Summer Camp 2023

Play all summer long with us!

Beginning this July 2023, we are excited to offer a Summer Day Camp series to our current and future Co-op families!! Let’s spend more time together and build community through summer fun. 

Soak up summer moments at the Madison Park Bathhouse engaging in a variety of activities and learning new skills with new friends! 

Come learn new songs, hear stories, tend the crops at “Madison Farm”, make story stones and tell silly tales with “Neighbors”, go on a nature walk and collect treasures at “Camp Co-Op”, or see how many pennies can fit in a foil boat “Down by the Bay”.

All sessions meet Monday to Friday from 9:15 am – 1:30 pm
Cost per session: $250 (sibling discounts available)

Session 1: July 3 – 7  //  Madison Farm

Campers will love learning more about animals, agriculture and farmer’s markets at Madison Farm! We will build a recycled tractor, wholesome crafts and plant a crop. Little farmers will help design and build a dramatic play with vegetables and animal art, learn farm songs, and hear stories and play games passed down from the ranchers for ages. Children will learn about how animals grow and how farms work. Our learnings will come to life with a petting zoo (yes real animals) at the bathhouse!

Session 2: July 10 – 14 // Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

A week full of friendship and community! Camp will be all about being a kind friend, helping each other and the importance of community. Role playing, collaborative art projects, turn taking, problem solving and social skills will be highlighted each day. Hands-on activities, songs, games, stories and puppets will ensure campers have lots of fun while strengthening social skills and learning the importance of togetherness and kindness towards all neighbors. Bring bikes, scooters and strollers to decorate throughout the week and end the week with a friendship parade and ice cream. A week of feel good fun for all ages! (There is a Madison Park July Parade on July 15th down Madison Street and the decorated bikes can be in the city parade too!)

Session 3: July 17 – 21 // Co-Op Camping!

Nature week at the bathhouse will remind us that we are surrounded by gorgeous mountains, forests, landscapes and parks. Campers will transform our space into a campground while they help pitch a tent, build a “fire” and delve into activities with natural materials like nature weaving, leaf wands and jewelry, flower pounding, rock stacking, texture collages and more. Practice shapes, numbers and patterns using materials from the forest. Camp songs and stories will bring smiles to all the little campers! The week will end with an insects and reptile show with Seattle Reptile Man – a super fun way to bring the outdoors in!

Session 4: July 24 – 28 // Down by the Bay 

Ok so maybe it isn’t The Bay, but down by the Lake! How lucky we are to have MPCP right at the beach. In the last week of camp, we will focus on a summer essential  WATER! Learn all about the water cycle, oceans, lakes, and rivers and water animals. Engage in daily water play and STEM activities, crafts, games and morning beach play. We will celebrate our week and learning with a family Beach Party with activities, music and treats!

Tots Camp // Thursdays July 6, 13, 20, 27th 5:00 – 6:00pm 

This is for families enrolled in Tots for the upcoming school year (2023 – 2024). Join in the summer fun with your little one! Come to the bathhouse and engage in the activities from Day Camp (with age modifications). Each week you will see new activities from the weekly camp and we will have new songs to sing and stories to hear! This series is being offered for $80.

Daily Storytime 1:00 – 1:30

All are invited to join at Co-Op every afternoon in July for songs, stories and community. We would love to see all of your beautiful summer faces and enjoy a few stories, sing, laugh and share. The last 30 minutes of Summer Camp will open up to community members. This is not a drop-off event, parents need to stay with their children unless they are enrolled in summer camp. See you all at the bathhouse – we will decide the day of if we are indoors or outdoors. (Note: this is a community event open to the public as well) 

Who is the Camp Leader? MPCP Board Member, Stefanie Donnelly, will be leading camp this summer! Stefanie is a traveler, athlete, tree hugger, a vegetarian, and sunshine goddess who is also a wife to Ian and mama to Roosmary (2s & 2/3s classes) and Madelief (Pre K at Epiphany). Stefanie has been studying and working in education for nearly 20 years, mostly with children with disabilities. Stefanie is currently department chair and life skills teacher at Roosevelt High School, but has taught all grades at some point or another. Her teaching certificate is for Preschool – 21+. Stefanie said, “After spending this year with adult students it will be energizing to be back in early elementary! I love how their spirits shine so brightly and their eyes grow big and bright when they learn something new. It will be an absolute joy to be able to teach at co-op and have my own children in the mix.” 

FAQs 

Who can attend camp?  Camp is designed with our current and future students and their siblings in mind. Day campers aged 2-6 are encouraged to sign up! There will be activities for campers at all different levels and interests. Similar to the co-op model, we need adult support to make camp safe. Caregiver involvement depends on class sizes. There is also a Tots Camp for parents and campers under 2 on Thursday evenings. 

When is summer camp? Day Camp will be every weekday morning in July. The weeks are structured by different themes to make sure that each day is novel and exciting.  Camp doors will open every morning from 9:15 – 9:30 and we will close them for the day after story time around 1:30. 

There is also a weekly Thursday evening Tots Camp from 5:00 – 6:00pm that we are hoping will lend itself to picnic dinners at the beach with the Tots families. 

What is the daily routine at camp?  

This is a fluid schedule and the rhythms of the children will determine the actual times. Here is an idea of what the flow of the day would look like. 

9:15 – 9:30 // doors open – welcome in students wash hands, put on provided camp shirts, and prepare for the day 

9:30 – 10:15 // explore themed centers like dramatic play, sensory bins, skill practice, snack, art, crafts, etc. 

10:15 – 10:45 // outside play either playground or beach (depends on adult/child ratios) 

10:45 – 11:15 // circle time with weekly songs, stories, and discussion 

11:15 – 11:45 // lunch inside or outdoor picnic style 

11:45 – 12:30 // collaboration projects and activities indoor & outdoor 

12:30 – 1:00 // closing circle and reflections 

1:00 – 1:30 // story time (+ community friends and families)  

What is the cost? 

Day Camp is $250 per week for your first camper and $125 for siblings. 

Tots Camp is $80 for the series. 

The cost includes all materials, a snack, a camp t-shirt and a Friday celebration. 

What about siblings? Siblings 6 and under are encouraged to sign up together! We have a 50% discount after the first full tuition. If you have questions that are specific to your family (older or younger siblings?), don’t hesitate to reach out to Stefanie at camp@madisonparkcoop.com.  We know that our families all have different needs. We would love to figure out how to include everyone!

What does parent involvement look like? We need to maintain a safe ratio of campers to adults, but it really depends on the week and how many children sign up. Parents can expect to volunteer a few days (roughly 50%) per camper and we are hoping to find something that works for everyone. If your child is not ready for drop off you are welcome to stay the whole time. You will support your child and all the children throughout the day. Ideally during “centers” you will be stationed to a particular area and lead an activity. During all other times you will be given a task to prep/clean up/monitor. It’s meant to be fun and zero stress! 

What does my child need to bring?

• Lunch 
• Change of clothes 
• Sunscreen (please pre-apply as well)
• Hat 
• Water bottle 

What if we can’t commit to the whole week? 

You can still sign up even if you know you can’t stay the whole week, but do note that we are doing our Friday celebration days! If you will be absent, no worries, just let Miss Stefanie know so she can prep the right amount of materials. Unfortunately we are unable to pro-rate Summer Camp.

Questions? camp@madisonparkcoop.com