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WELCOME TO
SUMMER
CAMP
SUMMER CAMP
parent
handbook
2015
Lower Bucks Family YMCA
accomplishment
Discovering skills to help realize their
passions, talents and potential.
Friendship
Building friendships to demonstrate
the role positive relationships play
in the well-being of a child.
belonging
Being a place to belong where kids
feel safe, welcome and can express
their individuality.
A Note from the Camp Staff
Welcome to the Lower Bucks Family YMCA Summer Day Camp 2015. We look forward to the
upcoming summer to make new friends and see all the familiar, returning campers.
The cause of the Y is strengthening community. We do so by focusing our efforts on Youth
Development, Healthy Living, and fostering Social Responsibility to create positive change in
our community.
The Y Day Camp program is committed to providing a quality summer experience for your
child. Summer camp provides many benefits, such as the opportunity for growth in spirit,
mind and body; increased confidence, emphasis on fun, teamwork, physical learning and social
development; the opportunity to strengthen friendships; and the ability to learn through play.
Children leave the Y Day Camp with more than just fond memories.
The children take with them leadership skills that will prove to be useful through adulthood.
The Y counselors take the time to listen and make every child feel special.
Please read on for more information on how to prepare your child for camp.
Sincerely,
Lower Bucks Family YMCA Camp Team
Mission
To create relationship and offer programs that provide a healthy start for children, growth for youth &
teens, wellness for adults, and unity for families.
Lower Bucks Family YMCA DAY CAMP OBJECTIVES
The purpose of the YMCA Day Camp is to help children grow spiritually, mentally and physically. We
achieve this by providing challenging activities in both small and large group settings. The Lower Bucks
Family YMCA Day Camp gives children an experience they can remember fondly for a lifetime.
This camp experience is grounded in seven objectives that define all the Y programs. They are to:
• Grow personally
• Learn values (Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility)
• Improve personal and family relationships
• Become better leaders and supporters
• Appreciate diversity
• Develop specific skills
• Have fun
The Day Camp program promotes the four character development values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and
Responsibility in every activity and interaction.
YMCA Character Development
The Y Day Camp provides priceless opportunities in promoting the values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and
Responsibility. We provide staff role models and activities that are conducive to character development.
Registration
Sign up early. Registrations are taken on a first come, first serve basis. Simply complete a registration
packet, health history, and emergency form and return to any of the branch Welcome Centers, along with
a $25 deposit per week.
Deposits and Payment
Deposits of $25 per child per week are required to process all registrations. No registrations can be
accepted without a $25 per week deposit. Ranch Camp and Special Abilities Camp deposits are 50% of
the weekly fee. Deposits are applied toward balances due for each week registered. Balances must be
paid-in-full one week prior to the start of the camp week(s) selected.
Refund/Credit Policy
All deposits are non-refundable. No credit/refund requests will be considered once a camp session has
started. A $10 fee will be charged to transfer registration from one session/location to another.
Membership
A Program Membership is required for each child to attend camp. An individual Program Membership is
$70 and a program Family membership is $105 and is valid for one year.
Y Cares Program
We believe every child should have the chance to participate in the Y Day Camp program. Financial
assistance is made possible through the generous support of our Annual Campaign and other fundraising
activities. Individuals unable to pay the full program fee are encouraged to pick up an application at the
front desk. Financial assistance is awarded on a sliding income scale.
DROP OFF AND PICK UP POLICY
• Campers may not be dropped off any earlier than 8:30am or picked up later than 4:30pm without
additional charges. All campers will be signed in upon arrival at camp and signed out when leaving camp.
• For those paying for extended care there will be a fee of $2.00/every minute per child after 6:00pm.
See your individual camp for ending times. For example, some camps end at 12:00pm, and campers must
be picked up by 12:10pm to avoid a late charge.
• If a parent/guardian needs to send an adult not listed on the “Emergency Contact, Parental Consent
Form”, the parent MUST notify the Camp Director or Welcome Center Staff. The designated pick-up
person must have a picture ID or the camper will not be released. Individuals signing a camper out must
be over the age of 18. If it is a last minute request made over the phone, you will be asked to provide
your security code for safety reasons.
• If you have a Custody or Restraining Order that is pertinent to the camper, please make sure we have
an original document for our records. We cannot prevent a non-custodial parent from picking up a child
without a court-ordered document.
MEDICATION GUIDELINES
We can dispense medications under the following conditions:
1. A signed consent form is turned in and on file. This medication consent form may be picked up from
any Welcome Center Representative, from the Camp Director, or found online at www.lbfymca.org.
2. Prescription medications must be in the original prescription bottle, clearly marked with your child’s
name and dosage instructions.
