parent guidebook 2011

8/6/2019 Parent Guidebook 2011

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Camp HeroIt is tough being a kid thesedays particularly whendealing with the stress ofbelonging to a military family.Our Youth Developmentprograms help kids cope whileproviding them with positive,fun opportunities to get toknow themselves and eachother.

Camp Hero is a week long day

camp that serves as an outletfor military youth to share theircommon experiences andreceive academic enrichmentall while making friends andhaving fun! The curriculum isdesigned to help children findpractical ways to address thechallenges of military life,provide tools to help themsucceed in school, and improve

social and communicationskills. Kids learn moreabout themselves andtheir community with a

week of exploration andexcitement.

This Parent Guidebook has

useful information to prepareyour child for Camp Hero aswell as an overview of camppolicies and procedures.Please take time to review this

with your child and get excitedabout Camp Hero!

Visit our website www.militaryymca.org for more information on

the over 40 free programs and services available to your family!

San Diego Armed Services YMCASan Diego Armed Services YMCASan Diego Armed Services YMCASan Diego Armed Services YMCA

3293 Santo Road, San Diego, CA 92124

Free Day Camp for Military Youth

Contents:

Camp Staff & Activities 2

Preparing for Camp 3

Camp Policies 4

Camp Schedule 5

PARENT

GUIDEBOOK


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Camp Hero Staff

Camp Hero staff are full timeArmed Services YMCA Youthand Community Outreach (YCO)staff members that want to hostan awesome summer packed

with fun, adventure, andexploration!

Our staff is passionate aboutsupporting military youth andtake pleasure in maintaining astructured, educationalprogram in an atmosphere offun and excitement.

The ASYMCA takes seriously

the importance of childprotection and safety. We havespecific, tested policies andprocedures for all staff that

work with children.

The following are some of ourproven safety practices:

1. The ASYMCA has comprehensivepre-employment screening forstaff members and program

volunteers, including interviews,reference and nation-widecriminal history checks.

2. All camp counselors regularlywork with school aged youth ininformal educational settingsand are certified in pediatricFirst Aid and CPR.

Camp Hero Awards

Families are encouraged toattend the Camp Hero AwardCeremony on the Fridayafternoon of camp. Thisceremony is an opportunity tocongratulate campers andrecognize their accomplishmentsfrom throughout the week.

Operation HeroFrequent relocations often require military families to leavefriends and extended family behind. Through a variety ofactivities, crafts, and challenging games, kids will tackle toughtopics including making new friends, family separation, takingresponsibility, and conflict resolution. Camp Hero is a chancefor kids to build friendships and share common experiences

while further developing their self esteem and resilience. Theseopportunities will take place in the classroom as well as in thecommunity through two local field trips each week to San Diegoscenic parks.

Project WILDThe goal of Project WILD is to assist learners of any age indeveloping awareness, knowledge, skills and commitment toresult in informed decisions, responsible behavior andconstructive actions concerning wildlife and the environmentupon which all life depends. Project WILD activities and lessons

will be presented as part of the Camp Hero curriculum toenhance campers understanding of the world around them.Campers will have opportunities to further explore the Project

WILD lessons through half day trips to A Reason to Survive(ARTS) center and local parks. The trips are a chance to increase

campers understanding and awareness of the diversity of SanDiegos ecosystems, wildlife, and history.

YES!YES! (Youth Enrichment Summer) outings afford children inmilitary families, ages 7 to 12, the opportunity to explore a

variety of San Diego area attractions. YES! outings take placethe Thursday of camp and will include a visit to either theHorseback Riding or YMCA Camp Surf. Camp Hero campers

will be waitlisted to the YES! outing not offered during their

week of camp in order to serve a larger amount of children.

CAMP ACTIVITIES:


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Camp ClothesCamp Hero is fun. Occasionally fun can also meanmessy! Dress your campers in old clothes so they areready to play hard and get dirty! Campers are requiredto wear closed toed shoes and socks daily and shouldarrive to Camp with sunscreen already applied.

