Central Valley YMCA At Sequoia Lake Camper Registration Packet

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1 Central Valley YMCA At Sequoia Lake Camper Registration Packet WELCOME! Dear Parent and Camper, It is a pleasure to welcome you and your child to our summer camping program at Sequoia Lake. Our primary goal is to provide our campers with a safe, fun summer. However, Y-Camp can be a lot more. A chance to grow, make new friends, learn from new experiences, and develop important social skills that will last a lifetime. The following information has been prepared to help both you and your camper get ready for a great camping experience at YMCA Camp. On behalf of the Directing and Counseling Staff, and campers we WELCOME YOU to our camp family! Michael Chapman Camping Services Director CAMP FORMS AND REGISTRATION The Camper Information Form, Health Form and Waiver of Liability need to be turned in before the start of camp. A doctor's examination is not required. No camper will be allowed to check into camp unless all fees and forms have been received. Please call our office if you have any questions (559) ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE Campers will arrive and depart camp by private car unless bus transportation has been arranged with the YMCA Camp Office. We encourage you to share in your child's camp experience by bringing your child to camp, meeting the staff, and seeing for yourself the beauty of Sequoia Lake. All sessions begin on Sundays and end on Friday afternoons, except Music Camp. Campers arriving with their parent or guardian should plan to arrive for check-in between 2 and 3PM to meet the Director and the Camp Nurse and receive their cabin assignment. Please arrive before 3PM so that your camper does not miss the orientation at the fire circle. Parents are welcome to attend. Prior to 2PM, the staff will be involved in a pre-session meeting, therefore we cannot accept campers before 2PM opening time. Check out time on Friday evening is between 1 and 3PM. At the end of each camp session (except Music Camp) the camp will provide a family BBQ. The cost is $5 per person for each additional family member other than the parents. CHECK-IN AND PICK-UP TIMES [If your child is not arriving by bus.] CHECK-IN BETWEEN 2:00-3:00PM AT CAMP CHECK OUT BETWEEN 1:00-3:00PM AT CAMP Your cooperation and promptness will be appreciated. Our camp staff will have much preparing to do for the next camp session. FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR CHILD A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR OTHER PHOTO IDENTIFICATION WILL BE REQUIRED TO CHECK YOUR CHILD OUT OF CAMP OR PICK YOUR CHILD UP AT THE BUS. Please be prompt! Please note that traffic on the mountain roads can be slow. Thank you for your patience. HOMESICKNESS Going away to camp can be a challenging experience for a child of any age. Learning 1

2 independence through a shortterm separation from parents is an important step towards a child s growth and development. We would like to ask your help in counseling your child prior to camp. Let them know that you have confidence in their ability to cope with the new experience of camp. Focus on the positive aspects of camp; the new friends they will make, the activities they ll enjoy and how proud you will be of them when they succeed. VISITING CAMP Our visiting days are opening Sundays and closing Friday of your child s session. The Friday afternoon departure allows parents to have your child lead you on a tour of camp, and meet their new friends. Phone calls from home or to home or midweek visits can be disruptive and we strongly discourage them as we find this triggers homesickness. If you are concerned about your camper, please call the Camp Office at (559) and our staff will be glad to update you. Positive, supportive letters mailed from home lets your child hear from you in a constructive way. MAIL DEFINITELY! Please be sure to write your child before they leave for camp so that he/she will receive mail early in the week. Because of the potential of animals, please DO NOT send food in the mail. Also, if you wish to hear from your camper during the camp week, send along a self addressed, stamped envelope/paper or a postcard. This will help your child with his/her letter home. (Camper's Name) CVYMCA Camp (Gaines) Sequoia Lake Hwy 180 Miramonte, CA HEALTH CARE Our camps each have an infirmary with a resident registered nurse trained in emergency First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation techniques. In case of illness, campers will be housed in the Infirmary for a reasonable period of time. If deemed necessary, you will be contacted to pick up your camper. In case of injury, the Nurse will take necessary measures to ensure proper emergency care which may include: treatment for minor injuries, phoning you as the parent for your instructions, calling local emergency care providers or transporting to a doctor or emergency care facility. It is very important that you have provided us with complete emergency contact information. If you are traveling on vacation, please list an itinerary and phone numbers where you can be reached or who may pick up your child in your absence. MEDICATIONS All medications, vitamins, etc., MUST be checked-in with the Camp Nurse. Medication may NOT be kept in the camper's cabin. Do not pack any (including over-the-counter) medications in your child s luggage. Please place your packaged medications in a clearly labeled sack (zip lock bags work well, with masking tape for label) with camper s name, dosage and directions for administering. Please place your child's photo on the Health Form. MEALS All our well-balanced and healthy meals are served family style. Campers help with setting and clearing tables and sweeping floors. If there are SPECIAL DIETARY RESTRICTIONS, please submit them in writing. If the kitchen is unable to comply or the ingredients are not on the normal supply list, we request that you send the appropriate food for your child. The camp cooks will comply when possible in meeting your child's dietary needs. The camp nurse and cabin counselor will be notified of the diet requirement so that they can also assist your child. REFUND POLICY Cancellations made 10 days prior to the first day of the camp session will receive a full refund less the deposit. Deposits are not refundable under any circumstances. In cases of homesickness, dismissal, or 2

