Cougar Kids

Ages 6-12

The daily Cougar Kids Camp schedule is designed to integrate physical activity, educational opportunities, and leisure pursuits. Depending on the week, campers will participate in a variety of sports, outdoor activities, swimming, leadership activities, and team-building challenges. The schedule also offers various themed weekly activities
such as demonstrations, learning activities, and time on the climbing wall. 

Activities may vary depending on each week's theme. Some things to look forward to include:

• Swimming & Water Activities
• New and familiar sports
• Challenge activities
• Crafts
• Obstacle courses
• Outdoor education
• Opportunities to experience WSU programs & services
• Reading & STEM activities 

Our camp leaders strive to help Cougar kids develop in:

• Skill Development
• Health and Fitness
• Sportsmanship
• Cooperation
• Self Esteem
• Leadership

*Early registration deadlines:

Weeks 1-3: June 1

Weeks 4-7: July 1

Kick off camp with a roar! This week is all about strength, agility, and fun as we dive into fitness activities inspired by the mighty bears of the Pacific Northwest. Campers will enjoy relay races, obstacle courses, dance, and sports while learning how to move like a grizzly. Get ready for an action-packed start to summer—you won’t want to miss these games!

*We will not have camp on June 19^th in observance of Juneteenth. 

Adventure awaits! Campers will explore the great outdoors and discover the diverse biomes of the Pacific Northwest. From learning to identify animal tracks to practicing Leave No Trace principles, this week is perfect for nature lovers. We’ll wrap up with an exciting trip to Kamiak Butte County Park for hiking and exploration. Lace up your boots and let’s hit the trails!

Celebrate all things WSU! Campers will explore the Pullman campus, play sports, and learn what makes Cougar pride so special. Highlights include a visit to the WSU Library and a sweet stop at Ferdinand’s Creamery for ice cream. This week combines fun, learning, and Cougar spirit—Go Cougs!

*No activites on July 3

Take flight with a week full of games and sports inspired by the birds of the Pacific Northwest! Campers will soar through activities that challenge their speed and agility, culminating in an exciting trip to the trampoline park. Get ready to spread your wings and bounce into adventure!

Reach for the summit! This week focuses on mountain goats and the rugged peaks they call home. Campers will tackle the challenge course, try indoor climbing, and enjoy games, sports, and STEM activities that test their problem-solving skills. It’s all about aiming high and conquering new heights!

Dive into discovery! Campers will explore the world of otters and wetland creatures with activities and water-themed fun. The week ends with a splash at the Moscow Water Park, making this an unforgettable aquatic adventure. Get ready to learn, play, and swim like an otter!

Make waves during our final week of camp! Campers will celebrate marine life and the majestic orca with water games, pool time, and activities that highlight the wonders of the ocean. It’s the perfect way to cool off and wrap up an amazing summer—don’t miss this aquatic adventure! 

Join us for a parent open house at the Student Recreation Center on the WSU- Pullman campus on Thursday, June 12th from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm.

Bring your camper to meet our group leaders and camp directors for the summer. 

We will take you on a facility tour and have some fun activities for campers to enjoy!

Does your camper require reasonable accommodation for a disability in order to access or be part of camp activities?

WSU provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Requests for accommodations should be made at least 2 weeks before their first date of participation; WSU will try to accommodate late requests, but late requests are not guaranteed implementation. Depending on the specific request, WSU may require additional supporting information in order to best assess what accommodations may be reasonable under the circumstances.

1. Does your child require an accommodation due to a disability?

2. If so, what is the desired accommodation? Commonly requested accommodations at Cougar Kids Camp: 

• Extra time transitioning from activities
• Quiet space to decompress
• Simplified instructions 
• Modified activities
• Medication management
• Sensory considerations
• Extra parent communication 
• One-on-one assistance
• Wheelchair accesibility
• Dietary restrictions
• Electrical power source for charging batteries for assistive devices
• Assistive devices

We understand that you may want an opportunity to see our facility and ask questions ahead of time. If you would like to set up a tour with one of our directors, please email melanie.rossetti@wsu.edu to set up a time to see where all the fun happens! Campers are welcome to join as well!

