MetroWest YMCA Hopkinton Day Camp June 24 - August 23 (nine weeks)
45 East Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748 508-435-9345 www.metrowestymca.org
An Experience That Lasts a Lifetime! Dear Parents, Summer is just around the corner and once again it is time to get ready for your child’s camp experience! This manual is intended to serve as a useful tool to help you and your child prepare for camp. Please read the entire manual carefully. We are especially grateful that you have chosen the MetroWest YMCA’s Day Camp and are eager to make the entire experience fun and meaningful! We look forward to a summer full of new adventures, learning, and lifelong friendships for your child. Do not hesitate to call us if there are any questions or if your child is unhappy at camp. With close communication from home we can provide a positive experience! In the spirit of camping,
Spring Family Tours & Cookout 10:00am - 1:00pm Saturday, April 27th
Camp Open House 10:00am - 1:00pm Saturday, June 22nd
Stephan Lockney, Associate Executive Director Camping Services
Table of Contents Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8
Welcome, Contents, Required Paperwork, Important Phone Numbers Payment & Billing, Group Placement, Swimming, Family Fun Nights What to bring, What not to bring, Lost & Found, Packed Lunches Behavior Expectations, Health Care at Camp, Bus Information Bus Stops and Schedules Parent Drop-off/ Pick-up, Property Map Parent Communication, Weekly Themes, Y Mission
Required Camp Paperwork The MetroWest Y uses CampDoc.com to collect required camp paperwork. By the end of May, we will reach out to registered camp families through this system. You must log in and complete camp paperwork, including uploading your child’s latest physical and immunizations (within 18 months). If your child will bring any medications to camp, additional paperwork is required.
Children cannot attend camp until CampDoc paperwork is 100% complete.
Camp Office Phone: 508-435-9345 Nurse’s Office: Ext. 117 Pool Office: Ext. 119 Inclusion Office: Ext. 118 Camp Director: Ext. 132 2
Payment & Billing $50/week, per child. If applicable, busing/extended care fees are paid at time of registration. Payment Options: 1. Pay in full at time of purchase 2. June camp balances are automatically charged May 15, July camps are charged June 15 and August camps are charged July 15 – this is the default payment plan 3. Log into your MetroWest Y account at any time to pay toward camp balances by accessing the future payments tab Deposits are transferable until April 1st. The cancellation and transfer deadline is May 31st. All requests must be submitted in writing to the Registrar at ycampoffice@metrowestymca.org
Group Placement
The YMCA places campers in groups by age and grade. We will pair up friends if they are in the same grade, registered for the same camp, and if each one appears on the other's Camper friend request. Summer camp is an opportunity to meet new friends and have new experiences. With this in mind, the YMCA will try, but cannot guarantee friend requests. We are committed to safe and manageable camper to counselor ratios. Our maximum camper to counselor ratios are as follows: Campers 6 and younger 1:5 Campers 7 and older 1:10
Swimming
Our Traditional Camp campers (except for AP) participate in instructional and recreational swim every da (only rec swim on Fridays). Specialty Camp campers participate in recreational swim once a day. We teach the national Y SWIM LESSONS program to all Traditional Camp campers. Our pool operates with a 1:25 Lifeguard ratio. Red swimmers are beginner swimmers and swim wearing a puddle jumper or life vest during rec swim. Yellow is a more advanced beginner/intermediate level; campers are comfortable in the shallow-end and do not need a puddle jumper or life vest but are not yet ready for the deep end. Green swimmers are intermediate and advanced swimmers who have the ability to swim comfortably in any depth of water. We want every camper to have a great experience in the pool, learning new skills and improving their swimming everyday!
Most groups have between 15 and 20 campers with at least one senior and one junior counselor. Many groups also have Counselors-In-Training from our CIT program with them from time to time. To request campers to be in the same group, please complete this form.
Family Fun Nights Save the Dates! Come see Camp! Meet your child’s counselor! Our Camp Staff hosts a special family night for all campers three times over the summer. This is a chance to meet the staff and participate in activities.
