Day Camper Family Guide
You’ve registered for camp, now what? Our Camper Family Guide has all the details you need to make sure your camper has the best experience ever.
Once you’ve created a camp account, you can login at any time to edit forms, download receipts, check payment schedules, and add weeks of camp. Please check your calendar to see if the dates that you plan to send your child to camp are the same as are listed in our system. If you have an issue with your child's registration, please let us know as soon as possible so we can address it by calling 519-699-5100 or sending an email.
Access your CampBrain account here.
Forgot your password?
You can reset your account by entering the email address you used to create the account and clicking “forgot my password” on the CampBrain login screen.
Keeping in Touch
Please inform the Camping Team at 519-699-5100 or camp@ytr.ymca.ca if any of your contact information changes. It is important to us to maintain current phone, email, mailing address and emergency/authorized pickup information.
Communication
Camp communication happens through the CampBrain email provided. Please make sure your email is up to date and correct in your CampBrain account. Before camp starts, we'll send an email with everything you need to know to ensure they have a successful week with us.
Parent Issues & Concerns
In support of YMCA of Three Rivers’ Mission, Guiding Principles, Vision, Values, and Purpose, all parties will foster positive and respectful interactions with children, parents/guardians, and camp staff. Our camp staff are available to talk to and support parents/guardians at drop-off and pick up.
Parents are encouraged to take advantage of the following channels to communicate your suggestions, concerns and/or seek clarification about YMCA policies, procedures, and practices as the need arises:
Type | Examples | Speak To |
Program-Related | Program Activities, Lost & Found | Site Supervisor |
Administrative | Absences, Fees and Fee Assistance, Schedule changes, Waiting List | Camp Administrator/Office (Email) |
Staff Conduct | Any conduct concerns that may affect health, safety, or wellbeing of a child. | Day Camp Director (Email) |
Surveys
A survey link will be emailed to you at the end of each session. Please take a moment to complete this survey. Your feedback is used to continually improve our programs. Families who fill out a survey be entered in a draw to win a week of camp.
Camp Hours
Our camp programming runs from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Families will be able to drop their camper off between 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and will be able to pick them up at the end of the day between 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Safe Arrival
At camp drop-off, Camp staff (Site Supervisor, Assistant Site Supervisor, or their designate) will sign all campers into YMCA Day Camp’s care.
Absences
If your child is going to be absent from camp, please call your child’s camp directly and report the absence to the Site Supervisor. If it is an unforeseen absence, please conact your child’s site prior to 9:00 a.m. by calling 519-699-5100 or emailing us at camp@ytr.ymca.ca first thing in the morning to report the absence. If you are leaving a voice message to report the absence please include:
Your camper's full name
The camp site/location
The details of their absence, e.g. illness, injury etc.
If a camper is not present at morning attendance and no absence has been reported, YMCA staff will call contacts listed in their CampBrain account.
Safe Departure
The Site Supervisor will begin sign-out procedures at the pick-up location at 4:00 p.m.
The person picking up your camper must be on the Authorized Pick-Up List (in CampBrain) and show government-photo ID before camp staff can safely dismiss your camper.
Once your ID has been matched, the supervisor will call for your camper to be walked to the pick-up point.
Late Pick-up Policy
All day camp locations close at 5:00 p.m. Any pick-up after 5:00 p.m. is considered late. Parents/guardians are asked to call the day camp as soon as they are aware they may pick up late for any reason and/or make alternate pick-up arrangements, as necessary. Late pick up fees will be charged for each minute after 5:00 p.m.
Campers may face removal from camp if families repeatedly arrive late for pick-up.
Our staff provide campers with the support, attention, and the care they need while away from home. We have one of the highest staff-to-camper ratios in Ontario and a long list of qualifications to ensure we provide the highest quality of camp programming, such as:
Standard First Aid and CPR (C) Certification
National Lifesaving Society qualifications
Vulnerable Sector Police Check
Extensive training with ongoing training and coaching
Many of our staff were campers themselves and have experience working with children. YMCA Camp Belwood, Camp Ki-Wa-Y, and Camp Waabanaki are Accredited Members of the Ontario Camps Association. YMCA Day Camps are in the process of working towards accreditation. Find out what it means to be OCA Approved.
