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"Excellent experience; he will be back next year!
Dear Parents,
Thank you for choosing YMCA Camp MacLean. There are many things that you may ask yourself as you prepare your child for camp. What should we pack, can I visit my child, can I send packages, what if my child is homesick? We have prepared this guide to help answer some of these important questions. While this guide cannot be comprehensive enough to answer every question, we have picked topics that we think you want to know the most about. You have our commitment that the physical and emotional welfare of our campers is our first priority. The practices outlined in this guide have been created with this commitment in mind.
If you have questions that are not answered in our materials please contact the camp office prior to summer camp. Additional information can be found on our website at www.campmaclean.com. We also invite you to visit camp during one of our Open Houses. We look forward to meeting you.
Sunday, June 15, 2008 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
YMCA Camp MacLean Directors
The Camp MacLean Staff
The foundation of our camp program is the staff and counselors. Brian Ensberg, our executive director, leads Camp MacLean. He has over 28 years of YMCA camp administration experience and has been our executive director since 1989. Jeff Tremmel, program director, is in his 21st summer as a member of the MacLean staff and has been a full-time director since 1993. Jeff Tremmel directs the overnight summer camp program. Erin Caughlin serves as the full-time director responsible for our day camp and family camping program. All directors live on-site and are available to campers and parents throughout the summer.
We have a 1:5 staff to camper ratio. Counselors live in the cabin with the campers. Each cabin group has a college-age, senior counselor. Counselors are carefully chosen for their maturity, judgement, experience and desire to work with children. Some cabin groups also have a junior counselor. Junior counselors are high school juniors and seniors who are graduates of our two-year Counselor-in-Training program.
Staff must submit to an extensive interview process, reference checks and a criminal-background check before being hired. All staff members are required to attend a one-week staff training session prior to the arrival of campers. All supervisors attend an additional training program. Counselors and staff agree to work according to set policies.
Camp Goals and Philosophy
Our mission is to provide campers the opportunity to: increase self-esteem; experience small group living away from home; learn life skills including responsibility; develop skills through activities that they may only have a chance to do at camp.
We strive as a goal to make camp a fun, active, life-learning experience for all of our campers. The camp mission is achieved by providing challenging, fun activities such as swimming, climbing, boating, kayaking, sports, arts and crafts, archery, hiking, camping and much more.
As with all recreation programs, there is an element of risk at camp, both physical and emotional. This is what makes camping a successful tool for the overall development of the child. We encourage parents to remind campers that the counselors and staff are available to help guide them through the camp experience and that at anytime they need assistance they should seek out a staff member.
Health/Welfare & Security
Camper welfare and risk management comes before everything else. Camp MacLean is accredited by the American Camp Association. All of our activities operate under strict policies and procedures. Staff members live in the cabins with the campers and are trained in emergency and security procedures prior to the start of camp. All visitors must check-in at the camp office. Parents and/or guardians must show a photo ID before they take their child from camp. Directors are in constant communication with the nurse, supervisors, lakefront staff and other activity areas. Fire/severe storm drills occur on the first day of each session.
We keep a registered nurse and an assistant health care manager on staff. Health care personnel live on site and are available 24 hours. The camp maintains a well-equipped infirmary with restrooms and separate living quarters. Campers must have a health history, physical examination, and consent to treat form on file with the nurse. If there is an illness (other than a minor symptom) or an emergency, parents will be notified by the camp nurse or full-time directors. The health care staff works closely with local physicians at the Burlington Clinic. The clinic and Burlington Memorial Hospital are seven minutes from camp and are operated by Aurora HealthCare.
Homesickness
Homesickness is a normal, common experience for children, especially for those away from home for the first time. Homesickness usually subsides when campers become more comfortable with their surroundings. On average, most kids at camp will overcome any anxiety or homesickness on their own within 24-36 hours. There are many ways we work to minimize homesickness. First, campers are kept very busy. The program is highly structured and full of activity from sun up until sun down. Campers are encouraged to find a buddy when going to activities. We keep a 1:5 staff to camper ratio. This allows campers to have quality time with their counselors. Counselors provide homesick campers tender loving care, along with a supportive atmosphere.
Our belief is that camp is a great place for kids to learn how to deal with homesickness. Our experience shows that having a child call home makes the situation worse. Because many kids will experience homesickness at camp, we only notify parents if it becomes unmanageable. One way to try to prevent homesickness is for parents to remind kids how much fun they will have at camp and how many new friends they will make.
