Camp Hero PARENT

GUIDEBOOK

Free Day Camp for Military Youth

Camp Hero
It is tough being a kid these
days – particularly when
dealing with the stress of
belonging to a military family.
Our Youth Development
programs help kids cope while
providing them with positive,
fun opportunities to get to
know themselves and each
other.
Camp Hero is a week long day
camp that serves as an outlet
for military youth to share their
common experiences and
receive academic enrichment
all while making friends and
having fun! The curriculum is
designed to help children find
practical ways to address the
challenges of military life,
provide tools to help them
succeed in school, and improve
social and communication
skills. Kids learn more
about themselves and
their community with
week of exploration and
excitement.
This Parent Guidebook has
useful information to prepare
your child for Camp Hero as
well as an overview of camp
policies and procedures.
Please take time to review this
with your child and get excited
about Camp Hero!
Contents:
Camp Staff & Activities 2
Preparing for Camp 3
Camp Policies 4
Camp Schedule 5

San Diego Armed Services YMCA Visit our website www.militaryymca.com for more information on

3293 Santo Road, San Diego, CA 92124 the over 40 free programs and services available to your family!
 Camp Hero Staff
Camp Hero staff are full time
Armed Services YMCA Youth
and Community Outreach (YCO)
staff members that want to host
an awesome summer packed
with fun, adventure, and
exploration!

Our staff is passionate about

supporting military youth and

CAMP ACTIVITIES:
take pleasure in maintaining a
structured, educational
program in an atmosphere of
fun and excitement.
Operation Hero The ASYMCA takes seriously
Frequent relocations often require military families to leave
friends and extended family behind. Through a variety of the importance of child
activities, crafts, and challenging games, kids will tackle tough protection and safety. We have
topics including making new friends, family separation, taking specific, tested policies and
responsibility, and conflict resolution. Camp Hero is a chance procedures for all staff that
for kids to build friendships and share common experiences work with children.
while further developing their self esteem and resilience. These
opportunities will take place in the classroom as well as in the The following are some of our
community through two local field trips each week to San Diego proven safety practices:
scenic parks.
1. The ASYMCA has comprehensive

Project WILD pre-employment screening for

staff members and program
The goal of Project WILD is to assist learners of any age in volunteers, including interviews,
developing awareness, knowledge, skills and commitment to reference and nation-wide
result in informed decisions, responsible behavior and criminal history checks.
constructive actions concerning wildlife and the environment
upon which all life depends. Project WILD activities and lessons 2. All camp counselors regularly
will be presented as part of the Camp Hero curriculum to work with school aged youth in
enhance campers understanding of the world around them. informal educational settings
Campers will have opportunities to further explore the Project and are certified in pediatric
WILD lessons through half day trips to Cabrillo National First Aid and CPR.
Monument and Santee Lakes Park. The trips are a chance to
increase campers’ understanding and awareness of the diversity
of San Diego’s ecosystems, wildlife, and history.

