At Y Exploration and Tween Experience camps (for ages 5-12), campers are grouped by age and each group (or "huddle") is supervised by a lead counselor (age 18+), an assistant counselor (age 16+), and sometimes a Counselor-in-Training (age 13-15).
Our camp counselors are CPR-certified and attend 40-hrs of training before camp begins. Our YMCA camp counselor training includes:
We have a minimum of one staff on-site with MAT (Medical Administration Training) certification at all times, and usually several staff on-site are MAT-certified. Our supervisory staff have MAT Certification Level 1, which covers daily medication and rescue medication (epi-pen and inhaler). We do not have staff MAT-certified beyond this level.
Our camp curriculum for ages 5-12 generally includes, each day:
We work hard to make sure kids are learning and having fun at all times at Y camp, including during transitions between activities.
During the summer, we sometimes have days when it is too hot to safely play outside. Our camp staff monitor the Heat Index (the "feels like" temperature) to determine which activities we can do safely. When the Heat Index hits 100 degrees Farenheit we keep campers indoors. When the Heat Index is between 80 and 99 degrees Farenheit we limit outdoor time to 30-minute increments with a bathroom and water break afterwards.
Registration & Billing:
Contact Virginia Murphy, Registrar of School Age Programs: youth@piedmontymca.org or (434) 270-7534
Program Questions:
Contact Cassandra Barnes, Senior Director of School Age Programs: youth@piedmontymca.org or (434) 270-7547