• Jan 4–Feb 1: Sessions/weeks may be dropped or changed, subject to availability.
• Feb 1: Financial Aid applications due online.
• After Feb 1: Deposits are not refundable.
• May 1:
  • Full payment is due, or a payment plan must be in place and no refunds will be issued. You cannot drop weeks after this date.
  • All camp forms and lunch orders are due.
• June 26: First Day of Camp
• July 4: There will be no camp on July 4, in celebration of Independence Day.
• July 20–21 & August 16–17: Arts Festivals
• July 20 & August 17 at 6pm: Upper Camp Performances

Packing List

• Water bottle (labeled)
• Masks (just in case)
• Bathing suit, towel, swim cap (first days only)
• Lunch (Dairy, parve, fish, or vegetarian; or preorder kosher-certified lunch in your CampInTouch account. Please do not bring peanuts, meat, poultry, or shellfish to camp. Lunches brought from home are stored in air-conditioned rooms.)
• Sunscreen & bug spray
• Snacks
• Hat

Clothing
To ensure quick return of any lost items, please label all clothing, water bottles, towels, and bathing suits with your camper’s full name. Additionally, please check the weather forecast and provide appropriate clothing, including secure footwear such as sneakers or sandals (no flip-flops please).

Valuables
To avoid loss or damage, please refrain from sending items of high monetary or sentimental value to camp. Additionally, the use of all electronics, including cell phones and handheld devices, is prohibited.

• All campers are served ice pops in the afternoon.
• All food supplied by the camp is kosher certified and nut-free.
• Campers should bring a healthy, peanut-free snack from home every day.

Camp Kaleidoscope offers a variety of individually packaged, healthy lunch options prepared by Zayde’s Market. You may preorder from your CampInTouch account. Campers are welcome to bring their own dairy, parve, fish, or vegetarian lunches.

All items are kosher-certified and nut-free, and include a dessert of cookie, pastry, or fruit.

Cost: $10.95/lunch

Camp Kaleidoscope is staffed by a registered nurse (RN), and a physician is on call. In case of an emergency, the local hospital is less than five miles away from JCC Greater Boston.

Camp Kaleidoscope is in compliance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health policies and is inspected and licensed by the City of Newton Department of Public Health. As part of that relationship, we have been asked to share commonly asked questions about Meningococcal Disease.

Parents may request copies of background checks, health care policies, discipline policies, as well as procedures for filing grievances.

All visitors must show their JCC pass or ID for admission into the building. Only campers and camp staff may enter through the auditorium door. Parents must enter the building through the front entrance.

Payments & Cancellations

• Camp Kaleidoscope now requires a separate deposit for each session or week. The deposit(s) are strictly tied to those specific sessions and/or weeks. A deposit of $75 per week is due upon registration.
• Sessions or weeks may be dropped or switched, pending availability, without loss of deposit, until February 1.
• Sessions may not be split in order to drop individual weeks.
• Payment Dates:
  • After February 1: Deposits are no longer refundable or transferable.
  • February 1–May 1: Sessions may be dropped, and all fees paid will be refunded, except the deposit(s).
  • May 1: Full payment is due, unless a payment plan is in place, or written notice to withdraw/disenroll has been received. Families are financially responsible for all sessions and/or weeks registered.
    • If full payment has not been received by May 1 (and a payment plan is not in place), the remaining balance will be charged to the method on file on or about May 2nd.
  • Tuition is non-refundable after May 1. This includes: no refunds for illness, partial sessions/weeks attended, or change of plans.
• Camp Kaleidoscope does not charge a fee to be on our waitlist. If you are waitlisted and a spot opens up, we will contact you by email and/or phone. Families have 36 hours to respond to accept the spot before we contact the next camper on the list.
  • Families may remove their name from the waitlist by email at any time.
• Payment of camp tuition may be paid in the following forms:
  • By check
  • By Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
  • By credit card.
    • A convenience fee may apply depending on the method of payment. If you elect to pay by physical check, please note that payment must be received and processed before the installment date, to avoid having that payment charged to the method on file.
    • A $25 processing fee will be added to your invoice for any check or EFT returned unpaid, or credit card declined.
• There are four payment options available at the time of registration:
  • You may elect to pay in full at the time of registration.
  • You may pay in two installments (in March and in May)
  • You may pay via a monthly payment plan.
  • You must select your payment option at the time of registration. Any registration after May 1 requires full payment at that time.

Camp is an exciting, fun, sociable, and nurturing experience. Campers are expected to be respectful of each other, counselors, and the facilities. All efforts are made to work with campers and parents to provide a positive and meaningful experience at camp.

Bathroom
All campers are expected to use the restrooms independently at camp. This includes having ample awareness to get to the bathroom in time, manage clothing, wiping, flushing, and washing hands — independently. No camper shall be punished for soiling, wetting, or not using the toilet. In the event of a bathroom accident, the camp nurse will assist, if necessary, and parents will be notified. Camp staff and parents will work together with the camper to address the situation, and reasonable accommodations will be made as needed.

