PARENT
GUIDEBOOK
Free Day Camp for Military Youth
Camp Hero
It is tough being a kid these
days – particularly when
dealing with the stress of
belonging to a military family.
Our Youth Development
programs help kids cope while
providing them with positive,
fun opportunities to get to
know themselves and each
other.
San Diego Armed Services YMCA
3293 Santo Road, San Diego, CA 92124
Camp Hero is a week long day
camp that serves as an outlet
for military youth to share their
common experiences and
receive academic enrichment
all while making friends and
having fun! The curriculum is
designed to help children find
practical ways to address the
challenges of military life,
provide tools to help them
succeed in school, and improve
social and communication
skills. Kids learn more
about themselves and
their community with a
week of exploration and
excitement.
Visit our website www.militaryymca.org for more information on
the over 40 free programs and services available to your family!
This Parent Guidebook has
useful information to prepare
your child for Camp Hero as
well as an overview of camp
policies and procedures.
Please take time to review this
with your child and get excited
about Camp Hero!
Contents:
Camp Staff & Activities 2
Preparing for Camp 3
Camp Policies 4
Camp Schedule 5
 Camp Hero Staff
Camp Hero staff are full time
Armed Services YMCA Youth
and Community Outreach (YCO)
staff members that want to host
an awesome summer packed
with fun, adventure, and
exploration!

Our staff is passionate about

supporting military youth and
take pleasure in maintaining a

CAMP ACTIVITIES: structured, educational

program in an atmosphere of
fun and excitement.
Operation Hero The ASYMCA takes seriously
Frequent relocations often require military families to leave
friends and extended family behind. Through a variety of the importance of child
activities, crafts, and challenging games, kids will tackle tough protection and safety. We have
topics including making new friends, family separation, taking specific, tested policies and
responsibility, and conflict resolution. Camp Hero is a chance procedures for all staff that
for kids to build friendships and share common experiences work with children.
while further developing their self esteem and resilience. These
opportunities will take place in the classroom as well as in the The following are some of our
community through two local field trips each week to San Diego proven safety practices:
scenic parks.
1. The ASYMCA has comprehensive
pre-employment screening for
Project WILD staff members and program
The goal of Project WILD is to assist learners of any age in volunteers, including interviews,
developing awareness, knowledge, skills and commitment to reference and nation-wide
result in informed decisions, responsible behavior and criminal history checks.
constructive actions concerning wildlife and the environment
upon which all life depends. Project WILD activities and lessons 2. All camp counselors regularly
will be presented as part of the Camp Hero curriculum to work with school aged youth in
enhance campers understanding of the world around them. informal educational settings
Campers will have opportunities to further explore the Project and are certified in pediatric
WILD lessons through half day trips to Chula Vista Nature First Aid and CPR.
Center and Santee Lakes Park. The trips are a chance to
increase campers’ understanding and awareness of the diversity
of San Diego’s ecosystems, wildlife, and history.

