Camp Frontier Summer 2014 WELCOME here to support you and your family. At Camp Frontier and Kinder Camp at Camp Frontier, we are excited for the opportunity to spend time and grow with your child this summer. We have a lot of fun activities planned and can’t wait to see your child make strong friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. We trust your child will have an incredible summer with the Y at Camp Frontier, and we will work diligently to ensure that he or she has the opportunity to learn, grow, and play each and every day. We hope this welcome packet will answer many of your questions, but it is difficult for us anticipate each and every individual situation or concern. Please reach out to me by phone or email—I am KINDER CAMP Kinder Camp at Camp Frontier is our halfday specialty camp for children ages three to rising Kindergarten. It runs from 9:00 am -1:00 pm, and it is based out of the Lower Clubhouse. Kinder Camp’s focus is on fun and engagement by participating in relationship and character building activities. These campers enjoy Swimming, Arts & Crafts, and free-play Activities every morning! Kinder Campers work on Art Projects throughout the week, including: selfportraits, finger painting, and coloring. These projects will be displayed on the wall throughout the week, and you are welcome to take them home with you on Friday. Campers swim in our adult sized pool with life jackets, and our hope is for campers to become more comfortable in the water. Here’s to an unforgettable summer at the Y! Dylan Stoneham Camp Frontier Director [email protected] (919)308-7360 (Office) (919)268-1379 (Cell) SWIMMING To ensure water safety, campers will take a swim assessment their first Monday of camp. Earning a swim band allows a child to swim anywhere in the pool (goggles are allowed to be worn during the test). The swim band is earned by freestyle swimming the entire length of the pool and treading water for 30 seconds. The life guards will administer all swim assessments. If a life guard does not feel like a child is a strong enough swimmer to receive a swim band, then the life guard will encourage the child to keep practicing and try again at a later date. Children who do not receive a band will need to stay less than chest deep in the water or wear a life jacket. All counselors will swim with their campers, and they will be happy to assist children with their swim strokes when possible. Please make sure that your child’s bathing suit is lined. Hope Valley Farms YMCA / 5818 S. Roxboro Street / Durham, NC 27713 / (919) 308-7360 / www.YMCATriangle.org CAMP FRONTIER / SUMMER 2014 DAILY SCHEDULE Each day has a few variations based on what is happening around camp. Please do not hesitate to contact us for specific information about your child’s group (this is a tentative summer schedule, this is subject to change). 7:30-9:00 Rides In – At the Lower Clubhouse, there will be quiet games and open programming. 9:00-9:15 – Flagpole 9:15-9:45 Assembly – Camp comes together to sing, dance, and get pumped for the day. 9:30-10:00 Snack—Yum! 10:00-10:15 Activity Assembly – Your child will be given activity choices for the morning, and they will have the opportunity to choose the activities they are interested in participating in. 10:15-11:45 Morning Activity – Your child will participate in the traditional camp activities of their choice. These include but are not limited to: Field Games, Dodgeball, Arts & Crafts, Archery, Team Building, Cheer & Dance, Yard Games, and Nature. 11:45-12:00 Lunch Assembly – We will sing praise songs and bless our food. 12:00-12:30 Lunch – This is a great time for kids to enjoy their lunch and talk with their friends. We will typically eat picnic style under the tent. 12:30-4:30 The camp schedule varies by huddle in the afternoon. Each huddle plays one or two more activities, has choice activities/clinics with their camp, eats snack, and has devotion/bead time. 4:30-5:00 Closing Assembly – We reflect on the day and award campers with outstanding character. 5:00-6:00 Rides Out – Campers have free play until their ride comes! CHARACTER TRAITS, BEADS, AND DEVOTION Camp Frontier is about more than just fun. We focus on building up campers in spirit, mind, and body. Frontier focuses on 5 core character traits: Respect, Responsibility, Caring, Honesty, and Faith in God. On the first day of camp, campers are given a necklace (please keep your necklace all summer). Throughout the week, counselors will give out beads for displaying the above character traits. We also have beads for other things (special events, clinics, sportsmanship, spirit, Camper of the Week, and more). As campers earn beads on their necklace, it’s a great way to engage in conversation about what they have done right. Beads are never taken away. Devotion time is set aside each day, and huddles connect and talk about how character is used in everyday life. Counselors often read poems or tell personal stories. Sometimes campers lead the lesson. Devotion is a great time for campers to connect on a spiritual level, instead of just playing games. Wacky Wednesday Each week’s theme is celebrated on Wednesday. The whole camp dresses up and participates in an activity together. On these days, we encourage campers and counselors alike to dress up in celebration