural heritage, political beliefs, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, or national origin. The program director will make every effort to accommodate disabled children. Children are admitted provided that there is no undue financial burden on the program and that the nature of the program will not be altered. Placement decisions will be made in consultation with parents and provided to parents in writing.
Delayed opening of school
If there is a delayed opening of the Westford Public Schools, the Acres of Fun program will follow the delayed opening.
Early closing of school
If the Westford Public Schools close early due to weather or other circumstances, Acres of Fun will remain open to the greatest extent possible. Factors impacting this decision include maintaining legal child/staff ratios and keeping staff and families safe when commuting to and from Acres of Fun. We appreciate your cooperation in picking up your child early on these occasions when possible. There are no refunds for care on these days.
Snow days: When the Westford Public Schools are closed due to snow, Acres of Fun will be closed the day. Scheduled care tuition will not be refunded for these days.
Enrollment
Our new year starts on the first day of our School and ends on the last day of school. Your child’s 2021-2022 information packet must be on file at the Acres of Fun office before he/she may attend the program. Included in the forms packet is a signed release stating that the following is on file: documentation of physical examination and immunizations in accordance with public school health requirements, and lead poisoning screening in accordance with public health requirements.
Facilities
School House
Cider House
Barn
Green House
Fields
Paddocks
Staff
Staff members meet, at a minimum, all criteria established by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) School Age Child Care Regulations. Staff qualities must also include warmth, caring, and respect for children.
A list of Acres of Fun staff and their group assignments is available at the beginning of the school year. As staff changes occur, parents/guardians will receive updates via our monthly newsletter.
Staff/Child Ratios
Acres of Fun strives to maintain an overall staff/child ratio of 1/6 for preschool/PK and 1/13 for school age; never exceeding the state mandated ratio for either age group. Ratios may fluctuate between activities depending upon safety considerations and the number of children participating.
Transportation
In emergencies, the Westford Fire Department or a mutual aid ambulance will transport injured children to the nearest medical facility.
Dee Bus Service provides transportation. In an emergency, police, ambulance, or replacement vehicles can be summoned by cell phone or Westford Charter two-way radio.
Release
You or a designated person must sign your child in and out of Acres of Fun every day. Children are released only to parents, guardians, or persons designated on the child’s Transportation Plan and Authorization form on file. Written permission must be indicated on this form for a child to sign themselves out of the program for the day (age 9 older only, as per EEC regulations). Any changes to this information must be made in writing to the Acres of Fun office. In case of emergency, authorization via telephone will be accepted with passcode. In all cases, you must include the person’s name, address, phone numbers, and relationship to your child. Please indicate if this is to be a permanent addition to the file or a one-time authorization. We will require proof of identification from any person sent to pick up your child.
Absences
When an expected child is absent from our program, our office staff will immediately attempt to contact a parent/guardian. If we make phone calls to determine the location of your child, a “No Call” fee of $20.00 will be assessed. Please email us to report an absence or call us. Our voice mail is available twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week. Fixed expenses and staff ratios dictate that there are no refunds for absences.
Parent participation and communication
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) and their child(ren) are encouraged to meet with the director. We will answer any questions, give a tour of the farm, and provide you with information to enroll your child as a member of Acres of Fun.
The Acres of Fun newsletter is distributed on a monthly basis by e-mail. The newsletter is also posted on our website.
During March of each year, every family will receive a report on their child as required by EEC. A conference or written report may be scheduled at any time upon request of the parents or the staff. Parents are welcome at any time to contact the program director or the program administrator.
Ongoing communication between parents and staff is important and is available on a daily basis. As the staff’s primary function is the care of the children, lengthy conversations may not always be possible at drop-off or pick-up time. If possible, discussions that will require more than a few moments can be scheduled in advance so that we may have the time to give you our fullest attention.
Suggestions and comments regarding the program and its policies are always welcome. You may put them in the tuition payment mailbox outside the director’s office or speak with the program director or the administrator.
