Casa Italia | Italian Cultural Center - 3800 Division Street Stone Park, IL 60165

Parent’s Information & Guidelines

PARENTS INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES  
Benvenuti to Casa Italia’s Italian Language Immersion Summer Camp!  We are happy that your child will be joining our fun-filled and educational summer camp. We thank you for putting your trust and confidence in us! We are prepared to provide a fun way for your child to learn a new language and to experience different aspects of the Italian culture through a variety of activities planned throughout the day.  For any questions or concerns, please email Casa Italia at info@casaitaliachicago.org or call the office at 708-345-5933. If you are unable to reach the office, please call our camp hot line number, 312-593-7255.

WHAT TO WEAR TO CAMP
All campers will receive a complimentary Casa Italia camp T-shirt which they are expected to wear every day.Extra t-shirts can be purchased at an additional cost of $10.00 each. Campers should wear comfortable shorts or jeans that they won’t mind getting dirty during outdoor activities.All campers are expected to wear traditional gym shoes every day (no open front or back). Any other kind of shoe, other than gym shoes, will bar the camper from taking part to the many sports activities planned throughout the day.

WHAT TO BRING TO CAMP
All campers are expected to bring a sack to camp with the following items: sunscreen lotion (we encourage campers to apply sunscreen in the morning), a change of clothes, a bathing suit, a beach towel, hair brush and a rain jacket and a cap. Optional: bug spray   All items, including the sack, should be identified with the camper’s name. All sack lunches brought from home (brown bag please) will be refrigerated upon arrival at the camp. We ask that children leave all valuables and electronics at home. They will be confiscated and given back at the end of the day.

SNACKS
Campers will receive two snacks per day, one in mid morning and one in mid afternoon. Fruit juices and milk will also be made available to them. Parents will be asked to fill out a form informing us of your child dietary restrictions and food allergies.    Spring water will be available throughout the day to keep campers well hydrated as they enjoy their activities.

LUNCH
Lunches will be provided for all campers free of charge. Campers that have diet restrictions should bring lunch from home, it will be refrigerated every morning upon arrival.

Following are examples of lunches that campers will be served:
Gnocchi Con Salsa di Pomodoro, Insalata Mista, Frutta Fresca, Latte o Succo di Frutta
Arancine di Carne o Con Spinaci e Ricotta, Insalata Mista, Frutta Fresca, Latte o Succo di Frutta
Penne Con Polpette In Salsa di Pomodoro, Insalata Mista, Frutta Fresca, Latte o Succo di Frutta
Calzone di Salsiccia o Vegetario, Insalata Mista, Frutta Fresca, Latte o Succo di Frutta
Ravioli Con Salsa di Formaggio, Insalata Mista, Frutta Fresca, Latte o Succo di Frutta
Pizza con Salsiccia o Con Formaggio, Insalata Mista, Frutta Fresca, Latte o Succo di Frutta
Pezzetti di Pollo a forno, Insalata di Legumi, Frutta Fresca, Latte o Succo di Frutta
Hamburgers con verdure o formaggio, Patatine, Frutta Fresca, Latte o Succo di Frutta

If a child is not happy with the food selection of a particular day, the following food items will be available:
pasta with butter and cheese, salami, nutella or cheese sandwich.   We take pride in serving our children the best, healthiest, most fresh and organic food items available.

COMMUNICATION
Casa Italia camp staff will keep parents informed about camp news through email, on line photos and flyers sent home with the campers. Parents along with family and friends can visit camp on July 17th for the campers closing presentation. For safety and security reasons, we do not offer open visitations.

SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS AND FOOD ALLERGIES
Casa Italia is very responsive to the individualized dietary needs of our campers. If your camper has specific dietary needs or food allergies we will work with you throughout camp to ensure that your child is safe and comfortable at all times. It is our safety recommendation that campers with special dietary needs and severe food allergies bring a sack lunch from home every day. A small shoe box of safe treats from home should also be kept at camp. This assures that campers with specific dietary needs can enjoy a special treat with their group.

