Camper Family Guide
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At Y of Three Rivers Camps...
We work to ensure that everyone-- regardless of age, cultural background, ethnicity, income, faith, gender, gender identity, race or sexual orientation-- feels welcome, connected and safe at camp.
We aim to empower all campers, leadership trainees, volunteers, and staff to fully participate in our camps, and develop to their fullest potential as future leaders and global citizens.
Our camps embrace diversity, reflect the needs of our communities that we serve, and strive to ensure inclusion and engagement for all.
Your CampBrain Account
Completing and Updating Online Forms
Communication
Y Day Camp Staff
Surveys
Health and Safety
Covid-19 Guidelines
What to Bring to Camp
Lunch and Snacks
Camper Code of Behaviour
Questions?
Your CampBrain Account
Please check your calendar to see if the dates that you plan to send your child to camp are the same as are listed in our system. (We have campers arrive for the wrong session at least twice a summer...please double check!) If you have an issue with your child's registration, the sooner you contact us, the better the chance of us being able to accommodate your change. Please call us ASAP if you have an issue. 519-699-5100. Access your CampBrain account here.
Check your payment information
Most of our parents pay a deposit at registration and indicate for us to charge the same credit card with the remainder of the payment due on June 1. If you are one of these payers, you should expect to receive a reminder email prior to June 1, indicating that your payment will be automatically processed on June 1. Please double check the number at that time and make sure it's still current, and if not, please give us a call 519-699-5100 with your updated information. If you have paid in full before June 1st you will not receive this reminder email.
Completing and Updating Online Forms
Camper/Cabin Mate Request Form
Health Form
If you have already completed this form, reviewing and updating it will ensure that we are getting the most up-to-date information about the health and any special requirements to make your child's stay with us the best it can be. Access your CampBrain account here.
Camper Code of Behaviour
Please be sure to read and discuss the Camper Code of Behaviour with your child, and indicate you have done so. Access your CampBrain account here.
Photo Permission
Inclusion Camper Profile
If you have requested Inclusion Support for your camper, please ensure this form is completed TWO WEEKS prior to their arrival at camp. Access your CampBrain account here.
Inclusion Facilitators provide additional support for campers, who may require it, to be successful at camp. Inclusion Facilitators are specifically trained to provide support to campers with disabilities, behavioural challenges, and to assist counsellors in dealing with difficult situations that arise throughout the day. Families are welcome to apply to have their camper supported by an Inclusion Facilitator. Access your CampBrain account here.
Communication
The majority of our communication will be done through email. Please make sure your email is up to date and correct in your CampBrain account.
Prior to your child's arrival at camp we will send an email with everything you need to know to ensure they have a successful week with us.
Y Day Camp Staff
Our entire camp team is made up of individuals who are fun, energetic and are passionate about ensuring a successful camp experience for each child! It is our priority to provide an inclusive, engaging and caring environment everyday at camp.
All staff are certified in:
- Standard First Aid & CPR-C
- High Five - Principles of Healthy Child Development/ YMCA Healthy Child Development
- Complete extensive training focused on leadership, inclusivity, behaviour support, how to help campers develop, grow foster friendships and build confidence in themselves
Day Camp Site Coordinators are located at each site and provide support to Counsellors, Inclusion staff and LIT’s throughout the summer. It is the role of the Site Coordinators to oversee the smooth operation of each camp day, plan and implement camp programming, and support the camp team.
Surveys
A Daycamp survey link will be emailed to you at the end of each session. Please take a moment to complete this survey. Your feedback is used to continually improve our programs.
Health and Safety
The health and safety of day campers is our foremost concern. Our Day Camp Director is a full-time, year round staff member with our Camping Department. Site Coordinators support our counsellors at each of our sites and all staff are trained in emergency procedures and certified in first aid. Our lifeguards, who are certified by the National Lifesaving Society, supervise all aquatic activities.
Illness at camp
If your child is feeling ill before coming to camp please keep them home. If your child becomes ill or injured while at camp, immediate care will be provided. Every effort will be made by staff to keep your child comfortable until your arrival.