Cell phone policy for children
For reasons of privacy and for the safety of all attending Acres of Fun, the use of personal cell phones by any child for calls, texting, social networking, photos, video/audio recording, apps, or any other feature is not allowed at Acres of Fun. Children who bring cell phones to Acres of Fun are expected to store them in a backpack, book bag, or cubby/hook. If a child wishes to call their parents from their cell phone, they must do so with staff permission and from the main office. Children who do not adhere to this policy will have their cell phone confiscated by Acres of Fun staff and returned to a parent upon their arrival at the end of the day. Parents needing to speak to their child(ren) during Acres of Fun operational hours are asked to call the office to be put in touch with their child. As always, any child that wishes to speak to his/her parent is welcome to ask permission from a staff member who will ensure that they are allowed to call their parent from the office.
Staff care of children during non-Acres of Fun hours
Acres of Fun staff may not care for children enrolled in Acres of Fun during non-work hours. This includes, but is not limited to, babysitting and tutoring.
Acres of Fun approach to transitions
Whenever children are preparing to transition to a new setting at Acres of Fun, staff will share information between each group and assist the children with the transition in a manner that is consistent with their ability to understand.
Toys From Home
Occasionally, toys brought from home to Acres of Fun are lost or damaged. When your child brings toys from home, Acres of Fun will not be responsible for them. Although toys from home are usually allowed at Acres of Fun, we reserve the right to ban specific toys or set limits to when they may be used.
Child Guidance and Behavior Management
Acres of Fun provides positive and consistent guidance to children based on their individual needs and development. Staff members at Acres of Fun learn about all of the children and how they interact with each other. We gain understanding of each child through observation and interaction. Staff meet regularly and discuss the needs of children in the program to ensure consistency in care.
Acres of Fun has basic expectations of children, which include keeping body parts to themselves, walking when indoors and with animals, respecting others, and using equipment the way it was intended. We acknowledge and praise children meeting expectations and displaying positive behavior. At times we award special responsibilities or privileges, or give a small tangible reward. By encouraging and publicizing positive behavior, we build a supportive community.
Staff members facilitate conflict resolution between children. Staff help children develop appropriate skills to promote discussion, compromise, and cooperation.
Children who do not follow program rules and fulfill expectations will be asked a reasonable number of times to improve their behavior. Positive behaviors are encouraged through redirection of negative behavior. Staff will ensure that children understand what expectation they did not follow and what positive choices they can make to improve their behavior.
EEC Regulation
No child shall be subjected to abuse or neglect, cruel, unusual, severe or corporal punishment including: any type of physical hitting inflicted in any manner upon the body; punishments which subject a child to verbal abuse, ridicule or humiliation; denial of food, rest, or bathroom facilities; punishment for soiling, wetting or not using the toilet; or punishment related to eating or not eating food.
The rules, policies, and procedures for behavior management of the children uphold the standards of being consistent, reasonable, and appropriate to the age and understanding of the children.
If negative behavior does not improve, the following measures may be used:
Redirection from an activity or from peers
A “time of reflection” of no more than 5 minutes
The completion of an Incident Report in order to keep parent/guardians informed
Natural Consequences (removal of certain privileges)
In instances when a behavior issue becomes a safety issue for a child and his or her peers, staff may immediately separate the child from the group and work to de-escalate the behavior. If the director determines that a child’s behavior is endangering him/herself or others, parents will be called immediately, and the child will not be permitted to return until a conference has been held. Documentation of this conference will be maintained in the child’s file. A copy will be given to the parent.
Staff members make every effort to keep parents informed about positive and negative behaviors. Parents will receive written notification of behavior problems or concerns in the form of an Incident Report. Parents are asked to sign a copy of the report to be kept on file at Acres of Fun, and they are given a copy as well.
If negative behavior continues to cause concern and persists, the director will discuss it with the parents. Documentation of all discussions will be placed in the child’s file, and parents will receive a copy. A suspension from the program of up to three days may then be implemented if the behavior does not improve.
