EXPLO Senior | Essentials Guide for Residential Students

EXPLO Senior | Essentials Guide for Residential Students

GRADES 8-10 | SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE EXPLO Senior

2022 Essentials Guide for Residential Students

CONTENTS

Communication

Dates + Deadlines

• Contacting EXPLO at the Exploration Center • Contacting EXPLO while on campus • Contacting or visiting your student • Emergency / after-hours contact information An easy reference to quickly find contact information and a guide to contacting EXPLO and your student:

At-a-glance summary of important dates and deadlines to help you plan your schedule and have an easy reference to deadlines for specific requirements:

• Arrival + Departure Dates • Important dates at-a-glance

• A view of campus activities • Contacting other families

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• Travel Arrangements • Planning for Arrival + Departure • Summer Packing Preparation • Packing List Getting ready to be on campus: Travel + Preparations

Health + Medical

This section itemizes all the health and medical-related requirements and policies:

• Immunization + Medical Records • About the EXPLO Health Center

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Financials

Academics

To help you plan and keep track of payments and expenses:

To find out more about the learning experience:

• Payment of Bills • Miscellaneous Account • Student Spending

• Curricular Information • Making changes to courses + electives • Location of classrooms on campus • EXPLO Focus technology requirements

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The EXPLO Team on Campus

To learn more about life on campus, outside the classroom: Student Life on Campus

We have a 6:1 staff-to-student ratio on campus to make sure every student gets quality guidance and support as they live and learn at EXPLO. This section describes the types of staff members students can expect to interact with at the Program:

• Schedule • Use of Personal Electronic Devices • Housing + Living Arrangements • Meals • Laundry • Swimming • Multi-session Students • Lost + Found

• Head of Program • Office of Student Life Staff

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Communication

Contacting EXPLO at the Exploration Center (EXPLO Headquarters)

TO REACH EXPLO BEFORE JUNE 22, 2022:

932 Washington St. Norwood, MA 02062 Phone: +1 781.762.7400 Email: [email protected]

Contacting EXPLO while on campus at Sarah Lawrence College

TO REACH EXPLO FROM JUNE 22 – AUG 6, 2022:

EXPLO Senior Main Office: EXPLO Senior Nurse Fax:

+ 1 914.323.6300 + 1 914.440.5284

EXPLO Senior Email:

[email protected]

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Contacting or visiting your student while at EXPLO

PHONE + CELL PHONE POLICY

While we encourage students to keep in touch with those close to them, we also want them to be fully engaged in our programming throughout the entire day and evening. Students may not use cell phones until the final Wednesday of the session.

On the second Monday of the session, landline phones and computer labs will be available for phone calls and emails.

Residential students who choose to bring a cell phone will be required to turn them in at registration; the phones will be locked safely away and returned on the final Wednesday of the session. Some curriculum opportunities may include the optional use of mobile devices. Should this be the case for a course or elective, the Office of Teaching and Learning will determine and outline expectations for phone usage for impacted students. Students traveling unaccompanied to EXPLO will be given the opportunity to call a parent/guardian to confirm their safe arrival before turning in their phones. If families have any concerns or questions before students are allowed to call home, they may call the Office of Student Life for an update on their student’s wellbeing.

PHONE MESSAGES

Phone messages for students can be left with our Main Office.

Phone messages will be delivered during living group meetings. Only messages will be taken; students will not be called to the phone. Please make arrangements with students to call you from an on-campus phone during appropriate hours.

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EMAIL MESSAGES

Students may access personal email accounts during open hours in EXPLO computer labs beginning on the second Monday of each session. Remember that students will not have access to their cell phones, so you are encouraged to consider turning off 2-step verification with your email provider. Alternatively, you may send a residential student an email message using the Student Email Form link on the Student Portal. These messages will be printed and delivered during living group meetings. Email service is not available for day students.

SENDING LETTERS + PACKAGES

Summer mailing address: Student’s Name and Living Group EXPLO c/o Sarah Lawrence College 1 Mead Way, Bronxville, NY 10708

While we encourage the families of our residential students to write letters, we strongly discourage sending “care packages” since it can distract students from opportunities and can become an unnecessary focal point for other students. Due to the way packages are processed via Sarah Lawrence College’s Distribution Center, some packages can take many days to reach our offices, even after they’ve been confirmed as received. Please understand that EXPLO cannot take responsibility for delayed packages.