Camp Hero Awards

YES! Families are encouraged to attend
YES! (Youth Enrichment Summer) outings afford children in the Camp Hero Award Ceremony
military families, ages 7 to 12, the opportunity to explore a on the Friday afternoon of camp.
variety of San Diego area attractions. YES! outings take place This ceremony is an opportunity to
the Thursday of camp and will include a visit to either the congratulate campers and recognize
Balboa Park or YMCA Camp Surf. Camp Hero campers will their accomplishments from
have priority registration to the YES! outing not offered during throughout the week.
their week of camp.
 Camp Clothes Camp Hero Staff
Preparing for Camp
Camp Hero is fun. Occasionally fun can also mean
messy! Dress your campers in old clothes so they are Lyndsay Calhoun:
ready to play hard and get dirty! Campers are required Program Director
to wear closed toed shoes and socks daily and should Beginning her second
arrive to Camp with sunscreen already applied. summer at the Armed
Services YMCA,
What to Bring Lyndsay is a San
Diego native and
It is recommended that you send your camper with a
backpack to keep all their belongings together. All graduate of University
belongings should be labeled with your camper’s name of California, San Diego with a degree
before sending to camp. Camp Hero campers must bring in Sociology. Her passion for working
their own lunch and water bottle to camp daily (except with children of all ages has made
when noted in the camp schedule). Please send only working at the ASYMCA a incredible
non-perishable foods as refrigeration is not available. experience. Lyndsay is eager for the
Please also be sure your camper has sunscreen and a second year of Camp Hero and can’t
sweatshirt. wait to see what the campers bring this
year, Jump Shout Camp Hero!
What not to Bring Andrea Fields: Program Leader
Campers may not bring electronic devices (cell phones, Andrea is excited to begin her third
iPods, video games), toys, jewelry, or money to Camp summer at the Armed Services YMCA. A
Hero. The Armed Services YMCA is not responsible for Southern California
native, summer has
always been her favorite
a twenty dollar refundable deposit season! Andrea is a
Let’s Camp! will be required to register for graduate from San
camp. Deposits will be available Diego State University,
Camp Hero Eligibility for return to parents the final day with a degree in
Camp Hero is open to children of of camp or the last registered YES! Women’s Studies and
military service members from all outing, whichever is later. Should Social Work. She looks forward to
service branches. The military the family fail to cancel their directing her passion for empowering
service member must be rank E6 child’s camp at least two weeks youth and their families into meaningful
or below and assigned to a San prior to the first day of camp or summer programs for military youth.
Diego military installation or San the child not attend camp, the
deposit will be considered a Cathy Tann: Program Leader
Diego based ship. Children must
donation to the non profit Armed Cathy couldn’t be more jammed for her
be between seven and twelve
Services YMCA. first summer at the ASYMCA! Cathy is a
years old by August 1st to be
Texas native with a degree in
eligible. There will be no age
exceptions. Priority will be given Emergency Procedures Interdisciplinary
Studies and
to children who have not Contacting Campers Elementary Teaching
participated in either the after If you should need to reach your Credential from the
school Operation Hero program child during camp please call our University of North
or 2010 Operation Outdoors. front desk at 858-751-5755. Texas. She is looking
They will take your message and forward to using her
Financial Contributions get the information to your child. background working with youth both in
The Armed Services YMCA is
and out of the classroom to contribute
proud to provide over 40 free Camper Illness or Injury
to the camp experience this year!
programs to San Diego military If your camper becomes ill at
service members and their camp our staff will contact you to Kelly Christianson: Program Leader
families each month. Should you pick them up. Please have Kelly is thrilled to begin her very first
wish to make a contribution to the
arrangements to do so in a timely fun-filled summer with the ASYMCA.
Armed Services YMCA in support manner. If you child is injured Kelly, a San Diego native , graduated
of programs such as Camp Hero camp staff will take whatever last year with a M.Ed and a Multiple
you may do so by sending your steps are necessary to obtain Subject Teaching
donation to the Armed Services medical care. If we are unable to Credential from UCSD.