3 voluntary withdrawal, there is no refund of any fees. A physician authorized, written medical excuse is required to be considered for a refund (less deposit). If a camper does not show for a registered session without notice, there will be no refund issued. INSURANCE The Central Valley YMCA does not carry medical/accident insurance for participants in the camp program. In the event of an accidental injury or illness, and for which the YMCA medical staff recommends x- rays, tests, or treatment, the costs of such are the responsibility of the parent or guardian. The Camper Information Form contains an emergency authorization, which will allow the YMCA staff to provide for the child's needs. We will make every attempt to contact you prior to treatment. DISCIPLINE POLICY Attending Y Camp is a privilege that you as parent/guardian have chosen for your child. The YMCA Youth Camp staff will encourage and assist children in following camp rules, which will be reviewed at the beginning of each camp session. Campers are expected to treat others with respect. The Youth Camp Director will call parents whose children cause harm to themselves or others, or exhibit inappropriate or ongoing disruptive behavior. If a camper's behavior does not improve after parental and staff intervention, or the behavior is deemed extreme by the Youth Camp Director, the camper may be dismissed from the program at the discretion of the Youth Camp Director without a refund. Parents are then responsible to come to camp and pick up their child. THE FOLLOWING BEHAVIOR IS UNACCEPTABLE Behavior that endangers the safety and well being of a camper. Inappropriate, foul or abusive behavior or language. Repeated disruption of the positive environment Use or possession of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products is grounds for immediate release from the program. DRESS CODE Camper's clothing must convey the values of the YMCA and may not display any obscene, foul or negative images or gang related symbols. TYPICAL DAY SCHEDULE 7:30 a.m. Wake-up 8:30 Breakfast 9:15 Chapel 9:45 Cabin Clean-up 10:15 Activity 1 12:00 p.m. Lunch 1:00 Rest Time 2:00 Activity 2 3:30 Camper Choice 5:30 Dinner 6:30 Evening Activity 7:45 Campfire 9:30 Ready for Bed 10:00 Lights Out Activities: boating, archery, swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts, climbing wall, ropes course, field games, hiking, and much more! THINGS TO PURCHASE Gaines/Sequoia General Store, When you arrive into the camp you can establish a General Store account. We have an arts & crafts and General Store that is available to campers through the week. The store has camp memoribalia, soft drinks, light snacks, and ice cream, fishing gear, and toiletries. You can provide a deposit payment with cash, check or credit card to establish an account. Then the camper can charge items against the account. (here is a good opportunity for you to counsel and discuss appropriate spending with your child). We recommend $15-$25 per week session. The money may be used to purchase projects to make arts & crafts. Although some projects are free, some campers choose to make more than one or more advanced projects, which then cost an additional fee. Projects range from $0.25 to $3.00 each. Store money should be placed in an envelope with your camper s name, store money amount and session registered for. The unused store money will be rounded to the nearest dollar and refunded to you at check out, however, we strongly encourage unused store money to be donated to our YMCA Camp Facility Improvement Fund. ABOUT THE STAFF... What sets us apart from other summer camp programs is our strongest asset our staff. We hire staff with great care for their high moral character and values 3

4 that mirror the YMCA. All staff receive an intensive leadership safety training as well as learn fun-filled techniques to help each child shine. The ultimate goal of the YMCA Youth Camp program is to allow a camper to grow in spirit, mind and body, and have loads of fun in the process. If you have any further questions or comments please call our Camp Office (559) DIRECTIONS TO CAMP From Fresno, take Hwy 180 East. After the town of Minkler Hwy 180 makes a hard left turn. Follow signs to the National Parks. Two miles after the 5,000-foot elevation marker and beyond the 245 junction look for Sequoia Lake turnoff. Turn left off Hwy 180 and follow signs to Sequoia Lake.. If a guard is at the entrance, tell them you are delivering a camper to, or picking up at the CENTRAL VALLEY YMCA Youth Camp LOST AND FOUND The camp experience is an opportunity for a child to learn responsibility for their personal articles. Please discuss with your child prior to camp caring for, and keeping track of their gear. Mark all clothing and equipment with the camper s name. Lost and Found items will be returned to the Central Valley YMCA. Please stop by the YMCA at (1408 "N" Street, Fresno, CA) to claim your items. Any items not claimed by September 1, 2002 will be donated to charity. The YMCA is not responsible for lost or damaged articles. EQUIPMENT LIST The following is a list of personal items needed at camp. Please be sure that all belongings, articles, and luggage are clearly marked with camper s name. Required Items: Warm Sleeping Bag 2 pair Shoes (hiking, tennis) 6 pairs of socks 5 pairs Underwear Swimsuit Sweatshirt or sweater Warm jacket Pajamas 6 T-shirts] 1 white T-shirt for crafts 2 pairs long pants 3-4 pair shorts Flashlight Water bottle/canteen Soap in container Shampoo Toothbrush/toothpaste Hair brush and comb Sunscreen, Chapstik, Moisturizer lotion Insect repellent 2 Towels (1 bath, 1 beach) Laundry bag YMCA rag or leather (from prior Y camp attendance) Optional Items: Book, Bible Stationery and stamps Pencil, pen Camera and film Fishing Pole & equipment Sunglasses Day pack Funky Formal, Crazy Hat & costumes/clothing for skits & events (see schedule) WHAT NOT TO BRING Radios TV s Tape recorders Walkmans Video games Money or valuable items (jewelry, expensive camera) Food items Chewing gum 4

5 Knives or hatchets Fireworks 5