YMCA Camp Campbell
Overnight Camp Parent Guide Quick Links:
Parent Guide Updated: May 17, 2024
Summer Camp Preparation | Getting To Camp By Bus | Getting To Camp By Car | Your Child's Stay At YMCA Camp Campbell
Download a Summer Camp Preparation Checklist (PDF) and complete all of the required steps prior to your camp session.
Download a Summer Camp Preparation Checklist (PDF) to ensure that your camper has all they need for a great camp experience.
Campers are not permitted to bring the following: Electronics including cell phones, food or candy, knives/firearms, weapons, fireworks, personal sports equipment, pets or animals, aerosol sprays, hair dryers, curling irons, money, alcohol/drugs, cigarettes, vape pens, or vehicles.
YMCA Camp Campbell and its staff are not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged possessions. Please label all of your child's belongings. Lost and Found will be displayed on the last day of camp so campers can claim lost items. We will hold items in storage for two weeks after the session ends; at that time, items will be donated to local charities. The Camp Director may be contacted to search through stored items for you. You may do so by sending an email to [email protected] with a description of the lost item(s). Please avoid bringing anything to camp that is overly expensive or irreplaceable.
Bus transportation is available for an additional $50 fee one-way on Sunday and Friday only. If you would like to sign-up, please reach out to our office team at [email protected]. Please register for the bus at least 48 hours before busing is needed. Refunds for bus cancellations will be given up to 48 hours prior to the day of the trip. Please keep in mind that the bus has 41 spots and does fill up.
Bus Check-in begins at 12:30 pm. The bus will depart from Central YMCA at 1:15 pm on Sundays.
Central YMCA is located at 1717 The Alameda, San Jose, 95126
There is no late check-in for the bus.
The returning bus from camp will arrive at Central YMCA between 11:00 am - Noon on Fridays.
Traffic on the mountain roads can be unpredictable. If changes occur the information will be communicated to the staff at the Central YMCA who will then communicate with parents waiting in the parking lot.
Parents are expected to supervise their camper until the bus has departed. All campers will follow all camp rules in addition to bus rules communicated by the bus driver prior to leaving the parking lot. These rules include but are not limited to: staying seated in assigned seat, remaining quiet and attentive to all directions, keeping all body parts and possessions inside the bus at all times, keeping aisles and exits clear, and disposing of all trash appropriately.
Parking is limited–carpooling is strongly encouraged. Please maintain a 5 mph speed limit while at camp.
Camp is located on Highway 9, three miles north of Boulder Creek. Highway 9 can be accessed from Saratoga via Saratoga Avenue or in Felton off of Highway 17.
Maps and additional directions are on our website.
One week prior to the start of camp, you will be sent a designated check-in time between 1:30pm and 3:30pm. Please help us by arriving at your designated time. If you are carpooling with a camper(s) with a different assigned time, you may arrive at either/any of the times as long as you come with a single vehicle. All campers will have a health screen that will include a temperature scan and lice check. If your camper is found to have a temperature of 100.4°F or higher, they will not be allowed to move into their cabin until they have been fever free for 24 consecutive hours without medication. If your camper is found to have lice, they will not be allowed to move into their cabin until they are verified to be lice-free by a licensed provider. Parents will have the opportunity to meet their camper's counselor. This is to ensure a timely transition from one check-in time to another.
Similar to check-in, you will have an assigned check-out time from 11am to 1pm. Check-out will take place entirely in the parking lot and campers will be brought to you from their designated check-out location. Please bring a photo ID to check-out (at camp or at the bus stop). Campers are only released to authorized individuals. We encourage one adult listed that does not live in your household. Please note that if your child is to be picked up by someone other than the parent, that person will need to be on the pick-up authorization form in Playerspace. If court orders concerning child custody are in effect, please notify us with a written note prior to arrival at camp.
Our camp program is supervised by a professional YMCA Director. Cabin groups of up to 18 are supervised by two or more experienced camp leaders, while maintaining all American Camp Association standards. We pride ourselves in finding the finest people to lead and inspire our campers including year-round program specialists, teachers, and seasonal counselors. Our staff are selected for their desire to work with children and each one undergoes a training program prior to the beginning of summer camp. To increase the cultural awareness of our campers and ensure the highest quality experience, we hire both local and international staff. Character reference and background checks are conducted for all positions and all camp staff have experience in youth development.
Monday through Wednesday, campers will be scheduled to participate in traditional camp activities (ex: Swimming at the pool, Archery, Arts and Crafts, Woodshop, various Sports and more). This gives campers a chance to try all camp activities and hopefully find a spark inside them for an activity they haven't had the opportunity to try before.
