CAMP ECHO FAMILY HANDBOOK
YOUTH CAMP EDITION!
This handbook serves to be a resource for families as they prepare to send a camper to Camp Echo. In addition to valuable preparation info, this handbook also has helpful tips and strategies for your camper’s time at camp. Please review it thoroughly and refer back to it for answers to many frequently asked questions!
Each summer, we implement the best new practices from the camping industry while continuing to incorporate long-standing practices that align with our mission and vision. As we make decisions about programming to better serve our campers and their families, we always reflect on our values and goals.
CORE VALUES: Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility.
GOALS:
SAFETY (Know the Expectations, Feel Secure, Ask for Help)
The foundation of any positive camp experience starts with feeling safe in the camp environment. We strive to communicate community expectations in advance and upon arrival to help campers feel secure while also knowing who they can ask for help at any time.
COMMUNITY (Inclusion, Make New Friends, Give Back)
Together, campers and staff have the power to support each other in developing a deep sense of belonging for all who come to camp. We ask campers to join our staff in working to include all campers and support each other in making new friends. Everyone at camp has a responsibility to care for the space and there are opportunities to further strengthen camp by giving back, from beautifying the land to performing acts of kindness for others.
PERSONAL GROWTH (Develop Strong Character, Strengthen Self-Confidence, Build Leadership Skills) Character is built through emphasis on Camp Echo’s core values. Campers become more confident through overcoming challenges with the support of other campers and staff, who will nurture their existing passions while pushing them to try new things. As campers gain confidence and experience, they are given opportunities to explore their own leadership. For many campers, this growth naturally transitions into staff roles at camp!
AND HAVE FUN!
Fun comes in many forms at Camp Echo. Fun can be silly jokes, wacky outfits, and songs at campfires. Fun can also be the product of overcoming challenges, working together, acquiring a new skill, or making a new friend. Fun is all around us at camp and fun is more fun together.
PARTNERING WITH FAMILIES
The pathway to camper success at Camp Echo begins long before campers arrive at Camp Echo and even before they begin packing their bags. Camp Echo staff rely on the families of campers to guide campers along the early stages of preparing for camp to maximize the likelihood of a positive camp experience, especially for campers attending for the first time. The following pathway helps illustrate how Camp Echo strives to partner with families along the camp journey:
Ensure Camper Readiness
Families often ask how to know if their camper is ready for camp. The most important factor in camper readiness is a desire to attend camp. Do not force a camper to attend camp It is natural for campers to be nervous about leaving home and appropriate to push them out of their comfort zone if they are excited about the experience more broadly. Our team is always ready to discuss questions of readiness if families have questions.
Communicate Needs and Support on Forms
Families know their child best and what they need to be successful day to day. Supports and strategies for helping a child thrive at home or at school are VERY helpful at camp too. The more information shared prior to arrival, the better staff can adapt and plan to meet the needs of the campers we will be serving.
Collaborate on Challenges at Camp
Camp is a challenging space, by design, to help campers grow. There are expected challenges like missing home or learning new skills. Though relatively infrequent, it is not uncommon for campers to experience homesickness (debilitating case of missing home), interpersonal conflict, or difficulty adjusting to camp.
Camp Echo staff will reach out to parents when challenges arise to communicate the challenges and seek input into how to support the camper if our initial attempts prove to be ineffective. (See handbook section on COMMUNICATION AT CAMP for more details.)
Celebrate Successes!
The successes at camp far outnumber the challenges! We love to let families know when their campers have had success at camp, however success is defined for that camper: overcoming a fear of jumping in the lake, coping effectively with the feeling of missing home, hitting the target at archery, making a new friend, or asking for help when something isn’t going well.
Feedback from Families
There are SO many successes to celebrate and sometimes we don’t see the impact until campers get home. We also appreciate it when families relay the successes back to our team just as we love getting constructive feedback of where we can improve.
In other words, we are better together!
PRE-CAMP TIMELINE
ROLLING: Camper registration. Though some campers register 6-9 months in advance of camp, there are often registrations right up until the week of camp!
MAY 1st: All camper forms are due!
MAY 15th: Program payment is due!
1-2 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR CAMPER GOES TO CAMP
- Label all your camper’s clothing and equipment with first and last name.
- Place highly visible name tags on your camper’s luggage with first and last name.
- Notify us via email of any significant social emotional events or changes that could change how your camper navigates camp. Our team will set up a phone call to discuss how best to support your camper.