Camp Hero Awards

YES! Families are encouraged to attend
YES! (Youth Enrichment Summer) outings afford children in the Camp Hero Award Ceremony
military families, ages 7 to 12, the opportunity to explore a on the Friday afternoon of camp.
variety of San Diego area attractions. YES! outings take place This ceremony is an opportunity to
the Thursday of camp and will include a visit to either the San congratulate campers and recognize
Diego Wild Animal Park or YMCA Camp Surf. Camp Hero their accomplishments from
campers will have priority registration to the YES! outing not throughout the week.
offered during their week of camp.
 Camp Clothes Camp Hero Staff
Preparing for Camp
Camp Hero is fun. Occasionally fun can also mean messy!
Dress your campers in old clothes so they are ready to play Karena Vigliotti: Program Director
hard and get dirty! Campers are required to wear closed Beginning her third summer at the
toed shoes and socks daily and should arrive to Camp with Armed Services YMCA, Karena comes
sunscreen already applied. to us from Massachusetts and is a
graduate of St. Lawrence University
What to Bring with a degree in Psychology. Her
It is recommended that you send your camper with a energy,
backpack to keep all their belongings together. All enthusiasm,
belongings should be labeled with your camper’s name and love for
before sending to camp. Camp Hero campers must bring working with
their own lunch and water bottle to camp daily (except children of all
when noted in the camp schedule). Please send only non- ages has made
perishable foods as refrigeration is not available. Please her time at the
also be sure your camper has sunscreen and a sweatshirt. Armed Services
YMCA a
What not to Bring tremendous
Campers may not bring electronic devices (cell phones, thrill. Karena discovered a love for
iPods, video games), toys, jewelry, or money to Camp camp her first week at the Armed
Hero. The Armed Services YMCA is not responsible for any Services YMCA and is excited to see
items that are lost or stolen. Camp Hero grow to a full week
program this summer!
Andrea Fields: Program Leader
Let’s Camp!
a twenty dollar refundable deposit Andrea joined the YCO staff last
will be required to register for summer for YES! and is excited to
camp. Deposits will be available begin her second summer at the
Camp Hero Eligibility for return to parents the final day Armed Services YMCA. A Southern
Camp Hero is open to children of of camp or the last registered YES! California
military service members from all outing, whichever is later. Should native, summer
service branches. The military the family fail to cancel their has always
service member must be rank E6 child’s camp at least two weeks been her
or below and assigned to a San prior to the first day of camp or the favorite season!
Diego military installation or San child not attend camp, the deposit Andrea is a
Diego based ship. Children must will be considered a donation to senior at San
be between seven and twelve the non profit Armed Services Diego State
years old by August 1st to be YMCA. University, pursuing a degree in
eligible. There will be no age Women’s Studies and Social Work.
exceptions. Priority will be given Emergency Procedures She looks forward to directing her
to children who have not Contacting Campers passion for empowering youth and
participated in either the after If you should need to reach your their families into meaningful summer
school Operation Hero program or child during camp please call our programs for military youth.
2009 Operation Outdoors. front desk at 858-751-5755. They Lyndsay Calhoun: Program Leader
will take your message and get the
Financial Contributions information to your child.
Starting her first summer at the
The Armed Services YMCA is Armed Services YMCA, Lyndsay is a
proud to provide over 40 free Camper Illness or Injury San Diego native
programs to San Diego military If your camper becomes ill at and graduate of
service members and their families
camp our staff will contact you to University of
each month. Should you wish to pick them up. Please have California, San
make a contribution to the Armed arrangements to do so in a timely Diego with a
Services YMCA in support of manner. If you child is injured degree in
programs such as Camp Hero you camp staff will take whatever steps Sociology. Her
may do so by sending your are necessary to obtain medical passion to reach
donation to the Armed Services care. If we are unable to reach children of all ages through
YMCA at 3293 Santo Road, San you and your child needs medical education and recreation, has
Diego, CA 92124 or call 858-751- attention they will be transported brought her to the ASYMCA from
5755 for more information. to the hospital by an ambulance. Vilseck, Germany where she worked
All expenses for emergency with military youth and their families.
Deposits medical care are the responsibility She is eager and ready to embark on
Camp Hero registration forms and of the parent. the fun exploration of Camp Hero!
Field Trip
Transportation
Camp Hero will travel by Armed
Services YMCA buses for half day
trips to local San Diego parks and
for a full day trip to either the San
Diego Wild Animal Park or YMCA
Camp Surf.
The following are some of our
transportation safety practices:
1. Each bus driver is a Armed
Services YMCA staff member who
has completed comprehensive
pre-employment screening
including interviews, drug and
alcohol testing, and reference
and nation-wide criminal history
checks.
2. Each driver is required to perform
a pre-trip inspection for their bus
before transporting passengers.
3. Each Armed Services YMCA bus is
outfitted with seat belts and
routinely inspected by the
California Highway Patrol.
We do our best to maintain a reliable
schedule of departure and arrival times
and accomplish all planned activities.
Please do your part to help by arriving
on time to camp and ready for the day’s
activities. We appreciate your
understanding that field trips are subject
to change as necessary for health or
safety 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 Policies
Drop Off
Camp Hero opens for drop off at
8:00 a.m. each day. Camp
activities begin at 8:30 a.m. and
may include scheduled field trips.
If you expect to be late or your
child will be absent from camp
please call the Armed Services
YMCA by 8:15 a.m. at 858-751-
5755. Campers that arrive after
field trip transportation has
departed can not be
accommodated.
Pick Up
Camp Hero pick up is at 4:30 p.m.
Campers must be picked up and
signed out by an authorized pick-
up list. Please show courtesy to
Camp Hero staffers by arriving
promptly for pick up. Campers not
picked up by 5:00 p.m. will be
supervised by ASYMCA staff and
every attempt will be made to
contact parents and emergency
contacts. If by 6:00 p.m. the
parents are not reachable Child
Protective Services will be called. dismissed from the Camp Hero.
Attendance
Camp Hero is a full day, week-
long experience. Campers
routinely late to camp, picked up
early or late, or absent will be
dismissed from Camp Hero.
Deposits will not be refunded for
those dismissed from Camp Hero. problem.
Behavior Management
Guidelines
It is the Armed Services YMCA’s
goal to provide a healthy, safe,
and secure environment for all day
camp participants. Children who
attend the program are expected
to follow the behavior guidelines
based on the four core values and
to interact appropriately in a
group setting.
Behavior Guidelines:
1. We will care for ourselves and
for those around us.
2. Honesty will be the basis for
all relationships and
interactions.
3. People are responsible for
their actions.
4. We respect each other and the
environment.
Our camp staff is trained and is
expected to resolve behavior
problems in a positive manner. In
the event problems persist the
child may be suspended or
Some acts may result in immediate
suspension or dismissal including
but not limited to: fighting,
intentionally harming others, theft,
and possession of weapons or
drugs. Deposits will not be
refunded for those dismissed from
the program due to a behavior
 Camp Hero Weekly Schedule
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
8:00 a.m.
Camp Hero Opens for Drop Off
8:30 a.m. Camp Hero Camp Hero Camp Hero Camp Games Camp Crafts
9:00 a.m. begins specific begins specific begins specific Buses leave for Buses leave for
camp activities camp activities camp activities YES! Outing local field trip
10:00 a.m. Camp Hero Camp Hero Camp Hero

YES!
Arts & Crafts Arts & Crafts Arts & Crafts Camp Hero
local field trip
11:30 a.m. Lunch Lunch Lunch
with picnic
12:00 p.m. Outdoor Camp Buses leave for Outdoor Camp
August 6:
Games local field trip Games Wild Animal Park Santee Lakes
1:00 p.m. August 13: Santee
Camp Hero YMCA Camp Surf
Project WILD Project WILD
local field trip Activities and August 20:
Activities and YMCA Camp Surf
2:00 p.m. Experiments Experiments Buses Return
August 27:
2:30 p.m. Cabrillo Wild Animal Park Camp Games
Monument
3:00 p.m. Camp Hero Camp Hero (lunch is provided)
Point Loma
3:30 p.m. Arts & Crafts Arts & Crafts Camp Awards
Families encouraged
4:00 p.m. Camp Games Buses Return Camp Games Buses Return to attend!

4:30 p.m.
Camp Hero Pick Up