Town of Merrimack Parks & Recreation Department Naticook After School Program 2026-2027 Parent Handbook Parks & Recreation Office Open Year Round Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm 116 Naticook Road, Merrimack, NH 03054 https://merrimackparksandrec.org/Phone: 603-882-1046 Fax: 603-883-5335 Camp and After School Program Coordinator Becca McGee [email protected] Cellphone: 603-633-0258 Desk Phone: 603-420-1667
Dear Naticook After School Program Parents/Guardians, We would like to take a moment and welcome you and your child to the Naticook After School Program! The Naticook After School program offers a safe, supportive alternative between school and home for children in grades K - 6. In this program; we create an environment where your child will have the opportunity to create new friendships with peers, learn new games, spend time outside and create arts and crafts projects. We pride ourselves on having a united staff that shows your child great compassion and care. Your child’s safety is our number one priority and our second is having fun! It is important that your child has the best after school experience we can possibly provide. We want your child to leave the program with great memories and relationships with their peers and staff. PROGRAM INFORMATION The Naticook After School Program operates on the schedule set by the Merrimack School District and runs every day that school is in session. The hours of the program are from 2:45 pm – 6:00 pm. Our program is led by Camp & After School Program Coordinator Becca McGee; who also directs our Summer Day Camp Program - Camp Naticook and Camp Trek. She is assisted by several of our Summer Camp Counselors in the After School Program Our program is licensed by the NH Department of Health & Human Services and operates under the same licensed as our Summer Camp Program. Unfortunately, we are not eligible to accept funding through NHHHS (State Welfare). We follow strict standards for staffing based upon our ratio of 8 campers to one staff member. Children will have the same staff members with them whenever possible. There will always be at least 2 staff members with a group at all times while they are in the program. A note about our programming; while we are not a Nature Based program we do pride ourselves in getting kids outside, active, connected with nature, and each other. With this in mind, your child may be outside in varying weather conditions, experience healthy risk taking, or just be a little dirty. To best prepare your child for this experience please always send them prepared with weather appropriate gear and an extra change of clothing regardless of their age. BUS TRANSPORTATION: For the 2026 – 2027 School Year, we will be operating two school buses driven by Student Transportation (STA) to pick children up at the school each day. Each bus will also have at least one After School Program Staff member on it with the daily roster to confirm attendance for that day. While we will have our own rosters during bus pickups, we are not responsible for communicating your child’s after school days to the school. All parents must notify the school or change their child’s Dismissal Manager to reflect their after school days. If the school does not receive parent notice of Naticook After School program pick up, we may not be able to collect your child at the end of the day. Bus 1: Will pick up at Mastricola Elementary School at around 2:45pm and then Thornton’s Ferry Elementary School at around 3:00pm and then bring them to Wasserman Park no later than 3:10pm. Bus 2: Will pick up the kids at Reeds Ferry Elementary School first at around 2:50pm and then Mastricola Elementary School (since they are dismissed later) at around 3:00pm before bringing them to Wasserman Park around 3:15pm.