- Update Scheduled Medication Form with any changes to medication since forms were completed and ensure you have enough medications in original packaging for your camper’s entire stay at camp.
- Update Transportation Form if your plans have changed.
THE WEEK BEFORE DEPARTURE
- Check-in scheduled medications. Pre-departure medication check-ins are scheduled at the McGaw YMCA leading up to departure day. Please utilize these check-in opportunities to ensure a smooth process and ease the stress of departure day so that you can stay focused on your camper.
- Ensure your camper is healthy. Campers are not permitted to start their camp session with a known fever or symptoms of a communicable illness. For everyone’s safety, we ask that campers who are sick stay home until their symptoms improve, they are beyond the period of contagiousness, and (if applicable) are fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication.
- Review your expectations with your camper. Remind your camper of your expectations with regard to writing letters home and how they budget their Trading Post account.
- Check camper’s tech. Campers are not permitted to have phones or other electronic devices at camp. Please make sure your camper’s devices are left at home.
- Get excited! Your camper is embarking on a great adventure. Thank you for doing so much to help set your camper up for success at camp!
WHILE YOUR CAMPER IS AT CAMP
- Utilize CampInTouch for news from camp, to send your camper electronic letters (that we print out on paper), and to see photos from camp.
- Write letters to find out what your camper is doing at camp. Ask them what activities they are doing and what their Miracle Moments (daily highlights) are. Even though campers are sometimes slow to reply, they always love hearing from family.
- Call us if you have any concerns. Our team responds to parent concerns as quickly as possible. Note that you should call our camp office in Fremont, not Evanston, with questions or concerns while your camper is at camp: 231-924-7076.
- Check CampInTouch for transportation details at the end of the session. We will post estimated arrival times for our buses as they travel back to Evanston based on evolving traffic patterns or delays.
PREPARING TO PACK FOR CAMP
You can find a detailed packing list for your camper’s program in the Forms and Documents Dashboard in CampInTouch. A few tips and suggestions are below.
Pack in a Duffle Bag
While you are welcome to pack belongings in anything that works for your camper, most campers pack their belongings in a simple duffle bag for the trip to camp. Bags with wheels are fine, though they don’t help much on camp’s gravel, woodchip, or grassy paths.
Bring Layers for Different Weather
Even in the middle of summer, the weather is often quite varied at camp. There are often cool evenings and mornings giving way to hot afternoons. It is best to pack a variety of layers that can be combined for different weather, including rain.
Sleeping Bags, Bedding, And Pillows
Each bed at Echo has a 74” long, 5” thick, 30-36” wide foam mattress. Camp Echo does NOT provide any additional bedding or pillows. It is recommended that campers bring a fitted sheet for their mattress, a sleeping bag, and a pillow with pillowcase. An additional top sheet or blanket is optional.
Wilderness and Adventure Trip campers need sleeping bags made of synthetic materials that are lightweight and compressible for their off-camp adventures (see specific program packing lists for more information).
Footwear
Good footwear is critical at camp as we are up and on our feet all day long! Campers are required to wear shoes at nearly all times outside of our aquatic areas. Also, campers must wear closed-toe shoes (such as sneakers/running shoes/boots) when playing sports, hiking in the woods, or performing specialty activities like horseback riding or biking. Pack at least one pair of good closed-toed shoes. A second pair is recommended in the event that one pair gets wet.
Many campers also like to bring a pair of secure sandals or water shoes, such as Chacos, Keens, Crocs, or Tevas for casual wear when appropriate For safety reasons, flip-flops and slides are not recommended for day-to-day use and should only be used for showering.
Laundry
Laundry service is not available at camp for campers during sessions. Campers who stay for layover between sessions have their laundry sent to a local laundromat over the weekend between sessions.
If there is an urgent need, such as soiled bedding, camp counselors will discreetly support campers in getting items washed. Camp has a variety of supplies to provide campers while items are being laundered.
Do Not Bring to Camp
• Telephones or any electronic devices that have screens or connect to the internet
• Money, jewelry, or valuables that could be lost (camp is not responsible for lost or damaged items)
• Food (except for a nut-free lunch and snacks for the bus ride to camp)
• Replica/toy weapons, such as water or Nerf guns
• Sports equipment (camp has plenty and we don’t want personal equipment to get lost)
COMMUNICATION AT CAMP
As part of our partnership with families, we welcome the opportunity to talk with camper parents before and during your child’s experience at camp.