Melanie Rossetti-Jackson (melanie.rossetti@wsu.edu, 509.335.2218) 

Marie Benedetti (marie.benedetti@wsu.edu, 509.335.3798)

Oliver Werner (oliver.werner@wsu.edu, 509.335.3791)

Cougar Kids Camp Directors  

University Recreation  

PO Box 641830 

Pullman, WA 99164 

Summer Camp Hotline 509-595-5644 

(June 16-August 1, Monday-Friday 7:30pm-5:30pm) 

Contacting Your Child During Camp 

If an emergency arises and you need to contact your child during camp, call the camp cellular phone at 509-595-5644 or UREC office at 509-335-2218. 

Camper Drop-off Area 

Campers should be dropped off at the Student Recreation Center parking lot on North Fairway Drive. The check-in area will be clearly marked, and camp staff will be on site to greet campers on the sidewalk near the entry door.  

Check-in Times 

• Morning Session: 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM (Camp begins at 8:30 AM)  

* If you need to drop off your child after the designated check-in time please enter through the Student Recreation Center main entrance and the membership staff will assist with check-in at the front desk.   

Check-In Procedures 

The following protocols will be in place during check-in: 

• Staff will check the camper in at the doors and show the camper(s) to their respective group area.  
• Parents are welcome to walk their child into the facility.  

Camper Check-out Area 

Campers should be picked up at the Student Recreation Center parking lot on North Fairway Drive. The check-out area is the same as check-in and will be clearly marked. Children will only be allowed to leave with authorized persons. A picture ID will be required for checking out children who do not have permission to sign themselves out. Children will be allowed to sign themselves out to leave the program with written consent from parents/guardians. Children must also have written consent to leave with a person who is not indicated during the online registration. Email or written notes are considered written consent.  

Daily Check-out Times 

• Afternoon:  4:15 PM- 5:30 PM 

Early Departures

Early departures can usually be accommodated, provided advance notice is given. Please provide written notice to staff at check-in or check-out one day in advance. Parents picking up their children early will come to the front desk of the Student Recreation Center and tell them what child(ren) they are there to pick up. Please remember that ID is required when picking up a camper.  

Check-Out Procedures 

The following protocols will be in place during check-out: 

• Staff will be at the check out door and parents/guardians will show their ID to pick up their child(ren). They will then be allowed to enter the courts to pick them up once we have verified their ID.  

At our website (cougarkids.wsu.edu), you will find general camp guidelines, including what to bring to camp every day, weekly schedules as they are created, camp policies, camper check-in/out information, camp staff information and each form your camper will need to have on file. 

All campers will be required to have the following forms or information submitted prior to their first day of camp: 

• All online forms filled out: Participant Consent Form, Camper Conduct Agreement, Image Consent Form, Health History Form, Medication Form (Required only if medication is to be taken while at camp. This includes asthma inhalers too.)
• All Accommodation requests must be made at least 2 weeks before their first date of participation in Cougar Kids Camp and sent to melanie.rossetti@wsu.edu. All requests are reviewed by the university ADA coordinator and they will assess whether we are able to implement reasonable accommodations, where the requested accommodations do not fundamentally alter or place an undue burden on the program staff and structure.  Cougar Kids Camp has the right to deny accommodation requests if it is outside their scope of practice or skill.   
• If you registered in person or over the phone you will be emailed the forms and you can bring them on the first day of camp or fill them out when you arrive the first day as copies will be provided. 

Please feel free to call us if you have any questions or concerns about any of the forms. 

