Kong Academy Summer Camps at Carkeek Park and Seward Park

Most days will start with warm-up games to get the kids moving, warming up and building relationships with other campers. Depending on the week, the weather and the location, the kids will go through several stations (or quests) every day and work towards a daily and a weekly goal.

All quests offer kids an opportunity to develop their social and emotional skills like showing respect, improving communication skills, working as a team and a lot more.

There are no scheduled activites for extended care. Campers will play games, draw, color, talk about the day, and rest. You can pick up your camper at any time before 4:30pm.

All the parks we have chosen for our summer camps have sheltered areas for both shade and adverse weather conditions. Our coaches are very familiar with the different parks and will make sure the kids are not exposed to any extreme weather or travel too far from readily available sources of water.

The Kong Academy teaching method is based on the five pillars of Social Emotional Learning (self-awareness, self-control, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making). At our summer camps, we teach a large range of skills (including functional strength and fitness, balance, spatial awareness, agility, coordination, precision, control, and creative vision).

We include movements that offer a fun and challenging activity for every child, every ability, and every skill level.

The SEL structure gives us the tool to make sure every child feels included, gives their best effort, and leaves the camp every day with a feeling of achievement.

We scale and progress the challenges and quests based on the students’ level and encourage the kids to give their best effort.

Our teaching philosophy is that effort is more important than ability.

Please make sure your child brings lunch, a snack, and a large water bottle. When you register, please make sure to fill out the section regarding allergies, food or otherwise, their level of risk, and a standard protocol to follow in the event of exposure.

Every coach has a first aid kit and is trained in basic first aid. Should there be an injury or any kind of emergency, we have an emergency procedure that every coach is trained on and has a copy of to make sure appropriate steps are taken immediately.

In case of an injury, the people listed as emergency contacts will be contacted (either via phone call or text) as quickly as possible.

Kids should come to camp with sunscreen on and bring a sunscreen spray for later. Should your child need help with their spray sunscreen, our coaches will assist. (Spray sunscreen is preferable for easy and quick application.)

Students should be dressed in weather-appropriate clothing and ready to move. Comfortable clothes and athletic shoes are preferred.

Please provide a change of clothes in your kids backpack. It’s always a good idea to have one!

We will be rotating through different sections of the park and students will either keep their backpacks with them or leave them at homebase.

Full payment is required at registration.

In case you need to cancel your camp registration, we are happy to send you a refund minus an administration fee of $50 per child and per camp until JUNE 1st (e.g., if you have two kids registered for one camp week each, the admin fee will be $100).

After June 1, no refunds will be given.

Up to 2 weeks prior to the camp start date of the one you’re enrolled in, you can move your registration to one of our other summer camp weeks, provided there is space available.

If there are any medical reasons why your child cannot start or has to discontinue our program, please contact us, and a CREDIT minus attended days and an administration fee of $50 for a future program may be given (NOT a refund). Every decision will be made on a case-by-case basis. For a potential credit based on a medical reason, we need to receive a doctor’s note.

Like for our Summer Camp 2025, we will set up 10 WhatsApp groups. Through an invite link, which we will share via email, registered parents can opt to join the WhatsApp group designated for the week they’re enrolled in.

From there, parents can reach out to other parents and organize carpools or play dates prior (or after) the camp.

There will be a friend request form. However, we cannot guarantee that every request will be accommodated.

We organize groups based on different factors (e.g., age), and we’ll do our best. There will be a limit of 3 maximum friends requests per child.

To ensure the health and safety of all campers and staff, we closely monitor air quality conditions throughout the summer. Below is our protocol for camp operations based on AQI levels:

Air Quality Index (AQI) Guidelines:

• AQI 0-100: Camp will proceed as planned with regular outdoor activities.
• AQI 100-150: Camp will continue outdoors, but we will modify activities to reduce strenuous exertion. Staff will monitor campers closely and make adjustments as needed to ensure their well-being.
• AQI 150+: Camp will transition to an online format for the day. Activities will be moved to a virtual platform, with instructions sent via email and available through Zoom, utilizing our experience running virtual camps during COVID protocols.

Cancellation and Refund Policy:

• If the AQI reaches 150+:
  • Camp will shift to a digital format for the day via Zoom.
  • No refunds will be issued for no-shows.

We appreciate your understanding as we prioritize the safety and well-being of all campers.