WELCOME TO SUMMER CAMP

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1 FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY WELCOME TO SUMMER CAMP Decatur Family YMCA Summer Camp Handbook Dear Summer Campers and Parents, Congratulations! You are confirmed for YMCA Summer Day Camp at the Decatur Family YMCA This summer your camper will have the opportunity to swim, play games, participate in special activities, create arts and crafts, meet new friends, and much more! We are here to serve you and your family. You will find important information concerning the Decatur Family YMCA summer camp in this booklet. We ask all parents and campers to read this information and understand the policies and procedures of DFY camps. If, after reviewing this information, you have additional questions please feel free to call Kim Castro at , or We look forward to a wonderful summer with you and your children.

2 Kim Castro Program Director / All onsite camp Michael Duncan Sports Director / jr/sr sports / basketball / golf camps Kathy Frisbey Soccer Director kathyf@ymcaatlanta.org / Wolves soccer camp Camp Leads Nafeesa Camp Director Ami Camp Director Destiny Half Day Assistant Camp Director Skipp Lead Half Day Camp Staff DIRECTORS INFORMATION CAMP LOCATIONS Onsite Full Day Camps: Explorers, Pathfinders, Voyagers, Triple Threat Gymnastics Camp, STEAM, Arts n Crafts, Wolves Soccer, Navigators and Teen Corps. All half day camps are located onsite in the McKoy room. Location: Decatur Family YMCA 1100 Clairmont Ave Decatur, GA Offsite Full Day Camps: Jr/Sr Sports, Basketball and Golf camp Location: The International Community School 2418 Wood Trail Ln Decatur, GA 30030

3 HOURS OF OPERATION FULL DAY 7 A.M. 9 A.M. Pre-Camp 9 A.M. 4 P.M. Camp Program 4 P.M. 6:00 P.M. Post-Camp HOURS OF OPERATION HALF DAY 9 A.M. 9:30A.M. Sign In 9:30 A.M. 12:30 P.M. Camp Program 12:30 P.M. 1:00 P.M. Sign Out DROP OFF AND PICK UP PROCEEDURES The Decatur Family YMCA Location FOR YOUR FULL DAY CAMPER Pick up and drop off is done in a drive through kiss n go format. Parents are asked to stay in their cars. Please do not walk up or through the car pool lanes. Drop off is in the lower parking lot from 7:00a 9:30a. From 9:30a 10:00a parents MUST walk their camper(s) inside to the camp office. This is the only office located on the main level of the Y on the left side. DO NOT walk your child to their group, they must be checked in at the camp office. Campers will not be accepted into camp after 10:00a without advanced approval from the camp director. After 10:00a and before 3:30p any early check outs will be done through the camp office. Pick up is in the lower parking lot from 4:00p 6:00p. From 3:30p 4:00p camp is in i transition to post camp. Campers may NOT be picked up during this time. Wolves soccer camp & navigators MUST be dropped off by 8:30a daily. The bus for Navigators leaves promptly at 9:00a. Wolves soccer leaves for their location at 8:45a. Anyone who misses the bus will not be admitted to camp. FOR YOUR HALF DAY CAMPER Drop off is located outside the McKoy room, located on the main level of the YMCA. Parents may drop off from 9:00a 9:30a. Campers will not be accepted into camp after 9:30a without prior approval from the camp director. Pick up is inside the McKoy room from 12:45a 1:00p. If it is raining, parents will pick up their child(ren) from outside the McKoy room. There is no before or after care option for half day campers. Campers MUST be picked up by 1:00p. Any child that is left after 1:00p will have a $5.00 late fee for the first 5 minutes and $20.00 after 10 minutes. Any parent that is consistently late may be asked to leave the program.