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VISITING THE STUDENT ON CAMPUS

Most of the residential students at EXPLO Senior do not receive visitors for the time they are at the Program. If a parent, guardian, or authorized guest would like to visit a residential student, please ensure the visit is coordinated with the Office of Student Life. Visitors of residential students, including parents/guardians, can visit after the first week so students have ample time to become accustomed to being away from home. Suggested visiting time: Weekdays between 4:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. This is the appropriate window that will be least disruptive to a student’s full participation in the Program. Guests must register at the Main Office, where a guest pass will be issued and must be worn for the duration of the visit. Guests may not walk through student areas while EXPLO is in session. Guests are permitted only in the Program’s public areas; they may not visit students’ floors or rooms. Guests must be at least 21 years old and must be specifically named by parents/guardians on the Authorized Visitors Form. The form is available on the online Student Portal.

VISITS OFF CAMPUS WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS:

A student may sign out for an evening visit with anyone on their Authorized Visitors Form age 21 or over.

Students may not sign out during a course or elective.

Guests who are signing students out must present a picture ID and leave complete information about the intended destination, temporary guardian, and time of return. Sign-out is completed at the Main Office.

Upon returning to the Program, students must immediately sign in at the Main Office.

Students may not stay out overnight and must be signed back in by 9:00 p.m.

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Emergency / after-hours contact information

In the event of an emergency, families should contact our Office of Student Life and a Dean will make appropriate arrangements. After hours, call the Main Office at (914) 323-6300 and you’ll be instructed on how to reach the Dean on Duty for true emergencies only.

A view of campus activities

We encourage families to explore the photo and video gallery that will be made available on a private password-protected portal. You can see what’s going on at the Program over the summer. We often post photos and videos of students and staff. We will notify you via email with log in information when the galleries are ready.

Contacting other families

Some enrolled families want to make connections with other enrolled families in their area. The EXPLO Registrar will coordinate the communication between families. A requesting family who wants to connect with other families will send their information to the Registrar. The EXPLO Registrar reaches out to the families in the area (who fit the parameter) on behalf of the requesting family to open an introduction. Email addresses are on BCC, therefore not revealed.

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Dates + Deadlines

Arrival + Departure Dates

SESSION 1 SESSION 2 ARRIVAL DEPARTURE ARRIVAL DEPARTURE

Sunday June 26, 2022

Friday July 15, 2022

Sunday July 17, 2022

Friday August 5, 2022

Departure Time: (Driving) 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Arrival Time: (Driving) 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Departure Time: (Driving) 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Arrival Time: (Driving) 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.

EXPLO Senior 360° Residential

(Flying Out) 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

(Flying In) 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

(Flying Out) 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

(Flying In) 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Sunday July 3, 2022

Friday July 15, 2022

Arrival Time: (Driving) 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

EXPLO Focus: Foreign Affairs

Departure Time: (Driving) 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

(Flying In) 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

(Flying Out) 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Sunday July 17, 2022

Friday July 29, 2022

Departure Time: (Driving) 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Arrival Time: (Driving) 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

EXPLO Focus: Medical Rounds

(Flying In) 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

(Flying Out) 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Sunday July 3, 2022

Friday July 15, 2022

Arrival Time: (Driving) 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

EXPLO Focus: Sports Management

Departure Time: (Driving) 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

(Flying In) 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

(Flying Out) 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

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Important dates at-a-glance

DUE APRIL 15, 2022 (For details, go to your Student Portal)

Payment — All bills must be paid in full by April 15, 2022 (or immediately for those enrolling after April 15, 2022, to hold space). CampDoc Medical Form — CampDoc Medical Form must be received with complete information and up-to-date immunizations.

DUE JUNE 1, 2022 (For details, go to your Student Portal)

Arrival and departure info — Update your plans for arriving to and departing from campus, and sign up for the airport shuttle service.

Housing Form — Indicate your housing preferences.

Parent/Guardian Comment Form — Help us learn about your child so we can support them on campus during the summer. Student technology — Provide updated contact information so we know how to reach the student when cell phones are permitted on campus. For EXPLO Focus students only, provide an email address that can be used to access the Canvas learning management platform. Intersession Form — For students attending more than one EXPLO session, opt in for the Intersession Trip to stay on campus. Trip waivers — Optional trip waivers must be signed by a parent/guardian if the student would like to attend Weekend Trips that require a waiver. As students choose their trips on campus, it is highly encouraged that families complete all waivers so that students are able to fully participate in trips that interest them.

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Travel + Preparations

Travel Arrangements

Various travel options (by car or plane) are detailed on the Arrival + Departure form, which is available on the Student Portal.

