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After school Adventures at Brighter choice

IMPORTANT:  This program is offered ONLY to students who attend BCCS

Dates: September 11, 2023 -  June 26, 2024  

Hours: Dismissal-6pm Monday-Friday 

Traveling is one of the best ways to learn. During Afterschool Adventures, we travel the world through hands-on experiences and a one of a kind enrichment curriculum. As part of this experience, our explorers relate back to their own culture and heritage to discover what makes them a unique global citizen. At the end of the year, Explorers will have visited the great wonders of the world, tasted food from around the globe, played games from other countries, and learned to view themselves as an integral part of the continued growth of our global community. Our aim is to instill a genuine love of exploration, adventure, and learning. 

 

Afterschool Adventures is in session only on the days when your child’s school is in session.

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Tuition Includes:

  • Explorers daily enrichment classes 

  • Outdoor time

  • Kid-led free-choice activity stations

  • Dedicated homework time

  • ​Wholesome and hearty snacks

  • Service learning projects

  • DOE half days (as can be accommodated by host school)

  • Caregiver-friendly office hours

  • Homework help

Sample Daily Schedule

Daily  Schedule 

2:20pm-2:35pm   Classroom pick-up

2:35pm-3:00pm   Snack & community circle (snack provided by World Explorers) 

3:00pm-3:45pm   Outdoor play
3:45pm-4:45pm   Homework help/indoor play

4:45pm-5:30pm   Explorers Enrichment Class
5:30pm-6:00pm   Special-interest stations, games, free play, and dismissle 

Extended 1/2 day Schedule when applicable

12:30pm-1:00pm    Community Circle
1:00pm-1:30pm    Mid-day Snack (provided by Explorers)
1:30pm-2:30pm    Outdoor Playground
3:15pm-4:00pm    Special-interest stations & free play
4:00pm-4:20pm    Late afternoon snack
4:20pm-5:30pm    Explorers Enrichment activity
5:30pm-6:00pm    Special-interest stations & free play/games

Enrichment Classes

Tuition

We offer sliding scale tuition for families who

Your family’s qualification status will be verified by supporting paperwork on file with the BCCS administration as verified by the NYC DOE.

Steps for enrollment

Step 1

ENROLL

Step 2

Submit your Child Health Form.

Step 3

Wait for your invoice and welcome letter from the Explorers Support Team. Receipt of your program deposit and any necessary payment confirms your child’s registration.

You can make changes to you enrollment  during the two change periods: 12/1-15, 2022 and 3/1-15, 2023