of the theme! Funky Friday On Friday, the entire camp will come together to participate in a camp-wide activity that embodies the theme of the week. We encourage campers to come ready to make some new friends and step out of their comfort zone! FAMILY NIGHT Family Nights are a great chance to see camp from your child’s eyes, meet their friends, and spend time together. Activities vary from week to week, but may include a pool party, talent show, slide show, and more. Come out and have fun with your child’s new friends and huddle counselors! Hope Valley Farms YMCA / 5818 S. Roxboro Street/ Durham, NC 27713 / (919) 308-7360 / www.YMCATriangle.org CAMP FRONTIER / SUMMER 2014 CAMP FRONTIER BASICS The information below applies to all Camp Frontier campers for all weeks. As mentioned, a weekly newsletter will provide additional information about what to expect at camp. CONTACT INFORMATION Camp Frontier’s Office Camp Frontier’s office is inside the Lower Clubhouse (beside the tennis courts). You can call the office cell phone between 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. at (919) 3087360. Dylan Stoneham Camp Frontier Director [email protected] Camp Cell: (919) 268-1379 WHAT TO BRING EVERY DAY A healthy lunch A re-fillable water bottle 2 healthy snacks Bathing suit and towel Sunscreen and hat Bug spray A bag/book bag to keep all of your stuff in Wear clothes and closed toed shoes that you can be active in and that can get dirty PICK UP CARDS Pick-up cards serve as official passes to pick up your children. The YMCA can issue a pick up card to names appearing on the authorized pick-up section of the registration form when a photo ID is shown. Many parents leave these cards in their front window for ease of pick-up in the Rides Out line. The pick-up card color changes each summer and parents must show photo ID to receive a new card. Please be careful with your pick-up cards. Again, pick-up cards serve as official passes to pick up your children. A pick-up card is checked in place of ID, so do not give a pick-up card to anyone unauthorized to pick up the child. HOURS Camp runs from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can drop off or pick up any time that we are open. LOCATION Camp Frontier operates at the Hope Valley Farms YMCA; 4818 S. Roxboro St. Durham, NC 27713. Rides In and rides out takes place at the Lower Clubhouse (next to the tennis courts). Campers that are dropped off late or picked up early will need to be signed in or out at the Camp Office. DROP OFF/PICK UP Camp runs from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can drop off or pick up any time that we are open. For pick up, a photo ID or pick up card is required. If you would like for someone else to pick up your child who is not on your pick-up list, please send written permission (give it to the counselor at Rides In) or call the office at 919-815-7596. During our most popular pick up and drop off times, we will have counselors waiting at the curb to unload or load your children and answer any questions you may have. This process is called Rides In and Rides Out. Rides In lasts from 7:30 until 9 a.m. You can drop your child off at the Lower Clubhouse (next to the tennis courts). Between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., drop off and pick up is at the Camp Office in the Lower Clubhouse. Please call the camp cell phone before your arrival so that a staff member may meet you. Rides Out runs from 5-6 p.m. Please drive to the Lower Clubhouse for rides out. Camp closes at 6 p.m. If you pick up your child after 6 p.m., there is a fee of $5.00 for the first 10 minutes and $1.00 for every minute thereafter. If you are going to be late, please call the Frontier office at 919-815-7596 and leave a message. At 6 p.m. we will check for messages or begin to call parents to confirm that someone is on the way. Hope Valley Farms YMCA / 5818 S. Roxboro Street/ Durham, NC 27713 / (919) 308-7360 / www.YMCATriangle.org CAMP FRONTIER / SUMMER 2014 CAMP FRONTIER BASICS, CONTINUED The information below applies to all campers for all Camp Frontier weeks. As mentioned earlier, a weekly newsletter will provide additional information about what to expect at camp. STAFF Our counselors at the YMCA are mostly high school and college students selected through a comprehensive application and interview process. Each counselor undergoes three reference checks and all counselors over the age of 18 undergo a background check as well. Each staff member completes a minimum of 30 hours of staff training that emphasizes the importance of safety, fun, and acting as a good role model. All staff are First Aid certified and Leadership Staff are trained in CPR. The YMCA strives to maintain a 1:12 ratio for all elementary and teen programs. THEMES Camp Frontier focuses on fun and engagement! Each week has an overall camp theme as listed below. The games and activities of the week will reflect these teams. Campers are encouraged to dress up on Wednesday mornings to celebrate the theme. Celebrity Week June 16-20 Pirate Week DISCIPLINE The Behavior Expectations and Discipline Policy is listed on the Youth Information Form. If you have specific concerns regarding your child or have systems in place to modify behavior, please let us know. We will keep you aware of any concerns