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SAY
HELLO TO
SUMMER
Parent Handbook
CAMP PA-WA-PI
PARKWOOD YMCA
2306 Haslett Rd., East Lansing
517.827.9680
camppawapi.org
DEAR PARENT OR GUARDIAN,
Thank you for enrolling your child at Parkwood YMCA’s Camp Pa-Wa-Pi. You
have taken a very important step in helping your child develop their character
and appreciation of the outdoors. We will do everything possible to make your
child’s day camp experience a positive one by emphasizing the core values of
caring, respect, honesty and responsibility. This guide will assist you with your
preparation for camp. Whether it is your child’s first time at Camp Pa-Wa-Pi
or they are returning for more adventures, please take a moment and read
through this guide. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jon
Sporer, Camp Director, at jsporer@ymcaoflansing.org or 517.827.9680.
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE TIMES
Bus transportation is included in your camp fee and is available from the
Parkwood YMCA location. Children must be dropped off and picked up at the
same location each day of the week.
8:50 am at Parkwood YMCA or Camp PWP
4:30 pm at Parkwood YMCA or Camp PWP
PROGRAM HOURS / EXTENDED CARE
Extended care is available at the Parkwood YMCA only! Hours are from 7:30
am to the start of camp and from the end of camp to 6:00 pm. You can drop
off or pick up your child any time during the extended care hours. The fee is
$35 per child, per week. There is a $10 fee for every 6 minutes late for pick up.
STAFF LEADERSHIP
All YMCA Day Camp staff have been carefully selected for their maturity,
character, experience with children, special talents, and creativity. All staff
have been thoroughly screened with a complete background and criminal
history check. Children are placed in age appropriate groups and there is a
trained senior counselor for every ten campers. All staff receive extensive
training in camp programming, behavior management and emergency
procedures. The camp staff is also certified in CPR, Basic First Aid and Child
Abuse Prevention.
DEPOSIT & LATE FEES
A $50 deposit is required for each week of Camp Pa-Wa-Pi registrations. The
remaining balance must be paid in full on the Wednesday prior to each week
of camp. Payments and registrations made after 10:00 pm on Wednesday will
incur a $10 late fee.
CHANGES & REFUNDS
Cancellations received fourteen days before the affected session receive a
refund less a $50 processing fee. Refunds and transfers requested after this
time require a medical certificate. Once the week begins, no refunds or credits
are made. There will be a $10 fee to switch from one camp to another or from
one week to another.
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YMCA Camp Pa-Wa-Pi Parent Handbook
HEALTH HISTORY AND CAMPER RELEASE FORM
A health history form is provided on the reverse side of the registration form
located in the Camp Pa-Wa-Pi brochure. Please ensure that you have read,
completed, signed and returned it to the Parkwood YMCA member service
desk at least one week prior to the start of your child’s camp session. All
information given on this form is strictly confidential. Please understand your
child will not be accepted at camp without a completed and signed form.
HEALTH HISTORY
Please be specific about the medication your child needs throughout the day.
Medication should be sent in the original container with directions clearly
marked, and with parent’s written permission. All prescription medications
must have a pharmacy label with the camper’s name, doctor’s name and correct
directions for dispensing. ALL PRESCRIPTION AND OVER THE COUNTER
MEDICATIONS WILL BE GIVEN TO THE DIRECTOR AT CHECK-IN.
Please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the start of camp on the first day
in order to check-in with the director if your child has to take a medication at
camp.
CAMPER RELEASE SECTION
Please include all persons you are authorizing to pick up your child from camp
or in the event of an emergency where your child needs to leave camp and you
are unreachable. Please inform contacts to bring a picture ID with them to pick
up your child.
PARENT NOTIFICATION
A parent or guardian will be notified immediately by the director if their child
becomes ill or is injured at camp.
CAMPERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
We stand by our mission that all children are deserving of a fun and exciting
summer. We understand that all campers are unique, and we try our best to
accommodate all families and their special needs. A day or week at camp is very
busy, and all campers must be ambulatory and able to feed, toilet and change
their clothes for swimming. All of our campers are integrated throughout the
day, and we provide opportunities for more freedom and space for those who
may require a caregiver. Because of the integration, we hold all campers to the
same standards in terms of bad language or physical contact.
We encourage a camp tour prior to summer to have your camper meet our staff
and view the facility. The decision to attend will reside mutually with both the
family and Camp Director. If your camper is used to working with a caregiver or
paraprofessional in a home or group setting, we recommend that someone in a
similar role attend camp to lend support to our counseling staff. In some cases,
the YMCA can provide that extra person. Our regular counselors are trained to
manage a typical group of 8-12 kids and they are not able to dedicate one on
one time for more than a couple minutes. Please contact Jon Sporer at 517827-9680 or jsporer@ymcaoflansing.org for any questions or to set up a tour.
YMCA Camp Pa-Wa-Pi Parent Handbook
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HEALTH POLICY
The YMCA Day Camp programs are equipped to care only for children who are
in good health. Children may NOT attend the program if they exhibit any of the
following symptoms:
•
•
•
•
•
fever of 100 degrees or more
vomiting or diarrhea
severe nasal or eye discharge
an unidentified rash
a contagious disease (chicken pox, measles, lice and ring worm)
If a child is prescribed antibiotics the child must be on the medication for
at least 24 hours before returning to the camp program. If your child has a
communicable disease, please notify the camp director as soon as possible. If a
camper becomes ill while at camp, parents will be contacted to make necessary
arrangements to pick up the child.