TRAVEL BY CAR

Follow directions to 1 Mead Way in Bronxville, NY, and drive to the Sarah Lawrence College campus. Once on campus, follow signs to “EXPLO”.

On Arrival Day, we will have staff at various points to give further instructions regarding luggage drop-off and registration. There will be parking available for cars once unloaded.

(Note: As much as we love them, we ask that you please leave pets at home.)

TRAVEL BY PLANE

EXPLO offers shuttles from John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) for students flying solo. EXPLO staff will meet students at the baggage claim area wearing bright orange EXPLO T-shirts and will help at every step of the travel process, from airport pickup to arrival on campus. On Departure Day, our staff will assist students to airport security and will remain at the airport until all flights have depavrted. When booking your travel or your child’s flight to EXPLO, we recommend that you book flights that arrive and depart in the shuttle windows listed in the table above. If transportation is needed outside of the shuttle window, EXPLO can help coordinate transportation with an outside travel partner, but there may be increased wait times and/or additional costs.

There is a $75 fee each way for the shuttle service to and/or from the airport.

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FLYING AS AN UNACCOMPANIED MINOR While it is easier and more efficient for students to connect with EXPLO staff if they do NOT fly as unaccompanied minors (UM), some airlines require that children 15 and under do so. If that is the case with your child, please make sure that ALL flight arrangements, both for arrival AND departure, including the payment of the airline fees for UM service, are completed prior to the submission of the Arrival and Departure Forms. If your airline requires that you provide them with the name of the person picking your child up at JFK Airport, please provide them with the placeholder name of “Katie Murray or an EXPLO Summer Programs representative.” We will contact you several days in advance of Arrival Day to inform you of the actual staff member picking up your child. It is very important that we know your student’s travel status prior to pick-up AND departure, so there are no last-minute surprises at the airport. Additional arrival information is provided later in this handbook. Students who do not fly as unaccompanied minors will be met in the baggage claim area by our staff wearing bright orange EXPLO t-shirts and photo IDs.

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Planning for Arrival + Departure ARRIVAL INFORMATION

Registration for residential students begins at 1:00 p.m. Because we need to prepare for your arrival, campus buildings will not be open before 1:00 p.m. EXPLO 360 students should plan to arrive between 1:00 p.m and 4:00 p.m. EXPLO Focus students should plan to arrive between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Parents are asked to leave the campus no later than 4:00 p.m. Upon arrival, students will go through a brief registration which includes picking up their keys, picture IDs and turning in their cell phones. At registration, all residential students will receive an EXPLO ID and an access card for use on campus, and room keys for their dorms. Students can then head to their residential hall where they’ll find one of their Residential Advisors available to greet them. After unpacking, students are encouraged to participate in one of several informal recreational activities located all around the residential areas of our lawn. EXPLO’s staff and students are friendly and approachable; this is a great opportunity to start making new friends. It is recommended that accompanying adults leave at this time to allow students to settle in. At 4:00 p.m., all accompanying adults will be asked to depart so that residential students can meet with their Advisors, eat dinner together, and begin the more structured evening activities.

DEPARTURE INFORMATION

Pick-up occurs on the morning of Departure Day. All students MUST depart by 12:00 p.m. If you are picking up your child in a car, you will be contacted in the week prior to the departure date with a specific pick-up window. Students will pack the evening before and be ready for pick-up, along with their luggage, on the lawn. Signs and EXPLO staff will direct your car through our pick-up procedure and assist in loading your car.

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Summer Packing Preparation Sports equipment — EXPLO provides all the athletic equipment you’ll need during the summer, with the exception of mouthguards and soccer cleats. We strongly recommend that mouthguards be worn for a variety of sports, and it is best if you bring a pre-fitted mouthguard with you from home. Soccer cleats are highly recommended, but not required, for participation in the soccer elective. Feel free to bring your own racquets, gloves, shin guards, etc., though EXPLO will provide these. Closed-toe shoes — For all athletic activities, and some science and performing arts classes, closed-toe shoes are required. We recommend that every student come to EXPLO with a pair of sneakers. Musical instruments — If you enjoy playing, we encourage you to bring your instruments to share your music with students and staff. There are numerous opportunities throughout the summer to share your talents. Costumes — A summer at EXPLO will have plenty of opportunities to dress up. Wigs, masks, full outfits — bring what you’ve got if you can. Fans — The dormitory spaces are not air-conditioned, so we recommend bringing a desk or stand fan. Laundry — Students will have access to the college’s washers and dryers over the course of the session. Each machine fees $1.50 and can be charged to students’ college access cards, which will then be billed to their EXPLO Miscellaneous Account. Don’t worry: we’ll provide reminders on when and how to do laundry! Linens — EXPLO can provide a linen set up upon request. Full linen sets include a flat/fitted sheet, pillow/pillowcase, blanket, and bath towel/washcloth. Most students prefer to bring their own bedding.

