Life at Camp Sequoia Lake

This section offers a glimpse into our facilities, activities, food, schedule, and more to give you a better idea of our Youth, Teen and Family programs. Unfortunately, we haven't figured out how to show you the sunshine, cool breeze, smell of pine trees, or fresh, crisp air. You'll just have to come experience that part for yourself.

The Location	Camp Activities	Cabins
Daily Schedule	Safety Practices	Camp Food

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Proven Safety practices for YMCA Staff

YMCA Camp Tulequoia takes the importance of your child’s protection and safety seriously. We have specific tested policies and procedures for all staff that work with children. Following are some of our proven safety practices:

• The YMCA has a comprehensive pre-employment screening process for staff members and program volunteers, including interviews, reference checks and criminal background checks. All YMCA Staff are fingerprinted, TB and drug tested.
• YMCA staff maintain certifications relevant to their job. All camp counselors are certified in first aid and CPR. All lifeguards are certified through the Red Cross or the YMCA of the USA and have received additional site specific training on Sequoia Lake. Children are never permitted in aquatic activities without a lifeguard present.
• Intensive Staff Training periods are conducted prior to our summer programs, varying in length form 7 to 14 days. Training programs include: Policies and Procedures, Child Development, Communication Skills and Bully Prevention, Emergency Procedures and Safety Practices, Safety and Accident Prevention and Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting procedures. Camp Directors, lifeguards and other leadership staff attend additional training.
• At no time during a YMCA program may a staff person be alone with a single child. YMCA Staff enforce the “buddy system” between children. As a part of effective 24-hour responsibility, YMCA staff resides within camper cabins.
• Camp staff is prepared to respond to first aid situations. Health Center facilities are maintained at camp. The camp health care program is under the written direction of a licensed physician. Emergency services are local, with the nearest hospital in Reedley, California.
• YMCA Staff are vigilant toward intruders, hazardous situations or unsafe practices. Our camps are considered a “closed environments.” Guests must be authorized, registered and supervised at all times.
   

FAQ’s about safety at Camp

1. Are the camp facilities and activities safe? Yes and yes! YMCA Camp Tulequoia has safety practices in place to address many issues. Practices include: - Rigorous hiring procedures - Extensive staff training; including topics on child abuse prevention, bullying prevention, sun protection, communication skills, risk management, medical practices and many of other safety related topics. - Weekly facility inspections - Continued scrutiny of our Skate Camp program to ensure safe and fun activates. - The documentation of maintenance and repair of facilities and potential camp hazards. - Extensive medical procedures documented by a certified practicing physician. - Written emergency procedures and drills for natural disasters. - Orientation of campers to safety concerns.
2. What is the ratio of counselors to campers? Most schools have a ration of 1 to 30 in the classroom and a total staff ratio of 1 to 25. At camp there is one cabin counselor for every 7 to 9 campers. Including counselors, staff responsible for delivering specific programs, organizing events, the camp directing team and support staff the ratio of total staff to campers is less than one to four. That means that we employee one staff member for every four campers that come to camp. That’s a great ratio.
3. Is the camp insured? Yes
4. Are good health practices observed in the dining areas? Does the camp serve food my child will like? Our camps Dining Services are inspected every season by the State of California Health Department. Food preparation and handling activities are supervise and reviewed on site by our camp Food Service director who has been certified by the National Restaurant Association to be knowledgeable and skilled at maintaining high food safety standards. This includes studying safe methods of food storage, serving, cleaning and equipment maintenance and inspection. This certification is renewed every three years. The rest of our Dinning Service staff is trained “in house,” on food safety practices using the “Serve Safe” curriculum. Camp meals are designed to be nutritious, well balanced and tasty. Menus are created with children ranging in age from 7-14 in mind. Our dining services offers a wide variety of foods such as fresh fruits and greens, salads, pizza, hamburgers, and spaghetti just to name a few.
5. Are there periodic fire drills for campers and staff? Yes! An emergency drill is conducted the first morning of camp. When the fire alarm sounds, all campers and staff head to the waterfront and await further instruction.
6. Are functioning smoke detectors located in every sleeping room? Yes.
7. Who provides medical care? A qualified volunteer medical professional on duty at camp 24 hours to ensure the health and safety of our campers, to treat minor illness and injury, and to assess illness and injury for further treatment. Qualified medical professionals include RNs, LVNs, PAs, MDs and PTs. Skate Camp follows Model Medical Procedures approved by a licensed medical doctor. Our directing team and other key staff members are trained in First Aid and CPR techniques.
8. Are waterfront personnel qualified? Are campers always supervised while in the water? All waterfront activities are supervised by an experienced certified lifeguard. On site, one qualified lifeguard is required for every 25 swimmers. All waterfront staff are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). While campers are involved in waterfront activities, there is a counselor on duty for every 10 campers to serve as an additional “set of eyes,” to assist our guards.

Medical Information

Medical Examination. All campers will be checked on the first day of camp by designated Health Care staff for observable evidence of illness, injury, communicable diseases or head lice. We strongly recommend that your child be checked for lice before coming to camp, as Camp has a no-nit policy. If your child is feeling ill, please do not send them to camp. A change of session may be available.

Prescription and over-the-counter medications. Prescription medications must be in the original container with a licensed physician’s instructions on it. Over-the-counter medications, including common pain relievers, allergy and cold medications must be labeled with personal instructions. Place packaged medications in a clearly labeled bag with camper’s name, dosage and directions for administering (Zip Lock bags work well with masking tape on the outside for labeling) . All medications will be collected at check-in and given to the camp medical staff. Medications will be administered by the camp medical staff as directed. Unused medications will be returned at the close of the camp session.

