Please review the following information with your camper before the first day of camp:

• Campers should learn their counselor’s name and group name immediately upon arriving at camp on the first day.
• A counselor will be with your child until he/she is picked up by you or an adult authorized by you.
• Campers must stay with their counselor and group at all times.
• Lunch time is a quiet, rest time.
• Lunch time is to be spent with your group in your designated area. To leave your assigned area for any reason, you will need your counselor’s permission.
• Visits to the Student Center may only take place before or after camp with parental supervision.
• Camp begins and is dismissed at the Johnson Athletics Center.
• If your child reports to camp late or needs to be dismissed early, he/she must be checked in/out when dropped off/picked up at the day camp office.
• Please call the Day Camp Summer Office at (617) 258-7528 between 9:00 am – 5:30 pm if your child will be absent from camp, or if you need to get a message to your child.
• If you know in advance that your child will be absent during certain days of camp, please contact the All Sports Summer Day Camp Office by email at daycamp@mit.edu or call 617-258-7528 between 9:00 am – 5:30 pm.

• Packed lunch, snack, and drink
• Refillable water bottle
• Swimsuit and towel
• Sneakers*
• Sunscreen*

*All campers must wear sneakers.

*Campers must bring their own sunscreen and apply it themselves. Our staff is not allowed to help children apply their sunscreen.

• Valuables: We strongly encourage that all valuables including cell phone, money and electronics remain at home. We are not responsible for lost or broken valuables.
• Sandals, Crocs, flip-flops, etc.
• Heelies/Heelys or roller blades

Please come meet your camp counselors on the first day of camp!

Please inform him/her of your pick-up plans for the afternoon. If you are not picking up your child yourself, the counselor will ask you to sign a form listing the names of each person allowed to take your child from camp. Those individuals will need to bring identification with them each day they come to camp. Over time, the counselor may become familiar with the regular pick-up person. However, due to absences or special events, we cannot guarantee that the same counselor will always be responsible for your child at the end of the day.

In addition, please inform your child’s counselor of any allergies, medications, or other special concerns that will be valuable for the counselor to know.

Campers are encouraged to participate in all activities. Swimming activities take place in our professionally managed aquatics center and are supervised by American Red Cross Certified Lifeguards. Swimming lessons will be taught by Certified American Red Cross Swim Instructors. Qualified swimmers must swim 100 yards followed by 10 minutes of treading water. Test administered first Monday of each session. Other activities include the following:

• Basketball
• Dance
• Diving
• Badminton
• Wiffleball
• Soccer
• Tennis
• Gaga Ball
• Kickball
• American Red Cross Swim Lessons
• Jr. Life Guarding**
• Capture the Flag
• Water Polo
• Dodgeball (with foam balls)
• Tsegball
• Counselor’s Activity Choice

** Watch Our Jr. Lifeguarding Video

Due to changes and additions from the Massachusetts Recreational Camp Code, we will be unable to host sailing as an activity beginning in summer 2024. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we explore options for our future camp years.  If you are looking for a sailing specific summer camp you can still find that on MIT’s campus at – https://www.charlesriversailingacademy.com/.

MIT Day Camp is committed to providing an inclusive, safe, and equitable environment for all campers, regardless of gender identity or expression. We do not discriminate based on gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, disability, age, or national origin.

 Respect and Inclusion:

We respect the names and pronouns of all campers. All camp activities and programs are designed to be inclusive and avoid gender stereotypes. 

Confidentiality:

We respect the privacy of all campers and maintain confidentiality regarding gender identity and related matters.

Reporting Concerns:

Any gender-related concerns or incidents can be reported to camp staff or emailed to daycamp@mit.edu. All reports will be addressed promptly and sensitively.

 This policy was developed in consultation with MIT legal counsel, child psychologists, and education experts. It is reviewed annually to ensure continued effectiveness and inclusivity.

For more information or questions about this policy, please contact daycamp@mit.edu.

All campers may use the bathroom and changing facilities of the gender they identify with or feel most comfortable using. Our bathroom facilities are equipped with private changing areas (stalls or pop-up pods), which are available to all campers. 

MIT Day Camp prioritizes the safety and dignity of all campers during bathroom and changing times through the following comprehensive approach:

• All campers will change in private stalls or individual pop-up pods. No camper will be visible to others during changing. Campers will be supported in maintaining personal privacy and comfort. Staff will only intervene if a safety concern is detected.
• Adult staff members will be present in changing areas during designated changing times. These staff members will maintain appropriate professional boundaries, ensure camper privacy and safety, prevent any inappropriate interactions, and be positioned to provide oversight without direct visual access to changing campers. 

The early arrival and late stay program are a service for parents to help meet the needs of the work schedules. It is not a highly structured program like the Day Camp. Kids do not have to participate in activities at early arrival and/or late stay. Kids may just want to talk to kids and staff, read, play board games, etc. We have basketball hoops, badminton, 4square, etc. set up to play IF THE KIDS CHOOSE TO. Our staff will monitor all activities.

