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Programs - Camp - Day Camp FAQ

   
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YMCA Day Camp FAQ

Day Camp Philosophy & Goals
YMCA of Orange County Mission Statement
The YMCA Vision
Accreditation

What to Bring to Day Camp
Snacks and Lunches
Day Camp Boundaries & Maintenance
Day Camper Discipline Procedure

Day Camp Information
Your Child's Counselor
The Volunteer/Staff Partnership
Medication
Illness or Injury at Day Camp
Daily Sign In/Out

Additional Information
The YMCA of Orange County
Board of Directors
The YMCA of Orange County Branches

 

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.

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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.

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