WELCOME TO THE NEW ROCHELLE YMCA'S SUMMER CAMP!
Youth Development is one of the YMCA's Impact Areas. Through the heart of our summer camps, the Y empowers young people to reach their fullest potential. The YMCA Summer Camp program offers more than just a place to keep your child physically and mentally engaged over the summer. It's a fun and caring summer experience that fosters new friendships, teaches new skills and provides so many ways to have fun and laugh the time away. The experience is so much more than taking daily swims in our pool, dancing in our studio, creating unique arts and crafts, playing games, or taking fabulous weekly trips – it’s a nurturing experience and another step for your child to grow within our community.
In our summer camp, we have embedded a holistic approach to programming that enhances the unique developmental journey of every child and teen. Activities and trips vary depending on the age group to ensure they are aligned to appropriate milestones.
We create opportunities for campers to challenge themselves as they seek to become more independent and self-reliant. Team building activities allow campers to communicate effectively and take on leadership roles as they work together to solve problems. Sports and games foster healthy competition and inspire kids to do their best. As for safety, campers will have the option to have free Safety Around Water lessons for 30 minutes per week (for a minimum of 4 weeks) for those who sign up!
Women throughout the events that make up the day, we teach our four core values: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Counselors, who serve as positive role models, help with personal development activities teaching these universal values. It may seem like just fun and games, but we mean to be strategic and purposeful in our selected activities – we want to nurture your child’s growth.
We enrich each child’s:
MIND, by exposure to science, math, and reading
BODY, by exploring health and wellness
SPIRIT, by growing an appreciation of the arts & music
Each child gains something different at camp: making new friends, self-confidence, independence, and leadership — all skills that last far beyond camp. Whether it’s your child’s first camp experience or a returning camper, our camp provides an environment where campers are encouraged to grow, have fun, be creative and make memories that will last a lifetime.
What are the camp's hours of operation?
Normal Camp Hours:
Monday through Friday, 9:00AM to 5:00PM
For parents who need additional time, we offer Extended Care for an additional fee.
Extended Care: 7:30AM-9:00AM and/or 5:00PM to 6:30PM
Are you using safety procedures to mitigate COVID-19 exposure?
During the 2020 season, the New Rochelle YMCA carefully followed all New York State guidelines per COVID-19 exposure during summer camp sessions. We are continuing to follow these guidelines in order to ensure the safety of our campers and staff. All campers and staff are screened first thing at arrival and monitored throughout the day. Camp sessions are limited to "pods" and all staff and campers are required to wear masks throughout the day. In addition, our facility is sanitized throughout the day by our staff including high touch areas (e.g., door knobs, railings) and equipment ( such as basketballs, mats, etc.)
What are the drop-off & pick up procedures for camp?
Drop-off Procedure: Much like last year, parents will be asked to drop off their children in the main parking lot. Campers will be checked in by their counselors and admitted through the main field. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CHILDREN AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE ON BAYARD STREET.
Dismissal Procedure: Camper Dismissal will also be done in the main parking lot. Please pull into the lot, then tell the staff who you are picking up. Please note -- only authorized adults will be allowed to pick up a child. If you need an additional adult added to your authorized pick up list, please contact Tanisha Miller at tmiller@nrymca.org. We cannot allow adults who are not on the authorized list to pick up children from camp.
Late Camper/Early Dismissal: If you are running late to drop-off or if you need to pick up a camper early we ask that you call us at (914) 632-1818. Please note -- there will be a fee for campers who are picked up late from camp.
Rainy Day/Severe Weather Information: Camp runs in all weather. The YMCA will take appropriate safety precautions during inclement weather. Children/staff will be required to remain indoors when thunder and/or lightning are present. For more information, please see the section “What To Bring To Camp”. In the case of a severe emergency which requires the evacuation of the camp, the Camp Director and other administrators will be responsible for contacting all guardians of participants in order to coordinate immediate pick up.
What should I pack for camp?
Included with enrollment, all campers will receive healthy meals and snacks throughout the day. You can still send your child with their own snack and/or lunch, but please make sure you avoid any common allergens, such as peanuts.
My child has medications they need to bring to camp; what are the procedures for medication?
Medication needs to be handed in during drop-off at the beginning of the day. This includes both prescription and non-prescription medication. All medicine will be stored in the main offices and administered as needed.
What are your illness, injury & emergency procedures?
All staff members are trained and certified in first aid and will treat minor injuries and illnesses. In the event of a minor accident or illness, the camp nurse/health care supervisor will notify the parent/guardian. Should a serious injury or illness occur that requires care beyond immediate first aid, an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) will be activated for the safety of the child. The primary guardian or emergency contact will be notified as soon as possible and the child will be taken to the nearest hospital for immediate care.
I have a concern about my child. Who do I talk to?
The New Rochelle YMCA strives to provide your camper with a safe, enriching experience. Should you feel we are not meeting this obligation, please notify the Camp Director as soon as possible. At any time, a parent/guardian may request a meeting with the Camp Director to discuss matters regarding their camper. Unit Directors & Group Leaders may not have a meeting with a guardian without prior approval from the Camp Director. For further assistance, call (914) 632-1818.
Who are your staff? What level of training do they receive?
The New Rochelle YMCA believes that the success of our program lies in the quality of our staff. Employees are carefully selected based on experience, education, talents and interpersonal skills. Camp staff is required to attend an extensive training process to cover specific program goals, emergency procedures, group work and curriculum planning. All of our staff have criminal background checks and a sex offender check performed before working with the children. Above all else, the members of our staff share a common love for working with children! All camp staff wear YMCA staff shirts for easy identification. Our Aquatics staff consists of certified lifeguards who have experience in water safety and swim lesson instruction.