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Summer Arts Camps Handbook

COCA camper in purple shirt in circus camp

Welcome to COCA Summer Arts Camps! This information guide will help you plan for your camp experience at COCA and answer many of your questions.

COCA camper and teaching artist in legomation

Camp Orientation

COCA offers evening orientation for families to tour the camp facility, meet the camp manager, and learn and ask questions about camp policies and procedures.

Orientation at COCA in University City

MAY 16

5:00–5:30PM | Virtual | Register

5:30–6:30PM | In Person, Campers Ages 3–7 | Register

6:30–7:30PM | In Person, Campers Ages 8+ | Register

JUL 11

5:00–5:30PM | Virtual | Register

5:30–6:30PM | In Person, Campers Ages 3–7 | Register

6:30–7:30PM | In Person, Campers Ages 8+ | Register

Orientation at University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (UHSP)

MAY 23

5:30–6:30PM | In Person, All Ages | Register

Camp orientation is an optional resource for camp families and not required for camp participation.

Camp Registration

Camp Registration Information & Policies

Camp Schedule

Before Care

7:30–9:30AM

Morning Camps

9:00–11:45AM | Ages 3–10

9:15AM–12:00PM | Ages 11+

Afternoon Camps

12:15–3:00PM | Ages 4–10

12:30–3:15PM | Ages 11–17

Full Day Camps

9:00AM–3:00PM | Ages 6–10

9:15AM–3:15PM | Ages 11–18

Intensives & Production Camps

9:30AM–4:00PM

After Care

3:00–6:00PM

Camp Forms

Camp forms only should be submitted after camp registration has been completed. Required forms to be completed and returned to the Registration Office prior to the first day of your camper’s camp. Forms should be returned to registration@cocastl.org.

View and Download Camp Forms

Pick-up Form—To be displayed in your front windshield at pick-up for campers ages 8+ when picking your camper up in our circle drive. Form MUST include the name of the last camp of the day for each camper you are picking up. We have these printed at COCA to be picked up on Monday drop-off, if needed. This is applicable to anyone who is permitted to pick up your camper.

Behavior & Safety Form—Required from all campers

Student Release Form Ages 3–7—Required from all campers ages 3–7

Authorization to Administer Medication—Required from all campers bringing medication on campus; must be signed by physician and parent/guardian. To drop off medication on the first day of camp, park in the COCA parking garage and bring the medication to the Registration Office. If your camper has no applicable medical needs, this form does not need to be returned to COCA. COCA does not provide any medication. This form is only for medication that a parent/guardian provides to be administered to their camper during the day.

Camp Culminations

The last day of camp, campers have an opportunity to spotlight the work created throughout the week. Most performing camps will have in-person culminations, some will be livestreamed. Art camps will have exhibitions of their work. Some performance camps have a separate performance culmination at a time outside of regular camp hours. Details for those camps will be communicated separately.

Camp culminations will occur 20 minutes before camp ends on Friday.

AM Camps | 11:25AM

PM & Full-Day Camps | 2:40PM

There are no in-person culminations for video, recorded songwriting, early childhood, culinary, or visual arts camps.

Directions, Parking, & Drop-off & Pick-up

Camps are held at COCA in University City and University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (UHSP), formerly known as St. Louis College of Pharmacy. Directions, information for parking, and drop-off and pick-up procedures for each location are detailed below.

If you are dropping off or picking up multiple campers, defer to the procedure for the youngest camper.

Arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before the scheduled camp start or end time.

Camps at COCA in University City

COCA is located at 6880 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63130. View directions to COCA’s campus.

Free parking for all COCA camp families and visitors is available in the shared COCA/ Washington University garage located across from COCA on Washington Avenue. The arms at the entrance and exit work on a sensor to keep a count of the cars in the garage. You do not need to pull a ticket, nor will you be charged to exit.

If you are dropping off or picking up multiple campers, defer to the procedure for the youngest camper.

Arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before the scheduled camp start or end time.

Drop-off and Pick-up for Campers Ages 3–7

Those dropping off and picking up campers ages 3–7 should park in the garage and escort their campers directly to/from their classroom.

Parents/Guardians must be listed on the Student Release Form for pick-up and will go directly to their camper’s classroom to sign them out. Authorized adults for pick-up will need to show a photo ID.

Use Kingsland southbound to Washington westbound to access the parking garage. You are permitted to turn right onto Washington in order to enter the parking garage. When leaving, you may use Trinity as an exit only. Refer to the map above.