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• Underwear • Socks • Jacket/Raincoat Packing List

• Wrist watch** • Camera • Stamps, envelopes + stationery • Prepaid debit card*** • Laundry bag • Laundry detergent • Bug repellent • Sunblock • Fan • Hangers

• Short sleeve shirts • Long sleeve shirts • Sweater/Sweatshirt • Jeans/Pants • Shorts • Dress clothes (semi-formal)* • Hat

• Bathrobe • Pajamas

• Water bottle • Twin sheets • Pillow

• Beach towel • Sunglasses • Sneakers or comfortable closed-toe shoes • Shower sandals • Toiletries • Alarm clock

• Pillowcase • Swimsuit • Bath towel • Blanket • [24] N95 or KN94/95 masks

*Optional. For Cruise Night and other special events.

**Students will not have access to their cell phones.

***Students are strongly discouraged from bringing large amounts of cash to the Program, though most families do choose to send their children some spending money. Please refer to the Miscellaneous Account section of this Program Essentials Guide for more details.

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THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NOT PERMITTED AT THE PROGRAM:

Appliances — air conditioners, refrigerators, toasters, hot plates, coffee makers, etc.

Sound systems — stereo and speaker sound systems; small radios or radio/alarm clocks are okay to bring.

Weapons — including toy weapons and pocket knives

Skateboards, scooters, hoverboards, and bicycles — Our schedule is too full to make use of this type of equipment. Day students may commute on a bicycle. Medication in student rooms — Students may not keep any kind of medication in their rooms. Please register all medications through CampDoc before the summer. Medications will be administered through the Health Office. Expensive electronics — Personal computers, televisions, and other items that may interfere with your full participation in the student community and activities offered at the Program. While we strongly discourage students from bringing tablets (iPads, Kindle Fires, etc.) for the same reason, we will allow occasional use for the purposes of reading or listening to music. Internet capabilities on any of these devices must be deactivated. Tablets will not be allowed off the hall, and wireless internet is not available. (Internet access will be available through the Program’s computer labs on a daily basis beginning the second Monday of the session.)

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Health + Medical

Immunizations + Medical Records

Each student’s CampDoc Health Form must be received no later than April 15, 2022, with complete information and up-to-date immunizations.

IMMUNIZATIONS

EXPLO requires that all students and faculty be immunized against communicable, preventable diseases in accordance with state regulations. Please note that to protect the safety of our community, EXPLO does not recognize or allow exemptions to these immunizations. For safety reasons, students whose completed medical forms have not been received by the Program will not be allowed to register on Arrival Day, nor will they be allowed to remain at the Program.

COVID-19

All enrolled students must be fully immunized against disease according to recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and state requirements. All EXPLO students must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before attending EXPLO. This includes any “booster” shots for which a student is eligible based on the timing of their initial COVID-19 vaccination. For more information about required immunizations, please contact our Admission Office.

MENINGITIS VACCINATION

The New York Department of Health requires new college and secondary students who live in dormitories during the regular school year to obtain a meningitis vaccination. They have neither a requirement nor a recommendation for short-term dormitory life such as we have at EXPLO, but we do require families to review information regarding meningococcal disease and sign a waiver acknowledging they have reviewed this information.

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MEDICATION

New York regulations forbid student self-medication. Students who keep medication in pill form in their rooms or medication in non-pill form that has not been approved for such use by the Head Nurse will be subject to dismissal from the Program. If medication is to be given to your child at the Program, we must receive orders for the administration of the medication from your child’s physician. This includes multivitamins. Medications in pill form — Students who plan on taking any medication in pill form (including vitamins) daily while at the Program are required to register with our pharmacy partner no later than June 1st in order to package that medicine and have it delivered to campus. This includes all medicine in pill form taken daily (whether prescription or over-the-counter/nonprescription, including vitamins,) but does not include blister-packed medications like birth control. Medications in non-pill form — All medications in non-pill form (including inhalers, medicine in liquid form, and creams) MUST be brought to the Nurse Station on Arrival Day. Students may keep non-pill medications with them only if approved by the Head Nurse and accompanied by appropriate Medication Confirmation Forms. Other medications notes — International students are not required to register with our pharmacy partner, but MUST bring their medications to the Nurse Station on Arrival Day. All medication orders and directions must be written in English. EXPLO regularly stocks over-the-counter items such as generic Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl, Claritin, Allegra, and sunscreen for students to use for minor intermittent issues. Students may not keep such medications in their rooms, with the exception of sunscreen, which students are encouraged to keep in their rooms and self-administer throughout the day.