Office Hours
Our phone number at camp is 231-824-7076. Please call this number for anything related to what is happening at camp. The best time to call camp is between 8:30 AM ET to 6:00 PM ET. Calls are promptly answered or returned during that time. Outside of those hours, leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.
Emails to echoinfo@mcgawymca.org will also be responded to as quickly as possible during the same hours.
Telephone
We do not recommend campers speak with their family at home in most circumstances, as speaking with family can exacerbate feelings of missing home. Exceptions could include an emergency at home that needs to be communicated or a camper incident, injury, or illness at camp. In this event, camp staff will initiate communication with parents.
Parents are welcome to call the camp office with any concerns while their camper is at camp and staff can check-in with campers about those concerns as appropriate. If a parent/guardian calls and requests to speak with their camper for a non-emergency situation, or a camper requests to speak with their parent/guardian, camp staff will request to facilitate communication without direct contact first. However, if there is an urgent safety concern or a private matter that must be discussed, camp staff will arrange for a private conversation between the camper and parent/guardian.
Camp Visits
Camp Echo does not facilitate visits for families of campers during sessions. Families are welcome to visit camp on the first and last day of session as part of camper drop-off or pick-up. Additionally, families are welcome to visit campers who are staying over layover between sessions and should coordinate visit with camp staff to avoid times when layover campers are on a field trip.
US Postal Letters
Writing and receiving letters is a wonderful part of the camp experience. Camp Echo picks up and drops off mail at the US Postal Office in Fremont, MI every day. Mail from the Evanston area takes 3-4 days to reach camp. For 1-week campers, it is recommended that a letter is sent Thursday or Friday before the camper arrives to ensure the letter arrives while they are at camp. It can be helpful for campers to have pre-addressed and pre-stamped envelopes if they will be mailing letters home while at camp.
Camp Echo Mailing Address (for letters and packages)
[Camper First and Last Name]
[Cabin name or program*]
McGaw YMCA Camp Echo
3782 S Triangle Trail Fremont, MI 49412
*Cabin/program name is not required but is helpful for our team sorting mail. Cabin assignments are posted to CampInTouch in the evening of arrival day and are not expected to be included on mail or packages sent before the start of a session.
Packages
Campers are allowed to receive packages while at camp. All packages sent to camp are opened by camp staff with the receiving camper to ensure items sent are allowed at camp. Please follow these recommendations when sending a package to camp:
- Limit packages to one per week per camper to help camper stay focused on what is happening at camp.
- Consider sending items that can be shared by the other campers in the cabin.
- Avoid sending forgotten personal items via Amazon or similar direct shipment services. Camp staff can often provide these items or they can be borrowed from cabinmates, which helps build resiliency and problem-solving in campers. Additionally, receiving packages of this nature can take away from the feeling of being at camp.
- Campers are NOT allowed to receive any edible items (including food, drinks, gum, or candy). Any edible items sent to camp will be disposed of by staff.
- Camp Echo is NOT responsible for the safe receipt/delivery of packages. Packages are sometimes delivered to the wrong address, and it is the responsibility of the sender to determine what has happened to the package.
- Any health items should be sent directly to the Camp Echo Health Center.
eLetters and Camp Replies via CampInTouch
The easiest way to write to your camper is through CampInTouch. Use CampStamps to send eLetters to your camper and request a handwritten reply by checking the appropriate box when sending a your eLetter.
Every family receives five CampStamps per enrolled camper and program. Each eLetter uses one campstamp and each reply also uses one campstamp.
Set expectations with your camper about how often you expect them to write home. The most common parent phone call during the first week of a session is, “I’ve sent my camper several reply forms and they still haven’t written.” When we follow up with the camper, they tell us they’re too busy having fun!
GETTING TO/FROM CAMP
ARRIVING AT CAMP FOR START OF SESSION
TAKING THE BUS
Most Camp Echo campers ride the bus to and from camp. The buses depart from the McGaw Y (1000 Grove St. Evanston, IL 60201). We will be sending detailed pre-session information in the week before the session, but plan to be at the Y at 8:00 AM for Sunday and Monday session starts. For Saturday session starts (Sessions 2B and 3B) plan to be at the Y by 12:00 PM NOON and check the status of the buses arriving from camp in case there’s any change.
