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What to Bring
to Day Camp Each day your child needs to
bring a sack lunch (with non-perishable foods) and a
beverage, a morning snack, and a water bottle in a backpack.
Day Campers should wear close-toed shoes, a hat and comfortable
play clothes. We recommend that parents apply a sunscreen
with a minimum of SPF 30 prior to start of the Day Camp
day; please instruct your child on how to reapply the
sunscreen. All items should be marked with the Day Camper’s
name and stored in a backpack.
THE YMCA CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST ITEMS.
We do not allow tobacco products of any kind, alcohol
or drugs; lighters, matches, fireworks, explosives of
any kind; radios, boom boxes, video games, cell phones;
knives, guns, other weapons; shaving cream, silly string,
permanent markers, spray paint; valuables; inappropriate
reading materials, offensive or gang related attire;
personal sports equipment, super soakers, water guns,
water balloons; animals or pets; or vehicles. Items
brought to Day Camp deemed inappropriate will be held by
the directing staff for the parents to pick up.
Snack and Lunches
Children may bring a morning snack if they wish. An
afternoon snack will be provided daily at all YMCA Day Camps.
We strive to serve nutritious snacks, but will occasionally
serve sweets on special occasions. Please inform us
of any food allergies your child may have.
CHILDREN ARE NOT PERMITTED TO EAT CANDY OR CHEW
GUM AT Day Camp.
Daily lunches should be brought in a bag, with non-perishable
foods and a beverage. If a child brings a cooler, he/she
will be responsible for keeping and carrying the cooler.
All lunches must be packed with non-perishable foods.
We do not have access to a refrigerator at Day Camp.
Day Camp
Boundaries & Maintenance
Children must remain with their groups and their counselor
at all times. Day Camp boundaries will be reviewed daily
to ensure the safety of all Day Campers. Day Campers are expected
to help keep the Day Camp facility clean by picking up after
themselves and assisting in the daily cleanup of Day Camp
activities and areas.
Day Camper Discipline
Procedure
We strive to meet the needs of all children in our
Day Camps without ignoring the needs of any one individual.
To do so, it becomes necessary to set limitations and
guidelines within which all Day Campers can function.
When
limits are broken, it is essential to provide some
form of consequence and understanding to prevent future
problems.
The overall safety and well being of all Day Campers are
always our highest concern. The following process
will
be used to resolve conflicts as they arrive. No step,
wherever possible, is passed over.
Reasoning
Every effort will be made to help the child understand
the inappropriateness of his/her behavior. When conflict
is child to child, every effort will be made to facilitate
reasoning between the Day Campers.
Removal From Specific
Activity
When reasoning has been pursued and behavior
has not changed, removing the Day Camper from the activity
for an appropriate amount of time is necessary.
Child
/ Parent / Director Conference
If the parent needs to be formally involved in the
discipline, specific changes in behavior will be requested
with specific consequences for non-compliance of outlined
expectations. Whenever possible, the child is included
in these conferences.
Removal From Program
If the above steps have not resulted in correct behavior,
the parents will be asked to remove the child from
the
program, at their expense. No staff member will ever
strike, swear at, abuse, or threaten with physical
intimidation
a child or parent. No staff members will allow a child
to strike, swear at, abuse or physically intimidate
anyone else in the program. No staff member will ever
solicit or accept gratuities in consideration for
any
treatment of a child.
Day Camp Information
Your
Child’s Counselor
The YMCA of Orange County strives to hire
enthusiastic, child-focused staff and
volunteers seeking to be positive role
models in the lives of children. In
addition, the YMCA of Orange County requires
that all Day Camp staff and volunteers
be
certified in CPR and First Aid, tested for
substance abuse, and fingerprinted. We
take
pride in our staff and provide a minimum
of 16 hours of training, which includes
health
and safety, age appropriate practices, risk
management, supervision, child abuse
prevention, and other Day Camp related topics.
The Volunteer/Staff Partnership
The community-based, member-oriented
ownership of the YMCA provides for a unique
relationship between the staff hired to
implement programs and those members
participating. In many cases, the staff for
a particular program have been involved as
members prior to their taking on the
leadership position. This “train our own
leadership” development philosophy allows
for maintaining high standards in program
quality.
Members and volunteers play a key role
in providing program leadership and in
providing the input necessary for future
planning decisions. Those wishing to become
more involved are encouraged to contact
the
branch in their area.