Similar to our procedures with the EXPLO medical forms, students who take pill-form medication on a regular basis will not be allowed to register with us on Arrival Day if you have not already processed your child’s medication through our pharmacy partner.

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INHALERS + EPI-PENS

Any student who is in need of an inhaler(s) will be asked to keep the inhaler(s) in the Health Office. If this presents a problem based on your child’s medical situation, please contact the Registrar prior to the start of the Program. Any student who is in need of an Epi-Pen will keep their Epi-Pen with them throughout the day. Our Health Office keeps a stock of Epi-Pens that can be used as a backup should the need arise.

About the EXPLO Health Center

An EXPLO Health Center is set up on campus exclusively for EXPLO staff and students. There will be nurses on duty 24/7.

Parents/guardians can contact the EXPLO Health Center by calling the Main Office.

Due to the age of our students, parents will not be notified in the event of basic first aid (cuts, bruises, and scrapes) or the administration of over-the-counter medicines for minor ailments such as an upset stomach, headache, or menstrual cramps. Parents can expect to be contacted prior to a child starting any new prescription such as antibiotics, illnesses that require an overnight stay in the Health Office, or in the event of an accident or serious injury when a child needs to be brought off-site for medical treatment.

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Financials

Payment of Bills

We expect the Program to be filled to capacity — as such, some students will be placed on a waitlist. If any payments are incomplete by April 15, 2022, spaces may be opened to students on the waitlist. Please contact the Registrar at 781.762.7400 with specific questions. After June 1, 2022, all payments must be made by a certified bank check, cash, or credit card. Students who have outstanding balances will not be allowed to register on Arrival Day, nor will they be allowed to remain at the Program.

Miscellaneous Account

Part of the tuition and fees paid by every EXPLO family goes to the student’s Miscellaneous Account. Students may not withdraw cash from the Miscellaneous Account. The initial amount typically serves the needs of most students attending the Program for three weeks. However, some families do find that the amount is insufficient for students who will be participating in many expensive trips or day students who frequently stay late. Families may increase the funds in a student’s account to any level they wish and/or may add to it at any time during the summer by sending a check to the Program. During the course of the Program, our banker will contact families if accounts drop below a level that would allow students to fully participate in the Program.

Refunds of unused Miscellaneous Account funds will be made in the fall to the person who paid the bill.

The Miscellaneous Account is established for the following purposes:

Trip fees — Trips carry varying fees depending upon the destination.

Lost items — All students will receive an EXPLO ID and an access card for use on campus. At registration, all residential students will receive room keys for their dorms. If a student loses one of these items the fee for replacement will be deducted from the student’s Miscellaneous Account. The fee for replacing an ID is $5 and the fee for replacing an access card is $15. If a residential student misplaces their key, the fee is $25. Sundries — Students may purchase stamps using funds from the Miscellaneous Account. The fee of laundry is deducted from this account when students use an on-campus machine. ESSENTIALS | 25

Student Spending

Items sold on campus — Some non-essential items will be sold on-campus for cash, such as items for our students’ business classes and slices of pizza in our nighttime lounge. EXPLO Senior will allow students to charge some sundries, inexpensive items sold by EXPLO business classes, and slices of pizza using a debit or credit card. Note that international cards may be charged a transaction fee by the credit card company. Tipping of EXPLO staff — EXPLO has a no-tipping policy. However, the staff works hard all summer to support students and your words of gratitude are appreciated. You are also welcome to make a contribution to our scholarship fund. Students will also have occasional access to ATMs. Please note that students will not be able to receive funds for spending via wire transfers. If EXPLO is asked to hold cash or valuables for safekeeping, they will not be returned until the end of the session. Students are strongly discouraged from bringing large amounts of cash to the Program, though most families do choose to send their children with spending money. While additional program expenses, such as off-campus field trips, are paid for using the student’s Miscellaneous Account and EXPLO students will never be asked to pay for any additional program expenses, there are opportunities throughout the summer to make independent purchases. Some students take the opportunity to go into the town of Bronxville with a few friends to buy a slice of pizza, a scoop of ice cream, or a local coffee beverage. Other students might decide to purchase a souvenir on a weekend trip. Most parents/guardians and students have found that pre-paid debit cards or a credit card with a spending cap are the best alternatives to cash. Whatever you decide works best for your family, we highly recommend talking about a budget with your child before they begin the Program.