3. YMCA will administer only oral medications.
4. All medications must be turned in to the Camp Director and be registered in the Camp Medication Log.
5. Please do not send medication to camp with children. The parent/guardian must give the medication to
the Camp Director or Assistant Camp Director.
ILLNESS GUIDELINES
If a child becomes ill at camp, parents will be notified by telephone and asked to take the child home. If
parents cannot be reached, the emergency number listed by the parent will be called. A child showing any
of the following symptoms may not stay at camp.
1. A fever
2. A skin (impetigo or ringworm) or eye infection (pink eye) that could be transmitted to another person
3. Diarrhea 2 or more times in a 2 hour period
4. Vomiting
5. Scabies, lice or nits.
SAFETY
If your child has any serious medical or behavioral conditions, please discuss them with the Camp
Director prior to the first day of camp.
• If you child needs to take medication during camp hours, please complete the camper’s medical
information form as well as the authorization for dispensing medication form.
• Pool Rules are discussed on the first day of each week. Children who wish to swim in the deep end of
the pool will have to pass a deep water swim test. Children will be retested each week.
• If your child needs to leave early or is missing a day from camp, please leave a message with the Camp
Director.
• Any photos or video tape footage taken of your child are used for Y purposes only. Images will be used
for promotional or educational purposes only. Please make sure that you read the photo release section
of the registration form.
HOT WEATHER POLICY
The Y Summer Day Camps are outdoor based programs. To ensure every child can fully participate in all
outdoor and indoor activities, campers must bring suitable clothing for all types of weather. This includes
sunscreen, hat, sneakers and water bottle.
Due to the nature of sunscreen allergies, the Y staff will not provide sunscreen. Campers will be reminded
by counselors to put sunscreen on prior to an activity outside.
Please make sure your camper(s) have water proof sunscreen (SPF 30+ is recommended) with your child’s
name on the container. It is helpful for parents to apply sunscreen in the morning before camp.
PARENT/CAMPER ORIENTATION
All camps will have an orientation session for parents and campers. These orientation sessions will
help campers get a better feel for camp and will help ease those “first day jitters.” Each orientation will
include a tour of the site, a brief run-through of daily activities, and a short question and answer period.
Fairless Hills; Saturday, April 25, 10am – 2pm
Morrisville Camps: Friday, May 30, 4:30pm – 6:00pm
BCCC/YMCA:
Sun. June 7, 12 pm (Meet at the Tennis Courts)
Holland Camps:
Sun. June 7, 2:30 pm-4:30 pm
WHAT TO BRING
Please LABEL all your child’s belongings.
• Bag lunch
Please bring a bag lunch and a drink (no glass please) marked with your child’s name every day. Please
include an ice pack with your child’s lunch. Refrigeration cannot be provided, so please do not send
perishable items. We will also be unable to heat food. A goal of the Y is to promote good nutrition for
children. Please keep that in mind as you pack your child’s lunch for camp.
• Snacks
Please bring a morning and afternoon snack each day. A water bottle is necessary; we will provide
opportunities all day for refills - please, NO GLASS.
• Backpack
A backpack is the best way to keep track of your child’s belongings. Please label your child’s backpack.
Many bags may look alike. Never send your child with more belongings than what fits into the backpack.
Please do not have any attachments to the backpack that are valuable to your child. These items
sometimes fall off and are lost. We cannot be responsible for these items.
• Sunscreen
Please apply sunscreen to your child before camp each day. We also ask that you send a labeled
sunscreen (SPF 30 - recommended) with your child to camp daily. A staff person will remind campers to
reapply throughout the day.
• Clothing
Please send your child to camp in comfortable, “play” clothing. Children will be doing arts and crafts and
playing sports. Clothes may get soiled. Also all campers will be swimming, so please pack a swimsuit and
towel every day. For Jr. Adventure camp, it would be best to bring in another set of clothes (pants, shirts,
UNDERWEAR). Children should not wear clothing that will restrict activity. Sneakers are required for
camp. Open toe shoes, flip flops, jellies, heels or heely skate shoes are not permitted. Please label
all clothing. All lost and found items are kept for one week and put on display at the sign in/out table.
Please check there often.
WHAT NOT TO BRING
Please do not bring ANY personal items to camp (cell phones, walkmans, I-Pods, skateboards, radios,
game boys, Pokémon, water guns, sharp objects, video games, electronic devices, etc.) We are not
responsible for lost or stolen items.
YOUR COMMENTS
We look forward to providing your child with the highest quality day camp experience. Your comments
and suggestions are important to us, as we work to exceed your expectations. Please contact the Camp
Director at any time to share your feedback.