YMCA Day Camps has a purpose and obligation to ensure the safety and well-being of the campers in our care. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure your child’s health and safety in order to create a positive environment including safe drop-off and pickup for campers, a duty to report child abuse and/or neglect, and various emergency and risk management procedures.
Because there is an element of risk in all camp activities, appropriate procedures must be in place to minimize risks and effectively manage the safety of every participant in every activity. Camp staff are required to regularly asses risk and reserve the right to decide to modify, limit, or temporarily suspend certain activities due to circumstances arising including:
Insufficient staffing which may mean an inability to maintain staff ratios due to staff illness or lack of qualified staff (such as Lifeguards) in order to run the scheduled camp activity.
Inclement weather or lake water quality advisories.
We will do our best to communicate activity modifications with families ahead of time and find a comparable experience to ensure campers are having fun. Unfortunately, we cannot provide refunds due to activity modifications.
Camp is where many campers learn to swim, and all have the chance to have fun in the water. We are proud to offer swimming as part of our programming. We abide by standards set out by the Lifesaving Society and Ontario Camps Association.
All campers are required to wear lifejackets while swimming in any YMCA Day Camp programs both outdoor and indoor Y buildings. Please reinforce to your camper that this policy is for their own safety and is non-negotiable.
Boating
At Camp Wildwood, Camp Conestogo and Shades Mills boating is offered as an activity. Boating consists of either kayaking or canoeing. All campers will be given the opportunity to learn boating skills while they attend the camp program. Please note that all campers must wear a life jacket at all times while in the boats.
All Day campers will need to bring the following items each day they come to camp. We suggest that you pack everything in a backpack. Please label it with their name or attach a tag. Please use our downloadable packing list to be sure your camper is prepared for camp.
Backpack
Lunch and two snacks (must be nut free)
Refillable water bottle
Running shoes
Sandals/water shoes for swimming, boating, and/or water games
Sunscreen and bug repellant
Hat and sunglasses
Weather-appropriate clothing: rain gear, extra sweater, etc.
Bathing suit and towel
Change of clothes
The YMCA is not responsible for lost or damaged items. Please keep valuables at home.
Please leave at home
These items will be confiscated at drop-off and returned to the parent at pick-up:
Hand-held games (e.g., Nintendo Switch)
Cell phones
Money
Water guns
This summer we are excited to offer an array of options for families to order to remember their time at Day Camp!
We will be offering T-shirts, stickers, water bottles, and stuffed owls!
To place an order please visit our Camp Store website.
Campers should arrive daily with a lunch and at least two snacks as well as a refillable water bottle.
To keep our campers with allergies safe, please do not send your camper to camp with any nut products.
Vendors and/or vending machines will not be available for lunch/snack purchases at any of our sites.
A microwave will NOT be available to heat up food.
Please label your camper’s belongings to ensure lost items can be returned.
At the end of each Camp session, we will send out a photo of all lost and found items. If you identify something of yours in the photo, please contact the site supervisor at your day camp location.
All lost and found items must be claimed by the last day of camp programming August 23, 2024. All remaining items will be donated to a local charity.
Did you know you can support your camp while ordering your camper's labels from Mabel's Labels?
Search for your camp: YMCA of Three Rivers Day Camps
Happy shopping!
Extreme Heat
In the event of an extreme heat warning, our top priority is the safety and well-being of our campers. We have a plan in place to tackle the heat head-on. This means more shade, extra water breaks, and removing strenuous activities to keep everyone cool and comfortable. If your camper tends to feel the heat a bit more, it might be worth considering whether it's best for them to take a break and stay home on days when the weather is extreme.