4 The International Community School Location FOR YOUR FULL DAY CAMPER OFFSITE This is from Jr/Sr sports; basketball and golf camp Drop off and pick up is located at the school gymnasium. Please look for the YMCA camp signs. Drop off is from 7:00a 9:00a Pick up is from 4:00p 6:00p. Because some of these camps do not stay at the drop off/pick up location all day, all late drop offs and early pick ups must be set up in advance with Michael Duncan at ALL SUMMER CAMPS: PHOTO ID IS REQUIRED DAILY FOR PICK UP. Campers will only be released to people who are listed on the YMCA authorized pick up list. It is the parents/guardians responsibility to make sure their pick up list is complete with anyone (including parents/guardians) who can pick up your child(ren). REQUIRED FORMS 3231 Immunization form from your doctor s office. If your child does not get shots, the parent must provide a medical release form notarized. YMCA Waiver These forms must be submitted 1 week prior to attending. For 2018 the camp office must have a new copy of the The Y requires a new Y Wavier yearly. The Y waiver can be found in each camp that goes out as an attachment. Forms can be ed or faxed to Kim Castro: kimc@ymcaatlanta.org or CHANGES/WITHDRAWAL/REFUND POLICIES Once the camp session has started, if you decide to withdraw your child from the camp in which he/she is enrolled, refunds will not be given. Fees will not be pro-rated for absences. Any changes or withdrawals must be ed to Kim Castro: kimc@ymcaatlanta.org. Include your child s first and last name and what you are requesting. The $25 deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. Any refunds for camp cancellations must be given one full week prior to the week you want to withdrawal. CAMP GOALS Provide a safe, fun, recreational atmosphere for all campers. Promote caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility throughout the day camp program. Promote understanding and stewardship for the natural world. Help campers and staff build their sense of self-confidence. Provide opportunities within the program for campers to develop interpersonal relationships and social skills. Provide campers with activities which offer a progressive experience.

5 INCLUSION STATEMENT At the Y, we aim to promote an inclusive environment where children can learn and develop in a happy, caring, safe and educational environment. Children with special or medical needs will be considered for admission on a case-by case basis. Children whose limitations create a safety issue or unreasonable risk of harm to themselves, or others or property may not be accommodated. We will work to provide reasonable accommodations upon request. Inclusion information for children with special and medical needs must be provided at the time of registration and directly given to the camp director. We do not have medical staff on the premise. We will make every attempt to serve all children. Please plan to meet with the camp director prior to camp so that we can make your child s experience an amazing one. CAMP COMMUNICATION Constant Contact: February May once you have registered you will get an from the camp office with camp details. Once camp has started you will get a weekly for each week that your child is registered for with camp information. Please make sure your is correct in the Y system. If you have gmail, please check your promotions box as Constant Contact will send the there. Facebook: We will be posting daily pictures and videos of what is happening at camp. Please make sure you like the Decatur Family YMCA Facebook page. Make sure it is Decatur Georgia. SmugMug: Each week parents will get access to SmugMug where we post daily of pictures of each camp group. Swim & Triple Threat Gymnastics Camp: On Thursday, campers will go home with a skill evaluation sheet so that you can see what they have been working on in their camp. My Week In Review: All full day onsite campers will bring home a My Week In Review sheet on Friday. This will give you an over view of what has been going on in camp. Sunshine/Opps Notes: We like to make sure parents know when their child has shown one of the Y s 4 character values (caring, respect, responsibility and honesty). Sometimes we have a character value we need to work on, we put those on opps notes so parents know what we need to work on. WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO CAMP At camp we like to have a lot of fun and fun can be messy. Please remember to send your camper in clothes that they can have fun in! Sneakers campers who wear open toes shoes may not be able to participate in all activities for safety reasons. Clothes that can get dirty T-shirt / shorts Sunblock and bug spray campers must be able to apply on themselves. Swim suit if it is a swim day.

6 WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO CAMP A back pack to put all your belongings in 2 snacks for full day campers and 1 for half day campers Lunch (The Y does not provide a refrigerator or microwave for the campers) Water bottle Swim suit and towel (on swim days) A great attitude ready to have fun! Please do not send any nut products at camp. LABEL ALL OF YOUR BELONGINGS! IT HELPS US GET THEM BACK TO YOU! NEW FOOD PROGRAM AT THE Y New for camp this summer we have partnered with BOLD Ministries (Bred of Life Development) who will be providing lunch for ALL campers at no additional charge. You do not need to sign up for this program. Your child will have the option daily to come and get a lunch. All Onsite camps full day and half day will have the option to receive lunch daily. All sports camps located at the International Community School will have the option to receive breakfast daily (this is available for any camper who is at camp by 8:30a) and everyone will have an option to receive lunch daily. WHAT SHOULD I LEAVE AT HOME At camp we provide all the fun! Please do not bring anything other than what is listed on the bring list. The YMCA is NOT responsible for any items that are lost, stolen or broken. Money Video game Trading cards Valuables Weapons Toys Pocket knives CD/DVD players Tobacco, alcohol, drugs Cell phones/ipods/mp3 players WHAT SHOULD I PRACTICE BEGORE COMING TO CAMP 1. Know the difference between snack and lunch 2. Be able to change in and out of a swim suit unassisted. 3. Applying sunblock and bug spray. 4. Speaking up to a counselor when they need to go to the bathroom or need help with something. CAMP STAFF AND OUR ALA S CAMP STAFF We love our camp staff and many of them work year round with us. We also have several staff who started off as campers just like your child. All Y staff have been background checked, drug tested and are CPR certified. Our camp staff go through three days of training before camp starts and we do in service trainings during the summer. They are here because they love kids and summer camp. Our staff love to get to know the camp parents as well, so please take the time to get to know them. All camp staff can be ID d