If disruptive behavior continues, the child will be asked to leave the program for the remainder of the school year. Re-admittance for the following year will be conditional, and must be discussed with the director at time of enrollment.
Any of the following may result in a suspension of services:
Continued aggressive behavior of a child
Bullying, both emotional and physical - What is bullying? Repeated hitting, name-calling, exclusion or other behavior that is intended to hurt another person.
Continued use of inappropriate language
Bringing any type of weapon to Acres of Fun
Continued lack of respect – not meeting Acres of Fun behavioral expectations
Destruction of property
Payment for services in arrears
Parental behavior that is inconsistent with proper behavior
Any situation that, at the director’s discretion, is deemed inappropriate
Health Care Policy
A copy of this policy is available in the Acres of Fun office. Our health care consultant, a local pediatrician, reviews and approves our policy. The policy contains information and procedures concerning all aspects of the health and welfare of children enrolled in Acres of Fun. A copy of our complete health care policy is available upon request.
Illness Policy
Parents will be contacted to pick up their child if any of the following conditions exist:
Fever (temperature of one hundred [100⁰ F] or above)
Abdominal pain, breathing difficulty, or other pain which is persistent, lasting thirty minutes
Indication of contagious disease (e.g., chicken pox, conjunctivitis)
Other symptoms (such as vomiting, diarrhea, rash) which the staff feel warrant such action
Children with these symptoms must be picked up as soon as possible to reduce the spread of illness, as Acres of Fun does not have an isolated space to accommodate them. Children will be made as comfortable as possible until an authorized adult arrives.
Children may return to Acres of Fun under the following conditions:
Fever free for 24 hours, (e.g., child sent home with a fever at 4PM on Monday – earliest return would be Wednesday morning)
Results from throat culture are negative
Antibiotic treatment has been given for 24 hours
Lesions (Chicken Pox) have dried and crusted
Child is able to participate in regular program activity
Acres of Fun must be notified if a child is diagnosed with a contagious disease so that the other parents may be notified as soon as possible. Parents are notified via a posting at the reception area. Notification of outbreaks of head lice will also be posted in this manner.
Medication
Parental authorization is required to administer medication. No medication(s) will be administered without the state required Medication Consent Forms, which can be printed from our website or found at the program reception area. This form is required for prescription and non-prescription medications. Children may not self-administer medication, unless approved by the director.
Prescription medicine must be in the original pharmacy container, labeled with the child’s name, name of the drug, and directions for its administration and storage. If necessary, ask the pharmacist for a second labeled bottle. This is a common request at pharmacies.
Non-prescription medication may not be administered without a written order from the child’s doctor. (Ex.: Tylenol, cough medicine, cough drops, and antiseptic cream such as Neosporin). A Medication Consent Form must be completed and signed by a doctor or a note must be written on a doctor’s script or letterhead. The note must specify the child’s name, name of the non-prescription medication, dosage, and under what conditions the medication may be administered. The medication must be in the original container. The Medication Consent Form or doctor’s note may provide blanket permission for the program year, or should specify start and end dates.
Acres of Fun will allow parents, with written permission from their child’s health care practitioner, to train staff in implementation of their child’s individual health care plan. Acres of Fun will ensure that all appropriate, specific measures are taken to ensure that the health requirements of children with disabilities are met.
Medical Emergencies
It is the parent’s responsibility to keep emergency information up to date.
Staff must be able to contact parents in the event of an emergency. If any changes occur in addresses, home phone number, cell phone number, work phone number, doctors, or health insurance information, please notify the program director in writing.
In the event of a medical emergency:
Westford Fire Department is called (911).
Parents/Guardians are called.
The child’s pediatrician is called if parents cannot be reached.
If parents cannot be reached, an emergency contact will also be called.
