2015 CAMP DESTINY
INFORMATION PACKET
Dear Families,
Welcome to Camp DESTINY! We are excited to embark on a summer of fun and learning with
your child(ren)! This year’s staff features some of the bay area’s most talented and
experienced educators in their field, as well as junior counselors who are Destiny students and
alums themselves. Please read through the entire packet. It contains important information
about what to bring and what to expect. If you have any questions, please contact the Camp
DESTINY program team at (510) 597-1619.
See you this summer!
Sarah Crowell, Ethan Zatko, Amber Julian
Camp DESTINY Program Team
ABOUT CAMP DESTINY
Camp DESTINY is a program of Destiny Arts Center, a non-profit community arts center that
has provided high quality, low-cost after-school, weekend, and summer programs to youth
ages 3-18 for 26 years. Camp DESTINY provides 7 – 12 year olds the opportunity to delve
into Destiny’s core practices: hip hop dance, martial arts, conflict resolution, self-defense and
performance, as well as experience summer camp staples like arts & crafts and outdoor fun.
Campers work together to build community, focused on the principles of Love, Respect, Care,
Responsibility, Honor and Peace, and perform each Friday for friends and family.
DAILY CAMP SCHEDULE
FRIDAY PERFORMANCE AT 5:15PM
Every Friday from 5:15-6:30pm students will showcase the
skills they learned throughout their week at Destiny. Bring
family and friends to celebrate all the campers and their
accomplishments! Your child(ren) will need to have a
Destiny T-shirt for the performance.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO BRING
FOOD
Bring a bagged, cold lunch every day to Camp DESTINY.
CLOTHING
ALL CAMPERS MUST BE SIGNED
IN AND SIGNED OUT BY AN
AUTHORIZED ADULT
8 – 9AM
Pre-care
9:00AM
CAMP DAY BEGINS
9 – 9:30AM
Opening Circle
Wear comfortable clothing that will be easy to work out in: tennis
shoes, T-shirts, sweatpants, stretch pants, or shorts. All students
should have at least one Destiny Arts Center T-shirt that MUST be
worn on Friday for the weekly Camp DESTINY performance. DO
NOT WEAR jeans, skirts, flip-flops or boots, large jewelry or
anything that would constrict movement.
9:30 – 10:15AM
Dance/Martial Arts
POSITIVE ATTITUDE
Bring a positive attitude, and a willingness to work with the
other students at Camp Destiny!
10:30 – 11:15AM
Dance/Martial Arts
Leave ipods, mp3 players, video games
and cell phones at home please.
10:15 – 10:30AM Snack
11:15AM – 12:00PM
5 Fingers Curriculum
12:00 – 1:00PM
LUNCHTIME PARK VISITS
Lunch
Each day Camp DESTINY will travel by foot as a group,
including campers and the full day staff, to the Golden Gate
Park in Oakland, CA to enjoy outdoor play and lunch outside.
This is a wonderful park just blocks from our center, complete
with bathroom facilities. Please direct any questions or
concerns about daily visits to this public facility to Ethan Zatko
at (510) 597-1619 x106, or [email protected]
1:00 – 1:30PM
Community Building
Activities
NEW MARTIAL ARTS CAMP
2:15 – 3PM
Theater/Arts & Crafts
In addition to the 3, 1-week sessions of Camp DESTINY we
will offer this summer, we will also be offering 2, 4-day weeks
of a special Martial Arts Kajukenbo intensive camp for
students in grades k-7, complete with morning martial arts
training and special fun afternoon activities. These 4-day
sessions will take place from 9am-4pm each day, MondayThursday, with optional pre-care starting at 8am and after-care
continuing until 6pm available.
1:30 – 2:15PM
Theater/Arts & Crafts
3 - 3:15PM
Closing Circle
3:15 PM
END OF CAMP DAY EVERYONE OUTSIDE
FOR PICKUP
3:15 – 6:00PM After-care
CAMP DESTINY GROUND RULES
Respect Yourself and Others
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Put your shoes, backpack and lunch in areas set aside for your things
Wear clothing you can move in. No large jewelry or jeans allowed.
Please wear tennis shoes. NO SOCKS and NO flip flops or sandals.
Wear a Destiny T-shirt every FRIDAY for the performance
No put-downs or cursing
No cliques
Safety First!
• Keep personal belongings secured in your bag IN YOUR CUBBY & avoid bringing valuables
to the center
• Names must be written on lunch bags
• No fighting or horseplay
• No touching the mirrors
• NO YOUTH IN THE KITCHEN. COLD LUNCHES ONLY – NO USE OF MICROWAVE
FOR COUNSELORS OR CAMPERS.
• Make sure your counselors know where you are at all times
Be Responsible
• Be on time!
• If you have an injury speak to your instructors when you arrive
• Only practice martial arts during class or privately at home
Listen Attentively & Follow Directions
• Listen to ALL instructors with focus and give 100%
• Be a role model for younger or newer students
No Cell Phones
• No cell phones during camp hours. The office phone is available for emergency phone calls.
Keep Destiny Clean
• Everyone will participate in Soji. Soji is "service" to the community through keeping our space clean
and neat.