• Clothing and shoes - Campers should arrive dressed for the activity. We recommend outdoor activity clothes and athletic shoes (no sandals or open-toe shoes please!). Please survey what your child brings to camp in the morning to avoid losing items. Please label clothing, towels, and all personal items. 
• Water bottle - Please send your child with a water bottle each day, labeled with their name. 
• Lunch - Campers that are attending the camp are required to bring a lunch. A snack will be provided in the morning and the afternoon. A typical snack includes a juice box and a granola bar. Campers store their lunch in their backpack. Please clearly label your child's lunch bag. Please notify the camp office before the beginning of camp if your child has food allergies. It is recommended that children with food allergies bring snacks with them. 
• Sun block - Many activities will take place outdoors. We recommend applying sunblock on your child before arrival and sending sunscreen with your child to camp so that they can re-apply.
• Swimming gear - Please pack a swimsuit and towel for your child every day. While groups won’t generally swim each day, at times our schedule may change at the last minute due to pool maintenance and campers may swim on a day that wasn’t part of the original schedule. Please provide a plastic bag to store wet items in. 
• Gym bag/backpack - A gym bag or backpack is recommended for your child's belongings. Please label it with your child's name. 
• NO Money/items of value - Please do not send items of value (money, cell phones, ipads, Nintendo switch, trading cards, stuffed animals, etc.) with your child. University Recreation is not responsible for any lost or stolen items. Items that are not appropriate for camp may be confiscated and locked in the camp office until parents pick these items up.

Cancellations must be made by email or phone 509.335.2218 to a camp director. If a cancellation notice is received by the Monday (7-days prior) before the applicable session, a full refund will be provided. Cougar Kids Camp admin staff will use their discretion in offering refunds for partial weeks due to illness to avoid sick campers being brought to camp. Please reach out to camp directors about canceling after the deadline.  

Medication of any type (over the counter or prescription) must be sent with your child to camp, and a Medication and Instruction Form must be submitted before camp begins. All medication must be in its original container with the exception of medication that must be accessible at all times by the camper. Medication must be given to a camp staff member at the beginning of each day at camp, where it will be stored in a locked box. A refrigerator will be available if necessary. Camp directors can assist with administering medicine to campers at the necessary times. 

University Recreation does not carry health or accident insurance for participants. It is recommended that all campers are required to have medical coverage prior to attending camp. In case of an emergency or accident involving your child, you will be contacted following notification of the appropriate emergency personnel. At Cougar Kids Camp, we make provisions to be certain that all campers will be as safe as possible. All group leaders and office personnel are certified in CPR and First Aid and will provide initial emergency care when needed. Lifeguards will supervise all aquatic activities. We provide and require campers to wear the safety equipment for applicable activities. 

If your child should become ill while at camp, you will be notified. Because we do not have a registered nurse on staff, we will ask you to make the decision whether to remove your child from the program for the day. We ask for your discretion on bringing your child to camp if he/she is ill. 

Cougar Kids Camp admin staff will use their discretion in offering refunds for partial weeks due to illness as to avoid sick campers being brought to camp. Please reach out to camp directors about cancelling after the deadline.  

In accordance with our commitment to ethics and diversity, we believe that it is important that our campers act respectfully towards each other, camp staff, and themselves. While we understand that children have a natural tendency to test the limits and boundaries in many situations, we believe that there are standards that our campers must be held up to.

Behavior policy:

The behavior management policy is designed to allow staff to manage unacceptable behavior, such as personally offensive language, physical abuse, bullying, and stealing.   

UREC staff shall be trained in dealing with issues that might arise, modeling positive behavior, communicating with participants, and resolving conflicts before they escalate.  The following steps are the general procedures taken when a problem arises: 

1. Staff members will intervene immediately and discuss possible solutions to the problem with the camper.
2. Camp staff, camp director, and camper will discuss solutions to the problem. 
3. A phone call to parents/guardians concerning the problem. 
4. The participant is removed from the program or facility for a day based on repeated unacceptable behavior. 
5. In the case of severe unacceptable behavior or repeated and  unchanging unacceptable behavior, the camper will be removed from camp for the remainder of the summer.