Behavior
We strive to make camp a positive atmosphere for children and teens. Each cabin group works with their counselors to establish rules for the entire session. These rules are very similar to what kids might encounter at home and school (example: no bullying others, no fighting/hazing, listen to counselors, respect other people and their property, no foul language or swearing, look out for one another etc. etc.) The counselors meet one on one with campers that act against these rules. In some cases the situation might require the involvement of the counselor's supervisor or camp director(s).
We work hard not to dismiss campers from camp. However, some cases require us to send a camper home if their behavior is unmanageable, if they begin to endanger the other campers, or if the camper requires an undue amount of attention from one or more staff members. While we keep parents informed of behavior issues, some situations may require immediate dismissal without prior communication with the parents. Parents are required to arrange for the pick-up of their child if they are sent home for behavior.
Mail, Phone, and Contacting my Child
Camp is designed as a place for children and teens to learn independence. For this reason and due to the structure of the program and the number of youth in attendance, telephones are not available to campers. Exceptions may be made for special circumstances or emergencies. Do not give your child a calling card or promise them that they can call home. Also, campers cannot have cellular phones or pagers. Cell phones will be collected and returned to the campers when they leave camp.
Campers are encouraged to write letters home. We provide campers with postcards, which they must complete and mail to parents and guardians. Early in the session parents may receive letters indicating homesickness. This is common. Letters often become better as the session progresses. You may also want to send self-addressed, stamped envelopes with your child to promote letter writing.
Campers enjoy receiving mail. Please write your camper. Keep in mind that the tone of the letter makes a difference. Keep letters light-hearted and friendly. Anxious letters from parents make it hard for kids to overcome homesickness. It is okay to send packages. While snacks are allowed, we ask that you do not send beverages. Campers cannot have soda. You may send letters and packages to the following address:
Camper Name
c/o YMCA Camp MacLean
31401 Durand Avenue
Burlington, WI 53105
You may fax letters to your camper at (262) 763-9944. Please put your child's full name on the fax. Campers do not have access to the fax machine.
Transportation and Visiting Camp
We encourage parents to use the charter bus service that departs from the Chicago area YMCA's. We have found that this is an easier way for parents to transition their children into sleep-away camp. If our bus service is not practical parents can drop their child off at camp. Some of our sessions do not have round-trip bus service. We will send a separate package out to all campers and their families regarding transportation. Camp MacLean hires Coach USA-Chicago to provide bus service.
For security and homesick prevention, we do not have visiting days during camper sessions. If you want to meet the counselors and see camp during the summer we recommend that parents come to camp on the final day of each session. If you pick-up your child early from a session please check-in at the main office upon your arrival. You will need to present a photo ID.
If you want to tour our facility prior to the beginning of summer camp you may attend one of our open houses in April or June. If you cannot attend an open house but wish to see camp, call the office to set up a weekday tour. Camp is not open on weekends for tours.
Return to TopActivity choices for Explorer Campers (7 - 12 Years Old)
- Archery
- Softball
- Soccer
- Arts and Crafts
- Athletics
- Nature
- Drama
- Campcrafts
- Climbing and Teambuilding (11 and older)
- Aquatic activities include: swimming, canoeing, rowboating, sailing, windsurfing, mask/fin/snorkel and kayaking
- * contact camp if you have questions regarding teen activities
Typical Daily Schedule:
7:15am Wake-up
8:00am Breakfast
Password (Thought for the day)
Cabin Clean-up
Cabin Activity
10:00am Activity Hour #1
11:00am Activity Hour #2
12:15pm Lunch
1:00pm Rest Period
2:15pm Activity Hour #3
3:15pm Activity Hour #4
4:15pm General Swim
5:45pm Supper
6:45pm Early Evening Program
8:00pm Late Evening Program
Showers
9:00pm Devotion
Get ready for bed
9:15pm Lights Out (7-12 year olds)
9:30pm Lights Out (13-16 year olds)
Bedwetting
We encourage campers to use the washhouse throughout the day. If a camper needs to go to the washroom in the middle of the night, they must go with a staff member. However, from time to time bedwetting occurs. Staff members are trained to deal with bedwetting. First, measures are taken not to embarrass the camper. The sleeping bag and/or sheets/blankets will be cleaned and returned to the bed as quickly as possible. Preventative measures such as frequent bathroom breaks and limiting heavy fluid intake after supper work well. All campers have a bathroom break before bedtime.