Early Arrival

Early Arrival starts at 8:00 o’clock. Drop off children inside the Johnson Ice Rink (see map). Go to the main Zesiger front desk (building W35) for directions to Johnson Ice Rink.

Late Stay

Late stay starts at 4:00pm and ends at 5:30pm. Pick up children in the Johnson Ice Rink (see map). In an attempt to ensure the safety of all campers, we must require identification from the individual picking-up your child from Late Stay. This policy works well when your child’s counselor has become familiar with the parent dropping off the child, but is not sufficient for Late Stay. Because different counselors care for your child during Late Stay, they may not know each child’s parents. For this reason, we will request identification from mothers and fathers as well.

Regular Drop-Off (9am) and Pick-Up (4:00pm)

This season, campers may be dropped off at Johnson Athletic Center, (see map). Campers will organize by groups with their counselors in or near Johnson. Group lists with camper’s names will be posted on the glass windows at camp drop-off.

Campers will be dismissed from the morning drop-off location. Campers not picked up by 4:00 pm will become part of “Late Stay” located in the air-conditioned Johnson Athletic Center and will be charged the weekly late stay price.

Child’s Exclusion Due to Illness

Children will be excluded from the camp for the following reasons:

1. Illness that prevents the child from participating comfortably in program activities.
2. Fever (100°axillary(armpit), 101°orally 102°aural(ear) accompanied by other symptoms such as lethargy, constant crying, difficulty breathing, diarrhea and vomiting.
3. Diarrhea-stools with blood or mucous, and/or uncontrolled, unformed stools that cannot be contained in a diaper/underwear or toilet.Or Vomiting-green or bloody, and/or two or more times during the previous 24 hours.

Emergency Contact Information and Procedures:

1. MIT emergency telephone numbers:
   Fire: x100
   Police: x100
   Rescue/Ambulance: x100 or 253-1212
   Poison Prevention Center: 253-5360 (Environmental Medical Service)
2. Hospital utilized for emergencies:
   Name: Children’s Hospital
   Address: 300 Longwood Avenue
   Boston, MA 02115
   Telephone: 617/355-6000 (Main #)
   617/355-6611 (Emergency #)
3. Emergency procedures:
   1. In case of emergency, dial 100 from any campus phone, request the assistance of MIT Police/Ambulance and describe the illness or injury. A staff member waits with the camper until the MIT Police arrive.
   2. Another staff member notifies the Program Director who will notify parents by telephone of any emergency requiring more than minor first aid. If the parents cannot be reached, the Director will notify the alternate contact person indicated on the student’s application.
   3. The camp maintains a medical log, a record of all camper and staff health complaints and treatments.

MIT Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation follow all MIT Covid guidelines related to rentals, events, visitors, etc. This includes Day Camp participants.

This camp must comply with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and be licensed by the local board of health.

The garage you can park in is Edward and Joyce Linde Music Building, Building W18. The address is 201 Amherst Street. You will have to go through a barrier gate to get into the parking lot. When arriving, let the attendant know you are dropping off for MIT Day Camp. Please follow the instructions below for drop off and pick up. You will also find a diagram on how to get to the parking garage. 

Drop off: (Early Arrival 8:00 am / Standard Day 9:00 am)

• For early drop off (8:00-8:45am), parents will park their car in an open spot on the lower level and walk their child up to the ice rink. After the child is dropped off at camp, the parent is expected to leave the parking garage.
• For regular drop off (8:45-9:15am),cars will wait in a line and will not park. They will pull into the lower level parking garage and without getting out of the car drop off their child to a camp counselor. Campers will walk up the stairs and into the ice rink where there will be checkpoints of counselors/coordinators.
• Parents that show up after 9:15 am will park their car in the lower level of the parking garage and walk their child up to the rink to sign in. After the child is brought up to camp, the parent is expected to leave the parking garage. 
• If you are biking, please feel free to use our bike racks located along the building at W34/W35. Staff will be outside to check your child in!

Pick Up (Standard Day 4:00 pm / Late Stay 5:30 pm)

• Standard Day (3:45-4:15) Parents will follow the same standard as drop off. Without getting out of their car they will pull onto the lower level where they will meet the counselors. The counselors will then walkie for their child to come down. Counselors will approach every car that forms in the line. As parents receive their child, they will leave the lot. 
• After 4:15, when parents are picking up their child for late stay, they will park their car in an empty spot and walk up to the ice rink to pick up their child. Once they pick up their child they will leave the parking lot. 

Campers must be signed in by their guardian. Once signed in, camp staff will bring campers to their groups.

Please notify your child’s counselor at morning drop-off and email daycamp@mit.edu with your child’s name, group assignment and time you will be picking them up.

Drop off time begins at 8:45. Before 8:45 a.m., your camper will automatically be enrolled in our early arrival program for the week. We will charge a fee for early arrival. Early arrival campers will enjoy activities in the air-conditioned Johnson Athletic Center.