CAMP BEHAVIOR REINFORCEMENT
The staff at Camp Pa-Wa-Pi will work very hard and practice positive
reinforcement as the primary focus for camper behavior. In addressing those
campers that find it difficult to follow camp rules and policies the following
steps are in place:
Step 1
Counselors address the behavior with the camper, helping the camper to
understand the rules and take responsibility for changing the behavior.
Step 2
Senior staff will meet with the camper to discuss and implement solutions.
Step 3
The camper will meet the Camp Director. Parental contact and clear
objectives will be established.
Step 4
The camper will be removed from camp without a refund. A parent or
guardian will be asked to pick the camper up as soon as possible. At YMCA
Camp Pa-Wa-Pi, bullying and hazing is inexcusable, and we have a firm
policy against all types. Our Camp philosophy is based on our mission
statement which ensures that every camper has the opportunity to grow
personally, develop positive self-image, learn to appreciate diversity, feel
safe, feel accepted and have fun! We work together as a team to ensure that
campers gain self-confidence, make new friends, and go home with great
memories.
* Note: Actions deemed physically or emotionally harmful to oneself or
another camper are subject to immediate dismissal.
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YMCA Camp Pa-Wa-Pi Parent Handbook
WHAT TO BRING TO CAMP
Please label your camper’s items.
• Jacket or sweatshirt for cool mornings.
• Play clothes
• Bathing suit & towel
• Closed toe shoes (No sandals or Crocs)
• Non perishable brown bag lunch
• Insect repellent (please apply prior to camp)
• Sunscreen (please apply prior to camp)
•Hat
• Rain Gear
• Water Bottle
• Day pack or book bag to carry everything
WHAT NOT TO BRING TO CAMP
Please do not bring any Ipods, personal video games, cell phones, pagers or
other VALUABLES, as we cannot ensure their safety. Any weapons of any kind,
including but not limited to, guns, firearms, knives, illegal drugs and contraband
are strictly prohibited. Campers found in possession of these items will be
asked to leave camp immediately and the police will be notified.
LOST AND FOUND
Camp will have a designated “lost and found” area. Camp staff will do their
best to return items to campers on Friday afternoons. If any items are not
claimed within two weeks they will be donated to charity. Labeling your
camper’s items will reduce the risk of losing them.
INCLEMENT WEATHER PROCEDURES
Camp is held rain or shine. We will be conducting activities inside and outside
providing that there is no lightning. Please dress your child accordingly. Don’t
forget a raincoat or poncho!
In the case of severe weather or a tornado warning, campers will be escorted
immediately to the Camp Pa-Wa-Pi lodge. If it is determined that the campers
are in a heat emergency, the staff will take all precautions to protect campers
from the effects of the heat. Children will be provided plenty of water breaks
and rest periods in a cool place.
YMCA Camp Pa-Wa-Pi Parent Handbook
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SWIMMING AND LOCKER ROOM INFORMATION
Campers will be swimming at the Williamston Community Pool as part of the
daily programming. They will be supervised in the locker rooms by multiple
counselors. The staff will take all necessary precautions to ensure the campers’
privacy and safety. All swimmers will take a basic swim test. Those who need
a lifejacket will be provided with one. We follow the American Red Cross
guidelines in terms of guard to swimmer ratios (at least one lifeguard for every
25 swimmers.)
ADVENTURE CAMP OVERNIGHTS
Once each month, Adventure campers have the option to camp out in the
Pa-Wa-Pi lodge! We will have a camp fire, roast s’mores, and play night time
games. Dinner Friday and breakfast Saturday will be provided. Campers will
need to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, appropriate overnight clothing, and a
toothbrush to camp on Friday morning. The overnights will be single gender,
and the cost is $20.
THEME FRIDAYS
Fridays will be a culmination of the week’s events. Special theme activities
will be planned each Friday. Between 3:00-3:30pm, we encourage parents to
attend the activities to support your child’s camp experience.
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YMCA Camp Pa-Wa-Pi Parent Handbook
TYPICAL DAY AT CAMP
8:50am
Drop off at Parkwood YMCA or Camp PWP
9:30am - 9:45am
Flag Pole Ceremony
9:45am - 11:45pm
Camp Activities
12:00pm - 12:30pm
Lunch
Clean up/Washroom Break
12:30pm - 2:00pm
Camp Activities
2:00pm - 3:45pm
Swim at Williamston Community Pool
4:30pm
Pick up at Parkwood YMCA or Camp PWP
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• Classic Day Camp Ages 5-9
• Adventure Camp Ages 10-13
• Leaders in Training Ages 14-17
• Licensed by the State
• Extended Care Hours
• Highly Trained Staff
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
www.camppawapi.org
EMAIL THE DIRECTORS
Jon Sporer
jsporer@ymcaoflansing.org
Kayla Scelfo
kscelfo@ymcaoflansing.org
CALL THE PARKWOOD YMCA
517.827.9680
CAMP PA-WA-PI
3235 E. Grand River
Williamston, MI 48895