One of the keys to ensuring your child has a great camp experience is to come prepared. A little planning can get your child's day camp experience off to a smooth start and help ensure he or she has the experience to remember! Be sure your child gets a good night's sleep and starts their day with a healthy breakfast.
WHAT TO BRING TO CAMP EACH DAY
Backpack
Please place your child's lunch box, water bottle and sunscreen in the backpack. No wheeled backpacks.
Sunscreen
Help your child apply sunscreen before they arrive. Please mark the bottle with your child's first and last name. Your child, grades K - 8, may keep their sunscreen with them. Counselors will keep sunscreen in a safe place for our younger campers. (Sunscreen is only needed during the spring and summer months, or as deemed necessary by the parent.)
Water Bottle
All YMCA camps have water bottle filling stations. Campers are encouraged to keep their water bottle filled and to drink water throughout the day. Some campers fill water bottles with ice at home to help keep water cool throughout the day.
Shoes
All campers must wear closed-toe sneakers or sandals with a heel strap. Some campers choose to bring crocs for pool/ swim time. Campers are required to wear shoes during activities and while at camp and on busses.
Bathing Suit & Towel
Campers swim at day camp and track out camp. Depending on your child's swim time, your child may need to wear his/her swimsuit under their regular clothes. Please include a dry towel on each swim day. You may also want to include an empty plastic bag in your child's backpack to hold their wet swimsuits and towels.
Nutritious Lunch
Lunch is important. Kids are active at YMCA camps and they get hungry. Leave the perishable items at home; we do not offer refrigeration. Most parents include reusable ice packs in lunch boxes. A hard lunchbox is preferred.
Two Snacks
All full-day campers have two snack times, morning and afternoon. This is a great opportunity for fresh fruit, small granola bars, frozen yogurt tubes ..etc.
If your child is attending Camp Excel, you do not need to pack a lunch or snacks, as these are provided by the YMCA. Some YMCA Day Camps are nut-free. Please check with your camp director for specific camp guidelines.
WHAT TO LEAVE AT HOME
- Electronics, games, phones or music players
- Candy
- Personal sports equipment
- Money or valuables
- Toys
- Flip-flops or open heeled sandals
- Weapons