Depending upon the urgency of the situation, parents may be contacted prior to initiation of EMS (911). Unless parents make other arrangements, children will be transported to the nearest appropriate hospital, at the expense of the parent. If serious illness or injury is suspected, children will be given emergency treatment immediately.
Use of Sunscreen or Insect Repellent
Parental permission to apply sunscreen/insect repellent can be indicated in the Forms Packet. Parents/Guardians provide the product and children apply their own sunscreen/insect repellent. Staff can assist and remind the children to reapply when necessary; however, staff will not apply sunscreen to your child. Parents should familiarize their child(ren) with product application. Due to allergies and sensitivity to products, children may not share sunscreen/insect repellent. All such items MUST be labeled with your child’s name.
Tooth Brushing
Staff will assist children in brushing their teeth whenever they are in care for more than four hours or whenever they consume a meal while in care. Interested families will provide a labeled toothbrush and toothpaste for their child. Toothbrushes left at Acres of Fun will be stored in a safe and sanitary manner as outlined by the EEC. Families may also opt to take their child’s toothbrush and toothpaste home at the end of each day.
Handwashing
Upon arrival from school each day, the children sign-in, stow their belongings in their cubby, and immediately wash their hands before snacking or playing. Hand washing is also required before late (5 PM) snack time. Children who wish to participate in eating at Acres of Fun are required to wash hands before their meal. In addition, our staff is charged with speaking with each child exiting the restroom to ensure that they have washed their hands with “lots of soap and water”.
Nutrition
Children bring their food from home. Please do not send food that needs to be reheated, as we are not able to provide this service for all the children.
Children may become hungry at times other than “snack time,” and may bring an extra healthy snack from home to eat.
Children are not allowed to share items from home due to food allergies and parental preferences.
Acres of Fun must be notified of children’s food allergies and any precautions that must be taken. All special dietary needs must be made in writing to the office.
Suggestions for homemade lunches or snacks include:
Protein - tuna fish, ham, turkey, chicken
Fruit/vegetables- apples, grapes, carrots, bananas, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes
Dairy - cheese, yogurt, milk
Grains - bread, cereal
Clothing
Please send your child dressed appropriately for play and activities at Acres of Fun. We are an outdoor based program and we will be outside. We advise parents to send in “play clothes” to prevent their child’s “school clothes” from getting dirty. Open-toed shoes, sandals, and “crocs” are not allowed for the safety and comfort of your child(ren).
We strongly recommend that children have an extra change of clothing year-round because many things can happen that result in needing a complete change of clothes (including underwear and socks). Children’s clothing items should be name-labeled and will be kept in their cubby/backpack.
Winter - Children need boots, hats, mittens (extras are suggested), snow pants or extra pants, and warm coats. The children’s clothing layers do become quite wet at times during outdoor play. For this reason, we recommend that a complete change of winter clothing (including underwear) be kept on site for all children.
Referral Policy
If a staff member suspects a social, mental health, medical, dental, vision, hearing, or educational problem, she or he will notify the program director. Written observations and concerns will be noted in children’s files. Parents will be contacted and given, in writing, a brief summary of the Acres of Fun observations related to the referral and any efforts the program may have made to accommodate the child’s needs. The Acres of Fun organization works in conjunction with the Westford Board of Health.
Resource List
Westford Board of Health
978-692-5509
Poison Prevention Center
800-222-1222
Emerson Hospital
978-369-1400
Lahey Clinic
781-273-5100
Federation for Children with Special Needs
617-482-2915
Lowell General
978-937-6000
Prevention of Abuse and Neglect
Mandated by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC)
All children in the care and custody of the program (Acres of Fun) shall be protected from abuse and neglect. If a staff member should suspect child abuse or neglect, the program director must be immediately notified in writing. The report must be dated and signed and true to the best of his or her knowledge. The Department of Children and Families is then contacted.
If a case of suspected abuse has allegedly occurred while the child was under the care of Acres of Fun, the director will immediately notify the program administrator who will then immediately notify the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Early Education and Care.