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Academics

At EXPLO, we encourage our students to choose novel activities that pique their curiosity. In doing so, they discover new skills, talents, and interests that they don’t always get to explore in school or at home.

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We aim to build their confidence and a lifelong love of learning just by trying new things, making mistakes, and learning to ask questions that not only explain, but also inspire.

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Curricular Information

EXPLO 360°

Students in our multi-course 360° Program choose from more than 50 courses and electives — so they can explore more of what sparks their curiosity and start to step outside of their comfort zone.

EXPLO Senior 360° Courses + Electives

EXPLO FOCUS

Our Focus programs are designed to provide students with a deep-dive experience into a single subject area:

EXPLO Senior Focus: Foreign Affairs, Medical Rounds, Sports Management

Making Changes to Courses + Electives for EXPLO 360° Students

Most students eagerly anticipate the courses and electives they’ve chosen before the summer, but we also encourage students to embrace their own changing interests. EXPLO Senior courses and electives are just one week long, so it’s too disruptive to students, instructors, and the rest of the class to make a course or electives change once the class has begun. However, students may freely choose new courses or electives prior to their start each week, provided there is still room in their desired class. Students who are interested in making a change should speak with an Instructional Coach within our Office of Teaching and Learning. In an effort to encourage our students to make independent decisions, students do not need parent/guardian permission to make these changes.

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Location of classrooms on campus

Nearly all of EXPLO’s classroom spaces are located within a 10-minute walk from our lawn. Students will be walked by their instructors to the classrooms for the first few days of class, then will be encouraged to find their way on their own. Attendance is taken at the start of every class period.

EXPLO Focus technology requirements

Most of the materials required for the 2-week EXPLO Focus programs (Foreign Affairs, Medical Rounds, Sports Management) and scheduled activities will be provided by EXPLO. However, given the rigor of our Focus programs, students are required to bring a laptop/personal computer or tablet with keyboard in order to fully participate. Any student using Sarah Lawrence College’s wireless network, whether on their own computer or an EXPLO or Sarah Lawrence College computer, is trusted to use this resource wisely and appropriately. Students will be held responsible for connection to objectionable sites and all other online conduct.

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Student Life on Campus

EXPLO Senior at Sarah Lawrence College | Bronxville, New York

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Residential weekday schedule (M-F)

7:45 a.m. 8:15 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 2:45 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 4:45 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 10:15 p.m.

— Residential Morning Huddle — Breakfast — Courses* — Lunch — Afternoon Electives — Clubs and Leagues or Explosé — Afternoon Huddle — Flex/Free Time or the Ville — Dinner — Evening Events — Winding Down Time

— Hall Check-In — Room Curfew

*Students attend one course period in the morning, with a 10-15 minute break about halfway through the period.

Residential weekend schedule On the weekend, we follow a similar schedule to the weekdays. The main difference is that students do not meet for courses or electives. Rather, students participate in a wide variety of day trips to locations around New York. On the weekends, students pack a lunch while at breakfast and bring it with them to eat while off-campus and on their trip.

— Morning Huddle — Breakfast — Off-Campus Trips and On-Campus Stayback Trips — Dinner — Evening Activity — Winding Down Time

8:15 a.m. 8:30 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 5:15 p.m. 6:45 p.m. 8:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 10:15 p.m.

— Hall Check-In — Room Curfew

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Use of personal electronic devices While we appreciate the important place technology occupies in the lives of many of our students, the use of personal electronic devices can interfere with full involvement in the Program and could be construed as disrespectful or isolating. Therefore, they may be used only on living group floors or in students’ rooms. They may not be used during any class, activity, or during meals. Students will receive more information on the appropriate use of these devices when they arrive. While not prohibited, we strongly discourage the use of tablets at EXPLO because they are a distraction from opportunities at the Program. If a residential student chooses to bring a tablet, it may only be used during flex time, must not leave the hall, and must not access an internet connection at any time. EXPLO reserves the right to confiscate and search any devices of students not meeting community expectations around the use of technology.