TENTATIVE DAILY SCHEDULE Our typical schedule is flexible to the time of year, weather, programming, and group behavioral temperament. In the Fall and Spring we will spend most if not all of our time utilizing the outdoor space as our program classroom. During the winter months we will have recess/outdoor activities prior to snack due to daylight savings. While we like to keep routine, we also understand that no two days are alike and we must be flexible with our programming. ● 2:45pm - Bus will pick up children from school and bring to Wasserman Park. ● 3:05pm - Arrival/Check-in time ● 3:15pm - Washing hands and snack time ● 3:30pm - 4:15pm - Outdoor activities ● 4:15pm -4:30pm - Come back inside for quiet time & story ● 5:00pm - Gym games and/or arts and crafts ● 6:00pm - All children picked up by a parent/guardian REGISTERED DAYS & MONTHLY TUITION: Tuition is based on attendance and children have the option of attending 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days per week at a rate of $28 per day for the first child in the household. Additional children in the same household pay a rate of $23 per day. Prior to the start of the school year parents will register their child for any set of days for the school year, the program coordinator will process registrations on a reoccurring monthly basis, then at the start of each month you will receive an invoice for the days that your child is registered to attend the program within that month. For notes about schedule changes please refer to the section below. Once the school year begins we will only take new registrations by processing for the current month or upcoming month. Once a child is registered for the after school program they will be placed on the same reoccurring monthly registration schedule as full year participants. REGISTRATION INFORMATION Registration requires a deposit of just $25 per month prior to the start of the school year. This fee locks in your child’s space in the program for the entire school year, but they will be given the opportunity to add, delete or change days of the week at the beginning of each month. Once registration is finalized, please notify your child’s school of their attendance and save the program number to your phone (603-633-0258) PAYMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS: Monthly tuition payments are due no later than the last day of the month unless other arrangements have been made with Merrimack Parks and Recreation directly. Payments can be made online at any time, taken over the phone, paid by cash, or by check payable to the “Town of Merrimack” and mailed or dropped off to: Merrimack Parks & Recreation, 116 Naticook Road, Merrimack, NH 03054. Please note we do not take ACH payment. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS The After School program operates on a year round basis under our Camp License thru the Department of Heath & Human Services. Unfortunately, we are not eligible to accept funding through NHHHS (State Welfare).
With that said, a limited number of After School Scholarships are available to Merrimack Residents who meet the low-income qualifications. Applications can be found on the After School Program website and completed applications can be mailed or dropped off to Merrimack Parks & Recreation, 116 Naticook Road, Merrimack NH 03054. For questions, please call Parks & Recreation Director Matt Casparius at 603-420-1661. PROGRAM WITHDRAWALS:If you wish to withdraw from the program, two weeks’ written notice is required, one month is preferred. All written notice must be provided directly to the Camp and After School Program Coordinator via email. Late withdrawals will still be required to pay the current invoice in full. SCHEDULE CHANGES: If you need to make changes to the days that you child is attending the program, we ask for 2 weeks’ written notice so that we can ensure proper staffing levels in the program. Written notice must be provided to the Camp and After School Program Coordinator via email. As our program is growing, we anticipate reaching maximum enrollment for the 2026-2027 School Year. Therefore, we may not have the capacity to accept your child on an alternate day beyond their scheduled registration. Parents/guardians are responsible for informing their child's school that they will be attending the Naticook After School Program. This ensures that your child boards the correct bus. After School Program Staff will have a copy of the daily roster for each school. In the event that the school is not notified, Naticook After School will not be able to collect your child at their school. EARLY RELEASE DAYS: On days when there is a scheduled Early Release Day; the children who are attending that day are picked up at noon and our program on those days runs from 12:00 – 6:00 pm. On these days; you will be billed for 2 blocks of time (12 – 3 and 3 – 6 pm). If you wish to opt out of early release days you must provide written advanced notice to the Program and After School Coordinator’s email. Early Releases are scheduled on the following days for the 2025 – 2026 School Year, subject to changed based on the SAU 26 School calendar. Friday, October 9th Wednesday, October 28th Wednesday, December 23rd Wednesday, February 3rd Wednesday, March 10th Wednesday, May 12thSCHOOL’S OUT ADVENTURE PROGRAM - (not included but available for separate registration) On select days where school is closed due to a Teacher Workshop, other holiday (such as the Town Elections; the Parks & Recreation Department operates a separate full day camp program that runs from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm and includes a daily hot lunch. A separate registration is required for your child to participate in this program. Tuesday, September 8th Monday, October 12th Wednesday, November 25th Tuesday, April 13th SCHOOL VACATION WEEKS – (not included but available for separate registration)Merrimack Parks & Recreation will have a similar full day childcare camp program operating during the December, February & April School Vacation Weeks subject to change based on SAU 26 district calendar. These programs will have separate registrations; operate from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm and includes a daily hot lunch.