Acres of Fun will cooperate in all investigations of abuse and neglect. Cooperation will include identifying parents, disclosing information to the Department of Children and Families and other persons or agencies specified by the Department as necessary to prompt an investigation of the allegations and protect the child.
Any staff member who is under investigation will be immediately removed from direct contact with all children in the program until the Department of Children and Families investigation is complete, and for such further time as the Department requires.
Children’s Records and Files
Each child enrolled in the program has a file containing forms completed by the parent, any reports written by staff, and any notes from the parent that are sent in to Acres of Fun. Information contained in a child’s record is privileged and confidential. Records are distributed or released to:
Persons directly related to the implementation of the program plan for the child, and only with written consent of the child’s parent/guardian
The EEC and any person or agency they may specify as necessary to an investigation of allegations and protection of a child
If records are subpoenaed, the director will notify the parents.
Parents may have access to their child’s records upon request. Parents may request a copy of the records at any time. Copies will be provided in a timely fashion at no charge. Parents have the right to add information, comments, data, or any other relevant material to the child’s records. Parents have the right to a conference if they object to any file information or feel any file material is not clear or correct. Within one week of this conference, parents will receive, in writing, a decision regarding their objection(s) and the reason for the decision. If the decision is in agreement with the parents, steps will be taken to implement the decision immediately.
Transfer of Records
When a child is no longer in Acres of Fun care, Acres of Fun will transfer the records to the parent or any other person the parents identify, upon written request of the parents. Records not claimed by a parent/guardian at this time will be held in a locked file for five years and then destroyed.
Field Trips
Parents will be notified of all field trips, including impromptu trips within walking distance, in advance. Acres of Fun will provide transportation for these trips. Transportation is contracted through Dee Bus . Dee Bus may transport small groups of children. Parents can contact Acres of Fun in the event they need to speak to their child while he/she is on a field trip. The Acres of Fun office will contact the bus company and put the parent in contact with the child. Acres of Fun director is the transportation coordinator for the program. While in transport to or from Acres of Fun, the staff will accompany the children, monitor the group for safety, and handle all medical emergencies.
For, or trips indicated on the Offsite Activities Permission Form in the membership packet, parents may not be notified. The children will return to Acres of Fun before 6:00 PM.
Emergency Plan
A copy of our Emergency Plan is available at the Acres of Fun office.
Transportation Plan
A copy of our Transportation Plan is available at the Acres of Fun office.
Missing Children
The most common cases of missing children are when children do not arrive at Acres of Fun after school. In these cases, the Acres of Fun office calls the schools, parents, the bus company, and emergency contacts until it is positively known the child is safe. The police are contacted if the people listed above cannot determine the child’s whereabouts. The Acres of Fun Staff Handbook has more detailed protocols for children who unexpectedly do not arrive at Acres of Fun. If a child becomes missing on Acres of Fun premises or in the outdoor areas adjacent to Acres of Fun, the director will be immediately notified. Staff will check attendance lists and the sign-out list to see if the child has been signed out of the program. The director and other designated staff will do a thorough search for the child. If the child is not found during the initial search, the police will be called for assistance. Of course, parents will also be called to inform them of the situation and to confirm that the child is not with them.
On field trips, staff members are assigned a specific group of children to care for, and head counts are taken frequently. In addition, the site coordinator in charge of the trip keeps an accurate count of all children and takes attendance before departing a field trip location. If a child becomes missing, the staff in charge of the missing child and the site coordinator will attempt to locate the child. The site coordinator will also request help from the staff employed at the field trip location. If a child is missing for more than ten minutes, local police will be called to assist. Each child’s weight, height, eye color, hair color, and identifying marks, as provided by their parent(s) and listed in their Acres of Fun file, will be provided to the police when a child is missing. If a photo of the child is on file or is on Acres of Fun camera or computer, it will also be provided to police. When children are off site, the director, department assistant, or an employee of the Recreation Department will gather information from the child’s file to share with police whenever necessary.
