Camp Rising Sun: CILTS
The CILT (Campers in Leadership Training) program is part summer camp and part hands-on leadership program. CILTs work with younger campers in group games, huddle activities and assemblies. CILTs also build leadership skills through trainings and activities.
Camp Rising Sun - CILTS Camp Sessions
There will be five, two-week sessions of Camp Rising Sun - CILTS this summer. July 3 is a holiday, and camp will be closed.
Registration
All YMCA Day Camps require a $20 deposit per session. If you do not have a YMCA account, you can create one at the time of registration.
YMCA Day Camp Experience
From preparation to programming, these are the essentials that shape each camp day.
Counselors & Staff
YMCA Day Camp operates with a 10:1 camper-to-staff ratio. We hire high schoolers, college students and teachers to lead activities, drive buses and facilitate summer camp. Each staff member undergoes extensive training - from CPR and First Aid to leading assemblies. Many staff are former campers and return summer after summer.
Swimming at Day Camp
Almost all YMCA Day Camps offer free swim times or water play (for younger campers). Each camper is assessed for their swim ability on the first swim day of the session. Campers are issued swim bands that identify their swim levels. Swim bands also help lifeguards and counselors identify which areas of the pool are appropriate for each camper.
Weather Management
From outdoor games to water play, day camp is designed to keep kids moving, learning and connecting. But when the heat index rises, so does our responsibility to make smart, timely adjustments that protect campers and staff.
Huddles
Huddles are small groups of campers of similar age and grade who are grouped together at day camp. Typically, huddles move together throughout the day to difference activities. Each huddle is accompanied by two or more counselors.
Character Traits
Respect, Responsibility, Caring, Honesty, and Faith are the character traits the YMCA uses to reinforce positive behavior. Campers can earn beads by demonstrating these traits. Each camper (ages 5 and older) receives a necklace on the first day camp for their beads.
Camp Rising Sun FAQs
Rides In (drop off) will take place in the front loop by the flag pole. Please stay in your car. From 7 - 9 a.m., we will have a staff member in that loop opening car doors, greeting you and checking campers in. For the safety of your child, we cannot allow children to be dropped off prior to Rides In opening at 7 a.m. while our staff are setting up for camp.
Rides Out (pick up) is from 4:30 – 6 p.m. and will be run in the same loop. Please use the second entrance to the Taylor Y (if you are coming off of Cary Parkway onto YMCA Drive) and take an immediate left to head towards the front of the building loop. The person picking up must have their pick-up card (provided on your child’s first day of camp) and an ID as a safety precaution. After camp closes at 6 p.m., a late fee applies. The fee is $5 for the first 10 minutes and $1 for every minute thereafter. If you are stuck in traffic or recognize you will be late, please call the Camp Office at 919-653-2155.
If you are dropping off or picking up outside of our Rides In and Rides Out times (between 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.), please park in the loop, stay in your car and call 919-653-2155. A staff member will come to you!
Camp Rising Sun offers three themed family nights each summer!
Thursday, June 25, 7 - 8:15 p.m. - Character Counts
Thursday, July 16, 7 - 8:15 p.m. - Back to the Future
Thursday, July 30, 7 - 8:15 p.m. - Beach Bash
Family Nights are an opportunity for the whole family to come and check out camp and participate in our fun activities. Campers love to show their families around where they spend their day and introduce them to their camp counselors.
You can come to Family Night even if your camper is not registered that week or if you are registered for a future week and haven’t attended yet that summer.
A few weeks before Camp starts, you will receive an email with a recorded Family Orientation video for
you to watch together with your camper that goes over everything you will need to know about Camp, in addition to our FAQ page.
Meet our amazing camp staff this year!
Campers have the option to swim every day at Camp Rising Sun! Rising Kindergarteners play in the splash pad and campers in rising grades 1 - 8 swim at the outdoor pool.
Campers are asked to bring a change of clothes, a swimsuit, a towel, lunch, two snacks, and a refillable water bottle. Most campers pack everything in a backpack.
Ranks
Open Programming makes it possible for us to offer rank activities, which are activities where campers have the opportunity to develop skills and level up in various areas of interest. Examples of areas where your camper can rank up are arts and crafts, performing arts, archery, soccer and basketball. When your camper ranks up, they will receive a certificate and a bead for their bead necklace.
Wednesday is our Spirit Day at camp! If your camper would like to participate, they can wear as much of their camp color as they can!
- Camp K (rising Kindergarten) is purple
- Camp 1 (rising grades (rising grades 1 & 2) is red
- Camp 2 (rising grades 3 - 5) is blue
- Camp 3 (rising grades 6 - 8) is green
- CILTs (rising grades 9 &10) are black
Other Day Camps
Offered by the Taylor Family YMCA
