Spend summer with the folks who practically perfected camp, the YMCA. We want your kids to have a great summer and we want you to feel good and safe about sending them.
We're sharing our Day Camp Essential List with the hows and whys of YMCA Summer Day Camp.
A Typical Day
A typical day at camp involves a devotion/ huddle time, four to five activity times, lunch, two snack breaks and a swim time. During activities, campers move with their huddle to different activities such as archery, arts and crafts, field games and more. Our campers are grouped together based on grade and age. Each small group, or huddle, has between 20 - 25 campers and two counselors. Camps for our youngest campers, Wee Camp and Kindercamp have smaller huddles. Huddles spend most of the day together.
Campers will spend most of the day outside, weather permitting. On super hot days or during rain, day camps modify activities to keep kids safe. Closed-toe shoes are a must at camp. Athletic shorts and shirts or tank tops are good choices too. Make sure your camper can run and play comfortably. We recommend several items to pack each day too. Sunscreen is a must and we want kids to come to camp with sunscreen already applied.
Swimming
Summer and pools go together like sun and sunscreen. Here at the YMCA, we swim assess each camper. What's a swim assessment you ask? Well, it's a chance for our lifeguards to evaluate each swimmer's ability and confidence in the water so we can ensure the safety of everyone. Kids can pass at two levels and we love watching their confidence grow each week in the water.
Safety
Swim assessments are just one aspect of the constant safety practices at the YMCA. Staff undergo 30+ hours of training before the start of day camp where they learn everything from group management to basic first aid.
Youth Staff
Speaking of those staff members, we hire high-energy, enthusiastic high school and college students who have a passion for teaching, leading others and an affinity for kids. Many are in school to be educators, teachers or work in parks and recreation, so summers with us as counselors is a natural fit. Many are former campers or have completed our CILT, Campers In Leadership Training, program. We strive to maintain a 1:12 counselor-to-camper ratio in our school-age camps. Younger campers have lower ratios.
Whether your child spends a week with the YMCA or the whole summer, they join us for fresh air, active fun and new friends in a safe environment.