Severe Weather Statements
In the event of severe weather statements including storm and/or tornado warnings, each camp location has their own set of procedures aiming to keep campers safe. Camp staff will monitor weather conditions, use alerts to signal warnings, direct everyone to designated shelters, and update families as to the situation at camp. Camp staff receive regular training and practice extreme weather drills with campers to ensure our camp community is well-prepared in the event of a weather emergency. Should you feel more comfortable picking up your camper you are always welcome — please call the site phone number or camp office for assistance.
At YMCA of Three Rivers Camps
We work to ensure that everyone — regardless of age, ethnicity, race, income-level, faith, ability, gender identity/expression, or sexual orientation — feels welcome, connected, and safe at camp. We aim to empower all campers, leadership trainees, volunteers, and staff to fully participate in our camps, and develop to their fullest potential as future leaders and global citizens.
Camp Behaviour Policy
Campers, LITs and Staff are expected to follow behaviour and safety guidelines and interact in accordance with the YMCA of Three Rivers core values of Equity, Inclusiveness, Advocacy, Health & Wellness, Accountability, Empathy, and Respect.
Give Me Five!
We follow five simple rules to keep camp a safe and positive place for all campers and staff:
Keep hands and feet to yourself
Speak kindly and positively to each other
Touch only what belongs to you
Stay within the day camp area
Listen to your leaders
Expectations for Behaviour — Stoplights
The YMCA’s goal is to have a Day Camp where everyone feels safe and included. Our behaviour guidelines exist to help ensure safety, inclusion, and enjoyment in our camps for all participants.
The stoplight model of behaviour allows campers, LITs, families and staff to be clear on the actions to be taken should certain behaviours arise at camp. Our staff work proactively to decrease the likelihood that these behaviours arise but are prepared to intervene when necessary.
Staff use tools such as strong camper/staff relationships, positive reinforcement, strength-based approach, first/then language, and parent feedback to ensure positive experiences. Staff are also prepared with behaviour logs, check-in guides, and supervisor support when needed to manage behaviours.
Green Light: Camper behaviour is encouraged and positively rewarded.
Yellow Light: The camper is given a verbal warning, with a check-in from a camp supervisor. It is explained that if this behaviour continues, the campers will need to take a one-day break from camp.
Red Light: Camper is immediately suspended from camp, the opportunity to return to camp depends on the severity of the actions and willingness of camper to right the behaviours.
Removal from the camp program is the last resort for managing behaviour, however, sometimes it is necessary to ensure the safety of campers and staff. Supervisors or directors can work with families to create a plan for successful return, should that be the safest option for all.
Please note: any suspensions or removals from camp due to behaviour will not be refunded.
Respectful Camp Conduct
YMCA of Three Rivers Camps maintains high standards for positive interaction, communication, and role-modeling for children. Harassment and discrimination will therefore not be tolerated from any party. If at any point a parent/guardian, staff or management feels uncomfortable, threatened, bullied, abused, or belittled, they may immediately end the conversation and report the situation to the Camp Director.
Everyone has the right to feel safe and respected at camp. The YMCA of Three Rivers has a zero-tolerance policy for hate or discrimination. Any instances of prejudice, intolerance or hate directed towards individuals due to their race, ethnicity, sexual or gender identity, or disability will result in removal from the camp program.
Illness/Injury at Camp
Your Camper’s safety is our first priority. All day camp staff are fully trained and certified in First Aid and CPR. In the event of a minor incident, YMCA staff will provide immediate appropriate care. All day camp counsellors carry a basic First Aid kid with them during the camp day. Each site has a full First Aid kit.
In the event that your child needs medical attention apart from minor injuries, we will ensure immediate, staff-accompanied transportation to the nearest hospital via ambulance. We will make every effort to contact you or your designated authorized/emergency contact(s), and will stay with your camper until you arrive. Please note, you will be billed for any additional costs.