One of the staples of our summer camp is our progressive program. We offer 35+ progressive programs, including axe throwing, hiking, yoga and more. These options aim to teach skills that will allow campers to pursue continued growth in an activity outside of camp. Campers can choose progressive program activities every Thursday of their session. They can stick to one activity for the entire day or select different activities during each block.
Please note: Some activities have age restrictions, such as axe throwing and our ropes course (11+ years).
We are so excited to have students from YMCA Camp Campbell Outdoor Science School (CCOSS) return as campers for Summer Overnight Camp!
However, it is important to point out some differences between the two. While Summer Camp allows meeting and making new friends, it can come with a different comfort than having familiar classmates and teachers around. It may be uncomfortable initially, but it provides a fantastic opportunity to make new connections and relationships. Additionally, most science camps last three to four nights, whereas our summer camp programs can last up to 11 nights. Lastly, our summer program's content will vastly differ from science camp. Our program focuses on recreational activities and social-emotional development instead of a science curriculum.
Going away to camp for a week or more can be a challenging experience for many children and parents. Short-term separation from parents and learning independence are both important parts of growing up even though it may not always be easy. Many children have some difficulty coping with the changes that come with spending a week away from home. This anxiety is perfectly normal and happens on occasion. You can help by counseling your children prior to camp in order to make the transition easier. Let them know that you have confidence in their ability to be away from family and how exciting it will be to meet new friends. If they are unsure of themselves, let them know how proud you will be of them if they try their best to succeed. While your child is at camp, we will notify you if any concerns arise. Once at camp, we do not allow campers to call home directly. Often, when a homesick child speaks to someone from home, their homesickness is only made worse. Instead, we encourage letter-writing both to and from the family. You may even wish to mail a letter a few days prior to the session to make sure it arrives while your child is at camp. We train our staff to be caring and empathetic, while at the same time keeping the campers so busy having fun that hopefully they will forget about their homesickness entirely.
If there is an emergency, a member of the camp staff or other YMCA Staff will notify all families. Friends and family may send mail and emails to their campers which will be delivered every day after lunch during rest hour. Please do not send any food, drinks, gum, or any consumable items, phones, iPods, tablets, etc, as these will be confiscated by staff. Campers will not have the ability to view any video attachments included in emails. If you would like to RECEIVE mail from your camper, please send pre-addressed and stamped envelopes with them. YMCA of the Redwoods will not send mail that does not have postage included.
When sending mail to your camper please remember to be mindful and write phrases such as 'We're so proud of you" or "You are so strong and we know you will have the best time", ask open-ended questions like "Tell me about a new friend you've made?", "What are you most surprised about?", "Have you eaten any new foods?". To avoid homesickness, refrain from telling your child how much you wish they were home or telling them you terribly miss them.
Send mail to your camper to:
Camper's Name, Session #
YMCA Camp Campbell
16275 Hwy 9
Boulder Creek, CA 95006
We will distribute mail if it is received by 12:00 pm on the campers last full day of camp (Tuesday for 6-day mini-camp, Thursday for all other programs), any posted letters or packages received after will be available for return at checkout.
Or email your camper at: [email protected]
You must provide us with complete emergency contact information on the Health History Form. If you are traveling, please list an itinerary and phone number where you can be reached. For campers from outside the United States, YMCA Camp Campbell requires that families provide an emergency contact with a US phone number who has the ability to be at camp within 8 hours of being contacted.
In case of emergency, please contact our office at 831-338-2128 during business hours.
If it is during non-business hours, please call our health center at 831-338-6382.
Our camp has a well-equipped health center with resident health care staff. In case of illness, campers will be housed in the health care facility. If deemed necessary, parents will be contacted to pick up their camper. Parents must have the ability to pick up their camper within 8 hours. If your child is ill, please do not send them to camp. We will try to reschedule for another week. In case of injury, the health care staff will take the necessary measures to ensure proper emergency care which may include: treatment for minor injuries, calling the parents for instructions, or calling local emergency care providers.
YMCA Camp Campbell is a place for campers from a variety of cultures, languages and backgrounds, and has a long history of success with campers whose first language is not English. With that in mind, some safety concerns must be taken in to account, as we cannot guarantee translators for any specific language. We recommend that all campers have at least basic communication skills in English to make sure they can express any health, comfort, or safety concerns to our Staff.
Once Playerspace is open for the season, the Health Examination Form will be due two weeks prior to your camper's arrival. Please print out, have your physician complete the form, and submit.
Send Home Policy
Campers will be sent home if they have a fever or if they exhibit multiple other symptoms consistent with being unwell. YMCA Camp Campbell's Health Supervisor will determine how long a camper needs to be symptom free based on the symptoms they present. This will typically be 24 hours symptom free without medication.
