Play Cooperative

Member Handbook 2026-27

Last updated 9/9/2026

 

Play Co-op Mission: 

Our goal is to provide a safe, comfortable indoor place for young children to engage in active, imaginative, and social play, and to provide parents and caregivers with a sense of community and connection with other families in the area.  Members are encouraged to participate and contribute to help CVP Play Co-op flourish and member families to thrive.

 

Contact Information

Playground Location: 33 Mission st. Inside the building known as Chilkat Valley Preschool

Mailing Address: PO Box 1165, Haines, AK, 99827

Website: www.chilkatvalleypreschool.org

 

Board of Directors:

Director Dacotah Russell dacotahrussell@gmail.com

Finance Coordinator Alison Adams

Membership Coordinator              Jessie Wuesthoff

Calendar Coordinator Kendra Knight

Social Media Coordinator             Fran Daly 

Facilities Coordinator

 

General Information

 

Hours of Operation 2026-2027

Monday  8:00am - 5:00pm

Tuesday 8:00am-5:00pm

Wednesday  8:00am-5:00pm

Thursday  8:00am-5:00pm

Friday 10:00am-7:00pm

Saturday 8:00am-5:00pm

Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm

 

Fall term: October 3 - November 28

Winter term: December 1- Feb 27

Spring term: March 1 - May 28

 

Membership Dues

• Member dues are $75 per family, per term, unless otherwise specified.

• Full year memberships are available at a discounted rate of $130 if paid by the end of September.

• Members joining more than 30 days after the start of term will pay pro-rated dues.

 

Birthday parties

• Members may book birthday parties at a $50 donation per event.

• Available time slots are 10am-12pm or 1:00pm-3:00pm on Saturdays.

• The playground will remain open to members during birthday parties.

• We allow a maximum of 15 non-member guests per party.

• The person booking the party must complete the Birthday Party Contract and each non-member adult attending must complete the Birthday Party Waiver. These will be provided when a party is booked and must be completed one week before the party date.

Age Requirements

The playground is suitable for 0-5 year olds.  Older siblings are welcome to attend during designated family times (Friday evenings 4pm-7pm, and special events).

 

Closures

During a scheduled holiday closure, CVP will still be available to members during regularly scheduled hours. 

 

Members must recognize that they could be the last family in attendance that day.  Therefore, all toys must be put away upon leaving, lights turned off, and garbage (if significant) taken out.  Members still need to sign in when playing during “closed” days. 

 

Scheduled Holiday and Break Closures:

November 29th-November 30th  Facility Maintenance

February 28th Facility Maintenance

May 28- Sept 1 Summer Break

 

Site Closure

CVP will be closed during regular operating hours in these circumstances:

• Emergency cleanings in response to major illnesses

• Severe inclement weather

• Facility maintenance emergencies

 

Members will be notified of unscheduled closures via email and the private Facebook group.
 

Code of Conduct

Every adult is responsible for their own child/ren at all times. While each family has their own rules, it is not acceptable to let your child behave aggressively towards other people while at the playground. There are a wide range of developmental abilities in the newborn to five age group and close supervision helps keep everyone safe.

 

Code of conduct for children: 

Hitting (with hands or objects), throwing or snatching toys, pushing, kicking, spitting, hair pulling, pinching, biting, cursing, screaming and failing to respect others’ boundaries are considered to be aggressive behaviors, and require the parent or caregiver to remove their child from the situation immediately.  The child may continue playing after regaining his or her composure.

If aggressive behavior continues, CVP requests that the child leaves for the day.  A fellow member has the right to make this request if the aggressive behavior continues.  However, if the member does not feel comfortable making such a request, the member may file a complaint with the CVP Board by sending an email to chilkatvalleypreschool@gmail.com.

 

Code of conduct for adults:

• Refrain from using obscene, abusive, discriminatory or inappropriate language.

• Refrain from gossip or harassment regarding other members.

• Supervise the children in your care and enforce the standards above.

• Yelling and spanking are not appropriate at CVP Play Cooperative.

• Members will not use the member names or contact information for personal or commercial business.

• Members are responsible for the conduct of their guests.

 

Members who violate the code of conduct will receive two warnings (verbal and/or written). A third offense will result in the termination of membership.

 

Member Responsibilities

 

Communications

Members are responsible for regularly checking email and the private Facebook group for communications regarding closures, policies, and other important information.  

 

Members may contact members of the Board via email, or for facilities/supply issues, may leave a note on the corkboard by the entrance.

 

Member Duties

Member participation is vital to the continued operation of CVP Play Cooperative.  Each member family is responsible for 3-4 duties each term, which may include cleaning shifts, substitute duties, or helping with events.  The exact duty requirements will be determined by the Board of Directors each term, based on member enrollment and term length. Children are welcome at all duties.

 

Toy Cleaning duty

In order to keep CVP Play Cooperative safe and clean for our members, toy cleanings are scheduled approximately every 7-10 days at closing time (there are no scheduled closers or subs on cleaning days).  Each member family will participate in one cleaning duty per term.  Toy cleanings generally involve 3-6 members (including one board member), and the playground is divided into several areas to make the job go quickly. Cleaning should take a maximum of 1 hour and members are not expected to stay longer than this. If the cleaning checklist cannot be completed within an hour, the board member present will arrange a top up clean.

 

The cleaning checklist is posted on the bulletin board by the door.  Cleaning supplies are located in the toy closet.

 

In the event you are unable to perform your scheduled duty please email chilkatvalleypreschool@gmail.com as early as possible.

 

Duty Sign Up

Duties are divided up by terms: Fall, Winter, and Spring. The number of duties required for each family is dependent on the length of the term and the number of member families. For Fall Term we need members to sign up for 3 cleaning shifts. Email reminders are sent the day before each duty. If duties are full and you cannot sign up, please email chilkatvalleypreschool@gmail.com for assistance. 