• Campers will be assigned to buses by age before the session. Changes can be requested for siblings to ride together after the initial assignments are sent out with pre-session information. Each bus has multiple Camp Echo staff to supervise the trip.
• Families should arrive at the designated time to allow for ample loading time.
• It can be a very crowded scene, so please do NOT bring pets.
• Campers should locate the check-in station for their assigned bus, check-in with their bus captain, deliver their luggage, and pick up their bus passes.
• Luggage should be clearly labeled with the camper’s name on the outside. We will have luggage tags available if you need them.
• Campers should pack a nut-free sack lunch for the bus ride. No peanuts or tree nuts are allowed on the bus.
If you have any last-minute errands, please bring your camper to the Y and check-in before you leave to pick up their lunch or other forgotten items. If they're not checked in and boarding by 8:30 (Sunday or Monday) or by 12:30 (Saturday), staff need to try to track them down.
Buses are expected to arrive at Camp around 2:30 PM for Sunday/Monday session starts and 6:00 PM for Saturday session starts. Arrival is posted on CampInTouch News
DROPPING CAMPER OFF AT CAMP ECHO BY CAR
Some families choose to drop their camper off because it is more convenient for their travel plans and home location or because the family wants to see camp.
• We ask families to arrive 30 minutes prior to the scheduled bus arrival at camp to avoid traffic jams on our small camp road. Please arrive at 2:00 PM ET for Sunday/Monday session starts and 5:30 PM ET for Saturday session starts.
• Use camp address 3782 S. Triangle Trail, Fremont, MI 49412 and follow camp’s gravel road approximately one-half mile to our meadow, where you will park and check-in.
• If you would like to tour camp with your camper before the buses arrive, you may arrive at 1:00 PM ET for Sunday/Monday starts and 4:30 PM ET for Saturday starts.
• Camp Echo staff will check in campers, and any medications they are bringing, as they arrive and provide visitor badges for parents while they wait for the buses.
• Parents may stay with their campers until the buses arrive and must depart once buses arrive so that campers can focus on fully integrating into the programs.
• Should your drop-off time change, or you get lost, please call our office at 231-9247076.
DEPARTING CAMP AT END OF SESSION
TAKING THE BUS
Similar to the start of the session, most campers take the bus home at the end of the session. Campers are assigned to ride buses with their cabin/program and are provided a sack lunch for the trip.
• Friday end of session buses depart Camp Echo at 10:15 AM ET and are estimated to arrive at the McGaw YMCA around 2:30 PM CT.
• Saturday end of session buses (Sessions 2A and 3A) depart Camp Echo at 8:00 AM ET and are estimated to arrive at the McGaw YMCA around 12:00 PM Noon CT.
• Bus progress is posted to CampInTouch News so that families can plan their arrival at the McGaw YMCA accordingly.
• Parents/Guardians should arrive at McGaw YMCA 30 minutes prior to scheduled arrival to check-in with Photo ID. Campers will not be released from their bus until parents/guardians have checked in.
• If parents/guardians will not be picking up their campers, the adult picking them up must be authorized to pick them up via advanced email to echoinfo@mcgawymca.org.
• Please take your time to double-check that all personal items and luggage have been collected before departing with your camper. We often have a great deal of lost and found after families leave.
• It can be a very crowded scene, so please do NOT bring pets.
PICKING UP CAMPER AT CAMP ECHO BY CAR
Some families choose to pick up their camper because it is more convenient for their travel plans and home location or because the family wants to see camp.
• Use camp address 3782 S. Triangle Trail, Fremont, MI 49412 and follow camp’s gravel road approximately one-half mile to our meadow, where you will park and check-in.
• We ask that families arrive 30 minutes prior to the scheduled bus departure from camp (see bus details for departure times). For the safety of all campers, families must wait by their cars unless accompanied by staff.
• Should your pickup time change, or you get lost, please call our office at 231-924-7076.
• Camp Echo staff will check parent/guardian photo ID before releasing campers. If adults wish to tour camp with their camper, they will need a visitor badge and might need to be escorted by staff based on program status.
• If you would like to tour camp with your camper, this can be done AFTER the buses depart.
AT CAMP
CABINMATE REQUESTS & ASSIGNMENTS
To enhance the camp experience for everyone at camp, and in alignment with our goal to help campers form new friendships at all stages of the camp experience, we honor mutual friend requests for groups of 2-3 campers (one camper may request 1-2 other campers).