  • Drop-off / Pick up Procedures
    Sign in/out attendance procedures. Sign-in/Sign-out is done by the adult dropping off or picking up using the mybrightwheel app. Each authorized adult will receive a unique 4-digit pin (which can be changed through the Edit Profile section of the app). Adults will sign in or out by scanning the QR code on the door and entering their pin. During drop off, adults will be prompted to answer two quick COVID-19 screening questions. Drop-off 8:00-9:00 am The earliest explorers can be dropped off is 8am. We request that all explorers are at our location by 9am. Pick-up Procedures Pickup is at 3:30 pm. For families who enroll in aftercare pickup is anytime from 3:30-6 pm at the same location as drop-off. As stated above, all parents and authorized adults should come knowing their 4-digit PIN and with the mybrightwheel app installed on their smartphone.
  • Daily Menu
    Breakfast Oatmeal or grits and fresh fruit Morning Snack Pretzel sticks w/ sunbutter and applesauce Lunch Cheese quesadilla with rice & beans and fresh fruit Afternoon Snack Fruit/veggie & yogurt smoothie Late-Stay Snack Veggie Straws or Popcorners
  • What if my explorer is a picky eater?
    We will send out a weekly menu to all camp families. We encourage children to try our foods and always encourage healthy habits. If your child is a picky eater, we suggest nut-free healthy snacks to supplement, if necessary.
  • Can explorers bring outside food?
    Yes. You are welcome to pack your explorer a lunch. Note that we are a nut free facility and do not allow nuts of any kind.
  • What should my explorer bring to camp?
    Hat (recommended for sunny days) Sunscreen **Please apply before coming to camp. Water bottle Extra set of clothes, if necessary **recommended for younger explorers
  • Is there anything my explorer should NOT bring?
    Crocs and flip-flops are NOT allowed in camp! We’re very active and explorers can easily slip or trip on them. Shoes must have ankle straps. Personal toys are discouraged. Electronics such as video game devices are not allowed. Personal cell phones must be kept in explorers backpacks. Please do not send your explorer with money. We cover all trip expenses and do not visit souvenir shops. explorers will not need money for any reason unless explicitly noted in the itinerary details of the weekly email.
  • Camp Groups
    We keep a 1:6 adult to explorer ratio on trips with children ages 6 and up, and a 1:5 adult to explorer ratio on trips with children ages 4 and 5. Our homebase ratio is 1:10. We assign our explorers into smaller groups based on this ratio. This increases our group’s safety by providing the ability for super quick head counts on our excursions and also allows the children to bond with their counselor in a smaller, more intimate setting. Our explorers are broken into four age groups to ensure that each explorer enjoys experiences appropriate to his or her age. We also recognize the benefit of co-mingling between ages and occasionally do group activities with mixed age groups. • Jr. Backpackers is for Pre-K 4s entering Kindergarten 2020-21. The program focuses on play-based learning and introduces explorers to a variety of new skills and mediums while maintaining an age-appropriate structure. • Backpackers is for entering 1st-2nd graders 2020-21 school year. Backpackers focuses on introducing explorers to various interests and skills in a structured environment while still encouraging freedom of exploration. • Trailblazers is for entering 3rd-5th graders 2020-21school year. Trailblazers focuses on allowing explorers to further develop their personal interests and to pursue their passions by growing their confidence and independence. We try our best to divide our smaller camp groups with the following priorities in order: 1. A child’s established connection with an adult counselor 2. A child’s age 3. Parent’s request for a specific group 4. Our identification of new and existing camp friendships While we do organize explorers into smaller groups, our explorers enjoy ongoing flexibility to engage and interact with all of the explorers in their larger group, despite their small group designation. Many of our workshops and organized activities are designed for the group as a whole as well as time on the bus, during lunch, and playground. You can think of our groups as the desk groups in a typical elementary classroom setting. We’re all in class together with the benefit of added attention for each smaller group. **Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, age groups will remain separate for the duration of their time at camp, with no co-minging.
  • Age Groups
    Camp groups (with the exception of Clubhouse Explorers) are organized by the entering grade for the 2020-21 school year Clubhouse Explorers preschool ages 2-4 Jr Backpackers rising kindergarten Backpackers rising 1st-2nd grade Trailblazers rising 3rd-5th grade
  • Camp Kit
    All explorers must wear our signature camp shirt and carry our purple backpack everyday. One kit is included for the summer season which includes two camp shirts and a backpack. Additional t-shirts are available for purchase. ***A water bottle is required
  • Water Day
    On water days explorers should come well-sunscreened with water resistant sunscreen on all exposed areas and dressed in a bathing suit with dry camp clothes on top. Girls should wear a bathing suit under their dry shorts/skirts and a camp shirt. Boys should wear swim trunks and a swim shirt under their camp shirt. Please provide a towel and dry underwear/clothing for your explorer to change into. Label all items with explorers first and last names.
  • Can I request my child be paired with a friend?
    We try our best to accommodate group and friend requests. Please make any requests 1-2 weeks in advance. Note that same day friend requests may not always be possible.
  • What if my child cannot attend camp, how should I notify you?
    If your child will be unable to attend a day of camp, please e-mail info@explorerkids.us or call 855-687-6923 x 0 as soon as you are aware of the absence.
  • What if I am running late to pick up my child?
    We understand things happen and offer a 5-minute grace period. Please let us know if you are running late by reaching out to your child's counselor via the Brightwheel App. After the grace period the late fees as outlined in the Summer Camp Parent Guide will be applied to your account.
  • Do you offer makeup days?
    Due to the nature and structure of our programs, we do not offer any make up days. We are flexible with rescheduling, however, so please call 855-687-6923 if you would like to reschedule a week of camp.
  • What happens in the case of severe weather (i.e. heat warning, thunderstorms)?"
    Depending on the nature of the weather, on field trip days that are outdoors camp will find an alternative trip location. On water days or field days we may stay indoors at our camp location if deemed necessary. We follow heat advisory recommendations from the Dept of Health. For typical rain days that do not include severe weather we will try our best to continue our trip as planned. Parents will be notified via email or text message of any itinerary changes or delays. Our Inclement Weather location for both park locations will be Brooklyn Independent Middle School, located at 38 Lafayette Street in Fort Greene. Families will receive notification the night before a camp day if we will be moving to the indoor location the following day.

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