• Throw away garbage and recyclables in the right containers
Camper Participation
In accordance with our core values, Camp DESTINY staff work collaboratively to engage all
participants. The camp day is densely packed with physical activity, skill building and enrichment
activities and we recognize that it can, at times, be challenging for some students. Our expectations are
also clearly expressed in our ground rules, and our goal is that each camper receives the full benefit of
the Camp DESTINY program. We will therefore be in contact with families of any campers who are
experiencing challenges that prevent them from participating fully, and we ask for your cooperation in
addressing these challenges. Please feel free to be in touch with the Senior Counselor at any time to
address any questions or concerns about your camper's experience at Destiny.
Feedback
Destiny Arts Center welcomes feedback regarding you and your family's camp experience, including
kudos, concerns and everything in between. Please feel free to contact Ethan Zatko, Camp DESTINY
Senior Counselor, in person or by phone or email. If you would like to submit feedback regarding a
Senior Counselor, please speak with Sarah Crowell, Artistic Director, by calling 510-597-1619 x
102 or emailing [email protected].
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THE WARRIOR’S CODE
Love
A Warrior is skilled in body and kind in
heart.
Respect
A Warrior respects him or herself and all
living things.
Care
A Warrior believes that caring for him or
herself means caring for our world.
Responsibility
A Warrior takes responsibility for her or his
own actions and makes a superior effort in
every situation.
Honor
A Warrior uses fighting skills honorably only to
protect self and loved ones. A Warrior never
raises a fist in anger.
THE FIVE FINGERS OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION
1. USE YOUR HEAD
Students learn to…
• Identify their natural senses
• Understand what awareness
means
• Develop keen observation skills
• Understand the concept of
intuition as a way to receive
information
• Understand how to breath and
relax
2. USE YOUR VOICE
Students learn to…
• Develop their voice as a powerful
tool for communication
• Understand nonverbal
communication
• Practice boundary setting
• Differentiate between passive,
aggressive and assertive behavior
• Develop positive communication
and problem solving strategies
• Develop the capacity to use the
7 Steps to Conflict Resolution in
conflict situations
3. USE YOUR FEET
Students learn to…
• Understand the concept of safe
spaces
• Develop decision-making skills
• Practice physical agility in escape
techniques
• Understand the social pressures
related to walking away from conflicts
or using verbal skills to resolve
differences
4. USE YOUR FIGHTING SKILLS,
BUT ONLY IF YOU HAVE TO
Students learn…
• Basic self-defense skills and an
understanding of the difference
between an “anger situation” and a
“danger situation”
5. TELL SOMEBODY WHAT
HAPPENED
Students learn to…
•
Identify a trusted adult to whom
they can report tough situations or
any time they had to employ any of
the first four fingers
PARENTS/GUARDIANS
Below is the form that camp staff will review with your child on the first day camp
before they sign the agreement. Please take the time to read it along with your child so
that they are prepared for what to expect regarding Destiny’s values.
CAMP DESTINY
CAMPER AGREEMENT FORM
Destiny Arts Center Values
Destiny Arts Center is a violence prevention center and is based on the
philosophies of peace and non-violence. The Warrior’s Code (see
attached sheet) expresses the Destiny philosophy. As a member of
the Destiny community, you will be working with the code on a day-today basis. Please read the Warrior’s Code and become very familiar
with it!
Camp Destiny Ground Rules
On the first day of Camp Destiny, all campers and counselors agree to
a set of ground rules that all campers are expected to follow. See
attached sheet.
Warning System
1. If a rule is broken once: verbal and written warning to the camper.
2. If a rule is broken again: verbal and written warning as well as a call
home.
3. If a rule is broken a third time: camper sits out of the days’
activities, a meeting with the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the camper, and
a suggestion that the camper leave Camp Destiny.
I, __________________________________________, agree to follow the
Camp Destiny ground rules.
Student Signature: _______________________________________________
CAMP DESTINY
PARENT/GUARDIAN CONSENT FORM
Please sign and return on the first day of camp
I_______________________ give my child(ren) _________________________
permission to attend Camp DESTINY at Destiny Arts Center 1000 42nd St.,
Oakland, CA. I agree to do the following:
- Drop my child(ren) off ON TIME at 9am (or 8am if enrolled in pre-care) and pick
them up at 3:15pm (or by 6pm if enrolled in after-care) at the Destiny Arts Center.
- Make sure that my child comes to Camp DESTINY with a bagged, cold lunch
every day and dressed appropriately (no jeans, sandals or flip flops).
I understand that if I fail to do the above more than twice in one week of camp,
my child may be asked to leave the program and I will not be given a refund.
I give permission to CAMP DESTINY staff to take my child to the Linden Street
Community Park, right next door to Destiny Arts Center, for lunch daily during
Camp hours and for after-care my child is enrolled.
I understand that if my child breaks any of the enclosed CAMP DESTINY ground
rules that they will be given three warnings. I understand that if my child
continues to disobey CAMP DESTINY rules they may be asked to leave the
program and that there will be no refund given under these circumstances.
I have completed the Destiny Arts Center Policies & Releases Form that gives
Camp DESTINY staff permission to take my child to the local Hospital if they
require medical attention. I also acknowledge that Camp DESTINY staff will NOT
administer any medication.
Parent Name: ____________________________________________________________
(Please Print)
Parent Signature: ______________________________________ Date: ______________