December Break: December 28th – December 31st Winter Break: February 22nd - February 26th Spring Break: April 26th – April 30th PROGRAM HOLIDAYS The Naticook After School Program will be closed on the following Federal Holidays. Monday, September 7th Labor Day Tuesday, November 11th Veterans Day Thursday, November 26th Thanksgiving Friday, November 27th Thanksgiving Thursday, December 24th Winter Break Friday, December 25th Winter Break Friday, January 1st Winter Break Monday, January 18th Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, May 31st Memorial DayDAILY SNACK One daily snack is provided to all participants when they first arrive at the program. Please let the staff know if your child has any dietary or other restrictions that we should be aware of when you complete the Camp Doc medical information. If you find that your child will need more than one serving size during the afternoon, please send your child with additional snack choices or provide the program with a gallon zip lock bag of snacks with your child’s name on it, this will be stored in the after school space and provided to your child upon request. INCLEMENT WEATHER: During the winter months; if School is cancelled due to unsafe driving conditions then our program will also be cancelled on this day. Notification of this will be posted on the Parks & Recreation Department website, Facebook Page and also on WMUR’s Weather Cancellation list. Participants will not be charged for the program if it is cancelled due to inclement weather. If payment has already been made in full for that month’s tuition; then a credit will be applied to your household and applied to the next month’s tuition. If school is dismissed early due to inclement weather or staff find that the weather has made the roads unsafe a determination will be made whether the program can be held that day or not. In the event that the program in not closed in times of challenging road conditions we may ask families to park in the main lots and walk down to pick up as park conditions on the one way may become unsafe. ABSENCES: Please note, we are not a “drop in” daycare service center. You are required to pay for your child’s spot, whether or not your child is in attendance. There will be no credits and/or refunds for absence from our program due to illness less than 5 consecutive days, family vacations, school activities and/or school trips. Absences due to illness of 5 consecutive days or more from both school and the NASP require a doctor note prior to any credit consideration.
If you are going to be absent from the After School Program, please contact Becca McGee at [email protected] or call 603-420-1667 before 1:45 pm to let us know your child will not be attending that day. DISMISSAL AND LATE PICK-UP: When you pull into Wasserman Park, you will drive directly down the hill towards the tennis courts where you will take a right hand turn and travel up the park road and park at the Function Hall. You will need to get out of your car and come inside the Function Hall and a Staff Member may check your ID to pick up your child. The After School Program ends exactly at 6:00 PM. You will be charged a late fee of $1 per minute after 6:00PM. We understand delays do happen, so if you call us to let us know you are running behind schedule we will allow a 10-minute grace period for late pick up. After the 10-minute grace period the late fee will apply. The After School clock is the official time of record for this fee. Please note for the safety of all children and staff, the entire park is a posted 5 miles per hour speed limit! This speed limit applies even if you are running late. PARENTAL RIGHTS AND GUARDIANSHIP: All parents shall be afforded equal access to their child as provided by Law. We cannot, without a certified court order, limit access of one parent by request of the other, regardless of the reason. Should a situation present itself wherein one parent does not wish the other parent to have access to their child, the concerned parent should keep the child with them until a certified court order can be obtained.Should a child registered in our program be under Guardianship or court ordered care by an individual other than a parent, copies of court orders should be provided to our office at the time of enrollment. Should a no contact, domestic violence, restraining or other court order exist restricting a parent or any other person from contact with a child registered in our program, copies of the court orders should be provided to our office at the time of enrollment. MANDATED REPORTS: Our staff members are mandated reporters for abuse and neglect. We have a legal obligation to report ANY suspected incidence of abuse and neglect involving the children in our care. HOMEWORK: All children attending our program are welcome to do homework, as time allows. Though completion is encouraged by our staff, homework is self-directed and may or may not be completed during program hours. Staff will not search a child’s belongings if they tell us they do not have homework to complete. We strongly encourage parents to review their child’s homework each night and assist them with completion. HEALTH DOCUMENTATION/MEDICATION:Naticook After School has partnered with CampDoc to better serve our participants and staff. CampDoc offers an electronic health record system for camps, and you can now complete your participant’s health information electronically. The security and privacy of your participant's health information is important to us. The CampDoc site is secure, encrypted, and password protected. After you are registered for your first session: ● You’ll receive an email invite to login or create an account with CampDoc