Cabinmate requests are made via CampInTouch. For groups of more than three campers, it is helpful to set the expectation with campers that they may not be together in the same cabin but there are many opportunities for campers in different cabins to spend time together at camp.
The cabinmate request form also allows for sharing of additional information that might be helpful for our team to consider when assigning cabins. If there are any dis-requests (campers not to be placed with), we will take this into consideration, and it may take precedent over the camper’s other requests.
Cabin assignments are NOT shared in advance. They are announced when the campers arrive and are posted to CampInTouch later in the day.
CABIN STAFFING
The assignment of staff and campers to cabins is done with great intention at Camp Echo.
In Traditional Camp, boy-identifying and girl-identifying cabins have at least one counselor assigned who has the same gender identity as the campers in that cabin. Additional counselors assigned to gender-specific cabins often, but not always, have the same gender identity as campers in that cabin. All-gender Traditional Camp cabins will have multiple counselors who have different gender identities. Each cabin group will create cabin expectations/norms to ensure everyone feels safe and included.
In Teen & Adventure Trip programs, staff are assigned based on specific required skills and experience. Gender alignment with campers is prioritized when staffing from the pool of potential teen staff and adventure trip guides but alignment is not always possible.
DAILY SCHEDULE
Here is the schedule for a typical day in Traditional Camp. Changes to the daily schedule are sometimes made during the summer in alignment with camp’s goals.
7:45 AM Wakeup Bell
8:00 AM Flag Raising & Morning Reflection
8:30 AM Breakfast
9:30 AM Cabin Cleanup
10:00 AM Camptivity #1
11:00 AM Camptivity #2
12:00 PM Camptivity #3
1:00 PM Lunch
2:00 PM Saska
3:00 PM Service Task
3:15 PM Cabin Group
4:15 PM Snacks
4:30 PM Fun Swim
5:30 PM Flag Lowering & Cabin Time
6:00 P Waiter Bell
6:15 PM Dinner
7:15 PM Twilight Fun
8:00 PM Evening Program
9:00 PM Clinic, Evening Routine
10:00 PM Lights Out
Saska is the early afternoon rest time when campers have quiet time in the cabin to nap, read, write letters home or do other restful activities.
There are three Camptivity periods every day. Camptivities are camp activities that campers do daily with other campers who have requested the same activity/ies. During Sessions 1 & 6, these activities are done with campers’ cabin groups.
Cabin Group is a time for campers to experience a part of camp, or program area, with their cabinmates.
Fun Swim is a free choice time when campers can choose to try any open activity area.
Twilight Fun is a time with peninsula games available and an opportunity to get an evening snack from the Trading Post.
Evening Program is an all-camp activity, such as a scavenger hunt, skit night, or campfire.
WATER ACTIVITIES, SWIM EVALUATION, & AQUATIC SAFETY
SWIM EVALUATION
Camp Echo has many aquatic activities. In accordance with licensing and accreditation standards, campers must display varying levels of swimming proficiency to safely participate in aquatic activities. Participants are required to do the swim evaluation each summer.
Camp Echo’s swim levels are red, white, and blue. They are determined as follows:
Red: Default swim level for campers and for those who do not complete white or blue standards
White: Swim 4 lengths of a recognizable stroke in our 40-yard swim lane, totaling 160 yards; jump into deep water; tread water for 1 minute; and then float or tread for 9 minutes.
Blue: Swim 6 lengths of a recognizable stroke in our 40-yard swim lane, totaling 240 yards; jump into deep water; tread water for 1 minute; and then float or tread for 9 minutes.
Campers who attend multiple sessions of camp in the same summer can carryover their swim level from one session to the next. The swim evaluation is often one of the first things campers do upon arrival and is a great way to, quite literally, dive into camp.
The swim evaluation can be physically or emotionally challenging for some campers because of its rigor, or because they're swimming in a lake with seaweed and fish! Staff support campers in challenging themselves while making sure they don’t push themselves too far
WATER ACTIVITY OPTIONS & SWIM LEVELS
Campers can participate in aquatic activities as follows, based on swim levels. Camp Echo regularly reviews aquatic safety protocols in an effort to provide as many safe opportunities as possible.
Canoeing: All campers may participate in canoeing, regardless of swim color. Youth campers who are red swimmers must be joined by an adult in the canoe. This also applies to Camp Echo’s Big Canoes, also known as War Canoes, which can hold approximately 8-12 people.