we have. While we hope to promote positive behavior and minimize behavioral problems, serious and/or chronic disciplinary problems can occur. In these cases, suspension or expulsion may be necessary. The YMCA maintains a zero-tolerance policy with respect to sexual misconduct, alcohol/tobacco/drug use, and weapons possession. Campers found in violation of this rule will be sent home immediately. If your child is suspended from one YMCA program, he/she will not be allowed to attend any YMCA program for the duration of the suspension. YMCA YOUTH RULES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Safety First. Listen and follow directions. Try everything and do your best. Do what’s right. Have fun. June 23-27 Stars and Stripes Week June 30– July 3 (No Camp July 4) Wild, Wild West Week July 7-11 Messy Art Week July 14-18 Holiday Week July 21-25 Beach Blast Week July 28– August 1 Boys vs. Girls Week August 4-8 Jungle Week August 11-15 Super Hero Week LOST AND FOUND Lost and Found is collected daily and will be placed in the Assembly area. We will go through Lost and Found every day at afternoon assembly; however, we encourage you to come look for your child’s missing belongings as well. CHARACTER TRAITS The YMCA emphasizes five core character traits in everything they do. Caring (red) Honesty (blue) Responsibility (green) Respect (yellow) Faith in God (purple) August 18-22 Hope Valley Farms YMCA / 5818 S. Roxboro Street/ Durham, NC 27713 / (919) 308-7360 / www.YMCATriangle.org CAMP FRONTIER / SUMMER 2014 CAMP FRONTIER POLICIES The information below applies to all campers for all Camp Frontier weeks. As mentioned earlier, a weekly newsletter will provide additional information about what to expect at camp . ATTENDANCE Because parents are responsible for dropping off and picking up their campers, it is not necessary to let us know your child will be absent. That said, if your camper is absent for a reason we need to be aware of, please call us! We may also call you if your camper is gone for several days in a row—we care about our families! MEDICATION/SUNSCREEN If your child needs medication throughout the day, it must be stored in the office with a medication form (available in office). Over the counter medication and prescriptions must come in original containers. Sunscreen can be kept with a camper unless help with application is needed, at which point it’s treated like medication (we are only allowed to help apply spray sunscreen). PARENT VISITS We love having parents at camp and know it’s tempting to spend the entire day playing with us! When you arrive at camp, please report to the office to receive a visitors tag and be escorted to your child’s group. Parents also must sign out before leaving. INCLEMENT WEATHER Camp Frontier will run rain or shine unless the Durham County Public School System is delayed or closed based on weather. If DCPSS is delayed, Frontier will open with the same delay (if DCPSS is delayed 2 hours, Frontier will open at 9:30). If DCPSS is closed, Frontier will also be closed. If DCPSS is closed for an extended period of time, the YMCA will make every effort to re-open camp as weather and facilities permit. Parents can check the YMCA website or call the YMCA at 919-667-9622. In the case of inclement weather during the camp day (thunder, lightning), inclement weather signs will be placed outside of the office and rides in/out circles. For the safety of the children and staff, guardians must park and bring their photo ID or pick-up card inside the main building to drop off or pick up their children. A counselor will be inside both the front and back doors of the main building to assist you with drop off or pick up. HEAT SAFETY Since Camp Frontier is based outside, we take several precautions to help with the heat. Water coolers are placed around camp and replenished throughout the day. We also rotate campers through our indoor gym and multipurpose rooms. We ask for your help ensuring your child has sunscreen for the day. On days with extreme heat, we will modify our activity schedule to keep kids as cool as possible. ILLNESSES/EMERGENCIES If a camper becomes ill during camp and is unable to participate in activities, the guardian will be notified. If a camper is hurt, a member of the staff or an authorized person will administer immediate first aid. If the situation should require immediate medical attention, the program director or a member of the staff will attempt to contact and inform the guardian as soon as possible. In the event that the guardian cannot be reached, the emergency contacts will be called. The program director or another staff member will call the designated physician or local emergency unit for treatment and/or transportation to a hospital. A staff member will accompany the camper to the hospital and stay until the guardian arrives and signs the camper into his/her custody. HOTLINE If you do not feel comfortable speaking with a staff member or have a concern of a confidential matter, please call 719-9690 ext. 9500 and leave a message. Someone will return your call promptly. MISSION To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Hope Valley Farms YMCA / 5818 S. Roxboro Street/ Durham, NC 27713 / (919) 308-7360 / www.YMCATriangle.org
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