INCLEMENT WEATHER
Camp continues rain or shine. Alternate activities and programs will take place. Our large indoor facilities and immense covered pavilion allow camp to continue during inclement weather.

ABSENCES
Please send an email to the Casa Italia office at info@casaitaliachicago.org  to inform us of a camper’s absence or call the Casa Italia office at (708)345-5933.  For the safety of all campers, we ask that a child with a fever or a contagious illness stay home from camp until he/she is fever free and treated for 24 hours.

BRINGING A FRIEND TO CAMP
A camper is allowed to bring a friend to camp by having his or her parents send an email to Casa Italia’s office  in advance of the visit and by paying a fee of $30 upon arrival to camp the morning of the visit. The fee must be paid by check addressed to Casa Italia and brought to Casa’s office or handed to the camp director. The $30 fee includes lunch.

CAMPERS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
If your child’s birthday falls during the three weeks of camp and you like to celebrate it at camp by bringing a cake or a treat for the children, please let us know in advance by emailing or calling Casa Italia’s office. We will do our best to accommodate your requests. For your information, we are unable to accept home baked goods. Please, see below.

FOOD DONATIONS
All food donations of fruits, ice cream, snacks and baking goods are welcomed, appreciated and gladly accepted as long as they are store bought and the packages are sealed. For safety reasons, we cannot accept home made foods or baked goods. We appreciate your understanding.

VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers including parents, grandparents and older siblings are needed, welcomed and appreciated. All volunteers need to be pre-screened and approved by sending an email to Casa Italia with their name address, home and cell phone numbers, social security number and other form of information. Volunteers will receive an ID tag that they will need to wear at all times when at camp.

INFORMATION ON THE LAST TWO DAYS OF CAMP
The last day of instruction will be Thursday, July 16th. On the following day, Friday, July 17th at 11:00 AM, the children will be making a presentation for their family and guests. The presentation will be followed by a cookout to which family and guests are invited. More detailed information to follow.

DROP OFF AND PICK UP POINT
Please drop off and pick up your child in the front of the Italian Cultural Center, 1621 N. 39th Avenue, Stone Park, Il 60165. Instructors and staff will be waiting to welcome you and your child. There will be a charge of $10.00 dollars for every half hour for late pick up.  After 3:30 PM, children will be waiting at Casa Italia’s office at 3800 W. Division.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE                                                                                                               Casa Italia believes in making the camp available for all Italian American children. If you are in need of financial assistance, please stop by at Casa Italia or down load the form from www.casaitaliachicago.org Assistance will be granted to families who qualify based upon need and availability of funds. All will be kept confidential. For additional questions, please call 312 593 7255.

 

AFTER CAMP SERVICES
For the parents convenience, between the hours of 3:00 and 6:00 pm, counselors will be available to watch the children for a cost of $ 10 per hour. Payments must be made the same day of service.  For emergency situations, arrangements must be made by calling Casa Italia’s office.

FIRST DAY OF CAMP
Please plan to arrive at Casa Italia no later than 8:45am if you have questions or there is some unfinished business, otherwise the children should be dropped off between 8:50 and 9:00.For the parents, grandparents and siblings of the campers who have never visited Casa Italia, a tour of the grounds and Casa’s Museums is scheduled for your convenience beginning at 9:30 AM on Monday, June 15th. Please inform the camp staff  that you will be taking the tour and they will direct you. The tour is complimentary to the family of the campers. A second tour of Casa Italia’s ground and museums is scheduled for the family of the campers on the last day of camp, Friday, July 17th, soon after the family luncheon.

EMERGENCY PICK UP PROCEDURE
If at any time during the camp, someone else other than the parents or guardian will be picking up the child from camp, please send us an email or call us and be prepared to provide the office staff of Casa Italia with detailed info on the person who will be picking up your child. The teachers and staff of Casa Italia, are committed to making this camp experience the safest, most rewarding and memorable experience in your child’s young life.  We appreciate your cooperation in adhering to all recommendations and instructions.

We are looking forward to meeting you and to welcome your child on the morning of June 15th.