Paddleboarding, Kayaking, and Corcling: Campers must be white or blue swimmers to do these activities.
Sailing: Campers must be white or blue swimmers to sail.
Swimming: Our swimming area is divided into three swimming areas: red is the shallowest (03 feet deep), white is the intermediate (4-6 feet deep), and blue is the deepest, (6-12+ feet deep). Red swimmers may use the red area without a personal floatation device (PFD) or the white and blue areas with a PFD. White and blue swimmers may swim in any of the swimming areas without a PFD (though it can also be fun to wear one!).
Tubing, Waterskiing, and Wakeboarding: Campers must be white or blue swimmers to do these activities.
PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES (PFDS, AKA LIFEJACKETS)
All campers and staff must wear appropriately fitting U.S. Coast Guard approved PFDs when participating in any of our watersports outside of our swimming area: canoeing, corcling, kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, tubing, wakeboarding, and waterskiing. Additionally, PFDs must be worn when aboard any ski boats or pontoon boats.
CHECKING IN & OUT OF AQUATIC AREAS
To ensure that all campers are safe and accounted for, campers are required to check-in and check-out of aquatic areas. Checking in and out means waiting for a staff member to verbally tell you that you are checked in or out.
At the Swimming Area, every camper has a magnetic swim tag (also known as a buddy tag) that is the same color as their swim level. They move the tag, as a staff member observes, from one side of the buddy board when they check in and then back to the other side when they check out. This practice allows staff to quickly check that all swimmers in the area are accounted for. At other aquatic areas, staff will keep a list of campers checked into the area at any given time.
LAND ACTIVITIES
In addition to our aquatic areas, Camp Echo offers a wide range of land activities throughout the summer!
Arts & Crafts
Horseback Riding (Ring Rides & Open Barn)*
Archery Nature Hikes
Biking Fire building
Dance & Drama
Fishing
Sports (Softball, Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball)
Camp games (Gaga, Carpetball, 9-Square)
High Ropes and Climbing Wall AND MORE!
LAND ACTIVITY NOTES
High Ropes & Climbing Wall: Must be 12 years old to participate in high ropes or climbing wall activities. (Note: there is a traversing/bouldering wall available for campers of all ages)
Horses: We try to give all campers a horse experience of some kind with their cabin group, such as paint a pony, grooming, or a ring ride. There are also opportunities during some free choice times for campers to visit the barn to spend time with the horses.
Horseback Riding Lessons are available as an advanced sign-up opportunity for campers in Traditional Camp, Trailblazers, Explorers, and Voyagers at Outpost during Sessions 2, 3, 4 and 5. Campers who sign up for lessons will spend approximately 4 hours with horses during one week, learning to care for, groom, tack, and ride the horses.
HOUSING
Housing varies based on program at Camp Echo. Descriptions of cabins and their most common programmatic uses are outlined below
General cabin notes:
- All cabins at Camp Echo have electricity.
- No cabins at Camp Echo have bathrooms (we utilize centrally located bathhouses that we call KYBOs).
- All cabins have box fans and operable windows to provide ventilation. 12-bed cabins are also equipped with ceiling attic fans.
- All cabins have shelving between beds for campers to use for storage of personal items.
- All cabins have a private changing tent.
TRADITIONAL CAMP AND SOME TEEN PROGRAMS
12-bed Cabins: The classic Camp Echo cabin, many of these cabins were originally built in the 1960s and have been updated many times since. Cabins have concrete slab floors (which stay nice and cool in the summer), finished interiors with 5 bunk beds (10 total beds), and a small cubby for the two counselors sleeping in the cabin. These cabins have a screened in back porch.
8-bed Cabins: More recently built, these cabins have three bunk beds (6 total beds) for campers and a cubby for the two counselors sleeping in the cabin. These cabins have carpet floors and a screened in front porch.
WILDERNESS HOUSING
Yurts: The Outpost wilderness site, most commonly home to rising 9th grade Voyagers, has two 12-bed yurts. Yurts are round canvas structures that provide a slightly more rustic experience. There is limited solar electricity for minimal lighting. There are 5 bunk beds (10 total beds), a counselor cubby, and an open center space for community gathering.