Sun Sense
With continued concern over the health due to extended sun exposure, we ask that campers bring:
A good sun hat (keep in mind that baseball hats do not cover the ears or back of the neck)
Water bottle
Sunscreen
Please make sure your camper arrives at camp wearing sunscreen and pack some to reapply during the day.
Medication at Camp
Camp staff are able to support the administration of medication; however, it is preferable that children receive all medication at home. If your child requires medication by injection (e.g., Insulin), please speak to the Site Supervisor as additional terms, conditions, and training on your child’s Individual Care Plan is required. Medication must be submitted directly to the Site Supervisor for safe keeping and cannot be stored in your child’s backpack.
If your child requires them, we recommend that you send along two inhalers and/or EpiPens® with your child where possible. One will need to be carried by your child at all times (we suggest that you send a hip sack for easy carrying). The backup will be kept with the counsellor supervising your child's group throughout the day. The counsellor will carry both inhalers/EpiPens® at the parents' request.
Our promise is to deliver on these eight expectations of YMCA campers:
YMCA Camp is fun Fun is the most important part of being a camper.
YMCA Camp is safe YMCA Camps are committed to camper social, emotional, and physical safety. Participants feel safe at camp.
YMCA Camp is a place to build friendships Relationships built at camp last the week, a summer, or a lifetime.
YMCA Camp is a place to belong Campers embrace taking good care of themselves, others, and their camp. And feel like they are part of something special.
YMCA Campers learn valuable skills at camp Participants have unique opportunities to be challenged to grow in spirit, mind, and body.
YMCA Camp values nature Nature is cornerstone to the camp experience. Campers are stewards of their natural surroundings.
YMCA Camp provides a high quality of care Participants have clean and inviting spaces to call home, where they enjoy wholesome, balanced meals.
YMCA Camp is a place to return You are welcome today, tomorrow, and 50 years from now, as a camper, camper family, camp staff, or camp alumnus.
At YMCA of Three Rivers Camps, we aim to support each and every camper during their time at camp, and strive to create an environment that supports not just the physical health of campers, but also their social, emotional, and mental health and well-being. We recognize that each camper has a unique perspective, and comes from a diverse range of backgrounds, home experiences, and family experiences. If you have any information you wish to share about your camper prior to arrival, we encourage you to include it in your camper’s medical form or contact your camp directly to speak with a supervisor. We recognize that medical information can be sensitive, and we always keep this information confidential — we will only share medical information with select staff as needed in order to ensure we are providing your camper with the support they need to have a successful session at camp.
We train our staff to handle situations with sensitivity and an open mind. We also always have our Health Centre staff on site and available 24 hours a day, as well as staff trained in Mental Health First Aid, to support your camper during a crisis. Depending on the seriousness of the situation, camp staff may handle it themselves, or they may be in contact with you and/or a medical professional to create a plan to support your camper.
Minor situations that camp staff will handle on their own may include things like homesickness, minor separation anxiety, or minor feelings of isolation. In the event that these are persistent during your camper’s stay, camp staff will notify you and discuss strategies for how best to support your camper through their time with us. Camp staff may also contact you in the event that they learn about your camper expressing thoughts of self harm, an unhealthy relationship with food or dieting, anxiety, depression, major body image issues or self hate. In these instances, our goal will be to create a plan with you to support your camper during their time at camp. We want camp to be a safe place for everyone, and a place to support healthy relationships, including with one’s self.
However, in the event that a situation arises that is outside of the scope of training our staff have received, we may make the decision to notify you and/or a medical professional. In extreme cases where we feel your camper may pose a risk to themselves or others, we will be in contact with you to create an exit plan for your camper. Instances that may require removal of your camper from the program could include suicidal ideation, self harm including extreme eating disorders, or other harmful behaviours. While our goal is to help support your camper through a successful session at camp, we do not have social workers, therapists, or mental health professionals on staff. It is important that if a situation arises that is beyond the level of training that our staff have received, you are involved with us to create a plan to support your camper’s needs, even if that means removing them from camp. Our number one priority is always the safety of your camper.