Inhalers and EpiPens®
We recommend that you send along 2 inhalers/EpiPens® with your child. One will need to be carried by your child at all times (we suggest that you send a hip sack for easy carrying so your child can carry one inhaler/EpiPen® at all times). The back up will be kept with the counsellor supervising your child's group throughout the day. (The counsellor will carry both inhalers/Epipens® at the parents request.)
Sun Sense
With continued concern over the health risks resulting from extended exposure to the sun, we ask that you send the following items with your child to camp.
- A good sun hat (please label; keep in mind that baseball hats do not cover the ears or back of the neck)
- Water bottle (please label)
- Please make sure your camper arrives at camp wearing sunscreen and pack some o reapply during the day (please label)
Our staff understand the importance of reminding children about sunscreen and hats. Times will be allotted throughout the day for reapplication.
Covid-19 Guidelines
We’re listening to Region of Waterloo Public Health, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, and Huron Perth Public Health every day to stay informed on the steps we can take to ensure our procedures follow all the public health recommendations like hand washing, physical distancing, monitoring campers and staff for symptoms and more. The plan we are developing follows all these recommendations so you can be safe and healthy at the Y.
- Health screening: Every day your parent or caregiver will sign a form when you get dropped off at day camp. The form will declare that you:
- Do not have a fever
- Have not come in contact with a person with COVID-19 within the last 14 days
- Have not travelled outside the country within the last 14 days
- Are not experiencing a cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea and/or vomiting
- Handwashing: By now you are probably a pro at washing your hands for 20 seconds. We will ask you to wash your hands when you arrive at camp, throughout the day and before and after lunchtime and snacks. Handwashing stations or hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60%-70% alcohol will be made available.
- Visitors will not be permitted inside camp: This helps to safeguard our efforts in screening campers and keeping everyone safe.
- Physical Distancing: Where possible, we will help you have 2 metres of distance between you and other campers. However, due to the nature of camp and the need for our staff to closely supervise you and other campers, we will strive for this goal but it may not be achieved at all times. Activities that have a lot of contact––like basketball––will not be included whereas activities with momentary contact like tag will played a lot!
- Bring your own food: To help minimize the spread of COVID-19, we will ask that you bring your own lunch and snacks to day camp each day. Please do NOT send lunches that need to be cooked or reheated in the microwave.
- Stay outdoors: Let’s get outside! Being outside is a great way to stay healthy, so we will spend as much of our time outside as we can.
- Masks: At this time, the Ministry of Health is requiring campers to wear a mask while indoors or when physical distancing can’t be achieved outdoors. Please note that if our local Public Health requires additional masking for campers, we will have to follow their guidelines. Our staff are planning plenty of fun games and activities that promote physical distancing while outside including safe opportunities for mask breaks.
What to Bring to Camp
All Day campers will need to bring the following items each day they come to camp. We suggest that you pack everything in a backpack. Please label it with their name or attach a tag. Consult our recommended packing list.
PLEASE LABEL EVERYTHING
- Running shoes
- Flip flops/Crocs/Water shoes for swimming, boating, and/or water games
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Water Bottle (clearly labeled with camper's name)
- Healthy nut-free lunch and at least two snacks
- Weather-Appropriate clothing: Rain Gear, extra sweater, etc.
- Swimsuit & Towel
- Change of clothes
- Bug spray
Please Keep at Home
The YMCA will not be responsible for lost or damaged items. Please keep your valuables at home.
These items will be confiscated upon the camper's arrival and returned to the parent upon the camper's departure.
- Hand-held games (i.e. Nintendo Switch)
- Cell phones
- Money
- Water guns
- Knives or other weapons
- Matches or lighters
- cigarettes or vapes
Lunch and Snacks
Campers should arrive daily with a lunch and at least 2 snacks as well as a refillable water bottle. Vendors and/or vending machines will not be available for lunch/snack purchases at any of our sites by campers.
Please...No Nuts!
Do not send any nut products to camp with your child. We appreciate your help in keeping our sites and equipment as safe as possible for all of our campers.
