Summer Camp FAQ
A Letter from the Summer Camp Director
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the program at YMCA Camp Seymour like?
2. Tell me about your staff.
3. What is the daily schedule like at Resident Camp?
4. Is there a religious emphasis at YMCA Camp Seymour?
5. What does "ACA Accredited Camp" mean?
6. How safe will my child be at camp?
7. Why should my child attend YMCA Camp Seymour?
8. How many children attend camp at one time?
9. How many children and how many staff are there per cabin or per trip?
10. When can I take a tour of YMCA Camp Seymour?
11. How long can my children go to camp?
12. Is financial assistance available?
13. How do I enroll my child? (Where can I get registration forms)
14. What about my child's medical or dietary needs?
15. Can my child choose a friend to be in the same cabin?
16. How do I send a care package to my child at camp?
If you have questions that are not addressed above feel free to contact us.
A Letter from the Summer Camp Director
Thank you for considering YMCA Camp Seymour for your child's summer camp experience. Our summer camp programs are uniquely directed toward development of the whole person in spirit, mind, and body. A part of YMCA camping for over 100 years, we provide young people entering grades 1-12 with unparalled opportunities for personal growth, new friendships, and exciting adventure.
Resident Camp, Teen Adventure Trips, and Teen Leadership programs are firmly rooted in the values of the YMCA. We help campers develop personal character, a meaningful values system, and a sense of stewardship for the environment while they learn new skills and have lots of fun.
We provide campers with both structure and choice. Our staff understands the importance of helping young people feel secure enough to step out of their personal comfort zone to experience new challenges and risks. Personal safety is paramount at YMCA Camp Seymour.
We offer a variety of opportunities for campers to experience the magic of YMCA Camp Seymour. You can find out more about our Resident Camp, Teen Adventure Trips, and Teen Leadership programs in the links to the left. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
|
Geoff Ball |
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the program at YMCA Camp Seymour like? Theme Description Activities Outdoor Adventure Campers have an overnight experience in the outdoors, and learn/utilize outdoor living skills. Overnights, trips, new activities and experiences. Character Campers develop independence; gain self-confidence and self-worth; and assume personal responsibility for their own learning and actions. Co-op course, Camptivities, Rag & Leather Program, Relationship with peers and staff. Community Campers acquire a sense of community extending from their living group to the camp community and beyond. Group living/dining/traveling, Co-op course, Small group activities, Large group programming Stewardship Campers develop and act upon a sense of ownership in, and caring for, their natural and physical surroundings. Kapers-Campers help clean camp (sweep, litter patrol, etc.); Service learning-Campers identify and contribute to camp needs. Leadership Campers develop group membership, leadership, and interpersonal skills. Co-op activities, Group living Skills Development Campers acquire and develop physical, mental, and social skills in a safe, challenging environment that emphasizes cooperative learning, personal progress, and a sense of fair play. Boating, Court Sports, Field Sports, Target Sports, Creative Arts, Swimming, Outdoor Living Skills, Environmental Ed., Performing Arts Spirituality Campers experience creative, spiritually meaningful activities that help draw out their personal faith, promote spiritual literacy as a tool of self-expression, and respect humankind's collective spiritual heritage. Morning Inspiration, Chapel, Rag & Program, Cabin activity Values Campers develop a meaningful personal values system that distinguishes right from wrong, and informs everyday decisions and actions. Morning Inspiration, Chapel, Teachable moments, Values time, Rag program Personal Health Campers get regular exercise, make healthy eating choices, and take responsibility for personal hygeine. Dining Hall meals, Dippy and German Stairs, Kapers,
Summer camp at YMCA Camp Seymour is a fun place for campers to learn and grow. We offer a progressive, values-oriented, camper-centered program.
"Progressive" means that campers have new activities and experiences to look forward to as they grow older and come to different sessions, starting with Pioneer (2nd-3rd grade), moving to Units 1-4, groups of 3-5 cabins of campers approximately the same age to Adventure (7th-8th) grade, and on to Teen Adventure Trips and Teen Leadership Programs (8th-12th grade).
"Values-oriented" means that we emphasize our YMCA's 6 core values in our program - Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, Service, and Forgiveness. Our staff role model those values for campers, and campers learn to bring out those values in themselves as well.
"Camper-centered" means that we focus our energies on our campers and on their experiences here. Before we make a decision about our programs, activities, policies or other aspect of camp, we make sure that it puts the campers' best interests first.
Our program emphasizes 9 themes. These themes are woven into the daily activities of camp. You can read more about them below:
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2. Tell me about your staff.
Applicants for summer camp are selected for summer positions on the basis of their experience, maturity, and certifications. All staff are interviewed by the Summer Camp Director, Teen Leadership Director, or Outpost Director. Reference checks and a criminal background check are conducted on all applicants. The majority of our staff have CPR and First Aid certifications, and all aquatic activities are supervised by certified Lifeguards. Teen Leadership and Teen Adventure staff have a Wilderness First Aid certification. Most of our cabin leaders and many of our program staff are also graduates of our own counselor training programs. All staff attend a comprehensive seven to ten day staff orientation prior to the start of the summer season. You can read about staff qualifications, what we hire for, and more on our Summer Employment page. Back to top
3. What is the daily schedule like at Resident Camp?
The daily schedule varies depending on the program, but a general schedule looks like this:
7:30am Good Morning! Dippy and German Stairs (two Camp Seymour traditions!)
