FAQ - CEI El Jarama

Frequently Asked Questions about our summer camps

These are the most frequently asked questions about our camps in spain. We try improve this section every year. Thank you for your help.

THE PROGRAM

WHAT SETS CEI EL JARAMA CAMPS APART?

Our programs and destinations offer our campers different possibilities, depending on each participant’s goals and experiences.

Whether this is their first camp or they’ve already been and are back for more, we’ll always have a program that gives them just what they’re looking for. To this end, many of our programs do not have totally fixed schedules, as we always take into account the needs and experiences of our participants.

WHICH CAMP SHOULD I CHOOSE?

To decide what program is best for your kids you’ll need to decide whether you want it to be in English or Spanish, consider their age, and the location where you want them to be. Once you have made these decisions all that’s left is to choose your dates.

WHAT DOES THE PROGRAM INCLUDE?

All CEI El Jarama programs are all-inclusive; full room and board, counselors, activities, teaching materials and excursions.

Excursions will depend on the type of program the children are signed up for. Everything is included in the price.

The only thing not included is the price of transport to facilities located outside Madrid. The cost of this transport will be indicated when the program is booked, with prices depending on the city where the camper resides.

HOW SAFE ARE THE ACTIVITIES?

All the activities and dynamics scheduled are previously reviewed by the management team to ensure that they are appropriate for participants. During the activities campers are supervised by counselors and, whenever required, also by one specialized in the specific area in question. CEI El Jarama guarantees that all the material used at its camps is adequate, certified, and complies with the applicable safety requirements.

WHAT DIFFICULTIES MIGHT MY CHILD HAVE?

The most common problems arise during the first week of their stay and involve campers adapting to their new setting, but they are usually overcome in just a few days. In the event that this situation arises, we always advise the camper to talk to his counselor and tell him what is happening and how he feels, to be active and adopt a positive attitude.

In these scenarios the CEI El Jarama teams urges parents to remain calm. We’ve been working with young people for years and know how to handle these kind of situations. You can count on our experience, professionalism and determination for your child to find his place and his way at camp.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD DOES NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ACTIVITY?

Our CEI El Jarama counselors encourage campers to participate and have an outgoing attitude towards all the activities, throughout the program, but in no case are children obligated to participate in activities if they do not want to. We respect their decision if they do not wish to participate, but they must remain with their fellow campers and counselor, and will not be offered an alternative to the activity scheduled.

IS A MINIMUM LEVEL OF ENGLISH REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE IMMERSION PROGRAMS?

No. Generally, the school year they have just completed gives us an idea of the camper’s level. As our camps do not feature classes, campers are grouped by age since this is the best way to guarantee the same areas of interest during the camp. Once at our camp facilities, on the first day, we are able to verify the levels they have. Hence, our counselors adapt the activities to its profile.

In any case, the groups are not set in stone. If circumstances warrant it, we can always change a camper’s group.

ORGANIZATION

HOW MUCH POCKET MONEY DO THEY NEED TO TAKE?

We encourage parents to provide their children with small amounts of pocket money, sufficient to cover minor needs. The amount recommended will be indicated in the information specific to the camp in question.

Campers will not have the money in their possession during the camp. We use a “bank” system to provide them with small amounts at afternoon snack time and during excursions. Any money left over is returned at the end of the camp.

LUGGAGE

On the FAMILY AREA of our website a list of recommended items will be shown once you do the enrolment. In every case they will need to bring toiletries and personal hygiene items, in addition to both swimming and bathroom towels.

We recommend that campers mark all their personal belongings to keep from losing them.

HOW CAN CAMPERS COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR FAMILIES?

During the camp parents can communicate with their children through the following channels:

TELEPHONE: The information shown in the FAMILY AREA of our website will include the days, times and numbers for phone calls. There are three Call Days over the course of the camp, when campers can be reached at three times: breakfast, lunch and during the afternoon snack.

E-MAIL: Parents can write to their children by email at an address that will be given to you. We will distribute the emails to the campers daily, generally during afternoon snack time.

BLOG. We publish photos of the campers on a private blog – always pending parents’ consent. The pictures that we post are from different times at camp: activities, evening entertainment, in the dining room, excursions, etc.

CEI El Jarama does not allow the use of mobile phones except at camps located outside Madrid.

The use of electronic devices is discouraged, as they only tend to hamper communications and interaction with fellow campers. The team at CEI El Jarama believes that these devices can be used during the rest of the year, and that a summer camp pursues other goals, none of which involve the use of these devices.

WHAT DOCUMENTATION SHOULD CHILDREN / YOUNG PEOPLE BRING?

Children are to bring their European Health Care cards (not copies of them) or a copy of the medical insurance on the first day of camp.

All this documentation is to be filled out online, along with the sign-up form, on which you will indicate whether your camper has any allergies, or needs to take any medications, etc.

WHERE DO I DROP OFF AND PICK UP MY CAMPER?

On the first and last day of the 2-week residential camps at Talamanca del Jarama (not Day Camps) there is a free shuttle service from/back to Madrid. We ask all those interested in this service to please requested 10 days prior the camp.

There is one stop in Madrid, on both the outbound and inbound trips.

Shuttle service to airports or train stations entails an additional cost.