Drop-off and Pick-up for Campers Ages 8+

Campers ages 8+ should be dropped off and picked up in the circle drive in front of COCA’s main entrance (on Edward Jones Drive). Do not turn onto Washington from Kingsland. Refer to the map above.

Enter via Kingsland
Remain straight on Kingsland and pass COCA
Turn right at Kingsbury (driving behind COCA)
Turn right on to Trinity (the next intersection)
Turn right onto Washington at COCA and enter our circle drive where your camper will be dropped off
You will the exit via Kingsland (the way you came in)

Complete, print, and display the Camper Pick-Up Form in the front windshield of your vehicle. The form MUST include the name of the last camp of the day for each camper you are picking up. If you need to have multiple forms to include all children, that is ok. We have these forms printed at COCA to be picked up at Monday drop off, if needed. Campers will not be released to vehicles that are not displaying the correct camper identification. Make sure anyone who may be picking up your camper has a form for their vehicle.

To keep campers safe, the use of cell phones and other electronic devices in the pick-up and drop-off lane is highly discouraged.

Those who would like to request pick-up directly from the camper’s classroom due to special concerns, contact the Registration Office.

Camps at University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (UHSP)

University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (UHSP), formerly known as St. Louis College of Pharmacy, is located at 1 Pharmacy Place, St. Louis, MO 63110.

UHSP is located near the intersection of Forest Park Avenue & South Taylor Avenue (southwest of Taylor)

Accessing UHSP From Highways 40/64 and 44:

Exit at Kingshighway Boulevard & head north on Kingshighway. Make a right onto Forest Park Parkway. Make a right onto Taylor Avenue. Make a right at the second stop sign at Nash Way (formerly Children’s Place). Turn right into the UHSP parking garage.

Free parking for all COCA camp families and visitors is available in the parking garage located on Nash Way.

Drop-off and Pick-up for Campers Ages 3 to 7

Those dropping off and picking up campers ages 3 to 7 should park in the garage and escort their campers directly to/from their classroom. Parents/Guardians must be listed on the Student Release Form and show ID for up. Access the parking garage from Clayton Road and S. Taylor—turn left onto Nash Way. The UHSP garage will be on your right.

Drop-off and Pick-up for Campers Ages 8+

Campers 8+ should be dropped off and picked up in the circle drive in front of the Academic Research Building on UHSP’s campus. Access the circle drive using the North side of S. Taylor Avenue and exit on Duncan Avenue.

Before & After Care

Campers waiting before and after camp are NOT supervised by staff or faculty. Unattended campers will be placed in Before or After Care, and tuition will be charged.

Before & After Care are offered for daily registration and available for ages 5+. Campers registering for a full-week can contact the Registration Office for a discounted rate.

Before Care: 7:30–9:15AM | Daily cost: $15; full week: $40

After Care: 3:00–6:00PM | Daily cost: $20; full week: $75

COCA’s Before Care & After Care program is popular and fills quickly. If this is a service you need, we encourage you to register for this program at the same time you register for camp.

Separate registration required. Payment may be made online or through the Registration Office.

What to Wear

Campers should wear comfortable clothing in which they can paint, move, and play, and closed-toe shoes. Special dancewear requirements, when needed, are included in the camp description.

Lunch/Snack

Full-Day Campers: Whether attending one full-day camp, or two half-day camps, students should bring a sack lunch, drink, and two snacks. A supervised lunch will take place on campus between camps.

Half-Day Campers: Bring a drink and one snack.

COCA camps have a nut-free policy. All snacks and lunches must be entirely nut free.

Weather permitting, COCA will have an outdoor space available for lunches. Allergy-free lunch table available. Soda/juice machines and water bottle filling stations available. Refrigerator and microwave NOT provided.

Cell Phones/Electronics Policy

The use of cell phones is prohibited during camp hours. We ask all campers to leave electronic tablets and games at home. COCA is not liable for the loss or damage of personal cell phones or other electronic devices at camp.

Lost & Found

Found items are stored in lost & found bins at the front desk. Lost items are taken to Goodwill at the end of each camp week.

Health & Safety Procedures

The health and safety of our campers, faculty, and staff is of the utmost importance. COCA continually monitors current COVID-19 conditions in our region and will update and provide health and safety procedures in response to community conditions and CDC guidance.

Health & Safety Procedures