Medication
We discourage the administering of any medication
while at day camp. If it is mandatory that a Day Camper
receive
medication, it must be submitted to the director. All
medications must be clearly marked with the child’s
name and specific instructions from a physician,
and
accompanied by the Permission to Medicate form available
from the Day Camp director. All medications must be in
original
bottles/containers. Please be sure to collect medications
immediately after Day Camp.
Illness or Injury at Day Camp
We are only able to accommodate and treat
minor first aid injuries or illness in
the
day camp setting. If a Day Camper is unable
to resume participation in his or her
activities, parents will be notified to pick
up the Day Camper or in the case of a
major/sudden illness or injury, emergency
services will be utilized.
Daily Sign
In/Out
Each Day Camper must be signed in and out of Day Camp each
day with the director or supervising leader. Please
be prepared to show a photo I.D. Check in/out time
allows for parent and director communication and accurate
accounting
of children. Unless the YMCA director is notified in
writing, only parents are allowed to check out children
at the end of the day.
Day Camp
Philosophy & Goals
YMCA Day Camping strives to provide a positive atmosphere
of safety, support, and care for each individual child,
while allowing for personal growth and development in
spirit, mind, and body.
The goals of YMCA day camp include the following:
- Develop self-confidence and appreciation of
his/her own self-worth as an individual.
- Grow as a responsible member and citizen of
his/her group, family, and community.
- Appreciate that a healthy mind and body are
a sacred gift and that physical fitness and mental well
being are conditions to be achieved and maintained.
- Recognize the worth of all persons and strive
for inter-racial and inter-group understanding.
- Develop a respect for the natural world and
its ecology and work for its conservation.
- Develop new skills and areas of interest that
form foundations for healthy lifestyle choices.
- Challenge each participant to accept and demonstrate
the YMCA values of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility,
fairness, caring, and citizenship.
The YMCA Mission Statement The YMCA of Orange County puts Christian principles
into practice through programs that build spirit, mind,
and body for all.
The YMCA Vision
The YMCA of Orange County will build strong kids,
strong families, and strong communities in Orange County.
Accreditation
ACA Accreditation means that YMCA of Orange County
Day Camps care enough to undergo a thorough (over 300
standards) review of its operation — from staff
qualifications and training to emergency management.
American
Camp Association  collaborates with experts
from The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American
Red Cross, and other youth service agencies to assure
that current practices at the Day Camp reflect the most
up-to-date, research-based standards in Day Camp operation.
The YMCA of Orange County and ACA form a partnership
that promotes summers of growth and fun in an environment
committed to safety. ACA helps accredited Day Camps like
the YMCA of Orange County provide:
-
Healthy, developmentally-appropriate
activities and learning experiences
-
Discovery through experiential education
-
Caring, competent role models
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Service to the community and the environment
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Opportunities for leadership and personal growth
Character Counts
The YMCA of Orange County is a proud member of the CHARACTER
COUNTS! Coalition.
CC! came to existence in 1992 when at a summit conference,
a diverse group of ethicists and educators sought to
find universal ethical values that everyone would feel
comfortable teaching to young people. They agreed
on the Six Pillars of Character (Respect, Caring, Responsibility,
Trustworthiness, Fairness, and Citizenship) as a foundation
for character development. The YMCA’s commitment to character education
includes the integration of the Six Pillars into new
and existing
programs that encourage young people and their families
to live in accordance with core ethical values.
Evidence of the incorporation of character living is
evident in all YMCA Day Camp programs.
Additional
Information
The YMCA of Orange County
The YMCA of Orange County was founded in
1922 and has provided a variety of youth and
family programs since that time, expanding
membership and services into all of the
Orange County communities. The YMCA is a
non-profit organization owned by the local
community and supported solely by those who
choose to join and take part in any of the
many programs offered, as well as those who
choose to make voluntary contributions.
Board of
Directors
The YMCA is governed by a Board
of Directors, who set policies for the eight
(8) branches. Through regular meetings, as
well as an extensive committee structure,
the Board monitors on-going operations,
ensures the proper funding for the
organization, and provides leadership to the
long range planning process for the YMCA in
the Orange County area. The Board employs a
President who, with other staff, supervises
the on-going operation of the YMCA programs
and services.
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