This was sent to me in email by mistake.
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Parents - Below is critical info you need regarding the ski trips that begin this Saturday, Jan. 8th. It should answer any questions. There may be some duplicate notes due to two documents being merged but it's all important info. We urge you to go over this with your child - while some may seem insignificant these notes have transpired over the years due to issues we have had along the way. We want to try to alleviate as many issues ahead of time as we can with these reminders. We are taking your children for a significant amount of time, chaperones are putting in alot of time to supervise your child and we want the trips to be fun and safe for all. We will also address some of these points with the children on the bus before it leaves. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thanking you all in advance.

SKI TRIP GUIDELINES/PARENT INFO

(Note: The term skier also applies to snowboarder)

Please Note: These are subject to change/modification.

Participants are to report to the Middle School Parking Lot by 3:00 p.m. to load any equipment, bags and to be checked in. The bus will leave no later then 3:30 p.m. The bus will leave earlier if all anticipated participants are present. Be on time so everyone can get checked in.

Skiers not going a session are to call Recreation at XXX-XXXX by 2 p.m. Substitute participants will not be accepted!!! Absentee vouchers will only be given for one missed trip per skier. Those missing more then one trip will not receive a voucher for any additional missed trips!!!!

If there is any bad weather during the evening parents should watch their emails for a possible early arrival home.

The bus will return to the same location at the Middle School by approximately 10:45 p.m. Parents should be sure to be there on time to pick up their child. Parents not available for pickup should make an alternative arrangement for their child and should make their child aware of what it is prior to them leaving for Shawnee. Please don’t have the chaperones stay any longer or have us try to track you down if you are late! If your situation changes after the bus leaves and your plan for your child’s pickup changes, call XXX-XXXX and leave that message on the machine. We will tell your child that change at the bus when it returns.

Skiers must  come and go on the bus.

SKIERS MUST STAY ON THE BUS THEY ARE ASSIGNED. THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO SWITCH BUSES!

Skiers will be given their ski tags and arm bands on the bus and they will be collected each night. They can NOT be taken home. Badges can not be transferred to another skier! There is a photo on each badge.

THERE WILL BE NO PACKAGE CHANGES.  If you do not have equipment for your child and did not sign up to rent you need to find some before the trip!!!! You will not be able to rent it at Shawnee that night!!!!!

Skis, equipment, boots, and bags must be stored in the under bus compartment. Skiers can not wear their boots on the bus! Other then equipment, bring only what will fit into a locker. NO COOLERS, etc.

Food, drinks, and candy can not be eaten on the bus and gum is prohibited by the bus company!!!!! These are bus company guidelines.

Skiers are not to walk in the bus aisles while the bus is moving, and are not to scream, yell, throw items, use profane language, make inappropriate remarks and/or gestures, etc. while on the bus or at Shawnee.

Tobacco products, alcohol possession and/or consumption, and illegal drug possession and/or consumption will be prohibited on the bus or at Shawnee.

Skiers misbehaving on the bus or at Shawnee will not be tolerated. Those misbehaving will be dismissed from the program and will lose their privilege of participating in all or part of the remaining sessions. Refunds will not be issued to those dismissed from all or part of the program.

Serious infractions of the rules could cause a parent to be called during a trip requesting them to come and pick-up their child at Shawnee. A release, for this purpose only, will be available with the head chaperone. The parent, upon pick-up, will sign this release. If the parent can not be contacted, the skier will remain in the lodge with a chaperone for the balance of the evening!

Lockers are available so please bring some change. About 50 cents each time you open it!

Skiers MUST keep track of their equipment. Tie a ribbon or something for identification.

At 9:15 skiers should leave the slopes, take-off and return any rented equipment and then head back to the bus with their belongings. Skiers need to check to make sure what they have is theirs!!!

If they want something to eat prior to leaving, start that process at 9pm so they are ready at 9:15.