● Enter the required information, like medical conditions and emergency contact information as well as upload your child's record of immunizations and record of a physical that is within the past 2 years. ● Required questions will be marked with an * and outlined in red. ● Keep in mind that you can return to the website at any time to make updates to your child’s health information in the event that you do not have access to all of the relevant information when you begin the process. You can make changes to your child’s account up until 2 weeks before your program begins. All medical information in the camp doc system must be completed in full 2 weeks prior to your child starting their first session at after school. Students will not be allowed to be dropped off at after school if we do not have this completed information. There will be no refunds if you are prohibited from attending after school because we have not received your required medical forms. Any medication(s) a child needs to take during the time s/he is at after school, must be in the original container and locked in our first aid box. Preferably medications will be self-administered and taken under the supervision of staff. Parents must complete the authorization form in Camp Doc for any medication. PROTOCOL FOR STANDARD ILLNESS: Parents will be notified by phone (603-633-0258) from the After School Staff if their child is exhibiting any symptoms of impending illness. Parents will be expected to pick up a child who appears to be too ill to remain in the program within 1 hour. Until the parent arrives, the child will be kept in an area away from the other children. A child may not remain or come to the program if he/she has any of the following symptoms: ● Fever over 100.4 ºF. ● Vomiting or Diarrhea ● Inflammation of the eyes ● Abscess or draining sores ● The child has a strep throat that has not yet been treated with an antibiotic for 24 hours ● Rash, unless determined to be non-contagious by a Doctor’s note. ● The child has impetigo with less than 24 hours of treatment with an antibiotic. In case of an injury or medical emergency, and the Parent/Guardians cannot be reached the staff will contact the child’s emergency contact that is listed in the child’s file in CampDoc. EPIPENS: If your child has a prescription for an Epi Pen, we will ask you to send one EpiPen to the After School Programs. Staff members have been trained in the use of EpiPen and if a situation dictates the use of it, the staff member will assist your child in its use.INHALER’S: If your child has an inhaler, please make sure that they bring it with them to NASP every day. The inhaler will be with your child, in the first aid box, or with their counselor at all times. Staff members have been trained in the use of inhalers and if a situation dictates the use of it, the staff member will assist your child in its use. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: We perform fire drills at least every other month at our after school programs, on different days of the week and at different times. We have an emergency procedures document posted at each program and maintain an emergency response plan that includes evacuation, lockout, drop and cover, lockdown, reverse evacuation and shelter in place. We will perform unannounced safety drills throughout the year.
WHAT TO BRING EACH DAY: ● Reusable Water Bottle ● Sweatshirt/Jacket ● Outdoor layers – coat, hat, gloves, snow pants, boots, raincoats, rain pants (as seasonally required) ● Full change of clothes ● Additional snacks WHAT NOT TO BRING: ● Electronic devices ● Money ● Sports equipment ● Stuffed animals/Toys ● Candy and gum ● Any other valuables Please make sure EVERY item your child brings to the After School Program is labeled with his/her name. The After School Program and the Town of Merrimack are not liable for any missing items. We keep lost and found items in the Function Hall. Items will be disposed of or donated at the end of December and May if left unclaimed. PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTSNaticook After School is committed to providing inclusive recreational opportunities and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We welcome all children and encourage families to communicate any needs or accommodation requests in advance. Naticook After School is a group-based community recreation programs that operates with standard staff-to-camper ratios. Staff members are trained in youth supervision and recreation programming but are not medical, clinical, or therapeutic professionals. As a result, there are limits to the level of individualized support we are able to provide. To ensure the safety and success of all campers, families are asked to review the eligibility requirements outlined below. These requirements help determine whether Naticook After School can reasonably accommodate a child’s needs within the structure of the program. Campers requiring support beyond what can be safely provided may attend with a self-provided aide or may benefit from an alternative program offering a higher level of individualized care. Families are encouraged to contact the Camp and After School Program Coordinator to discuss program fit or reasonable accommodations. Eligibility Requirements: Participate safely in a group environment with standard staff supervision and ratios. Follow basic program routines, rules, and safety expectations with reasonable support. Communicate basic needs to staff (verbally or through alternative communication). Transition between activities and locations with group-level guidance. Engage with peers using non-physical behaviors, with staff support as needed. Manage personal care needs independently, including toileting and eating (staff may assist with opening containers). Have medical or behavioral needs that can be reasonably accommodated within the scope of staff training.