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Housing + Living Arrangements

HOUSING ASSIGNMENTS

Students are placed in living groups, generally composed of students of the same grade and gender. Should space be available, families may opt-in to a mixed grade, gender- inclusive living space. Like many colleges and universities, Sarah Lawrence College has a variety of dormitories and living group configurations. Rooms vary greatly in shape, size, and configuration. Mutual requests for a roommate or a friend in the same living group will be honored, provided the request is only for one friend and that friend is in the same grade and of the same gender. Note that we offer a variety of opportunities for social connections during the first few days of the Program and, as such, the majority of EXPLO students do not make a living group request. We will help all students adjust to living with others and being a part of a new community. There are no room changes unless there are exceptional circumstances, and then only with the approval of the Office of Student Life. Students must always sleep in their own rooms.

LIVING WITH OTHERS

Living closely with others is a wonderfully enriching experience for a young person. Over the years, we have seen that students take a great deal of responsibility for working out how to set up a room, establishing the guidelines for living together, and resolving conflicts that arise. While we are intentional about allowing students to take responsibility for the dynamic in the living group, we are mindful that this is a new experience for many and our staff will offer close supervision and thoughtful support throughout the weeks that students are with us. From the beginning of the session, our staff work with students to negotiate boundaries and compromises to help students get the most of the boarding experience.

RIGHTS OF RESIDENTS

Many students have never lived closely with peers before. Compromise is important. Respecting each other’s rights, possessions, and space is essential. Our residential staff is trained to work with students to help this happen. We have learned from our experience that students do not necessarily need to be good friends to be courteous and positive members of a living group community. Students may seek help from the Office of Student Life in resolving roommate/groupmate difficulties.

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ROOM GUIDELINES Adornment — Rooms may be tastefully decorated, but students may not use tape, paste, glue, nails, or tacks on doors, ceilings, furniture, or woodwork. Alcoholic beverage containers or posters that contain references to drugs or alcohol may not be used as decoration. No candles, incense, matches, lighters, firecrackers, crepe paper, or other flammable substances are permitted in the dorms. Students should check with their Residential Advisors if they have any questions. Security — Rooms should be locked at all times when residents are not there. We suggest that students keep no more than $20 in their rooms at any one time. Airline tickets, passports, and large sums of money must be stored in our safe in the Main Office. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate regular access to our safe, but will ensure students have what they need before Departure Day. Although theft is generally not an issue, in a community of our size, locking doors is a wise precaution. (Note that dormitory buildings are locked at all times and can only be accessed by EXPLO students, staff, and selected Sarah Lawrence personnel.) Respecting spaces — As described in the EXPLO Rules + Standards, EXPLO students are expected to treat all residential spaces with care, including dorm rooms and bathroom spaces. Please report any accidental damage promptly to a Residential Advisor. Students should not use bleach or hair dye while at EXPLO due to the risk of permanent damage to bathroom spaces. If facilities are damaged beyond regular wear and tear, students may get charged for such damage.

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Meals

THE DINING HALL

During the first few days, our staff will walk students through the various options at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dining hours will be posted and noted every day in the Atlas, our daily newsletter. Vegetarian options are available at each meal. (Hot options are available at most meals, except for brown bag lunches on trips.)

SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS

We work closely with the Sarah Lawrence College Dining Services to meet students’ needs. Foods are labeled for common allergies and Dining Services staff is available to meet with students as needed. EXPLO Senior recognizes the prevalence and severity of nut allergies. For this reason, we ask families to abstain from sending their children to the Program with items containing nuts. Though we will explain this policy to our students during the summer, we cannot guarantee error-free student compliance. As such, we encourage families whose children have severe allergies to nuts and other foods to contact the Head of Program prior to arriving on campus. Please alert us before May 1 to any special dietary needs.

SNACKS

Students can feel free to take snacks from the dining hall during meal times, such as fruit or baked goods. Due to their impact on restful sleep, energy drinks are not permitted to be consumed on campus.

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Laundry

Students will have access to on-campus washers and dryers. The charge for each wash and dryer cycle is $1.50. Students will use a provided access card to start each machine. The fee per load will be deducted from the Miscellaneous Account. Students may use the washing machines during their free times: during meal times and in the late afternoon. Students should be aware that the machines are used by many people so they should always plan to bring detergent back to their rooms and retrieve their wash as soon as it is done. Occasionally, laundry periods may be scheduled by the living group; our staff will communicate the schedule to students (along with reminders!).

Swimming

There are a number of opportunities on- and off-campus for students to swim while attending the Program, including access to the Sarah Lawrence College pool.