Skiers will be checked in on the bus prior to departure from Shawnee.

Skiers should dress warmly and wear a watch.

Skiers will be asked to clean the bus prior to them departing at the Middle School.

Check with your emergency contacts if you will not be home to see if one of them will be around if needed. Let Recreation know who that would be. In the event neither contact listed will be available, and you have another alternative, please write down that name, address, and phone number and give it to Xxxxx Xxxxxx at the bus to attach with your form for that session.

Parent/Skier info below is critical – Please go over it with your child.

Communications will be done by email other then an emergency.

Bus Lists will be at the bus the day of the first trip.

Chaperone info has been sent. Duties of the chaperone are noted on our website. Directions to Shawnee and Pocono Medical Center are on the website.

Medications needed on trip? - let us know

Ski Book will contain med info - emergency contacts - if you have any changes – EMAIL me ASAP xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.org

Whoever you have listed for emergency contacts - THEY MUST BE ABLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AND BE WILLING TO GO TO THE SLOPES OR THE HOSPITAL IF WE CAN’T REACH YOU! If you have an older relative listed, we can keep them on but give us someone else as a replacement if they can’t drive at night. Make sure your contacts know you put them down!

If you will not be home - give me a phone number at the bus, make sure I have your cell, and tell your emergency contact.  Drivers will not drive any child home for any reason. Chatham families at the slopes, not with our group, will not be given over your child, injured or not, for a ride home, etc.

Participants AND Chaperones are asked NOT to make any calls to an injured skier’s family – THIS IS CRITICAL - WE DO NOT WANT INCORRECT INFO GOING TO FAMILIES – WE WILL MAKE THOSE CALLS WITH THE CORRECT INFO OF WHAT IS GOING ON.  This has caused terrible upset to affected families in the past!

Skiers hurt need to tell us. Other participants should also let us know if they have seen someone injured. Please let your child know to speak to a chaperone.

Saturday weather after they are at the slopes - if the bus will be late or has to come in early – please check your email.

Participants have been assigned buses. No switches - All MUST come and go on their assigned bus.

Those that can’t make the bus can not be dropped off later at the slopes and be brought home on the bus. All come and go on the bus.

Families welcome - child still goes on the bus back and forth.

Drivers or families – please don’t follow closely behind the bus.

Skiers will get only 1 absentee voucher regardless of the trips missed.

At the bus skiers will load their equipment under the bus.

Ski tags will be given out on the bus and collected after – they will not bring these home.

Lost tag – need to tell Head Chaperone – ASAP - $5 lost badge fee.

Any medical info will be on their ski tag as well as their photo we have.

Chaperones will have arm bands and so will skiers.

Video machine on the bus – PG or G rated only.

The bus company notified us there is to be no walking around on the bus, screaming, yelling, any food, candy, drinks or gum. No glass bottles. No throwing things out the windows. The kids need to sit straight and forward in their seats and not hang over the backs. Don’t rip off the plastic trash bags and throw them in the bathroom, etc. No BOOTS on the bus.

We and the bus company and Shawnee will not tolerate foul language, spitting, gestures, alcohol or drug     possession or consumption, smoking or possession of any tobacco products on the bus or at the slopes.

Any behavior problems on bus or at Shawnee your child could be dismissed from the program.

Security at the slopes: Shawnee will not tolerate improper behavior. If there is an incident, the skier will be escorted to the lodge, his name will go into a database, he will have to watch a 20 minute film on ski safety and will be handed over to our group leader. If there is a second incident in a night the skier will not be able to ski the rest of the night. If there is a second incident during the season, Shawnee will issue a letter to the skiers parents and their privileges will be removed.

You may be called to come to the slopes IF WE HAVE INCIDENTS – THEY SHOULD NOT throw snowballs, slush or ice at kids coming down the slopes. We have also had some problems with pushing, shoving and tripping, jumping on moving chair lifts and some difficulties with language.