7 by their camp shirts and name tags. ALA ADVANCED LEADERSHIP ACADEMY We love our teen volunteers! Our ALA program is designed to prepare teens/tweens to become future counselors at the YMCA. Their job is to assist the camp as needed to gain experience. You may see them walking campers to their cars, leading songs or helping a campers make a new friend. There are several stages of this program and it all starts off with our Navigators. If a camper will be 14 or 15 by next summer, they can apply for our Advanced Leadership Camper or Leader In Training program the summer prior. Applications are available in June and July 2018 for 2019 summer. Please contact Kim Castro for more information. CAMP SHOWCASES TRIPLE THREAT GYMNASTICS parent performance will be on Friday at 3:15p in the gym. Arts n Crafts Camp parent art show will be on Friday at 3:30p in the Y lobby. STEAM Camp - parent science fair will be on Friday at 3:30p in the teen center. CAMP SWIMMING Little Scientist- parent science fair will be on Friday at 12:30p in the large conference room. Little Artist parent art show will be on Friday at 12:30p in the large conference room. Mini Triple Threat Gymnastics parent performance will be on Friday at 12:30 in the gym. ONSITE CAMPS Campers that are located at the Decatur Family YMCA will swim at the indoor pool at the Y. With the exception of the Navigators camp they will swim at local outdoor pools and the lake at YMCA Camp High Harbour. The Y pool has a minimum of 1 certified lifeguard on duty at all times. Camp counselors help supervise the campers on the pool deck. Each week campers must pass a swim test if they want to swim in the deep end. This test is: swim 1 length of the pool freestyle without stopping or holding the wall, tread water for 1 minute, swim to the bottom of the pool and float on their back. Anyone who does not pass will have to swim in the shallow end. Lifejackets are provided to the children who cannot swim or do not meet the height requirement. OFFSITE SPORTS CAMPS Camps that are located at The International Community School swim at local outdoor DeKalb Co. Parks n Rec pools. These pools use their own lifeguards employed by the pool. Lifejackets are available to campers. CAMP SPECIAL ACTIVITIES/FIELD TRIPS Explorers, Pathfinders and Voyagers have weekly onsite special activities or offsite field trips. This information will be in your weekly . There is no additional cost for these events. Jr/Sr Sports, Basketball & Golf Camp will have weekly field trips. Fees for these trips is not included in the cost of camp. The trip and the cost will be in the information sent out weekly by sports camp.

8 SWIM DAYS Swim camp - daily Triple Threat Gymnastics Friday STEAM camp Friday Arts n Crafts camp- Friday Navigators/Teen Corps pack swim suit daily Explorers Tues/Thurs Pathfinders Please pack swim suit daily, this group will be split into Mon/Wed & Tue/Thur swim groups Voyagers Mon/ Wed Jr/Sr Sports Mon/Wed/Fri Basketball Mon/Wed/Fri Golf Mon/Tue/Wed *will swim at the Y Wolves Soccer Friday Splish Splash daily Little All Stars water play - Wednesday Little Scientist water play - Wednesday Little Artist water play - Wednesday Mini Triple Threat Gymnastics water play - Friday LOST & FOUND Please help us reduce the items in lost and found this summer season. Carefully labeling all of your camper s belongings will help him/her keep up with their gear. Lost and found items are kept until the end of the session. Encourage your camper to check lost and found each day for things possibly left behind the day before. When lost and found is not claimed we wash it and bring it to Goodwill. Full day onsite lost and found is located in the drop off and pick up area. Half day onsite lost and found is located on the table inside the McKoy room. Full day offsite - lost and found is located in the gym. The YMCA is not responsible for lost, stolen or broken possessions that are brought to camp. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT Please help us teach your children the YMCA values by supporting the staff and program in the following areas: CARING: Everyone comes to camp to make new friends and have fun. Take pride in being a good friend to others. HONESTY: Admit when you have made a bad choice. Always tell the truth. Please help us teach your children the Y values by supporting the staff and program in the following areas: RESPECT: Respect our camp property. Respect all counselors. Respect fellow campers. RESPONSIBILITY: Be responsible for personal items, check lost and found.

