SUMMER AT CAMP ST. MATT'S
Here are the next steps to complete camp enrollment. We are looking forward to a great summer at Camp St. Matt’s!
If you have any questions about the registration process, please email Kelly Phillips. Zenia Coleman, Camp St. Matt’s Director, can answer any questions about summer camp.
Zenia Coleman: Camp St. Matt’s Director camp@stmattshouma.org
Kelly Phillips: Associate Head of School kelly.phillips@stmattshouma.org
- Don’t delay; we expect to be fully booked before summer begins.
- Visit: https://www.homeroom.com/sites/saint-matthew-s-episcopal-school-houma/camp
- Click > LOGIN, then NEW TO HOMEROOM? SIGN UP to create a Homeroom account to register your camper.
-
Add your desired camp weeks to your cart & make the required payment.
- Parents are required to make a $50 non- refundable deposit per camper, per week enrolled. The remainder of the balance will be auto-drafted in installments.
- There is an ADD-ON OPTION for Extended Care each week. Make sure to add that to the cart, if needed.
- There is a $35 non-refundable, registration fee, per camper for summer camp. This fee will be billed separately through Stripe at a later date. You will receive an email with details.
- **Discount offered for booking all 9 weeks and paying in full. Offer good through April 30. Email camp@stmattshouma.org
to receive the discount link. - The link to the camp handbook is included in the registration on Homeroom. Parents will receive an emailed copy closer to summer too.
If you have any questions about the registration process, please email Kelly Phillips. Zenia Coleman, Camp St. Matt’s Director, can answer any questions about summer camp.
Zenia Coleman: Camp St. Matt’s Director camp@stmattshouma.org
Kelly Phillips: Associate Head of School kelly.phillips@stmattshouma.org
Questions?
Expectations
Saint Matthew’s standard of care is that every child feels safe and secure while engaging in fun, structured
games and activities. Camp is an extension of our school programs, and we are guided by our school’s
mission of nurturing mind, heart and soul in a Christian environment. We strive to build a child’s self esteem,
character, and social skills while also setting reasonable, natural boundaries and consequences.
We encourage self-discipline and require respect for others. When behavior issues arise, we work within
the camp setting, utilizing all available tools to help the camper meet their needs. However, behavioral
issues require not only camp counselors and team member intervention, but also support and
reinforcement of camp expectations and boundaries from parents.
It is important that campers have clear boundaries and easy to understand expectations. Camp
expectations are reviewed with all campers by Saint Matthew’s staff members daily. Saint Matthew’s
utilizes a multi-step Behavior Policy consistently through Camp. Should a camper need to change a
behavior, Saint Matthew’s counselors always start with multiple gentle, helpful verbal corrections or
redirections. These initial attempts at behavior change are always framed as positively as possible and
often include asking the camper what they should be doing rather than only pointing out the infraction. It
if becomes clear that verbal redirections are not helping the camper change their behavior, Saint
Matthew’s may issue consequences, including but not limited to, time out, loss of privileges, etc. Early
pick up, suspension, or removal from the program can result if behavior that is not conducive to our
mission cannot be rectified. Consequences for this type of behavior is determined on a case by case basis.
Additional Behaviors that are not acceptable for Camp
• Harassment, intimidation, teasing, and bullying are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
• Physical Aggression (hitting/kicking/striking/pushing/biting/pinching/throwing items, etc) is
not acceptable behavior. We understand that sometimes emotions can be difficult to handle, but
we cannot tolerate physical aggression. We work to encourage campers to express themselves
verbally, approach counselors with issues they are having with other campers, or communicate
their needs to a parent. Our primary priority is camper safety, and physical aggression puts other
campers and staff at risk. Physical aggression is grounds for removal from camp for the day,
week, season or permanently.
• Inappropriate language, inappropriate subjects, racial slurs, derogatory language, etc will
not tolerated.
• Refusal to Comply with Requests: Safety is our absolute top priority. This means that we must
trust that all campers, when asked to do or not do something, comply with staff requests. Staff
requests will never be unwarranted or without cause. Should it become clear that a camper
repeatedly fails to comply with staff, they will be removed from activities or camp.
Dismissal From Camp
Some children have needs that are beyond the scope of Saint Matthew’s staff training and environmental
structure. If we find that we are not able to properly meet a camper’s needs, or if we determine that Saint
Matthew’s is not the best environment for a camper, we may choose to remove them from camp. While
this decision could be based on the camper exhibiting multiple, unchanged behavioral issues, it could also
be because a child is not engaging well with their peers, is not ready to be away from their primary
caregiver for the entire day, has developmental needs that our staff is not equipped to meet, is unable to
adapt to our environment, or any other number of non-behavior related issues that we have seen arise over
the years. We do not take removing a child from camp lightly, and only do so when we feel it is in the
child’s best interest, or necessary for the safety or operation of the camp. Should a camper be removed
from camp, we will discuss with the parent whether they will be invited to reenroll in future years, or if
removal from Saint Matthew’s camps and activities is permanent.
Meeting the Needs of Campers
Some children have needs that are beyond the scope of Saint Matthew’s staff training and environmental
structure. If we find that we are not able to properly meet a camper’s needs, or if we determine that Saint
Matthew’s is not the best environment for a camper, we may choose to remove them from camp. While
this decision could be based on the camper exhibiting multiple, unchanged behavioral issues, it could also
be because a child is not engaging well with their peers, is not ready to be away from their primary
caregiver for the entire day, has developmental needs that our staff is not equipped to meet, is unable to
adapt to our environment, or any other number of non-behavior related issues that we have seen arise over
the years. We do not take removing a child from camp lightly, and only do so when we feel it is in the
child’s best interest, or necessary for the safety or operation of the camp. Should a camper be removed
from camp, we will discuss with the parent whether they will be invited to reenroll in future years, or if
removal from Saint Matthew’s camps and activities is permanent.