Behavior
If a camper distracts their group, willfully disregards directions, is disrespectful, or otherwise disrupts an activity, they may be asked to leave the group for a short period of time. The teacher or counselor will discuss the behavior with the camper, and, if applicable, they will return to the group. Children will be given reminders and redirection in order to encourage positive behavior. Staff members will empower children to make positive choices and to practice empathy and cooperation in group settings. No camper shall be denied food.

If the behavior continues or recurs, the camper may be brought to the office or senior staff for a time-out or break, when applicable, depending on the camper’s age and abilities. The camper will rejoin their group after an appropriate period of time. If the problem persists, parents are notified, and a plan may be implemented. If a child has specific behavior issues, all efforts will be made to work with parents to implement procedures or programs for managing the behavior, in a manner appropriate for camp.

Dangerous Behavior
If a camper behaves in a manner that is dangerous or destructive, staff will immediately remove the camper from the situation and call a supervisor. Staff will discuss the situation with the camper or campers involved and explain that the behavior is inappropriate and unacceptable, and parents will be informed. Parents are notified as soon as possible if a camper should hit, push, bite, or otherwise hurt another member of the camp community, or if they are the object of such behavior. A camper who hits or hurts another person or engages in dangerous or destructive behavior will be sent home. In this case, parents may be required to pick up the camper during the camp day. A parent conference is required before the camper may return to camp.

Repeated Dangerous Offenses
If a camper repeatedly endangers themselves or another camper or staff member; repeatedly breaks camp rules; participates in repeated demeaning or hurtful behavior; or knowingly damages property; they will be required to leave the camp. Refunds will not be awarded in these cases.

In the event that Camp Kaleidoscope must close your child’s bunk, or all of camp, due to state or local mandate, Camp Kaleidoscope will do our best to fit you into another week, session, or JCC camp program as you prefer. If we are unable to accommodate you, JCC Greater Boston will credit your account for use in a future program.

Thanks to the support of generous individual and foundation donors, JCC Greater Boston makes every effort to offer financial assistance to campers in need. For more information, or a confidential conversation, please contact us. Applications are due February 1.

Financial aid applications must be made online before February 1, at which time all submitted requests will be reviewed. Requests made after February 1 will be reviewed individually and are dependent upon funds remaining. Awards are not guaranteed year to year or for weeks added after February 1. If you are unable to accept the award, you must submit a written request to either reduce enrollment or withdraw. You must submit this request within two weeks of award notification in order to receive a refund of any deposit(s) connected to the withdrawal.

Additional weeks may be added after the deadline has passed, however, there is no guarantee that the aid will be the same. Financial aid is not transferable between camps.

Camp Kaleidoscope’s inclusive program seeks to enhance the social, emotional, physical and developmental needs of all children. If your camper has a 504 plan, an IEP, or receives special services, you must fill out the Special Needs Pre-Registration Form within your CampInTouch account.

We strive to offer the best camp experience possible for children who need extra support. A limited number of spaces are available for children with mild developmental disabilities. Interviews are required. Enrollment may be limited to one or two sessions. All bunk groups are inclusive.

Campers with mild disabilities participate in all camp activities. Upper campers entering grades 4-8 must be able to navigate between classes independently throughout the JCC Campus. Parents may be required to provide one-on-one aides if necessary. Please review our discipline policy, above.

For more information, email kaleidoscope@jccgb.org.

Absence: If your child will be out for the day, please email the camp office at kaleidoscope@jccgb.org or call 617.558.6523.

Pick-Up Policy: Campers will be released to parents/guardians or those listed on your registration form. If your camper will be picked up from camp by anyone else, please let us know. Dashboard cards will be mailed to you to help us recognize your car. Additional cards are available at camp.

Extended Day and Early Drop-Off: Available by the week. Please sign up within your CampInTouch account. We regret that there is no extended day on the last day of camp, August 18.

Morning drop-off is 8:45–9:00am. Cars drive through the loop, dropping off in designated areas.

Early drop-off is 8–8:45am. Park in the lot and escort your camper or pull up to the drop-off area by the theater, as instructed.

• Pickup is at 4:00pm. Be patient – we have a lot of cars driving through. Please do not arrive earlier than 3:50pm. You may park in the lot and walk over, or join the pick-up line.
• Parents pull up to the curb next to the sidewalk. Campers should not walk through traffic to enter cars. Please follow our staff’s directions to ensure safety at pickup.
• Dashboard cards will be mailed. Campers are released to drivers with a card; drivers without a card may be asked for ID. Notify the office in advance if your child is going home with someone not on your dismissal list.
• Extended day is 4-5:45pm. Park in the lot and walk into the building to meet your child.