YMCA at 3293 Santo Road, San reach you and your child needs Kelly is passionate about
Diego, CA 92124 or call 858- medical attention they will be teaching and working
751-5755 for more information. transported to the hospital by an with youth, and she is
ambulance. All expenses for excited to experience
Deposits emergency medical care are the new adventures this
Camp Hero registration forms and responsibility of the parent. summer at the ASYMCA!
Field Trip
Transportation
Camp Hero will travel by Armed
Services YMCA buses for half day
trips to local San Diego parks and
for a full day trip to either the
Balboa Park or YMCA Camp Surf.
The following are some of our
transportation safety practices:
1. Each bus driver is a Armed
Services YMCA staff member who
has completed comprehensive
pre-employment screening
including interviews, drug and
alcohol testing, and reference
and nation-wide criminal history
checks.
2. Each driver is required to perform
a pre-trip inspection for their bus
before transporting passengers.
3. Each Armed Services YMCA bus is
outfitted with seat belts and
routinely inspected by the
California Highway Patrol.
We do our best to maintain a reliable
schedule of departure and arrival times
and accomplish all planned activities.
Please do your part to help by arriving
on time to camp and ready for the day’s
activities. We appreciate your
understanding that field trips are subject
to change as necessary for health or
safety of the campers and staff.
Important Times
8:00 a.m.
Camp Hero opens for drop off
8:30 a.m.
Camp Hero starts camp activities
(Buses begin leaving for field trips)
4:00 p.m.
Buses return from field trips
4:30 p.m.
Camp Hero Pick Up
Camp Policies
Drop Off
Camp Hero opens for drop off at
8:00 a.m. each day. Camp
activities begin at 8:30 a.m. and
may include scheduled field trips.
If you expect to be late or your
child will be absent from camp
please call the Armed Services
YMCA by 8:15 a.m. at 858-751-
5755. Campers that arrive after
field trip transportation has
departed can not be
accommodated.
Pick Up
Camp Hero pick up is at 4:30 p.m.
Campers must be picked up and
signed out by an authorized pick-
up list. Please show courtesy to
Camp Hero staffers by arriving
promptly for pick up. Campers not
picked up by 5:00 p.m. will be
supervised by ASYMCA staff and
every attempt will be made to
contact parents and emergency
contacts. If by 6:00 p.m. the
parents are not reachable Child
Protective Services will be called. dismissed from the Camp Hero.
Attendance
Camp Hero is a full day, week-
long experience. Campers
routinely late to camp, picked up
early or late, or absent will be
dismissed from Camp Hero.
Deposits will not be refunded for
those dismissed from Camp Hero. problem.
Behavior Management
Guidelines
It is the Armed Services YMCA’s
goal to provide a healthy, safe,
and secure environment for all day
camp participants. Children who
attend the program are expected
to follow the behavior guidelines
based on the four core values and
to interact appropriately in a
group setting.
Behavior Guidelines:
1. We will care for ourselves and
for those around us.
2. Honesty will be the basis for
all relationships and
interactions.
3. People are responsible for
their actions.
4. We respect each other and the
environment.
Our camp staff is trained and is
expected to resolve behavior
problems in a positive manner. In
the event problems persist the
child may be suspended or
Some acts may result in immediate
suspension or dismissal including
but not limited to: fighting,
intentionally harming others, theft,
and possession of weapons or
drugs. Deposits will not be
refunded for those dismissed from
the program due to a behavior
 Camp Hero Weekly Schedule
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
8:00 a.m.
Camp Hero Opens for Drop Off
8:30 a.m. Camp Hero Camp Hero Camp Hero Camp Games Camp Crafts
9:00 a.m. begins specific begins specific begins specific Buses leave for Buses leave for
camp activities camp activities camp activities YES! Outing local field trip
10:00 a.m. Camp Hero Camp Hero Camp Hero
Arts & Crafts Arts & Crafts Arts & Crafts Camp Hero
local field trip
11:30 a.m. Lunch Lunch Lunch YES! with picnic
12:00 p.m. Outdoor Camp Buses leave for Outdoor Camp
August 5:
Games local field trip Games Balboa Park Santee Lakes
1:00 p.m. August 12: Santee
Balboa Park
Project WILD Camp Hero Project WILD
August 19:
Activities and local field trip Activities and YMCA Camp Surf
2:00 p.m. Experiments Experiments Buses Return
August 26:
2:30 p.m. Chula Vista YMCA Camp Surf Camp Games
3:00 p.m. Camp Hero Nature Center Camp Hero (lunch is provided)
3:30 p.m. Arts & Crafts Arts & Crafts Camp Awards
Families encouraged
4:00 p.m. Camp Games Buses Return Camp Games Buses Return to attend!

4:30 p.m.
Camp Hero Pick Up