1. It is my child's first time away from home and, I worry about them being homesick. How do you handle this? We reassure the parents that the staff are always available to comfort any upset children, whether it is during the day or night. The classroom teachers (who have been with some of the children for 1-2 years) are familiar with the needs of their students. We also have access to a phone that the child may use. If the feeling persists, we will talk with the classroom teacher and parents and decide if the child needs to go home. We will never keep a child at MMOC if they are not enjoying their stay. 2. My child is a picky eater. What should we do? Being active outdoors creates big appetites. Children who have stayed with us always remember the "awesome" soups, grilled cheese sandwiches and other meals. Even the pickiest eaters will find themselves enjoying the home cooked meals. They are welcome to eat what they can and, there is always seconds for the hungry children. 3. My child has allergies/food restrictions. What can they eat? We will tailor meals to meet the needs of the child. If there are severe food allergies that parents may be concerned about, we encourage the child to bring up their own bread, milk, etc. so they can enjoy meal time with their classmates. If a child is diabetic, we encourage the child to bring up easy snacks that will enable them to participate in the programs without them feeling like they have missed anything. Please label their food and we will keep the food separate in the kitchen. 4. My child is taking medication at the time of the visit. Who is responsible for this? Just like at school, label the medication and we will keep it in the fridge or kitchen. The classroom teacher will be responsible for administering the medication, not our staff. Be specific as to the correct dosage and time to take it. 5. How trained are the staff to react to safety situations? Our staff updates their first aid training on a regular basis. We have a whistle system outdoors that is introduced to the groups when they first arrive. This will be strictly adhered to by all staff and students. We have a no tolerance policy regarding the safety rules and regulations of MMOC and the outdoors. We have a volunteer firefighter on our staff and, depending on availability, a paramedic. There are also 3 very good hospitals within a 30 minute drive of Mansfield and 1 within a 15 minute drive from Hockley Valley. 6. What does a typical day look like? Day 1: 10:30 - 11:00 - Buses arrive 11:00 - 12:00 - Welcome, rules & regulations 12:00 - 1:00 - Lunch 1:00 - 1:30 - Unpack & get settled 1:30 - 4:00 - Afternoon program 4:00 - 5:00 - Wash up and get ready for dinner 5:00 - 6:00 - Dinner 6:00 - 7:00 - Free Time 7:00 - 8:00 (8:30) - Evening program 8:30 - 9:00 - Bed Day 2: 7:30 - Wake up 8:00 - 9:00 - Breakfast 9:00 - 11:30 - Morning program 11:30 - 12:00 - Wash up & get ready for lunch 12:00 - 1:00 - Lunch 1:00 - 2:00 - Free time/get into groups 2:00 - 4:30 - Afternoon program 4:30 - 5:00 - Wash up & get ready for dinner 5:00 - 6:00 - Dinner 6:00 - 9:00 - Evening program 9:30 - Bed Day 3: 7:30 - Wake up 8:00 - 9:00 - Breakfast 9:00- 9:30 - Pack 9:30 - 11:00 - Morning program 11:00 - 12:00 - Lunch 12:00 - 1:00 - Wrap up with children & get bags on the bus Copyright © Mulmer Montessori Outdoor Centre Inc. 2006. All Rights Reserved.