Trading Duties

If you know ahead of time that you will not be able to perform a scheduled duty, it is your responsibility to try to trade with another member.  The easiest way to do this is usually via the private Facebook group.  Make sure to email chilkatvalleypreschool@gmail.com with any changes so that it can be updated in the system. 

 

If you are unable to find a member to trade duties with, or if you have short notice that you will not be able to complete your duty, please email as soon as possible.

 

Missed Duty/Late Arrival

If you miss a duty or arrive late and find that the duty was already performed by another member or the sub, it is your responsibility to follow up with the Director to reschedule your duty.  

 

Penalties

A member who fails to appear for a scheduled duty without first notifying the Calendar Coordinator will be given a warning by email. As a last resort, after two missed duties and a vote by the board members, the member may be dismissed from CVP Play Co-operative (see Termination of Membership).

 

Exceptions

If you have a barrier to completing duties on a regular basis, such as a medical condition, pregnancy, or other situation, please contact a member of the Board to make alternative arrangements.

 

Policies and Procedures

Registration process

Previous members will be emailed a registration link at the beginning of each term. New members will receive the link after taking a tour or attending an open house. Once you submit the membership sign up form, you will be prompted to register for the term. Once you have registered for the term, you will be prompted to pay dues. After payment has been recorded by our finance coordinator, you will receive a link to sign up for duties. Once you have successfully registered, paid, and signed up for duties you will receive the door code and will have unlimited access during our open hours.

 

Sign In Procedure

All members must sign into the member book each time they attend the playground. You will sign in for your duty this way each time. This helps us keep track of who is showing up for their duties. So please remember to sign in to stay in good standing!

 

Use of the playground

1. An adult member must accompany all member children to the playground.

2. The adult member shall ensure that the child obeys all indoor playground safety rules.

3. The adult member will supervise his/her own child(ren) at all times while at the playground and follow the code of conduct for both parents and children. Repeated discipline problems may result in the Board withdrawing the membership of that family.

 

Playground Rules and Safety

The playground is intended to be a fun, safe, social, stimulating environment for children. For safety reasons:

• No food or drink is allowed on the playground unless the beverage has a lid (for adults only).  Please keep hot beverages out of reach of children.

• No toys from home are allowed.

• Keep the exterior door closed at all times.

• No sick children/adults (see Sick Policy).

• Soiled/wet diapers are to be taken outside of the building (do not leave in garbage cans).

• Supervise all children at all times. This includes the play area, the bathroom, hallway, kitchen/nap room, and toy closet.

• Toys are cleaned with non-toxic cleaning products.

• Parents may take out and put away toys from the toy storage room at their discretion during hours of operation.

• If you notice any toy is broken or in some way hazardous, please put it away in the toy room and report the issue to the Facilities Coordinator, either via email or by writing a note on the whiteboard in the hallway. 

 

Guest Policy

Each member family is welcome to bring one guest per month to visit the playground.  All guests must sign the guest log book and the liability waiver for the current year before using the playground.  If you bring a new guest who is considering a membership, they do not count as your monthly guest.  Any individual non-member is permitted to visit the playground as a guest for a maximum of one time per month (not including attendance at a private party or public event).

 

Food/Drink

A snack table and kitchenette is available at the playground.  Please keep all food and drink for children in these areas.  Once your child is finished with his/her snack, wipe down your area and vacuum any crumbs. The restroom is close by for handwashing.  Adults may have lidded beverages outside of the snack room.  Please keep hot beverages out of the reach of children.

 

Changing Room / Nursery

A room to change your child’s diapers is available, containing a changing pad. Please do not throw diapers in the trash inside the building.  Please take them with you. Plastic grocery bags are available for convenience.

 

The changing room also contains a crib, rocking chair, and some quiet toys to use as needed.  

 

Sick Policy

Please keep yourself and your child home if family members have any of the following symptoms:

• Diarrhea

• Fever of 100 degrees or higher

• Heavy cough/croup

• Sore throat/swollen glands

• Vomiting or nausea

• Pinkeye

• Rash

• Runny nose, especially green or yellow in color

 

You may return after 24 hours symptom-free.

If you were at the playground prior to experiencing a serious or contagious illness, please contact a Board Member so we may notify other members that were at the playground that day and arrange extra cleaning.

 

 

Cancellation or Termination of Membership

 

Termination of Membership

CVP may terminate the membership of any member that is not in compliance with the By-Laws and Policies.  No fees or dues will be refunded upon termination.  Prior to a termination, the member will be contacted and notified of their violation. The member will be given appropriate time to respond and to make any necessary corrections.  If the member does not respond on or before the stated date, then a letter will be sent confirming termination and CVP will remove the member’s name from the roster and duty calendar.

 

The cancellation of membership without fulfilling all duties that a family signed up for will lead to the denial of membership for the following year.  Please be considerate and remember we are a co-op; when you cancel without completing your duties, that puts hardships on other members.  In exceptional circumstances, the board can reconsider.

 

Reasons for Termination:

• A member has chosen a payment plan and payment is not received within two weeks after the payment due date.

• A member misses 2 duties and the case has been brought to the attention of the Board.

• A member is not in compliance with the Code of Conduct, Policies or By-laws.

 

Voluntary Cancellation of Membership

All new members have a two week trial period when they first join CVP Play Co-op.  If, during that trial period, a family determines that it is not the right fit for them, any membership fees the family has paid will be refunded.  Membership fees will not be refunded in the event that a family chooses to cancel their membership after the trial period.  An exception may be made to this rule for special circumstances such as moving out of the area or a medical issue.  Please contact the Director to request an exception to the refund policy.