Equipment issues - lifts - tell chaperones.

Lockers and food are available – please send some money if they want a locker (about 50 cents). Food is expensive so some bring theirs.  DO NOT SEND COOLERS – put food in a bag. NO GLASS BOTTLES.

Stuff some extra clothes in a bag if they do not have waterproof clothing.

Anything brought should be ONLY what will fit into a locker.  Chaperones will not watch items.

WATCH - wear one – LEAVE cell phones home! We will not be responsible for IPods, etc.

Ski Patrol radios - The Head Chaperone will get one and 5 other chaperones will have radios of ours on the slopes.

Everyone is asked - Don’t bang skis together. You are responsible for your equipment. Don’t bounce on the lifts. Don’t jump off the lifts - Snowboarders - safety rope is attached to your foot. Don’t send a snowboard or ski down the slopes

Ski helmets and wrist braces are recommended.  We STRONGLY encourage helmets.

Don’t go on slopes not ready for or start a new one late in the evening.

Renters need to remember their rental number - Tie a string on your equipment so you can easily identify it.

Make sure you have correctly fitted equipment. If not tell a chaperone so we can get an adjustment.

CRITICAL - Bring a lock! We have had snowboards and skis taken.

Shawnee has a check-in service for about $2.00. The child is given a number and they can check in their equipment if they want.

Participant bags will be checked if we feel it is necessary. Shawnee also checks bags and buses if items are missing during trips. Reports of stolen items?  The bus will be checked!

Those who take lessons: Lessons 6-7pm – they may ski after. Chaperones will be available to get those to lessons the first week.

Chaperones MUST get their own parent sub from list. I need to know WHO their sub is. If not enough chaperones at bus - that bus will not leave – PLEASE check the chaperone schedule.

Chaperones/drivers should bring a cell phone.

No family members/friends/children can go with a DRIVER Chaperone or on the bus.

Driver chaperones must go alone in the event they need to go to a hospital with a skier.

If your child is not going and you were scheduled to chaperone, YOU need to get a sub.

Subs MUST be the PARENT of a participant.

Chaperones will be stationed in the front and back of the bus, in the lodge and on the slope’s.

Participants will be told which food facility to use.

9:15 skiers need to return their rentals and head to bus.

A  WATCH is critical. Skiers should not wait until the last minute to gather their things or search for missing items – the bus needs to get back on time. Stragglers hold up the bus coming home. Lost locker keys - tell chaperone.

On the bus home – attendance will be taken – tags taken from each skier - arm bands collected.

Bus back about 10:45 checked and cleaned – Participants will stay on the bus until it is checked and clean.

Pickup on time - Park in the lot NOT around the oval as the buses will come in the oval – you will be asked to move your car for the skier’s safety. Please let whoever picks your child up be aware of this.

Find your child and take them home as the chaperones want to also leave.

Check they have their items before leaving the lot.

Participants expecting parents should not go home with someone else unless told to do so.

Lost items – don’t wait until the next Saturday to check on it.  NAMES on things - poles/boots, etc. This is critical. Leave jewelry home – chaperone will not hold it.

Cell phones are frowned upon – they get lost, they have caused us issues on the buses and with info going home to other parents, etc. We suggest they leave them home.

Parents should call us immediately if they hear about any problems or have a concern. Communication and consideration is critical.

Questions on any of this please call ASAP.

For Safety:

Skiers should be sure the ski lift safety bar is down and remains down.

Ski poles need to remain down towards the snow. Be careful not to swing them around which could injure another person.

Snowboarders need to be sure their board is attached to their foot with a leash.

Wrist braces and helmets are recommended.

Don’t go beyond your ability on the slopes. Don’t decide to try a new area you may not be prepared for especially later in the evening when you may be tired.

Keep in communication with us if you hear of a problem through your children.

We may not be aware of it and need to know before we lose any privileges at the slopes, on the bus or someone perhaps gets hurt.