Frequently Asked Questions & Public Guidance
Clear, transparent answers to practical questions regarding youth enrollment, sports facility access under NAF 93.11Z, summer camp departures, medical protocols, and volunteer engagement in Bobigny.
Comprehensive Guidance for Families, Educators & Volunteers
To facilitate transparent communication between our administration and the residents of Seine-Saint-Denis, we have compiled comprehensive answers to the most frequent inquiries submitted to our secretariat. If your inquiry is not answered below, our staff welcomes your call at +33 6 68 68 83 72 or in person at our Bobigny offices. All membership fees and dues are fully reinvested in the association's public interest missions.
I. Registration, Eligibility & Financial Terms
1. Who is eligible to participate in association sports and holiday programs?
All children, adolescents, and young adults aged 6 to 25 who reside in the department of Seine-Saint-Denis are eligible to participate. Our initiatives are designed specifically to support youth residing in priority urban neighborhoods (QPV), though participation is open to all residents without distinction of nationality, social origin, or background.
2. Are activities truly free of charge for beneficiary families?
Yes. Under our public utility charter and through multi-annual covenants with the Departmental Council of Seine-Saint-Denis, the French National Sports Agency (ANS), and municipal town halls, all our weekly sports facility clinics, athletics coaching, and equipment access are provided completely free of charge. For residential summer camps, room, board, and chartered transportation are fully subsidized by social allocations (CAF Vacaf) and departmental solidarity funds, guaranteeing that economic vulnerability never prevents a child from attending.
3. What documents are required to complete a registration dossier?
A complete dossier requires: (a) an official registration form signed by a legal guardian; (b) a certified medical certificate of fitness for physical activity (less than 12 months old) or completed sports health questionnaire; (c) a photocopy of the child's vaccination record; (d) proof of departmental residence (less than 3 months old); and (e) civil liability insurance attestation.
4. Can children with chronic health conditions or disabilities enroll?
Absolutely. In collaboration with our Health Advisory Council, our educators are trained in adaptive physical education. When registering a child with asthma, diabetes, neurodevelopmental conditions, or mobility impairments, our medical liaison develops an individualized reception protocol (PAI - Projet d'Accueil Individualisé) to ensure full safety and dignified inclusion.
II. Sports Facilities & Operational Safety
5. What does the NAF 93.11Z classification mean for your association?
Statistical code NAF 93.11Z designates "Gestion d'installations sportives" (Management of Sports Facilities). While private corporations utilize this code for profit-making gyms or private arenas, ASSOCIATION VACANCES 93 applies it through a strictly non-profit public utility model. We manage access, safety, and coaching inside municipal athletic halls, tracks, and courts under public operational covenants with local town halls.
6. What are the qualifications of your sports instructors and coaches?
All lead sports animators hold state-recognized French qualifications, including the BPJEPS (Brevet Professionnel de la Jeunesse, de l'Éducation Populaire et du Sport), CQP, or university degrees in sports science (STAPS). Every instructor holds a valid PSC1 first-aid certificate and undergoes systematic criminal background verification.
7. What supervisory ratios are enforced during activities?
We maintain supervisory ratios that strictly exceed French statutory requirements. In sports facility sessions, we enforce one qualified coach per 10 children (the legal minimum is 1 per 15). In residential summer holiday camps, we enforce one counselor per 8 youth (exceeding the legal standard of 1 per 12), ensuring close individual mentoring.
III. Residential Holiday Camps & Camp Life
8. How are children supervised during residential holiday stays?
Every residential stay is directed by an experienced BAFD-certified director assisted by qualified animators and a designated health assistant (Assistant Sanitaire). Nighttime supervision is maintained by rotating wakeful counselors, and centers are secured with 24-hour telephone contact with regional emergency services.
9. Can parents communicate with children while they are away at camp?
Yes. While we encourage campers to disconnect from smartphones to foster genuine peer bonding, our secretariat maintains a secure daily digital log where parents can read activity reports and view photographs. In addition, designated calling windows are organized twice weekly, and our central office provides a 24-hour emergency phone line for families.
10. How are dietary preferences and religious restrictions accommodated?
Our camp kitchens provide wholesome, balanced, and nutritious meals prepared with seasonal organic produce. We accommodate all dietary requirements—including vegetarian, halal, kosher-certified, lactose-free, and gluten-free diets—without segregation or stigmatization. Every child eats together at the common table in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
IV. Civic Involvement, Volunteering & Internships
11. How can citizens in Seine-Saint-Denis volunteer with the association?
We welcome volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you have experience in sports coaching, first aid, administrative logistics, or simply wish to accompany children during weekend outings, we invite you to complete our volunteer intake form or visit our Bobigny offices. All volunteers receive preparatory pedagogical training and first-aid certification (PSC1).
12. Do you host Civic Service (Service Civique) interns?
Yes. Accredited by the French Agence du Service Civique, ASSOCIATION VACANCES 93 hosts 25 young adults (aged 18 to 25) annually for 8-month full-time civic missions. Interns receive a monthly state allowance, dedicated professional mentorship, and fully subsidized BAFA training.
13. Are municipal officials or teachers eligible to join the Board of Directors?
Yes. Any member who has maintained good statutory standing for six months can stand for election at our General Assembly. We actively encourage educators, municipal social workers, and parent delegates to contribute to our governance.
14. How does the association handle lost property or damaged sports gear?
All personal items left behind in gymnasiums or camp centers are cataloged in our Central Lost Property Ledger at Hôtel du Département in Bobigny. Beneficiary families are never billed for accidental wear, tear, or damage to sports balls or athletic safety gear incurred during regular association activities.