What to BringIt is recommended that you send your camper with abackpack to keep all their belongings together. Allbelongings should be labeled with your campers namebefore sending to camp. Camp Hero campers must bringtheir own lunch and water bottle to camp daily (exceptwhen noted in the camp schedule). Please send only non-perishable foods as refrigeration is not available. Pleasealso be sure your camper has sunscreen and asweatshirt.

What not to BringCampers may not bring electronic devices (cell phones,iPods, video games), toys, jewelry, or money to CampHero. The Armed Services YMCA is not responsible for

Camp Hero StaffLyndsay Calhoun:Program DirectorHer third summer atthe Armed ServicesYMCA, Lyndsay is aSan Diego native andgraduate of Universityof California, San

Diego with a degree in Sociology. Herpassion for working with children of allages has made working at the ASYMCAa incredible experience. Lyndsay isecstatic for the third year of Camp Heroand pumped for the new improvementsthis year!

Andrea Fields: Program LeaderAndrea is more than ready to jumpstarther fourth summer at the ArmedServices YMCA! A Southern California

native, summer has

always been her favoriteseason! Andrea is agraduate from SanDiego State University,with a degree inWomens Studies and

Social Work. She looks forward todirecting her passion for empoweringyouth and their families through ASYssummer programs for military youth.

Cathy Tann: Program LeaderCathy could not be

more excited aboutkicking off her secondsummer with theASYMCA! Cathy is aTexas native with adegree in Interdisciplinary Studies andElementary Teaching Credential fromthe University of North Texas. She islooking forward to using herbackground working with youth both inand out of the classroom to contributeto the camp experience this year!Donnabelle Buban: Program LeaderDonnabelle is thrilled for her first

summer at theASYMCA. Donnabelle isa graduate ofCuyamaca College witha degree in ChildDevelopment, and also

holds a Child Development TeachersPermit from the Commission onTeacher Credentialing. She is lookingforward to using her backgroundworking with young children to create amore meaningful summer this year!

Lets Camp!Camp Hero EligibilityCamp Hero is open to children ofmilitary service members from allservice branches. The militaryservice member must be rank E6or below and assigned to a SanDiego military installation or SanDiego based ship. Children must

be between seven and twelveyears old by August 1st to beeligible. There will be nononono ageexceptions. Priority will be givento children who have notparticipated in either the afterschool Operation Hero programor 2011 Operation Outdoors.

Financial ContributionsThe Armed Services YMCA isproud to provide over 40 free

programs to San Diego militaryservice members and theirfamilies each month. Should youwish to make a contribution to theArmed Services YMCA in supportof programs such as Camp Heroyou may do so by sending yourdonation to the Armed ServicesYMCA at 3293 Santo Road, SanDiego, CA 92124 or call 858-751-5755 for more information.

DepositsCamp Hero registration forms anda twenty dollar non- refundabledeposit will be required to registerfor camp. Should the family failto cancel their childs camp atleast two weeks prior to the firstday of camp or the child notattend camp, the family will be

placed on the ASYMCA ineligibleprogram list.

Emergency Procedures

Contacting CampersIf you should need to reach yourchild during camp please call ourfront desk at 858-751-5755.They will take your message andget the information to your child.

Camper Illness or InjuryIf your camper becomes ill at

camp our staff will contact you topick them up. Please havearrangements to do so in a timelymanner. If you child is injuredcamp staff will take whateversteps are necessary to obtainmedical care. If we are unable toreach you and your child needsmedical attention they will betransported to the hospital by anambulance. All expenses foremergency medical care are theresponsibility of the parent.

PreparingforCamp


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Field TripTransportation

Camp Hero will travel by ArmedServices YMCA buses for half daytrips to local San Diego parks and

for a full day trip to either theBalboa Park or YMCA Camp Surf.

The following are some of ourtransportation safety practices:

1. Each bus driver is a ArmedServices YMCA staff member whohas completed comprehensivepre-employment screeningincluding interviews, drug and

alcohol testing, and referenceand nation-wide criminal historychecks.