Platform Tents: The Birches wilderness site, home to rising 10th & 11th grade Voyagers, has six platform tents that can sleep up to 3 people each. These are primitive tents with no electricity. Four of the tents are used by campers and two are used by staff. Campers have beds and mattresses in their tents, with limited additional storage. The Birches site has an outhouse and a hand-pump for running water.
Backpacking Tents: Adventure Trip participants stay in lightweight backpacking tents while they are away from camp AND while they are on-site for a few days before and after their time in the wilderness. Campers sleep on foam or air-filled pads in their tents.
PHYSICAL HEALTH
PRESCRIPTION AND OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS
Camp Echo’s definition of a medication, based on best practices of the American Camp Association and other industry experts:
Medication is inclusive of all prescription treatments (pills, liquids, lotions, ointments, inhalers, injections, or similar); all over-the-counter pills, liquids, supplements, melatonin, herbal remedies, or vitamins; and any other over-the-counter lotions or ointments that are used as a treatment for an emergent health condition.
Over-the-counter lotions or hygiene products that are part of an individual’s standard cleansing routine are not considered medications and can thus be kept with them while they are at camp. (Examples: Vaseline, Aquaphor, Eucerin, contact lens solution, or similar.)
If you plan to send any medication to camp, be sure to answer "Yes" to the question, "Will your camper take medications at McGaw YMCA Camp Echo?" on the Health History form (page 5) and enter all the required information for each item.
ALL medication must be listed on the Health History form and be in its original packaging or it will NOT be accepted at check-in.
Once medications are received at Camp Echo, they are stored in a locked medication room of the Camp Echo clinic. Health Officers distribute the medications at the clinic at scheduled times, most commonly breakfast and bedtime. Health Officers locate campers promptly if they have forgotten to come to the clinic on their own.
To help us focus our staff attention on highest priority medications, please consider the following: We strongly discourage changes to behavioral medications for campers while at camp, or shortly before camp begins. Do NOT send elective vitamins or medications to camp & do NOT send any over-the-counter medications that are as-needed. The following over-thecounter medications are commonly stocked in the Camp Echo clinic and administered to campers to treat common ailments (in adult and children’s versions, as applicable): Advil, Benadryl, Dayquil, Hydrocortisone, Midol, Pepto-Bismal, Robitussin, Sudafed, Tums, Tylenol, Vicks Vapor Rub, Zyrtec.
If a camper needs advanced medical care, camp staff will notify parents and arrange a visit to the appropriate facility based on the need. Below are the nearest urgent care and hospital, both are a 15-minute drive from Camp Echo:
Corewell Health Gerber Hospital Pediatrics & Walk-In Clinic - Fremont 204 W Main St
Fremont, MI 49412-1181
Phone: 231.924.1800
Fax: 231.924.1810
Corewell Health Gerber Hospital - Fremont 212 S Sullivan Ave
Fremont, MI 49412-1181
Phone: 231.924.1800
Fax: 231.924.1810
CAMP ECHO STAFF
The Camp Echo staff team grows significantly during the summer season, with approximately 100 staff working during youth camp sessions.
STAFF AT CAMP WHO WORK MOST DIRECTLY WITH CAMPERS
Junior Staff are rising seniors in high school, often 16 and 17 years old, and support camp operations in the kitchen, work with maintenance staff, work in the barn, and sometimes lifeguard or help in other program areas.
Traditional Camp Counselors live with campers in their cabins and help with instruction of various activities throughout camp. All counselors are at least 18 years old.
Teen Program Staff provide leadership and direction to our specialized teen leadership and teen wilderness programs.
Adventure Trip Guides spend most of their summer away from camp, leading our wilderness adventures throughout the Midwest and beyond! Adventure Trip Guides are generally 21 years old or above and have their Wilderness First Responder certification.
SEASONAL STAFF ARE RESOURCES TO CAMPERS AND STAFF THROUGHOUT CAMP
These are the staff you are most likely to talk with while your camper is at camp.
Office Staff may answer the phone or call you back if you have questions throughout the summer. They can answer general questions about camp and will connect you with other staff if you have questions about your specific camper.
Unit Leaders are seasonal staff that provide leadership to entire programs (such as Traditional Camp or Adventure Trips). They coach and direct staff to deliver exceptional programming for all campers.
MESH Staff provide Mental, Emotional, and Social Health supports at camp.
Health Officers provide physical health care to campers.
