To secure your child's spot in our holiday/summer drop-in care, a non-refundable deposit of 15% of the total fee is required at the time of reservation. This deposit is necessary due to high demand for our program and our commitment to maintaining small teacher-to-child ratios, which ensure personalized attention and a high-quality experience for your child. The remainder of the fee must be paid no later than 48 hours before the start of the care period. For summer weeks, this means that full payment is due Saturday mornings at 8:30am. Courtesy payment reminders will be sent via email both one week and 72 hours before your payment is due.

Children Should Bring:

• Refillable water bottle

• Healthy packed lunch

• Sun hat

• Sun shirt (between May-October)

• Sunglasses

• Swimsuit

• Beach towel

• 2 extra sets of clothes

Children May Not Bring:

• Electronic devices (Cell phones, laptops, iPads, smart watches, etc.)

• Toys from home (Pokemon/baseball cards, books, balls, matchbox cars, dolls, trinkets, etc.)

• Sweet treats (candy, cake, desserts, chocolate, etc.)

• Drinks except for water (with the exception of children who have a medical need for additional glucose/electrolytes)

• Jewelry or accessories (except for small earrings that are regularly worn by your child)

• Clothing with profanities of any kind or characters/graphics featured in media rated PG/E+10 or greater

• Money or valuables

• Sharp objects (scissors, knives, or other tools that could pose a safety risk)

• Continental breakfast (offered between 8:30am-9:00am)

• Morning snack (served at 10:30am)

• Afternoon snack (served at 3:00pm)

• Simple snacks like fruit, crackers, and granola bars offered upon request throughout the day.

• Organic mineral sunscreen (reapplied every 80 minutes spent outdoors).

• Fresh, filtered water (children are regularly reminded to stay hydrated and we will check in with your child multiple times throughout the day to ensure that their water bottle is filled).

Phoenix House believes wholeheartedly in the power of unstructured play. Our holiday drop-in days are designed to be child-led and play-based, offering a flexible and engaging environment tailored to your child's interests and socio-emotional needs. Each morning begins with a continental breakfast, after which children can choose from a variety of activity stations set up throughout our space including sewing, baking, STEM building, and crafting. At 10:30am, we serve a morning snack, followed by a period of outdoor free play where options include water play, nature activities, art, and quiet activities like reading or writing, all according to your child's preference. After lunch, children continue with outdoor play until 1pm, at which point they can return to any indoor station or remain outdoors. We also offer outdoor games and board games throughout the day. At 3pm afternoon snack is served and children return to free play for the remainder of the day. There will always be communal activities for your child to engage in and there will always be opportunity for your child to rest or play independently as well. This unstructured approach not only allows children to relax and engage at their own pace but also encourages them to create lasting memories by structuring their day in the way that they feel most connected to.

Children are dropped off and picked up at the front door of Phoenix House.

Drop off/pick up rules:

• Children must be dropped off and picked up by a preapproved adult (18 or older).

• Each child must be securely signed in and out via the Brightwheel app. Information on signing up for the app is provided with your welcome packet.

We believe children thrive in mixed-age cohorts as they offer unique opportunities for younger children to learn from older peers and for older children to develop leadership skills and empathy. To effectively manage our mixed-age groups, we utilize age-appropriate grouping strategies during structured activities, ensuring that activities are engaging and suitable for all developmental stages. During free play children of different ages can interact, learn from each other, and develop social skills in a natural, engaging environment. Phoenix House strives to facilitate interactions that promote learning and social skills across different ages, creating a nurturing environment where every child can succeed.

Phoenix House offers select needs-based scholarships of up to 50% off summer and weekend care.

Phoenix House also accepts alternative forms of payment in the form of subsidized childcare. Currently, Phoenix House can be reimbursed through Child Development Associates or YMCA. If your child belongs to a different subsidized childcare program please email our director Ellie at hello@phoenixhousesd.com so that Phoenix House can begin the process of applying to be reimbursed through your preferred program.