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 a 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 Camp Policies Camp Schedule 3 4 5

San Diego Armed Services YMCA

3293 Santo Road, San Diego, CA 92124

Visit our website www.militaryymca.org for more information on 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 take pleasure in maintaining a structured, educational program in an atmosphere of fun and excitement. The ASYMCA takes seriously the importance of child protection and safety. We have specific, tested policies and procedures for all staff that work with children. The following are some of our proven safety practices:
1. The ASYMCA has comprehensive pre-employment screening for staff members and program volunteers, including interviews, reference and nation-wide criminal history checks. 2. All camp counselors regularly work with school aged youth in informal educational settings and are certified in pediatric First Aid and CPR.

CAMP ACTIVITIES:
Operation Hero
Frequent relocations often require military families to leave friends and extended family behind. Through a variety of activities, crafts, and challenging games, kids will tackle tough topics including making new friends, family separation, taking responsibility, and conflict resolution. Camp Hero is a chance for kids to build friendships and share common experiences while further developing their self esteem and resilience. These opportunities will take place in the classroom as well as in the community through two local field trips each week to San Diego scenic parks.

Project Discovery
The goal of Project Discovery is developing awareness, knowledge, and commitment to maintaining responsible behavior concerning our environment. Project Discovery activities and lessons will be presented as part of the Camp Hero curriculum to enhance campers understanding of the world around them. Campers will have opportunities to further explore through trips to local parks and a half day trip to the Living Coast Discovery Center to view the Washed Ashore exhibit. The trips are a chance to increase campers understanding and awareness of the diversity of San Diegos ecosystems and wildlife as well as their own impact on the planet.

YES!
YES! (Youth Enrichment Summer) outings afford children in military families, ages 7 to 12, the opportunity to explore a variety of San Diego area attractions. YES! outings take place the Thursday of camp and will include a visit to YMCA Camp Surf or an insiders look behind the scenes at the San Diego Zoo. 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 Hero Awards

Families are encouraged to attend the Camp Hero Award Ceremony on the Friday afternoon of camp. This ceremony is an opportunity to congratulate campers and recognize their accomplishments from throughout the week.

Preparing for Camp

Camp Clothes
Camp Hero is fun. Occasionally fun can also mean messy! Dress your campers in old clothes so they are ready to play hard and get dirty! Campers are required to wear closed toed shoes and socks daily and should arrive to Camp with sunscreen already applied.

Camp Hero Staff

Lyndsay Neer:
Program Director Her fourth summer at the Armed Services YMCA, Lyndsay is a San Diego native and graduate of University of California, San Diego with a degree in Sociology. Her passion for working with children of all ages has made working at the ASYMCA an incredible experience. Lyndsay is ecstatic for the fourth year of Camp Hero and pumped for the new improvements this year!

What to Bring
It is recommended that you send your camper with a backpack to keep all their belongings together. All belongings should be labeled with your campers name before sending to camp. Camp Hero campers must bring their own lunch and water bottle to camp daily (except when noted in the camp schedule). Please send only non -perishable foods as refrigeration is not available. Please also be sure your camper has sunscreen and a sweatshirt.

What not to Bring

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

Lets Camp!
Camp Hero Eligibility
Camp Hero is open to children of military service members from all service branches. The military service member must be rank E6 or below and assigned to a San Diego military installation or San Diego based ship. Children must be between seven and twelve years old by August 1st to be eligible. There will be no age exceptions. Priority will be given to children who have not participated in either the after school Operation Hero program or 2012 Operation Outdoors.

Deposits
Camp Hero registration forms and a twenty dollar non- refundable deposit will be required to register for camp. Should the family fail to cancel their childs camp at least two weeks prior to the first day of camp or the child not attend camp, the family will be placed on the ASYMCA ineligible program list.

Kristen Mihalko: Program Leader Kristen is sun-screened and ready to go for her first summer at the Armed Services YMCA. She is a military child who grew up in San Diego, Guam and Japan. She graduated with a degree in Family Resources from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Kristen has worked with youth of all ages since 2007 and is looking forward to using her creativity and fun personality to make this a fun and inspiring summer for military youth. Cathy Tann: Program Specialist Cathy could not be more excited about kicking off her third summer with the ASYMCA! Cathy is a Texas native with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and an Elementary Teaching Credential from the University of North Texas. She is pumped to be using her background working with youth both in and out of the classroom to make this the best summer yet! Donnabelle Buban: Program Leader Donnabelle is thrilled for her second summer at the ASYMCA. Donnabelle is a graduate of El Camino College and Cuyamaca College with degrees in Child Development. She holds a Child Development Teachers Permit from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and is looking forward to using her background working with young children to create a more meaningful summer this year!

Emergency Procedures
Contacting Campers If you should need to reach your child during camp please call our front desk at 858-751-5755. They will take your message and get the information to your child. Camper Illness or Injury If your camper becomes ill at camp our staff will contact you to pick them up. Please have arrangements to do so in a timely manner. If you child is injured camp staff will take whatever steps are necessary to obtain medical care. If we are unable to reach you and your child needs medical attention they will be transported to the hospital by an ambulance. All expenses for emergency medical care are the responsibility of the parent.

Financial Contributions
The Armed Services YMCA is proud to provide over 40 free programs to San Diego military service members and their families each month. Should you wish to make a contribution to the Armed Services YMCA in support of programs such as Camp Hero you may do so by sending your donation to the Armed Services YMCA at 3293 Santo Road, San Diego, CA 92124 or call 858-751 -5755 for more information.

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 YMCA Camp Surf or a second location, to be announced. 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 days activities. We appreciate your understanding that field trips are subject to change as necessary for health or safety of the campers and staff.

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 858-7515755. Campers that arrive after field trip transportation has departed can not be accommodated.

Behavior Management Guidelines

It is the Armed Services YMCAs 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 dismissed from the Camp Hero.

Pick Up
Camp Hero pick up is between 4:00 and 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.

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)

Attendance
Camp Hero is a full day, weeklong experience. Campers routinely late to camp, picked up early or late, or absent will be dismissed from Camp Hero.

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

4:00-4:30 p.m.
Camp Hero Pick Up

Camp Hero Weekly Schedule

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Monday

8:00 a.m.

Camp Hero Opens for Drop Off

Camp Games Buses leave for YES! Outing Camp Hero begins specific camp activities Camp Hero begins specific camp activities Buses leave for local field trip Lunch Camp Hero field trip to Outdoor Camp Games Lunch Camp Hero begins specific camp activities Camp Hero Arts &Crafts

8:30 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

Camp Hero begins specific camp activities

10:00 a.m.

Camp Hero local field trip

11:30 a.m.

Lunch

YES!
August 9:
YMCA Camp Surf

Lunch

12:00 p.m.

Outdoor Camp Games Project Discovery Activities

1:00 p.m.

Buses Return

August 16:
San Diego Zoo:
The Inside Scoop

Project Discovery Activities August 23:

YMCA Camp Surf

2:00 p.m. Camp Hero Arts & Crafts

2:30 p.m.

Project Discovery Activities

The Living Coast Discovery Center

Camp Games August 30:

San Diego Zoo:
The Inside Scoop

3:00 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

Camp Hero Arts & Crafts Camp Games

Buses Return Camp Games Buses Return

Camp Awards
Families encouraged to attend!

4:00 p.m.

Camp Games

4:30 p.m.

Camp Hero Pick Up