At the pool, students will be supervised by EXPLO staff and Sarah Lawrence College lifeguards. However, on some staff-supervised water sports trips such as paddleboarding and kayaking, there may not always be lifeguards present. Our expectation is that students choosing to participate in a water activity will be comfortable swimming on their own without assistance. Students who are not comfortable in the water should not choose to participate in swimming activities or weekend trips that involve being on or in the water.

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Multi-session Students

Lost + Found EXPLO begins packing up to leave Sarah Lawrence on the last day of the Program (Friday, August 5, 2022) and will be finished moving out by Sunday, August 7, 2022. We do have a lost and found at the Program and make every attempt to return lost items to students. If your student realizes they have lost something after leaving the Program, please call us as soon as possible to maximize the possibility of returning the item. We cannot store lost items for an indefinite period of time. The likelihood that we will be able to locate and return items after the end of August is very small. We encourage students to label all belongings before coming to the Program, which greatly increases the chances of return. EXPLO is not responsible for lost or stolen items. We strongly recommend leaving valuables at home. On Friday, July 15, 2022, first session residential students will be leaving and the new residential students will arrive on Sunday, July 17, 2022, allowing a full weekend to clean and freshen the dorms. We will care for and entertain all six-week students between the end of the first session and the start of the second session. Students leaving campus should be picked up by 12:00 p.m. on Friday and returned to the Program on Sunday between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Due to fluctuations in living groups between sessions, two-session students may need to move to a new room for the second session. We take all two-session students remaining on campus on an extended Saturday trip, featuring lunch, dinner, and entertainment. This allows us to clean and freshen the dorms for the next session’s students arriving the next day.

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The EXPLO Team on Campus

Head of Program, EXPLO Senior

NATASHA PADILLA GODDARD. For over 25 years, Natasha has been

helping students and teachers find their voices, examine the richness of the human condition, and find inspiration through the written word. Prior to her work at EXPLO, Natasha was the Department Chair for English Language Arts at Wellesley Middle School, where she served on the School’s Leadership Team and the Academic Council for Wellesley Public Schools. While there, she diversified the curriculum with a myriad of books. She has taught at Moses Brown School, Noble and Greenough School, Northfield Mount Hermon Upward Bound, and University of Massachusetts/Noble Upward Bound. Her work with students and educators in

both public and private schools with diverse student populations ignited her passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion — not only in curriculum building, but also in hiring practices, teacher evaluation, and pedagogy. Natasha began her EXPLO career as Dean of Students and went on to become Assistant Head before becoming Head of Program. She is a graduate of Bowdoin College, earned her Master’s in Teaching English from Columbia University Teachers College, and earned a second Master’s in Educational Leadership from Endicott College. She is the proud mom of three, a yoga enthusiast, and a passionate and award-winning soup chef.

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Office of Student Life Staff

RESIDENTIAL ADVISORS (RA) Each student is assigned to a living group that is supervised by two Residential Advisors (RAs), one of whom will be on duty each night. Students will check in the RAs at multiple times throughout the day. An RA’s primary responsibilities are to get to know the students in their living group, be aware of how they are adjusting to life at the Program, and, from that perspective, be able to work with students to help resolve any questions, problems, or concerns that arise. RAs will also help students make the most of all the opportunities EXPLO offers each day and throughout the session. In addition, RAs supervise the floor, lead and plan group activities, and enforce the Program’s rules. On Arrival Day, students will meet their RAs and receive their room assignments. The Office of Student Life staff live at the Program and are available to students and parents/guardians every day to help deal with all types of issues, large and small.

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EXPLO does not allow Residential Advisors to speak with families on the phone because we want to ensure that RAs are supervising and engaging students whenever they are on-duty. If a family has a question or concern, they should contact a Residence Director (see below).

RESIDENCE DIRECTORS

Living groups and Residential Advisors are supervised by Residence Directors (RDs) who also serve as the main communication links with parents/guardians. Working closely with the Dean and Assistant Deans, they oversee our entire residential system, checking in with each of the RAs multiple times a day to be sure that all students are doing well and that any problems that have arisen are being handled appropriately.

If you have a question or concern about your child, please contact a Residence Director by calling the Main Office.

DEAN OF STUDENTS

EXPLO Deans live at the Program and are available to speak with parents/guardians as well as students. The Deans actively support and supervise the Residence Directors and ensure the health and safety of the EXPLO community through planning, communication, and problem-solving.

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