Please ask us should you have any questions at all.

Arrival and departure information is specified in the information for each program. Parents will bring their children to the camp and pick them up on the last day (or choose the option of shuttle bus if available).

DO I NEED TO AUTHORIZE THE TAKING OF PHOTOS?

On the registration form (in the FAMILY AREA) to be filled out to sign your child up for any of our camps you will find two boxes that you’ll need to fill out in order to provide authorization.

In the event that CEI El Jarama wishes to use a photograph for any other purpose, we will specifically contact the camper’s parents.

IS THERE A VISIT DAY FOR PARENTS?

No, there is no day on which parents can visit. At CEI El Jarama we believe that visits by parents are not advisable, as they tend to hinder campers’ integration with their groups and adaptation to camp life. Therefore, we do not allow parental visits.

WHAT DO I DO IF MY CHILD’S BIRTHDAY FALLS DURING HIS CAMP SESSION?

If you let us know when booking, the CEI El Jarama team will prepare, along with his group and counselor, surprise activities to make his birthday special. The camper will also be able to receive calls from relatives on his birthday, even if it is not a scheduled Call Day (though at the regular times).

NUTRITION

HOW DO WE PREPARE THE FOOD?

Our food is prepared at the camp by expert and qualified cooks, with ingredients of the highest quality, and menus tailored to the campers’ needs and tastes. We observe the food pyramid.

CAN CHILDREN WITH ALLERGIES COME?

Our kitchen staff is trained to prepare food apt for campers with special dietary needs or food allergies and intolerances. Alternative meals are served that are as similar as possible to what the other campers are having, so that those who cannot have a certain food do not feel left out. Breakfasts and afternoon snacks also feature all kinds of foods appropriate for those campers with dietary allergies or intolerances. We also offer a specific diet for those children who for religious reasons, or out of convictions, do not eat certain foods.

Do not worry about allergies at CEI El Jarama:

HEALTH

IS THERE A DOCTOR AT THE FACILITY?

In July and August camps we do have a doctor daily present for a few hours to see campers and follow up on those who are sick or have any medical problems.

WHAT PROTOCOL IS FOLLOWED IF A CHILD IS ILL OR HURT?

We have an infirmary to deal with any incidents occurring over the course of the day, at which CEI El Jarama staff with first aid training make the pertinent assessments.If there are children who must take medication daily, on the first day of camp it is given to infirmary personnel for its daily distribution, following the instructions issued by campers’ parents or guardians. If they have any preventative medications (for allergies, asthma, or any type of dermatitis, for example) they can also be delivered to the infirmary for distribution, as necessary. Campers are not to have medicine in their possession without a medical prescription authorizing them to do so, or instructions to this effect from their parents or guardians (e.g.: an asthma inhaler).

Families are kept informed at all times.

Counselors shall inform the coordinator and/or director of any incidents or health-related complaints campers have. It is the camp director or coordinator who, after an assessment, decides whether the camper should visit the doctor or not.

We have a health center in Talamanca, open in the morning and afternoon; an Emergency Department in Torrelaguna; and our main facility is the Infanta Sofía Hospital in San Sebastián de los Reyes.

All our camps outside Madrid have thorough knowledge of and information on the closest medical centers and hospitals, so they know what facilities to use in the event of an incident.

CEI El Jarama’s managers and counselors are trained in first aid.

The program purchased includes civil liability and accident insurance.

Medicines under control:

The doctor visits El Jarama every day:

THE FACILITIES

ARE THE FACILITIES FENCED OFF?

All the facilities at which CEI El Jarama runs its programs are bounded, to varying degrees, depending what is required to ensure campers’ safety. Children are kept in the spaces assigned to them by their counselors, who accompany them at all times.

IS THERE A POOL?

At all the facilities featuring a pool it is enclosed by a fence and locked when no activities are being held in it. Campers are allowed to use the pool only during scheduled activities (usually slated on every day of camp) and accompanied by their counselors. During time for swimming or aquatic activities there will always be a LIFEGUARD present, in addition to the counselors.

HOW ARE THE ROOM ASSIGNMENTS DONE?

After the sign-up period is over the camp director, along with the coordination team, makes the room assignments. Rooms are assigned with a view to placing campers with similar profiles together.

Children are separated by gender and grouped according to age, whenever possible.

Whenever parents indicate room assignment preferences when signing their child up, we will take them into account and accommodate requests whenever possible.

HOW DO WE ENSURE PERSONAL HYGIENE?

Each day there is a designated time for campers’ personal hygiene, when they shower and prepare their clothing for activities at night and the next day. Though the exact shower schedule varies depending on the particularities of each group and camp, generally it is from 7 to 8 pm, before dinner.

The counselor/supervisor ensures that everyone showers, practices proper hygiene, and that their clothing is appropriate. Bathrooms are shared.

IS THERE AN INFORMATION MEETING WITH PARENTS BEFORE CAMP?

There are information sessions for camps at some camp locations, but not for all, as in some cases parents can visit the camp during its Open Days. Therefore, for each one of the programs parents are duly informed about the possibility of attending an information session, or other opportunities available to them. In any case, we are always at your disposal to answer all your questions and address your needs.

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Frequently Asked Questions about our summer camps

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