OVERNIGHT CAMP FAQ
Camp Weona & Camp Kenan
Activities and Daily Schedule
Monday through Friday, campers participate in camp programming alongside their counselors and fellow campers, led by activity leaders. Cabins follow a schedule of camper-choice activities they sign up to participate in, as well rotations of activities they do as a cabin group together. Each day concludes with a special camp Evening Program activity (such as a camp dance, all-camp relay race, scavenger hunt challenge, or campfire and s’mores.) Each week, camp has a themed day to provide extra creative twists on activities, meal times, and evening programs.
Campers will get to participate in a variety of programs during their time at camp. Our goal is to cheer on campers having fun doing their favorite activities, while encouraging trying new hobbies and developing skills. Our programming is designed to be age appropriate for all campers, and is weather dependent. In any weather, campers will have fun in supervised activities. Example Daily Schedule:
- Breakfast
- Camper Choice Activity A
- Camper Choice Activity B
- Lunch
- Rest Time
- Camper Choice Activity 3
- Cabin Group Activity
- Dinner
- Camp Evening Program
- Bedtime
YMCA Camp Staff
Our camp staff team is comprised of camp directors and assistant directors, cabin counselors, activity specialists, a health director (camp nurse), property management, and food service staff.
All staff members have completed and passed an interview, reference checks, background check, and are checked through the New York State Sex Offender Registry.
Our staff gave been selected based on their desire, and ability to work effectively, creatively, and maturely with children.
Prior to camper arrival, staff participate in a minimum of six full days of intensive training. This training includes topics such as risk management, emergency procedures, safety in all programs including water safety, childhood development stages, and positive behavior management.
Health & Safety
The health and safety of the children in our care is our top priority. The YMCA is committed to providing a safe and fun experience for your children by following guidance from the New York State Department of Health, American Camp Association, and industry best practices. Our overnight camps are inspected by the New York State Department of Health, who permits camp to operate each year. A Health Director (Camp Nurse) lives on site, and our health center is equipped to care for temporary illness. Our Health Director also supervises prescription and routine medications, over the counter medications, and general first aid. Additional staff are certified in First Aid, CPR/AED, and Lifeguarding, and receive training specific to facilitating camp program areas such as archery and the ropes course. For more information on NYS camp requirements: Children's Camps in New York State
Dining
Meals are prepared onsite at camp by our qualified kitchen staff team. Our menu offers well-rounded, healthy food choices that are kid and teen friendly. We are happy to accommodate most dietary needs, as indicated on registration and enrollment paperwork. An example menu for a day at camp may include:
- Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and breakfast sausage, cereal, yogurt bar, fruit, milk, and juice
- Lunch: Ground beef tacos with salsa and cheese, salad bar, and lemonade
- Dinner: Turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetable, dinner roll, salad bar, dessert, and lemonade
Lodging, Cabin Groups and Bunkmate Requests
Camper groups reside in an outdoor cabin, supervised by Y staff members. Our cabins host around 10 campers in bunkbed set-up, and have electricity and screened windows. Bathrooms are located in the restroom building, which is next to or nearby the lodging cabin (less than a minute walk.)
Cabin rosters are made based on gender, age, and cabin capacities. Most cabin groups of an age range of one to three years, of the same gender.
At time of online registration, families can indicate the first and last name of one (1) camper they would like to request as a bunkmate to their camper. If Camper A and Camper B each indicate each other as a bunkmate, we will make every effort to pair them together in the same cabin group. Bunkmate requests of more than two campers will not be able to be considered, as our goal is for campers to meet new peers in their cabin group in their time they are at camp.
Communication at Camp
Campers are encouraged to bring stamped & pre-addressed postcards, letters and stamped envelopes, and/or a journal to write about their time at camp. Many campers look forward to sending a letter or postcard home to say ‘hi’ to family or friends at home. At check-in, families can drop off letters to be delivered to their camper Monday through Thursday at rest time. Additionally, camp offers a digital message one-way (home to camp) for us to share with campers each day.
Photos of camp will be shared daily online (details shared with registered families before camp.) We will make every effort to take as many photos of camp as possible, but cannot guarantee a photo of each camper each day.
Campers are not permitted to have phones or smart watches at camp as communication directly home often leads to homesickness. Our camp leadership teams and health offices are available to communicate with directly if any questions or concerns arise.