8:30am Breakfast
9:30am Morning Inspiration, followed by Morning Activities
12:30pm Lunch
1:15pm Saska (Quiet Time)
2:30pm Afternoon Activities
4:00pm Snack Time
4:15pm Recreation Time
5:45pm Flag Lowering
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Twilight Activity
8:00pm Evening Activity
9:15pm Cabin Time
10:00pm Lights Out
Every cabin sleeps outdoors overnight once during their stay. The nature of their trip varies depending on the age of the campers. Younger campers sleep in main camp, older campers hike out to a shelter on camp property. Two-week campers take a three-day trip out of camp to a state or national park. Back to top
4. Is there a religious emphasis at YMCA Camp Seymour?
Our goal is for campers to grow in all aspects of their lives (physical, social, mental and spiritual) while at camp. All campers, no matter their beliefs, are welcome at YMCA Camp Seymour. Our programs are based on the Christian values of the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties: Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, Forgiveness, and Service. We help campers explore their personal faith and develop their values through creative, meaningful activities that encourage them to think about what they believe and to share how they feel with each other in a safe, accepting environment. Back to top
5. What does "ACA Accredited Camp" mean?
The American Camp Association (ACA) administers an camp accreditation system that establishes guidelines and standards for policies, procedures, and practices considered to be basic to quality camping. A second purpose of ACA accreditation is to assist the public in selecting camps which meet industry-accepted and government-recognized standards. Accredited camps are responsible not only for state and local laws, but also for those requirements defined by the standards. At least once every three years an outside team of trained camping professionals visits the camp for two days to verify compliance with ACA standards. YMCA Camp Seymour is an ACA Accredited Camp. Back to top
6. How safe will my child be at camp?
We give children a measure of independence in as safe an environment as is reasonable. However, going to camp is not risk-free. Our ACA accreditation (see question 4) is one way we ensure safety standards are being met. In addition, we hire staff who are trained in CPR and First Aid. All of our summer staff have undergone and extensive reference and criminal background checks, including being run through the National Sex Offender Database (NSOD). All of our staff attend a seven to ten day orientation during which safety guidelines for the whole camp as well as specific program areas are covered, and we practice our responses to mock emergencies during orientation. A trained health care provider is on-site while children are in camp. We emphasize freedom from peer pressure as well as respect for different points of view and ways of thinking. Back to top
7. Why should my child attend YMCA Camp Seymour?
At YMCA Camp Seymour, our activities and facilities are tools we use to teach basic values. Learning activity skills is secondary to developing interpersonal ones. Campers not only swim, boat, hike, sing, and camp out, they meet a diverse group of people, make friends, live without TV, and learn to appreciate home. Campers also learn to take responsibility for themselves and their own learning in a warm, positive environment. The camping experience at YMCA Camp Seymour is so unique, no child should miss it. Back to top
8. How many children attend camp at one time?
About 190 children come to YMCA Camp Seymour Resident Camp every week. Back to top
9. How many children and how many staff are there per cabin or per trip?
There are two cabin leaders in each cabin, which holds 10-12 children. Teen Leadership and Teen Adventure Trips have the same ratio of staff to campers. Back to top
10. When can I take a tour of YMCA Camp Seymour?
The best time to take a tour is during an event we call Seymour Sundays. Please see the Summer Camp page for dates and times for these events. Contact the camp director for a "Free pass" to come out for any of our Seymour Sunday afternoons. If none of those dates work for you, contact us and we'll set up a time that does. Back to top
11. How long can my children go to camp?
Depending on the age of your child, we have half-week, one-week, and two-week sessions for Resident Camp. (Generally, the older the child, the longer the session.) Teen Adventure Trips vary in length from 7 to 14 days, depending on the length, mode of transportation, and nature of the trip. Teen Leadership programs are one to two-and-a-half weeks long. Campers are welcome (in fact, encouraged) to sign up for multiple sessions of camp. Back to top
12. Is financial assistance available?
Financial assistance (FA) is available to those who qualify under the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties guidelines. FA is given as a percentage amount, and the camper's family is expected to contribute the difference. Click here to download our Financial Assistance Application 2010 page. Back to top
13. How do I enroll my child? (Where can I get registration/check-in forms, and/or more information about YMCA Camp Seymour?)
Contact us if you have questions or need more information. As summer nears, it's a good idea to call camp at 253-884-3392 to confirm availability for your sesion. Back to top
14. What about my child's medical or dietary needs?
YMCA Camp Seymour can accommodate most camper medical or dietary needs. We distribute medication at mealtimes and bedtime. With advance notice, we can make alternative food options available to those who need them. Just make the proper indication on your child's health form, and be sure to bring enough medication or dietary supplements for your child's entire stay at camp. Contact us in advance if you have any questions or concerns. Back to top
15. Can my child choose a friend to be in their cabin?
Campers can choose a maximum of two other campers to be in their cabin. Requested cabinmates need to be within one year of age of each other. Just write the requested cabinmates' name down on the registration form in the space provided, and we'll do our best to see that they're in the cabin. Back to top
16. How do I send a care package to my child at camp?
You can mail a care package to your child care of YMCA Camp Seymour (9725 Cramer Road, KPN, Gig Harbor, WA 98329). Please do not include food of any kind in your child's suitcase or in packages you send to your child. Food also complicate cabin relationships, and attract insect and animal pests. Games, books, puzzles and the like are great items, especially if the whole cabin can enjoy them. Back to top
Please contact us if you have questions or need more information.
