YMCA CAMP CHA-LA-KEE on Lake Guntersville Celebrating 60 years! Creating memories and lifelong friendships.
...................... Welcome to YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee! Ruth Marie Oliver is Director of Camping Services at YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee. She taught math and science before serving as Space Camp Principal Educator at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Beyond her passion for summer camping and working with young people, Ruth Marie is an Ironman triathlete, private pilot and adventure seeker. She is married to Chris Key, and their dog is named Boo. Camp is a wonderful place where children can grow and develop as young people, and I am excited to be the Camp Director for YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee! I look forward to welcoming your child to camp this summer! Wes Long is Program Director at YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee. He is a native of Priceville and graduated from Jacksonville State University with a bachelor s degree in Recreational Leadership. Before coming to Cha-La-Kee, Wes worked at the Birmingham YMCA as Outdoor Education Coordinator. He enjoys kayaking, flying, traveling and playing with his dog, 2 Table of Contents Welcome to YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee A Place Where Young People Thrive The Cha-La-Kee Experience Camp Activities Day Camp with Shuttle Service from the Y Day Camp with Drop-Off at Cha-La-Kee Overnight Camp/Spring Break Camp Mini Camp Sessions Our Staff/Counselors in Training Camper Health & Safety Contact Us................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
A Place Where Young People Thrive Kids and Teens Learn, Explore and Grow at Camp YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee is an overnight and day camp for boys and girls with a rich tradition that s welcoming to all. Camp Cha-La-Kee offers children ages 7 to 17 a traditional, life-transforming summer camp experience in a fun, safe environment in which children can learn, explore, and grow. YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee is a branch of the Heart of the Valley YMCA. Our 61-acre campus is nestled in the Appalachian foothills on the shores of Lake Guntersville. Choose the program that s right for your child Traditional 6-night Overnight Camp for Youth Traditional 5-day Day Camp for Youth Traditional 2-night Mini Overnight Camp for Youth Traditional 3-day Mini Day Camp for Youth Counselor-in-Training Program for 15-17 year olds Swimming Pool 3
The Camp Cha-La-Kee Experience We create intentional moments where campers grow in confidence, connectedness, and sense of purpose. Children are placed in a social setting of small groups housed in air-conditioned cabins. Without the distractions of technology and pop culture, children can be children. We hope to create a place The Cha-La-Kee Way where the uniqueness of each camper can be celebrated and an appreciation of the natural world develops. This is the hallmark of the YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee experience. We focus on these guiding principles in every area of camp life to help campers become the best they can be, while they are at camp and when they come back home. CARING RESPONSIBILITY Cabin Chat At the end of HONESTY POSITIVE ATTITUDE each day, RESPECT RESILIENCY campers and staff take time to talk about their experiences and lessons learned. 2
Paddle Boarding Canoeing/Kayaking High & Low Ropes Hiking Archery Water Saturn The Blob Riflery Gaga Ball Fishing Tubing Camp Activities Active days are packed full of fun and challenging things to do that build skills and confidence Campers select from a variety of activities that are designed to be age-appropriate, safe, and enjoyable. Activities intentionally create outlets where campers develop skills and learn teamwork and goal-setting while enhancing self-confidence. Register for camp online at chalakee.org Arts & Crafts Field Games/Sports Horseback Riding Outdoor Living Skills Nature Lessons Drama & Skits Cookout Swimming Pool 5
Day Camp with Shuttle Service Active fun weekdays in the great outdoors with shuttle-to-camp service available from Huntsville & Madison YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee provides a great outdoor camping experience that promotes progressive physical, cognitive and emotional learning with exciting activities! Each day, campers will swim and Shuttle Day Camp Ages 7 to 12 $180 Y Members $215 Community **$85 Y Members $110 Community Session 1: June 5-June 9 Session 2: June 12-June 16 Session 3: June 19-June 23 Session 4: June 26-June 30 Session 5: July 5-July 7 (mini)** Session 6: July 10-July 14 Session 7: July 17-July 21 Session 8: July 24-July 28 play in the water, learn about the natural world, build skills, and make new friends. Campers are supervised in a group size of one staff member to 10 campers. Day Camp is for children ages 7 to 12 years. Register at chalakee.org What is the shuttle schedule? Shuttle Service is provided to Cha-La-Kee from the YMCA in Huntsville & Madison. Hogan Y (Madison) Drop-off Campers from 7am-8am Pick-up Campers from 5:45pm-6pm Southeast Y (Huntsville) Drop-off Campers from 7am -8:30 am Pick-up Campers from 5pm-6 pm What is included? Campers will be served two snacks and lunch each day of camp. 2 What should my Camper bring? Campers should pack a water bottle, swim gear, sunscreen and towel in their backpack each day. Detailed info will be sent out prior to camp.