Please do not pack any medications (including over-the-counter drugs) in your child's luggage. All medications must be submitted to health care staff either at YMCA Camp Campbell or during bus pick-up. All prescription and over-the-counter medications need to be packaged in their original containers. Prescription drugs must be in the original container with a licensed physician's instructions. Please place your packaged medications in a clearly labeled zip-lock bag along with dosage and directions for administering. All medications will be turned in to the Health Cottage Team. Please leave your medications accessible during drop-off. Please put the camper's name on the outside of the bag-permanent marker works well for labeling. All medications are administered by the camp health staff under doctor's or parents' written orders. Unused medications will be returned at the close of the camp session. Medications for which we do not receive written authorization to administer will not be provided by the health staff, including Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
Typically, there is no need to contact parents while a camper is at YMCA Camp Campbell. Not hearing from our staff is an indication that everything is going according to plan. We will contact parents and or the emergency contact in cases of emergency as deemed necessary by the health supervisor and/ or Camp Director. For routine illnesses such as vomiting, and nausea we do not call parents from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am The camper's medical needs will be cared for by the Health Supervisor and camp staff. Parents will be contacted the next day.
In the event that the Health Supervisor deems it necessary for campers to be seen by a licensed physician, parents are responsible to pick up the camper and return only after they are seen and have procured a doctor's note releasing them to return to camp.
For the safety of your camper we do not have an open visitation policy at YMCA Camp Campbell. Camp is an immersive experience and we want campers busy in activities, cultivating independence, establishing routines and allowing themselves to embrace their community. Campers who were not feeling homesickness may start to after seeing family. If you would like any updates on how your child is adjusting, our staff is more than happy to give you a call during their camp session. We also kindly request you do not tell your child you will visit or pick them up early from camp if they are feeling homesick. This does not allow your child to fully engage in the camp experience.
While we try our absolute hardest to accommodate requests, not all cabinmate requests are possible and they are not guaranteed. It is important to prepare your camper for the possibility that they may not be in the same cabin as the person they requested so they are not surprised with that information on the first day of camp. Here are the most common reasons why requests are not able to be accommodated:
It is important to note, that even if a cabinmate request is not accommodated, most of the camp day is spent in either meals or activities in different groups from their cabin group. Additionally, camp is a wonderful place to make new friends. Having an independent experience can be incredibly beneficial for campers socially. Our counselors are trained to help campers establish friendships and intentionally help campers make at least one friend on the first day of camp.
Some of our programs here at YMCA Camp Campbell require campers to meet certain physical, mental, and emotional standards. Failing to meet eligibility standards may result in transferring to another program, or removal from a program all together. Please reference the guide below when preparing for the summer:
Teen Adventure Camp (Ages 13+)
Counselor in Training (Age: 16) and Leaders in Training (Age: 15)
The following activities are reserved for campers 11 and up: Rock Wall and Ceramics. The following activities are reserved for campers 13 and up: High Ropes and Axe Throwing,
Attending Y camp is a privilege that you as a parent/guardian have chosen for your child.
Our staff will make every attempt to provide positive, realistic expectations and guidelines for your children. All campers and parents must agree to the rules and expectations outlined on the health history form before attending camp. This is a good opportunity for you and your child to discuss the positive nature of good behavior not only at camp but also in other aspects of their life. In addition, participating in one of our camp programs implies consent for YMCA staff to search camper's belongings when there is reasonable suspicion that the camper has possession of illegal, dangerous, or stolen items.
Campers who cannot follow the camp rules or are adversely affecting the experience of other campers will be dismissed without a refund. In these instances it is the responsibility of the parents or guardians to pick up their child from camp immediately. Camp administration reserves the right to determine what constitutes a violation of these rules and will enforce them as necessary.
Deposit: A deposit of $200 must accompany your registration for each session and is applied to the total camp fee. Deposits are not refundable and not transferable under any circumstances. In case of homesickness, dismissal for behavior, or voluntary withdrawal, there is no refund of any fees. We will refund program fees, minus the deposit, for cancellations made at least 30 days prior to the start of the session or in the event of illness or injury verified by a physician's statement.
Full refunds will be given on a case by case basis with inclusion of a licensed physician's note. Fees cannot be transferred to future years or to campers outside of the immediate family. All cancellations must be made in writing.
Parents/guardians are responsible for any medical costs incurred as a result of injury or illness while your child is at camp. Be sure to provide accurate information (carrier and policy number) regarding your health insurance on the Health History Form.
Our camp is inspected annually by the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency. Additionally, we are a member of the American Camp Association and undergo a thorough accreditation process in which we successfully meet nationally recognized standards of quality in the field of youth camping.