In addition to camp specific training, each staff member is required to complete the “Safeguarding God’s
Children” training. This is required by the Episcopal Diocese for all staff members who interact with
children. This helps to keep all our children safe on campus and at school events on and off campus. The
goal is to make our churches, schools and institutions safe places where each person is treated with care
and respect.
We Appreciate Your Support
Saint Matthew’s strives to create a safe environment for all children and families enrolled in our
programs. We want every person to enjoy their time here, which requires quick, consistent action when
behavior is inappropriate or disruptive. When counselors, parents and campers all work together as a
team, we have an amazing cam
Saint Matthew’s standard of care is that every child feels safe and secure while engaging in fun, structured
games and activities. Camp is an extension of our school programs, and we are guided by our school’s
mission of nurturing mind, heart and soul in a Christian environment. We strive to build a child’s self esteem,
character, and social skills while also setting reasonable, natural boundaries and consequences.
We encourage self-discipline and require respect for others. When behavior issues arise, we work within
the camp setting, utilizing all available tools to help the camper meet their needs. However, behavioral
issues require not only camp counselors and team member intervention, but also support and
reinforcement of camp expectations and boundaries from parents.
It is important that campers have clear boundaries and easy to understand expectations. Camp
expectations are reviewed with all campers by Saint Matthew’s staff members daily. Saint Matthew’s
utilizes a multi-step Behavior Policy consistently through Camp. Should a camper need to change a
behavior, Saint Matthew’s counselors always start with multiple gentle, helpful verbal corrections or
redirections. These initial attempts at behavior change are always framed as positively as possible and
often include asking the camper what they should be doing rather than only pointing out the infraction. It
if becomes clear that verbal redirections are not helping the camper change their behavior, Saint
Matthew’s may issue consequences, including but not limited to, time out, loss of privileges, etc. Early
pick up, suspension, or removal from the program can result if behavior that is not conducive to our
mission cannot be rectified. Consequences for this type of behavior is determined on a case by case basis.
Additional Behaviors that are not acceptable for Camp
• Harassment, intimidation, teasing, and bullying are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
• Physical Aggression (hitting/kicking/striking/pushing/biting/pinching/throwing items, etc) is
not acceptable behavior. We understand that sometimes emotions can be difficult to handle, but
we cannot tolerate physical aggression. We work to encourage campers to express themselves
verbally, approach counselors with issues they are having with other campers, or communicate
their needs to a parent. Our primary priority is camper safety, and physical aggression puts other
campers and staff at risk. Physical aggression is grounds for removal from camp for the day,
week, season or permanently.
• Inappropriate language, inappropriate subjects, racial slurs, derogatory language, etc will
not tolerated.
• Refusal to Comply with Requests: Safety is our absolute top priority. This means that we must
trust that all campers, when asked to do or not do something, comply with staff requests. Staff
requests will never be unwarranted or without cause. Should it become clear that a camper
repeatedly fails to comply with staff, they will be removed from activities or camp.
Dismissal From Camp
Some children have needs that are beyond the scope of Saint Matthew’s staff training and environmental
structure. If we find that we are not able to properly meet a camper’s needs, or if we determine that Saint
Matthew’s is not the best environment for a camper, we may choose to remove them from camp. While
this decision could be based on the camper exhibiting multiple, unchanged behavioral issues, it could also
be because a child is not engaging well with their peers, is not ready to be away from their primary
caregiver for the entire day, has developmental needs that our staff is not equipped to meet, is unable to
adapt to our environment, or any other number of non-behavior related issues that we have seen arise over
the years. We do not take removing a child from camp lightly, and only do so when we feel it is in the
child’s best interest, or necessary for the safety or operation of the camp. Should a camper be removed
from camp, we will discuss with the parent whether they will be invited to reenroll in future years, or if
removal from Saint Matthew’s camps and activities is permanent.
Meeting the Needs of Campers
Some children have needs that are beyond the scope of Saint Matthew’s staff training and environmental
structure. If we find that we are not able to properly meet a camper’s needs, or if we determine that Saint
Matthew’s is not the best environment for a camper, we may choose to remove them from camp. While
this decision could be based on the camper exhibiting multiple, unchanged behavioral issues, it could also
be because a child is not engaging well with their peers, is not ready to be away from their primary
caregiver for the entire day, has developmental needs that our staff is not equipped to meet, is unable to
adapt to our environment, or any other number of non-behavior related issues that we have seen arise over
the years. We do not take removing a child from camp lightly, and only do so when we feel it is in the
child’s best interest, or necessary for the safety or operation of the camp. Should a camper be removed
from camp, we will discuss with the parent whether they will be invited to reenroll in future years, or if
removal from Saint Matthew’s camps and activities is permanent.
In addition to camp specific training, each staff member is required to complete the “Safeguarding God’s
Children” training. This is required by the Episcopal Diocese for all staff members who interact with
children. This helps to keep all our children safe on campus and at school events on and off campus. The
goal is to make our churches, schools and institutions safe places where each person is treated with care
and respect.
We Appreciate Your Support
Saint Matthew’s strives to create a safe environment for all children and families enrolled in our
programs. We want every person to enjoy their time here, which requires quick, consistent action when
behavior is inappropriate or disruptive. When counselors, parents and campers all work together as a
team, we have an amazing cam