Drop Off Day Camp @ Cha-La-Kee Local Campers can enjoy more fun on Lake Guntersville with our drop off directly at Cha-La-Kee Campers can be dropped off directly at YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee to enjoy a little extra time on the lake. Drop-off campers experience more fun, friends, and games each morning and afternoon at camp along with a full regular day of our great camp activities. YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee Campers are supervised in a group size of 1 staff member per 10 Campers. Day Camp is for children ages 7 to 12 years old. Campers will have fun all summer while building relationships, learning new games and skills, and developing self-confidence. Drop Off Day Camp Ages 7 to 12 $135 Y Members $170 Community **$85 Y Members $105 Community Session 1: June 5-June 9 Session 2: June 12-June 16 Session 3: June 19-June 23 Session 4: June 26-June 30 Session 5: July 5-July 7 (mini)** Session 6: July 10-July 14 Session 7: July 17-July 21 Session 8: July 24-July 28 What is included? Campers will be served two snacks and lunch each day of camp. What should my Camper bring? Campers should pack a water bottle, swim gear, sunscreen and towel in their backpack each day. Detailed camp info will be sent out prior to the camp season. YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee Drop Off Drop-off is from 7:30am-8:30am Pick-up is from 4 pm-5:30pm 7
Overnight Camp @ Cha-La-Kee A week of campfires, silly skits and fun daytime and nighttime activities with friends on the shores of Lake Guntersville Camp Cha-La-Kee Overnight is a place where boys and girls build self-confidence, independence and lifelong friendships in a traditional camp experience. Overnight camp is for children ages 7 to 14 years old. Campers are divided into small groups of 10 campers and housed in air- conditioned cabins with adult counselors. Counselors lead campers in activities, cabin chats, outdoor experiences and evening programs. 2 Overnight Camp Ages 7 to 14 $400 Y Members $575 Community **$135 Y Members $195 Community Session 1: June 4-June 10 Session 2: June 11-June 17 Session 3: June 18-June 24 Session 4: June 25-July 1 Session 5: July 5-July 7 (mini)** Session 6: July 9-July 15 Session 7: July 16-July 22 Session 8: July 23-July 29 What What is included? is Campers receive 3 meals and 1 night-time snack each weekday at camp. Campers cook one meal outdoors with their cabin family! Activities include waterfront kayaking, banana boating and inflatables; swimming in the lake and pool; high ropes course, team building, outdoor living skills such as fire building, group games, skits, dances and much more! See page 5. What What should my my Camper bring? bring? Campers should pack bed and bath linens, clothing and personal items such as medications. Detailed packing info and forms will be sent prior to camp.
Mini Camp Sessions @ Cha-La-Kee A great starter camp experience for our youngest and first-time campers Mini Session Campers will experience the same fantastic camp experience in the great outdoors at YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee as full-week campers. Activities include the Giant Swing, outdoor living skills, team games, arts & crafts, swimming, archery & target shooting, canoeing and kayaking, fun on The Blob and Saturn water inflatables, and a lot more. Mini-Camp Sessions July 5-7, 2017 Mini Camp Day Camp July 5-7, 2017 Ages 7 to 12 Drop-off at Cha-La-Kee $85 Y Members $105 Community Shuttle from Huntsville & Madison $110 Y Members $130 Community See page 6 for pick-up, drop-off, and shuttle times! Mini Camp Overnight Camp July 5-7, 2017 Ages 7 to 14 Drop-off at YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee $135 Y Members $195 Community Move-in July 5 from 1pm-3pm Optional Parent Orientation 3:15 pm Pick-up July 7 from 5pm-6 pm 9
Teen Leadership Development Programs An opportunity for young people who are ready to accept the challenge of leadership and service to others Volunteer alongside YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee Counselors while having fun with peers and growing as a young leader! The CIT (Counselor in Training) program is an investment in the future of YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee staff focusing on servant leadership. 2 The CIT position is open to 15- to 17-year-old teens to live at camp under the supervision of leadership staff while learning to lead others. To apply, email ruthmarie.oliver@ ymcahuntsville.org. Teens participating in our Counselor in Training programs at YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee will: Develop an ability to contribute in a meaningful way to a group. Learn to effectively communicate with others. Participate in service Develop critical thinking learning opportunities. skills.
Our Staff The Cha-La-Kee Team s top priority is to ensure the health and safety of our campers Many things make YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee a memorable experience, but nothing makes camp greater than our talented, caring counselors and exceptional program leaders. Camp staff are recruited from throughout the United States and participate in a week-long training program prior to the opening of summer camp. All staff are screened and interviewed and have passed a criminal background check before employment. Counselors must be 18 or older and are certified in CPR and First Aid. Counselors are selected for their maturity, ability, and interest in spending a summer with children ages 7 to 17. In addition to cabin staff, YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee hires activity specialists for select areas requiring advanced knowledge. Camper Health & Safety YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee employs a health care professional who resides on the property during summer camp. Medications are distributed at the Dining Hall and Infirmary as needed. Our Medical Staff is available 24 hours a day and is particularly good at providing just the right amount of TLC to our campers! Got Questions? Reach out to RuthMarie Oliver, Director of Camping Services, ruthmarie.oliver@ ymcahuntsville.org, call 256.571.2494 or visit www.chalakee.org. 11
YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee Camp Cha-La-Kee has served the Tennessee Valley for 60 years Situated on 61 lush, forested acres alongside a mountain lake, YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee offers campers the opportunity to reconnect with the natural world. Features include private lakefront property with dock, ropes course, playing fields, covered airnasium for sheltered outdoor play, and separate archery and riflery ranges. Healthy, hot meals are served three times a day, family-style, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated. Campers are housed by gender in air-conditioned cabins with connected full bathrooms. YMCA Camp Cha-La-Kee 4380 Cha-La-Kee Road Guntersville, AL 35796 chalakee.org 256.571.2494 ruthmarie.oliver@ymcahuntsville.org REGISTER ONLINE CHALAKEE.ORG Chalakee Rd U.S. 431 AL HWY 69 Huntsville Guntersville