home MCPS
About Outdoor Ed Resident Program Teacher info Parent info forms Day Program

Return to
Smith Center

Lathrop E. Smith Environmental
Education Center Procedures

The following information supplements or emphasizes procedures in the Outdoor Education Program Handbook and pertains specifically to the Smith Center.

  1. A confidence course is available for use. Instructors must have taken the Confidence Course Instructor’s Workshop within the last three years or have taken the retraining course, in order to use the course in a safe and proper manner.
  2. There are four dormitories with 2 sleeping rooms per building. Each room has 10 double bunks (19 for students; 1 for staff). In addition, there is a staff room with 2 double bunk beds.
  3. To avoid confusion, please use the building names (Baltimore Oriole, Striped Bass, Baltimore Checkerspot, and Black-eyed Susan). Each dorm has a NW and SE designation to identify the appropriate side.
  4. Please use the minimum number of dormitories required, with at least 16 students per side. When all dorms are not needed, the NW side will be locked to conserve heat.
  5. Thermostats, located in the utility area, should be adjusted by staff only. Lights should be turned off when not is use. Doors and windows should be kept closed when heat is on.
  6. There are low temperature sensors above the door in the staff bunk rooms. These are not thermostats and should not be adjusted.
  7. Schools will be held responsible for any damage/vandalism and will be billed separately for such. Damage/vandalism must be reported to the coordinator as soon as possible.
  8. Dining hall tables seat 8 people. Please make table and KP assignments based on this number.
  9. The state law banning the use or sale of tobacco on public school property is in effect at the Smith Center. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed on the premises.
  10. Visits to Meadowside Nature Center are encouraged. They may be scheduled through the on-site coordinator at times designated by the staff at the nature center.
  11. The Retriever and Pup rooms may be used at times by other groups. They should be scheduled only after consulting with the on-site coordinator.
  12. Athletic activities are restricted to the open field near the campfire circle. No physical education activities with balls, parachutes, etc. are permitted in White Oak Hall.
  13. Students may observe the animals at the Smith Center. If they wish, they may help the Smith Center staff in the feeding of the animals.
  14. A refrigerator and freezer are located in the small room adjacent to White Oak Hall for staff use. The kitchen is restricted to use by kitchen personnel only.
  15. The Smith Center phone number is (301)924-3123. Phones are available in the main office for school staff use. High school counselors should NOT use this phone for personal calls. For their use, there is a pay phone (301-924-9793) located outside the office on the porch. There is a computer available in the Pup Room for staff use with FirstClass and Internet access.
  16. Consult with the on-site coordinator and the health technician at least one week in advance if there are students with special needs or dietary restrictions. These dietary restrictions must be listed on the Parental Permission Form (MCPS 345-7).
  17. Schools need to provide the Smith Center cafeteria manager with both the number of free and the number of reduced lunch students, for accounting purposes. Please turn in the count the day of arrival.
  18. Students can be considered for financial assistance if the parent(s) are not able to pay the full cost of the program (this includes all students, not just free and reduced lunch students). No later than the date of the trip, a list of students for whom you are requesting financial support should be sent to the Office of School Performance & Accountability with a copy to David Honchalk, Supervisor of Outdoor Education, indicating, by individual, the amount of money paid by the student if any. For accounting purposes, a form is attached.
  19. The on-site coordinator will be available to spend the first night of each program.
  20. On days the on-site coordinator does not spend the night, his/her availability will end at 4:00 p.m.
  21. Breakfast is at 8:00 a.m., Lunch is at 12:00 noon, and Dinner is at 5:00 p.m.

 

 

last updated 8/2002
skip Navigation