Registrations submitted for campers who do not meet program eligibility requirements are accepted at the family’s discretion. No refunds will be issued if a camper is unable to safely participate or is dismissed due to unmet requirements. BEHAVIOR AND EXPECTATIONS: The Naticook After School Program staff uses positive behavior management techniques that are developmentally appropriate and align with our core values which are Be Safe, Kind, Gentle, and Respectful. Our program is not intended for 1:1 care. If we feel that a child is disruptive to the Naticook After School Program, the parent(s)/guardians of that child will be notified and disciplinary measures will be taken. In the event that your child needs one to one care or is not adhering to our behavioral guidelines, the after school staff may reach out by phone (603-633-0258) to require an early pick up. In the event of an early pick up, you must be able to come collect your child from the program within an hour of the received phone call. In most cases, we operate on a 3 strike rule; however, a serious offense may necessitate suspension or immediate dismissal. A child who physically assaults another person or who brings a weapon to the After School Program will immediately be dismissed. The child’s parent(s)/guardians will be notified for any serious disciplinary matters and incident reports will be filed for your child through their Camp Doc profile. Below is an outline of what three strikes may look like for behavioral dismissals, though disciplinary actions and suspensions are at the digression of the Camp and After School Program Coordinator. Initial incident - home early and/or following registered program day home. Strike one – home early and/or following registered program day home. Strike two – one to two weeks program suspension Strike three – One month suspension and/or dismissal from Naticook After School Program. There are no refunds offered for children who are asked to leave camp due to behavior issues. NATICOOK AFTER SCHOOL RULES & EXPECTATIONS We expect and explain to every child that they must be SAFE, KIND, GENTLE, and RESPECTFUL. These are Naticook’s core values and expectations as we move through the seasons. In the event that a child is not following a rule below or one set by staff they may be asked, “We’re you being safe, kind, gentle and respectful?” All children must be able to listen and follow group directions given by staff, understand that this is a group facilitated program, and function within our program ratio of 1 counselor to 8 children. Rules and expectations are set by staff with children as they move through the program, but the list below outlines our primary rules that we have for all campers, everywhere they go. ● Speak with all staff and other children courteously. Foul/vulgar/inappropriate language will not be tolerated. ● Act appropriately towards staff and other children, respecting people’s personal space and belongings. Any physical (pushing, hitting, fighting, etc.) or verbal assault on any person at the After School Program will result in an immediate suspension or dismissal from the program. Any vandalism of property or personal belongings will result in an immediate suspension or dismissal from the After School Program and financial restitution will be sought.
● Remain with his/her staff and be under adult supervision at all times and follow all directions given by staff. Willfully leaving an activity without supervision may result in a suspension or dismissal from the After School Program. ● NEVER bring an item that is a weapon, can be used as a weapon, or is a weapon look-alike (even a toy). These items will be confiscated and will result in an immediate suspension or dismissal from NASP. ● Children should maintain a positive attitude, be willing to try new things, and make new friends while being cooperative and courteous to all. All children are expected to follow the Naticook After School rules.