FULL-TIME STAFF LIVE AND WORK AT CAMP ECHO FOR THE SUMMER SEASON
They provide overarching support to families and campers
Operations Coordinator: Miki Serin (mikis@mcgawymca.org)
Program Directors:
Amiee Woodrow (amieew@mcgawymca.org): Traditional Camp & Food Services
Lindy Tracey (lindyt@mcgawymca.org): Teen & Adventure Trip Programs, Physical Health, and MESH (Mental Emotional Social Health)
Executive Director: Bernard Rocca (bernardr@mcgawymca.org)
FOOD SERVICE
MEALS
Meals are served family style at Camp Echo with a choice bar available to complement the main offerings at each meal. At breakfast, the choice bar features a variety of fresh fruit and cereals. At lunch and dinner, the choice bar features a salad bar and various alternative options.
Each cabin is assigned to a specific table for the session. Assigned tables are either in the Dining Hall or located on the covered Dining Hall Deck.
DIETARY NEEDS
Camp Echo provides gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian alternatives. We ask families to share any dietary restrictions in their forms before the start of the session to help us plan our menu and inventory accordingly.
We will communicate common allergens in all meal offerings. The kitchen staff is always available to answer questions.
BEVERAGES
Drinking water is one of the most important, and most frequent, reminders we give campers. Please make sure campers have a good water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day. Water is served at every meal and milk (fat-free, 2%, and soy) is available at every meal. Juice and other special options are available at various times throughout the session.
SNACKS
There is a defined snack time in the afternoon schedule. Additionally, snacks are available during some activity transitions between breakfast and lunch.
TRADING POST
Campers will have opportunities to visit the camp store, known as the Trading Post (or TP) for clothing, treats and other items, such as flashlight batteries or stamps. Most evenings after dinner, campers may purchase one edible snack.
Talk to your camper about their budget. Trading Post accounts are managed via CampInTouch and every on-site camper starts the session with $65 in their Trading Post account. Parents/guardians can review transactions in CampInTouch and have the option to add funds to their account.
At the end of the season, we will reconcile all Trading Post accounts and send an email regarding any balance. Balances less than $20 are automatically donated to our scholarship fund. Balances greater than $20 may either be donated or refunded, at the discretion of the parent/guardian. If you don’t reply to the Trading Post email within 5 business days, your balance will be donated to our scholarship fund.
Additionally, clothing and souvenirs are available for purchase online before or after camp via Camp Echo’s online Trading Post store: Camp Echo Trading Post.
LOST & FOUND – LABEL EVERYTHING!
LOST AT CAMP
We want campers to depart camp with everything they brought, minus some stress and plus some amazing memories! Lost and found at Camp Echo is brought to the Dining Hall for campers to peruse on their own if they are missing something.
If you realize your camper has forgotten something when they get home from camp, please complete the following form to let us know. We will try to locate the item and can send it back to Evanston with the next buses or ship home for the cost of shipping.
Lost and Found Form
LEFT BEHIND WHEN THE BUSES RETURN TO MCGAW
You would be amazed at what campers leave behind when they get off the bus! In their excitement to reconnect with parents/guardians and share their adventures, they walk away from pillows, sleeping bags, laundry bags, books, water bottles, and more. Please take a quick inventory of your items before heading home with your camper.
If you would like to volunteer to help us reunite abandoned items with their campers, please let us know! Email us with questions: echoinfo@mcgawymca.org
CAMP ECHO GLOSSARY
Camp Echo has many words that are somewhat unique to the Camp Echo experience. While this is not an exhaustive list, it includes a few key words that are used in this document and can help you communicate with your camper while they are at camp.
Camptivities: Camp Activities, e.g. archery, swimming, volleyball, arts and crafts, water skiing, biking. (Camp + Activity = Camptivity!)
eLetters: Parents can write to campers with eLetters in CampInTouch and send a reply form for the camper to hand-write a letter home. Camper replies are scanned and sent to parent/guardian email.
KYBO: Bathhouses
Saska: One hour for rest or quiet time after lunch. If your camper struggles with quiet periods or needs to be engaged, develop a plan with them in advance for how they might spend this time. Consider sending books to read, coloring books, or other small projects they can work on during this time by themselves.
Taps Talk: End of day reflection done by cabins before bedtime. Often, Taps Talk includes each camper sharing their Miracle Moment (highlight) from the day and answering a question posed by the counselors.
Trading Post (TP): Camp store, with both souvenirs and edible snacks, depending on the time of day.