Camper for a Night: Thursday, July 11th, 6pm - 7:30pm Camp Carnival: Friday, July 26th, 6pm - 7:30pm Banana Olympics: Thursday, August 8th, 6pm - 7:30pm
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What To Bring
Lost & Found
Camp is NOT a place for new clothes -- things get dirty! Items that each camper should bring every day: Sneakers Water Bottle Lunch/Snacks Bathing Suit Water Shoes for pool Towel Sunscreen & Bug Spray (labeled with name) Plastic Bag (for wet bathing suit)
All lost and found items will be displayed at each pick-up and drop-off location. We save Lost & Found every 2-weeks, then donate or throw away what is leftover. PLEASE mark everything you send to camp with your children clearly with first and last names - no initials please. The YMCA is not responsible for any lost clothing or other property.
Water is available to campers throughout the day at the many bubblers and water jugs located around camp. Campers with water bottles will be encouraged to fill them throughout the day. Sending a camper to camp with sunscreen already on will allow campers to spend more time playing and less time lathering up. Campers will be given time to reapply sunscreen after swimming and/or extended periods of activity. It gets cold and wet at camp on rainy days, so campers should bring: Raincoat Sweatshirt Boots Extra Socks Extra clothes
Lunch, Water Bottle, & Snack Large lunch boxes and coolers with ice packs are the most effective at keeping your child’s food cold. Please be sure to send your child with forks and spoons, if needed. No refrigeration or microwaves are available. Reusable water bottles are required for each camper; please send a full water bottle every day. Water is available throughout camp. We do not provide disposable water bottles. We Are a Nut-Free Organization Peanut butter and nut products are prohibited from camper’s lunch and snacks. If you have any nutrition questions please email Karley Doray the Director of Nutrition Education at kdoray@metrowestymca.org.
Please LABEL everything that you send to camp with your child with their first and last name. (Initials are not helpful due to the high volume of campers.
What Not To Bring Please do NOT send the following items to camp: CELL PHONES TOYS OF ANY KIND LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY POKEMON CARDS VIDEO GAMES MAKE-UP/JEWELRY PERSONAL SPORTS EQUIPMENT ANYTHING OF PERSONAL VALUE Things that are brought to camp are the sole responsibility of the camper.
This camp complies with the regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Health and is licensed by the Hopkinton Board of Health. Parents may call the camp to request copies of background checks, health care, and discipline poli- cies, as well as procedures for filing grievances. All staff and volunteers are subject to SORI and CORI checks by the state.
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Behavior Expectations
Health Care at Camp
To provide a safe, healthy, and supportive environment, we expect all campers to adhere to the rules and policies of the YMCA. In keeping with the values of the YMCA, everyone is expected to demonstrate Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. Our staff is trained and experienced with handling an assortment of behavior issues. A child’s behavior may be a cause for concern by staff members, Inclusion Specialists, and Camp Leadership. When this occurs, our Inclusion team will hold a conference with parents/guardians to outline the concerns and develop a plan to manage future behavior. Parents/guardians are expected to provide cooperative and respectful behavior in these circumstances. In most cases, follow up communication between parent/guardian and Inclusion team will commence to track progress of the plan.
We have health care supervisors on site each day and we also have a physician on-call. Many of our staff are also trained in emergency care, first aid, and CPR.
The MetroWest YMCA Summer Day Camp is not a Special Education camp and cannot provide consistent 1:1 care for any child. If your child needs 1:1 support, we allow parents/guardians to hire outside ABA therapists or paraprofessionals to attend given they pass our designated BRC. If you have further questions please email campinclusion@metrowestymca.org.
Bus Information
All controlled medications brought to camp MUST be hand-delivered to the Camp Nurse by the parent/guardian. Prescription medications must be in the original container with the original prescription attached, and must include medical authorization forms signed by your child’s physician. Non-prescription medications required the same authorization forms signed by a physician. These forms must be uploaded into your child’s CampDoc profile. All camp first aid is performed by a staff member who is certified to provide appropriate care. Campers who receive first aid will have their injuries recorded in the First Aid Log Book by the Camp Nurse or appropriate staff person. Our Camp Nurse will call parents to inform them of minor injuries at his/her discretion, otherwise campers will be sent home with an “ouch report” describing what happened at camp. Any camper who requires further medical attention will be transported to the Framingham Union Hospital or Milford Regional Medical Center. Parents will be immediately notified in the event of emergency medical care.