9 CAMPER EXPECTATIONS & BEHAVIOR POLICY Promoting social interaction and building interpersonal skills are among the most important goals of all YMCA camps. Staff will help campers with this process by providing on-going encouragement and assistance. Counselors are trained to provide corrective action in a positive and supportive manner designed to build self-confidence and teach responsibility. On the first day of each session all camp rules will be covered and explained by camp administrators. Each camper is expected to follow these rules to maintain a safe, well-organized program. If a camper cannot adjust to these rules and expectations, we reserve the right to terminate the camper s enrollment for the summer. If this happens, we will NOT issue a refund. GUIDELINES USED FOR DISCIPLINE Camper will be re-directed Camper will receive verbal warning Camper will be asked to take a personal time-out Camper will lose the privilege of participating in a special activity Parent will be called and asked to sign camper out early Camper will be suspended Campers may be suspended for failure to follow the standards of discipline established by YMCA day camp staff as outlined below: Refusing to remain with his/her group Using inappropriate language Rude/disrespectful behavior Fighting/hitting/biting/kicking Theft or defacing property of others Verbal threats/name-calling FIRST AID & MEDICATION A first aid station is maintained at the camp. A written record is kept of all incidents requiring first aid. The camp director will contact parents or emergency contacts if there is evidence of serious illness or injury. No camper will be allowed to remain at camp with a fever or other visible signs of illness. The camper MUST be picked up IMMEDIATELY when contacted about an illness or injury. In the event of an injury to your child, the camp director will: Call 911 Attempt to call parent/guardian Attempt to call emergency contacts listed on registration form IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENT/GUARDIAN TO CARRY PRIMARY ACCIDENT INSURANCE

10 MEDICATION If a camper requires medication of any kind, please follow these guidelines: A Medication Authorization form must be filled out weekly. Medications will not be distributed during pre-camp or post-camp. Medications must be signed in daily at the front desk during check-in. We will accept a daily dose only. We cannot store medication. Prescriptions must be in their original containers. INCLEMENT WEATHER In the event that light rain is falling, our camp programming will continue as scheduled. If thunderstorms occur, all groups will take shelter inside their designated area. Staff will provide campers with rainy day activities. During thunder or lightening, all pools will be closed for the required amount of time. WHY IT MATTERS Annual Campaign 2018 The Decatur Family YMCA is committed to providing financial assistance to those who cannot afford the full price of our programs including camp. Last year over 75 kids attended camp because they were awarded scholarships. Money for scholarships is not generated from membership dues. We rely on gifts from friends like you to provide this much-needed assistance. Our camp goal is to raise $5, for campers! In 2018, the Decatur Family YMCA will provide $10,000 in scholarships. Through WHY IT MATTERS, local businesses and individuals partner with the Y to ensure every child can be part of the Y and the programs offered. The need for community programs that build character and foster good citizenship continues to grow each day. Please consider sponsoring a camper and providing him/her with a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Our camp has a fun way to raise this money! Each week you may choose to make a $25.00 donation and your camper can Pie a counselor or LIT! It is a lot of fun for our campers and even our staff! Be on the lookout for more information when you come to camp!

11 BULLYING POLICY Y Summer Camps will enforce a zero tolerance policy against bullying this summer. We define bullying as aggressive behavior manifested by the use of force or coercion to affect others, particularly when the behavior is habitual and involves an imbalance of power. It can include verbal harassment, physical assault or coercion and may be directed repeatedly towards particular victims. Bullying is not an isolated incident. Each child entering our camp program will attend a camp orientation on the first day of the session where staff will discuss camper expectations, our behavior policy and the zero tolerance policy against bullying. Campers will have a pre-determined station available to report all incidents of bullying. A staff person assigned to this camp task force will investigate all reports. All parents will be notified by an incident report, a phone call or an if their child is involved in a reported incident. To be successful with this aspect of our camp community, we will deliver age-appropriate activities that encourage and develop listening skills, working together and understanding others. We are committed to incorporating this aspect to our existing camp program, to ensure that our campers have the opportunity to learn and explore in an emotionally safe environment designed to build self-confidence and teach responsibility. On the first day of each session all camp rules will be covered and explained by camp administrators. Each camper is expected to follow these rules to maintain a safe, well-organized program. If a camper cannot adjust to these rules and expectations, we reserve the right to terminate the camper s enrollment for the summer. If this happens, we will NOT issue a refund. Thank you for choosing the Y for your child s summer!