2. Each driver is required to performa pre-trip inspection for their busbefore transporting passengers.

3. Each Armed Services YMCA bus isoutfitted with seat belts androutinely inspected by theCalifornia Highway Patrol.

We do our best to maintain a reliable

schedule of departure and arrival timesand accomplish all planned activities.Please do your part to help by arrivingon time to camp and ready for the daysactivities. We appreciate yourunderstanding that field trips are subjectto change as necessary for health orsafety of the campers and staff.

Important Times

8:00 a.m.Camp Hero opens for drop off

8:30 a.m.Camp Hero starts camp activities(Buses begin leaving for field trips)

4:00 p.m.Buses return from field trips

4:30 p.m.Camp Hero Pick Up

Camp PoliciesDrop OffCamp Hero opens for drop off at8:00 a.m. each day. Campactivities begin at 8:30 a.m. andmay include scheduled field trips.If you expect to be late or yourchild will be absent from campplease call the Armed ServicesYMCA by 8:15 a.m. at 858-751-5755. Campers that arrive afterfield trip transportation hasdeparted can not be

accommodated.

Pick UpCamp Hero pick up is at 4:30 p.m.Campers must be picked up andsigned out by an authorized pick-up list. Please show courtesy toCamp Hero staffers by arrivingpromptly for pick up. Campers notpicked up by 5:00 p.m. will besupervised by ASYMCA staff andevery attempt will be made tocontact parents and emergency

contacts. If by 6:00 p.m. theparents are not reachable ChildProtective Services will be called.

AttendanceCamp Hero is a full day, week-long experience. Campersroutinely late to camp, picked upearly or late, or absent will bedismissed from Camp Hero.

Behavior Management

GuidelinesIt is the Armed Services YMCAsgoal to provide a healthy, safe,and secure environment for all daycamp participants. Children whoattend the program are expectedto follow the behavior guidelinesbased on the four core values andto interact appropriately in agroup setting.

Behavior Guidelines:1. We will carecarecarecare for ourselves and

for those around us.2. HonestyHonestyHonestyHonesty will be the basis for

all relationships andinteractions.

3. People are responsibleresponsibleresponsibleresponsible fortheir actions.

4. We respectrespectrespectrespect each other and theenvironment.

Our camp staff is trained and isexpected to resolve behaviorproblems in a positive manner. Inthe event problems persist the

child may be suspended ordismissed from the Camp Hero.Some acts may result in immediatesuspension or dismissal includingbut not limited to: fighting,intentionally harming others, theft,and possession of weapons ordrugs.


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C

ampHer

oWeekly

Schedule

Thursday

CampGames

Busesleavefor

YES!Outing

YES!

August4:

YMCACampSurf

August11:

HorsebackRiding

August18:

YMCACampSurf

August25:

HorsebackRiding

BusesReturn

Wednesday

CampHero

beginsspecific

campactivities

CampHero

Arts&Crafts

Lunch

OutdoorCamp

Games

ProjectWILD

Activitiesand

Experiments

CampHero

Arts&Crafts

CampGames

Tuesday

CampHer

o

beginsspec

ific

campactivities

CampHer

o

Arts&Crafts

Lunch

Busesleave

for

localfieldtrip

BusesReturn

CampHer

o

localfieldtrip

ARTSCenter

CampH

ero

beginssp

ecific

campactivities

CampH

ero

Arts&Crafts

Lunch

Mond

ay

CampHeroOpensforDropOff

OutdoorCamp

Game

s

ProjectW

ILD

Activities

and

Experiments

CampH

ero

Arts&Crafts

C

ampHeroPickUp

CampGames

10:00a.m.

9:00a.m.

8:30a.m.

8:00a.m.

11:30a.m.

12:00p.m.

1:00p.m.

3:00p.m.

3:30p.m.

4:00p.m.

4:30p.m.

2:00p.m.

2:30p.m.

Friday

CampCrafts

Busesleavefor

localfieldtrip

ARTSCenter

&

localfieldtrip

withpicnic

BusesReturn

CampGames

CampAwards

Familiesencouraged

toattend!

parent guidebook 2011

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