Pick-up time begins at 3:45. After 4:15 p.m., your camper will automatically be enrolled in our late stay program. We will charge a fee for late pick-up. Late stay campers will enjoy activities in the air-conditioned Johnson Athletic Center.

Campers: 6 – 13 years old

Counselor: 16+ years old

Yes, campers must be able to communicate with their counselors in English in case of an emergency.

Camp Tax ID number: 042103594. This can be included in tax deductions.

There will be no CIT program starting Summer 2023.

Groups are assigned by age. Each child will be in a group with others up to approximately 1 year difference in age. There are approximately 12-20 campers per group depending on enrollment.

We will not be accepting buddy requests as of Summer 2025. Experience has shown that most campers are able to quickly form new friendships within their group. During lunchtime and free play, campers interact with the entire camp, providing them the opportunity to reconnect with friends from other groups. Additionally, the camp is divided into two groups for swim periods, further allowing campers to socialize with peers from different groups.

All campers must participate in all activities. The MIT All Sports Summer Day Camp is committed to the development of the campers’ life skills through group activities and exposure to diverse athletic and social experiences.

At MIT Day Camp there will be a three strike behavior policy for the children attending camp.  After three strikes the child will be removed from camp for the summer without refund.  Upon each strike we will communicate with the parent and work with the child to correct the behavior.

A strike will occur if there is constant disruptive behavior that negatively impacts the experience of other children in the group at camp.  This could include but is not limited to physical violence, repeatedly breaking rules, bullying, repeated cussing, running away from the group, or repeatedly disobeying the counselor when they ask the group to do a task.

If any behavior is too extreme and the child is deemed a risk to others at camp then MIT Day Camp reserves the right to skip strikes in order to escalate the discipline or even remove the child from camp immediately if the child’s behavior warrants this action. This would only be taken if the child poses a risk to the other children at camp.

Goals: Proactive management of camper behavior 

Promoting an environment that prevents the need for discipline by keeping the campers active, being consistent and fair in our expectations, and stress the need for campers to be responsible for their own behavior.

Strike One: Time-Out

If counselor has discussed the type of behaviors they expect out of their campers and are having trouble getting a camper to meet these expectations, they may have the child sit in a time-out for approximately 5-10 minutes.  This time should not be a chance for the camper to remove him or herself and get upset.  This time should be used to discuss expectations we have for behavior and review what behavior was inappropriate and why. The camper will be supervised during this period of time. They will remain in the general area of their group.  In addition, the camper should be made aware of the future consequences if the undesired behavior continues.

During the first strike we will send an email to the parent about the incident and that this is a first strike. We will also send this strike policy in the email.

Strike Two: Sit out of activity – Involvement of Coordinator

If, following a time-out and discussion, a camper continues to behave in an unacceptable manner, the camper will now be taken to the office and told they will sit out for the next entire activity.  In addition, the administrative person in charge of discipline issues will become involved with the situation.

During the second strike we will send an email to the parent along with a phone call home to discuss the behavior. We hope to work with the parent in order that they may understand the behavior we are looking to change and we can work in tandem to keep the child at camp by fixing this behavior.

Strike Three: Expulsion 

If the behavior continues a third time then we will send an email, phone call, and meet with the parents to discuss the incident.  We will then be removing the child from Day Camp for the rest of the summer without a refund.  After this strike the child will be removed from their activity and sent to the ice rink to wait for pick up the rest of the day. A phone call will be made home to the parent after the strike is made, if the parent is available, they can pick up the child early.

The safety and enjoyment of all camp members are our top priorities.  If undesirable behavior of one camper continues to compromise one or both of these factors, the camper will be removed from camp.  

The camp administration and staff reserve the right to bypass any one or more of the above disciplinary steps, depending on the severity of the camper’s behavior and the impact it may have on the safety and experience of the camper, other campers, and the camp staff.

All Health Forms and waivers will be submitted online through our CampDoc registration platform. We cannot accept health forms through email. Health Forms and waiver must be received before a camp registration is considered complete.

Your health profile must be completed and read at 100% at least a week before your child attends camp. If your health profile is not at 100% the Monday before your child’s first day, you will be removed from the program. There are no exceptions to this rule – our camp nurse needs to approve every child before coming to MIT’s campus. 

Our confirmation e-mails are immediately sent. If you are having any trouble receiving an e-mail confirmation, e-mail daycamp@mit.edu

In order to receive any refund you MUST purchase one of the 2 protection plans. The first plan is “basic” which covers cancelations due to emergency situations. An example of this could be Covid-19 or a broken bone. The second plan is “deluxe” which covers all cancelations. An example of this could be a last minute vacation. 

If you have to cancel for any reason and did not purchase the insurance plan, you are able to switch weeks depending on availability. 

For the full refund policy, please consult this document.

Day Camp registration will close the Monday before camp starts. No changes will be processed after registration closes.