Each bus is provided with a bus monitor to assist campers and provide supervision. It is the parent/ guardians’ responsibility to see that their children are dropped off and picked up at the correct stop. All bus stop times are APPROXIMATE. Campers and parents should be at the bus stop 10 minutes before the indicated pick-up or drop-off times. Traffic or other delays may cause a bus to run late.Especially on Mondays, the buses may be delayed. Arrive extra early and do not be alarmed if the bus is 10-20 minutes late for pickup or drop-off. The schedule should be correct by the second and third days of the week as campers and parents get used to the system (photo IDs out and ready, etc.). The YMCA will NOT let children off the bus at their stop if there is not an authorized adult there to meet them (unless written permission is posted to your online CampDoc camper profile). Any children remaining on the bus at the end of the route for any reason will be returned to the Hopkinton or Framingham Branch, whichever is closest. Please notify the camp office by 12pm via email at ycampoffice@metrowestymca.org if there will be any changes in the transportation arrangements for your child.
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Bus Stops
Please allow ten minutes on either side of these scheduled times.
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Parent Pick Up/Drop Off
DROP OFF: 8:30am - 9:00am PICKUP: 3:30pm - 4:15pm
Camper Drop Off and Pick Up occurs at three locations based on your child’s camp enrollment.
Scamper (Alligators, Bumblebees, Crickets, Dragons, Eels, Froggies, Giraffes, Hippos, Iguanas, Jellyfish) & Camp Carol (Cheetahs, Cougars, Jaguars, Leopards, Lions, Lynx, Ocelot, Panthers, Pumas, Tigers) - Nearest the Camp Admin building Bob-o-Link (Blue jays, Cardinals, Chickadees, Ducks, Eagles, Hawks, Orioles) & Middlers (Bruins, Cubs, Grizzlies, Kodiak, Polar GummyAcadia, Denali, Estes, Yellowstone) - North Entrance in front of Hayes Lodge Seniors (Juniper, Tamarack, Sassafras, & Adventure Plus) & Sports Camp - Lower parking level nearest the sports fields After 9:00 am any child arriving after the camp day has begun (9:00am) MUST report to the Camp Office first in order to be signed in and marked correctly on the daily attendance sheet. If you are going to be later than 4:15pm and your child is not registered for Extended Care PM please do your best to inform the Camp Office no later than 3:30pm. For your convenience, please observe the designated traffic patterns and the instructions of camp staff. We do work hard to make sure the line moves smoothly so please keep your questions brief during these times. However please don’t hesitate to contact us via email during the day. Please note -- Anyone picking up a camper must have photo identification with them and will be asked to present it at time of camper pick up.
Property Map South Entrance - Juniors Drop Off and Administration Building North Entrance - Senior and Middler Drop-Off, Nurse’s Office
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Stay Connected! Our friendly staff is available to answer your questions by calling or emailing the main office at: Camp Office Phone: 508-435-9345 or ycampoffice@metrowestymcaorg
Week 1 - Disney and Dreamworks Week 2 - Holidays, Holidays, Holidays Week 3 - Dinos, Sharks, Dragons, and Unicorns Week 4 - Olympics & Sports Week 5 - Camp spirit Throwdown Week 6 - Superheroes & Villians Academy Week 7 - Beach Bash Week 8 - Wild and Wacky Week 9 - Pirates, Princesses, Penguins, Polar Bears, and PJs Adventures
To see photos of camper and camp activities, please join our BAND app. Download the BAND app to join our internal, private site where we will post daily camp highlights and photos. Hold your phone camera up to this QR code to join our BAND community:
The Y Difference The MetroWest YMCA is a cause-driven charitable organization that helps people build a healthy spirit, mind, and body. We nurture the potential of every youth and teen, improve the health and well-being of every MetroWest resident, and give back to the community through service and programs. The MetroWest YMCA Hopkinton Day Camp offers kids a new adventure every day! Your child will be healthy and active while they try new things, discover their passions, make new friends and have fun exploring our nature-filled 122-acre campus! Our inclusive and caring staff will make sure your child feels safe and valued in our community, allowing them to come away with new skills, confidence and friendships that broaden their perspectives and strengthen their character. We are excited for a great summer!
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