CENTER GUIDELINES FOR KCOEC COOPERATIVE GROUPS

RESERVATIONS:

Each year your district is notified of available attendance dates by the Regional Office of Education (ROE). The district then informs the ROE of the specific schools, grade levels and teachers that wish to attend on each date. This process takes place in the spring, prior to the end of the current school year.

TEACHER REGISTRATION AND CONFIRMATION:

Teachers will be sent a Registration Form along with a Scope and Sequence outlining offered programs. The Registration Form must be returned to the ROE by 30 days prior to your attendance (exceptions are made for those attending in September). There are always schools looking for additional slots. If we do not receive this request form on time, your slot will become available to other groups and may be removed from the schedule. Additionally, please call the center two weeks prior to confirm your attendance. Late or missing paperwork may result in the cancellation of your program.

STAFFING AND GROUP SIZE:

The KCOEC was originally a private residence, which has been converted over to an education center and employs two staff. As such, it is designed to serve a maximum of two classes per scheduled date for a full day program. This allows our staff members to teach all lessons. This also provides us some flexibility to utilize our limited indoor space and continue programming, should the weather become an issue while you are in attendance. This is especially important between mid-October and mid-April when temperatures are coldest.

CHAPERONES:

All lessons involve “hands-on” experiences. To facilitate all students being involved, your class will generally be broken down into smaller workgroups. The size of these groups is dependant on the number of chaperones you bring. For the safety of all, we require an adult to student ration of 1 adult to 10 students from the sponsoring organization, with a minimum of 2 adults per group. In most cases a group will bring a total of 3 adults. A chaperone’s role is to:

• Provide additional support for student activities
• Provide additional support for student behavioral issues
• Dispense medication as directed by your Lead Teacher
• Assist in the case of an emergency, as directed by your Lead Teacher or KCOEC Staff

The KCOEC is an outdoor experience! It is up to you, the Lead Teacher, to ensure that your group is properly clothed to enjoy their program. Some students in your group will be outdoors longer than they have ever been before. Many of them do not believe they need as much clothing as it takes to be comfortable. Your experience will be fun, educational, and more rewarding if all participants are comfortable.

LUNCH, RESTROOM AND WATER:

Most groups ask that each participant bring their own sack lunch with drink. There are no vending machines at the KCOEC. Other lunch options, such as catering, are available upon request. We also encourage groups to bring bottled water, as the drinking fountain may not be near your group during programming and is shut off in the colder months. There are two outhouse restrooms on the center property and several throughout the state park for group use.

CANCELLATION:

If you need to cancel or reschedule due to a conflict, please notify us immediately to see if there are any available dates. Should you need to cancel on the program date, due to weather or other issue, please notify the center by 8:00 a.m. After that time, staff will generally be in the field and away from phone contact.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

MEDICAL RELEASE TO TREAT FORM

RELEASE OF LIABILITY FORM