Packing, Lost/Found, Laundry
We will provide you with a list of what your child should bring to camp based upon their length of stay. We encourage campers to bring clothes that can get dirty. Soft-sided luggage works well. Parents are encouraged to mark their child's belongings with their name. During camp, lost items are gathered and throughout the week we take time to return items. Any items left behind at camp will be returned if identified.
Campers are responsible for their own belongings. We will hold all items left at camp for one month. We do our best to locate and return lost items, however we will not reimburse families for lost clothing or other items brought to camp.
Campers need to bring enough clothing to last the entire session. If campers stay multiple sessions, they must take clothing home to be washed. The camp does not provide laundry service. (Bedwetting and similar cases being the exception)
Swimming Tests
All campers will take a lake swim test on the first day of camp. Beginning and intermediate swimmers will take swim lessons in order to improve their swimming ability. Advanced swimmers will be able to sail, canoe, kayak, and windsurf. Beginning swimmers are allowed to go row boating as long as they are with a staff member. Intermediate swimmers can row boat without a staff member. The purpose of the swim test is to evaluate campers skill and endurance in water so that they can be safe in the activities provided.
All campers and staff wear life jackets when boating, canoeing, sailing, kayaking or windsurfing. Aquatic activities are supervised by certified lifeguards.
Advanced swim test: equal to five pool lengths, multiple strokes required, water depth 10 feet, tread water for 60 seconds.
Intermediate swim test: equal to two pool lengths, two strokes required, water depth 7 feet, tread water for 30 seconds.
Cabin Assignments/Friends
Campers are assigned to cabin groups prior to the start of the session. Assignments are based on age, gender and program. We assign cabins so that no one is made to feel left out.
Going to camp with a friend is very common. If the friend is the same age or one age/grade apart they can be placed together in the same cabin. There is space on the registration form to list friends. We cannot honor the request if campers are two or more years apart in age.
While we try to honor camper requests for particular counselors we cannot guarantee such assignment. We also cannot honor requests for particular cabins. Cabins are generally grouped by the following ages (Any exception to these groupings are determined by the camp director):
7 and 8 year olds
9 and 10 year olds
11 and 12 year olds
13 and older
Food Service
Meals are a very important part of camp. Our food service manager takes great pride in serving well-balanced, nutritious, and filling meals. Campers will find plenty to choose from at each meal. Meals are served family style. Each cabin group sits together, with their counselor(s). Meals last 45 minutes so campers have time to relax. During hot days, campers are encouraged to drink more fluids. Campers take turns setting/cleaning their dining table and sweeping the floor for their cabin group.
If your child has severe food restrictions it is encouraged that you talk with a program director before enrolling your child. We do not allow campers to bring food from home in place of our camp meals. Exceptions to this must be cleared through a full-time director. Camp MacLean does have procedures in place to deal with peanut allergies. Please contact camp for a copy of our peanut procedures.
Spirituality & Camp
We have campers and staff from every major religious faith. Our purpose is not to change or instill upon campers any particular faith or belief. Our goal is to make every child feel comfortable while still including the traditions of the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association). These traditions help foster character development. Grace is sung before each meal, a thought for the day is held after the breakfast meal and a non-denominational chapel service is held on Sundays when camp is in session. Campers wishing to go to Catholic Mass on Sunday are bused to St. Charles Catholic Church in Burlington. During mass campers are supervised by MacLean staff.
Birthdays
Camp provides a birthday cake and special recognition for those celebrating a birthday at camp. Please include your child's birthday on the registration form.
The Camp Store
Camp provides campers the opportunity to purchase snacks and souvenirs. Campers are allowed to purchase no more than two edible items from the store each day. Campers should not bring cash to camp. Parents are asked to provide the camp office with a credit card prior to their child's session. We will keep track of what your child orders and charge your credit card after your child's stay. Campers will not be allowed to spend more than $30 during their stay unless the parents notify camp otherwise. Balances from checks or cash sent for store purchases cannot be refunded. Store items include:
Stationary/Postcards
Flashlights
Combs
Insect Repellent
Toilet Articles such as toothpaste / shampoo
Kleenex
Stamps
Cabin group photo
Souvenirs
Candy
Ice cream
Snacks
Bottled water
*It is okay to send packages. While snacks are allowed, we ask that you do not send beverages. Campers cannot have soda.
Phone: (262) 763-7742, Fax: (262) 763-9944
Copyright © 2005, YMCA Camp MacLean, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, All Rights Reserved