Camper Code of Behaviour
At YMCA of Three Rivers Day Camps….
We work to ensure that everyone-- regardless of age, ethnicity, race, income-level, faith, ability, gender identity/expression, or sexual orientation-- feels welcome, connected and safe at camp.
We aim to empower all campers, leadership trainees, volunteers, and staff to fully participate in our camps, and develop to their fullest potential as future leaders and global citizens.
Our camps embrace diversity, reflect the needs of our communities that we serve, and strive to ensure inclusion and engagement for all.
Camp Behaviour Policy
It is the goal of the YMCA to provide a safe, healthy and secure environment for all participants. The YMCA teaches the core values of inclusion, caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and health.
Campers who attend our programs are expected to follow behaviour and safety guidelines and interact appropriately in the camp setting.
Bullying
At YMCA of three Rivers Day Camps, we are committed to providing a safe, friendly, and supportive environment for our campers and staff. We believe that every child and staff have the right to learn, grow, and foster new friendships while at camp. Everyone at camp has the right to be treated with respect. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable.
Bullying includes:
- Emotional
- Prejudicial
- Verbal
- Cyber
- Sexual
Any instances of bullying will result in a phone call to parents/guardians from a member of the camp leadership team, and depending on the severity, may result in removal from camp for the day or duration of the camp session.
Challenging Behaviour
Our camp staff are trained in behaviour management techniques for behaviours that may arise at camp. Camp counsellors will review our behaviour expectations and safety rules at camp with campers at the beginning of each camp day. Various developmentally-appropriate visuals and supports will be available to ensure that campers are able to understand the rules and expectations.
In situations in which a camper is displaying challenging or unsafe behaviour at camp, we will take the following steps:
- The counsellor or inclusion facilitator will support the camper with various behaviour management strategies to de-escalate the situation
- Staff will work with the camper to understand what preceded the behaviour, and assist the camper in making positive behaviour choices
- The behaviour will be documented by the camp staff, and the Site Coordinator and/or Inclusion Director will be notified
- If the behaviour continues after the use of behaviour management strategies, a member of the day camp leadership team will contact the parent or guardian. The leadership team will work with the parent/guardian to create additional strategies for supporting the camper in the camp setting
- Depending on the severity of the behaviour, the camper may be removed from camp for the day, and parents/guardians will be asked to pick up their camper
- If the camper is removed from camp for the day, the Inclusion Coordinator will work with the parent/guardian to create a behaviour management plan to facilitate the camper’s successful return to camp
YMCA of Three Rivers Day Camps reserves the right to remove the camper from the camp program for the day or the duration of the camp session if the behaviours displayed by the camper place themselves, the camp staff, or other campers at risk for physical or emotional harm.
Everyone has the right to feel safe and respected at camp. The YMCA of Three Rivers has a zero-tolerance policy for hate or discrimination. Any instances of prejudice, intolerance or hate directed towards individuals due to their race, ethnicity, sexual or gender identity, or disability will result in an immediate phone call home to parents/guardians and removal from the camp program.
COVID-19 Behaviour Guidelines:
YMCA of Three Rivers Day Camps adheres to local and provincial public health guidelines surrounding COVID-19 and takes the health and safety of our campers and staff extremely seriously. Situations in which a camper is not adhering to local public health guidelines leading to a health and safety risk for campers and/or staff will result in immediate removal from camp.
Behaviour Support at Camp
Our goal at the YMCA Day Camps is to ensure that every camper has a safe and positive experience at camp! If your camper will require support/assistance with behaviour management while at camp, please reach out to Sydney, our Inclusion Director, at (519) 570-6582 or daycamp@ytr.ymca.ca to discuss support options.
Give Me Five!
At YMCA of Three Rivers Day Camps, we follow 5 simple rules to keep camp a safe and positive place for all campers and staff:
- Keep hands and feet to yourself
- Speak kindly and positively to each other
- Touch only what belongs to you
- Stay within the day camp area
- Listen to your leaders
Follow the YMCA