Immunization Record. We can only admit your child to camp when we have accurate immunization information on file. Please be sure to provide complete information on the green health history form.

Medical Staff. A qualified medical professional is on duty 24 hours to ensure the health and safety of our campers, to treat minor illness and injury, and to assess illness and injury for further treatment. Qualified medical professionals can include RNs, LVNs, PAs, FNPs, MDs, EMTs and PTs. Camp follows Model Medical Procedures approved by a licensed medical doctor.

Hospital Access. The nearest hospital facilities are 1 1/2 hours from the camp site. Transport may be made by Camp vehicle, ambulance or helicopter, depending upon the nature of the situation. Please note—In the event of a serious injury or illness, parents or guardians will be notified as soon as possible. If the parents or guardians cannot be reached, camp staff will attempt to reach the emergency contact listed on the camper’s emergency form. The Camp Director and/or Medical Provider will discuss with parents or emergency contacts the options for treatment.

Sun Protection and Hydration

Our camp is located at the 5,500 foot level of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. That means we are a “mile high;” a mile closer to the sun than in most of our hometowns. Consequently, at camp, we take the appropriate measures to make sure that campers remain protected from the sun and hydrated.

Our staff is trained in sun safety. We impress on counselors that they have an important role to make sure campers are protected from the sun by wearing sun screen and drinking water throughout the day.

We have sun screen available for campers who run out of their own supply available in our camp store, at the waterfront and at our street course. Campers are directed to wear sun screen at the waterfront and in overly sunny areas. They are reminded to reapply it every two hours when they have had continued sun exposure.

We require campers to drink at least one glass of water with every meal, before they have a glass of milk or juice. Water is available for sale in the camp store and there are several water fountains available around camp for campers to use.

Take a few moments to talk to your child about wearing sunscreen and drinking water throughout the day at camp. Make sure you send a small bottle of sunscreen and a water bottle with them to camp. Once at camp we will reinforce these ideas in cabin groups and will perform skits about wearing sunscreen and drinking water at our opening ceremonies.

Camper Behavior Management

Camper Behavior Management is implemented with care and respect by our staff. If a camper’s behavior detracts from the overall experience of the cabin group by requiring excessive one-on-one attention, staff will implement one or more of the following behavior management techniques to redirect challenging camper behavior.

1. Cabin Counselors will talk about any undesirable camper behavior with the camper and together make a verbal corrective plan for success. The Cabin Leader will let their camp leader know what happened.
2. If the behavior continues, one of our program staff members will have a conversation with the camper and create a written plan for change. At this point the program staff member working with the child will call the camper’s home to:
   •  Explain what has happened
   •   Let a parent or guardian know the approaches that we have tried
   •   Ask for advice with the situation (What do you do at home when the situations occurs? Is there something that might be causing this behavior? Are there any suggestions you have?)
3. If the behavior continues, the Camp Director will talk with the camper. At this point the Camp Director might suggest directly involving the parent in a phone conversation with the camper. This call would be initiated and supervised by the Camp Director.
4. If the situation persists the camper will be removed from their cabin group and a person listed on the Pick-up authorization form will be contacted to pick up the camper with out refund. These are unfortunate, yet necessary situations. This, of course, is not our preference, but may be required for the well-being and safety of other campers at camp, or as a logical consequence for inappropriate behavior.

Bully Prevention

We work together as a team to ensure that campers gain self-confidence, make new friends, and go home with great memories. Unfortunately, persons who are bullied may not have the same potential to get the most out of their camp experience. Our leadership addresses all incidents of bullying seriously and trains staff to promote communication with their campers so both staff and campers will be comfortable alerting us to any problems during their camp experience. Every camper has the right to expect to have the best possible experience at camp, and by working together as a team to identify and manage bullying, we can help ensure that all campers and staff have a great summer at Camp Tulequoia.

Please refer to the American Camp Association’s web page (www.acacamps.org) to read more about bully prevention at camp.

Missing Home (Homesickness)

Expert Advice for Parents (taken from the American Camp Association web site)

This summer, millions of children will get their first taste of independence at a summer resident camp. For many, it will also be their first experience with homesickness. But parents don't have to feel helpless when homesickness strikes. The prescription for camper homesickness is a simple solution of preparation and patience.

Phillips Exeter Academy psychologist Dr. Christopher Thurber studied homesickness in 329 boys between the ages of 8 and 16 at resident camp. According to his results, homesickness is the norm rather than the exception. A whopping 83 percent of the campers studied reported homesickness on at least one day of camp.

Thurber and the American Camp Association (ACA) suggest the following tips for parents to help their child deal with homesickness at camp:

• Encourage your child's independence throughout the year. Practice separations, such as sleepovers at a friend's house, can simulate the camp environment.
• Discuss what camp will be like before your child leaves. Consider role-playing anticipated situations, such as using a flashlight to find the bathroom.
• Reach an agreement ahead of time on calling each other. If your child's camp has a no-phonecalls policy, honor it.
• Don't bribe. Linking a successful stay at camp to a material object sends the wrong message. The reward should be your child's new found confidence and independence.
• Pack a personal item from home, such as a stuffed animal.
• When a "rescue call" comes from the child, offer calm reassurance and put the time frame into perspective. Avoid the temptation to take the child home early.
• Talk candidly with the camp director to obtain his/her perspective on your child's adjustment.
• Don't feel guilty about encouraging your child to stay at camp. For many children, camp is a first step toward independence and plays an important role in their growth and development.