Frequently Asked Questions

When do you offer camps?

The East County Family YMCA wants to have camp available when parents need it most. We offer camp on days that most area school districts are off. For the 2007 – 2008 school year we will offer camp the following dates;  Nov 12, 19, 20, 21, Winter Break (Dec 17 – 21, Dec 24 – 28, Dec 31 – Jan 4), Feb 11, 15, 18, and Spring Break (March 17 – 21, March 24 – 28). Summer camp starts June 16 and runs weekly through August 30.We are closed on Martin Luther King Day, Christmas, New Years Day, and the Fourth of July.

Where do you offer camps?

The East County Family YMCA has four different facilities to offer camping programs. The Davis Family YMCA Facility in La Mesa, the Cameron Family YMCA Facility in Santee, the McGrath Family YMCA Sports Complex in Rancho San Diego and Santee Lakes in Santee. Please check the website or brochure to confirm where camp will be held.

Where do I register and pay for camp?

The front desk at both the Davis Family YMCA Facility in La Mesa and Cameron Family YMCA Facility in Santee can accept camp registrations and payment. You may also fax your registration to the Accounting office at 464-1361. We will begin online registration for summer 2008 in March.

What time can I drop off my camper?

Camp hours are from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Most camps offer extended care from 7:00 am to 9:00 am and 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at no extra cost. There is no afternoon extended care on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. We request that all campers arrive by 9:30 am. Please check the website or brochure to confirm camp hours as some facilities do not offer extended hours.

When is Summer Sign up Day?

Please check our website for the most up to date information regarding summer. There will be two days this year to sign up and save. The first will be in March in conjunction with the grand re-opening of the Davis YMCA Facility in La Mesa. The second will be in conjunction with Healthy Kids Day at the Cameron Family YMCA in Santee. Please keep your eye out for special mailers and continue to check our website for current information.

My child loves his counselor.  Can she/he baby-sit for our family?

Although the YMCA Camp staff work well with children, our policies do not permit staff to baby-sit for families involved in our YMCA programs.

What training does camp staff have?

All camp staff goes through an application and interview process which includes reference checks. When someone has been offered a position they are fingerprinted and take an online child abuse prevention course before attending a new hire orientation. Once hired, camp staff is required to attend a minimum of 24 hours of training before working. All camp staff is First Aid and CPR certified.

I only need to send my child to camp a few days a week.  Will you prorate?

Because we believe that a true camp experience is a week-long experience, we do not prorate our programs.  During breaks we do offer daily rates for some of our camps. This information is available on our website and on the registration forms.

What are the bus rules?

Where do I drop off my child at the Davis YMCA Facility in La Mesa?

Drop off and pick up will be located off the bottom parking area (near the old skate park). A parent table will be set up.  Sign in and sign out will be there every morning from 7:00 am - 9:30 am and every afternoon from 3:30 pm - 6:00 pm.  Please arrive to camp no later than 9:00 am each morning (unless notified to arrive earlier due to early departure). Please be sure not to park in any red zones or handicapped spaces (unless you have a permit to do so).  Please be sure that all family members and friends on your pick-up list are aware of the pick up and drop off location. Directions to the Davis YCMA Facility are available on our website. 

Where do I drop off my child at the Cameron Family YMCA Facility in Santee?

Drop off and pick up will be located on the walkway at the front of the building. A parent table will be set up. Sign in and sign out will be there every morning from 7:00 am - 9:30 am and every afternoon from 3:30 pm - 6:00 pm.  Please arrive to camp no later than 9:00 am each morning (unless notified to arrive earlier due to early departure). Please be sure not to park in any red zones or handicapped spaces (unless you have a permit to do so).  Please be sure that all family members and friends on your pick-up list are aware of the pick up and drop off location. Directions to the Cameron Family YMCA Facility are available on our website.

Where do I drop off and pick up my child at the McGrath Family YMCA Sports Complex in Rancho San Diego?

Drop off and pick up will be located on the ball fields with the camp unit leader. Sign in and sign out will be there every morning from 7:00 am - 9:30 am and every afternoon from 3:30 pm - 6:00 pm.  Please arrive to camp no later than 9:00 am each morning (unless notified to arrive earlier due to early departure). Please be sure not to park in any red zones or handicapped spaces (unless you have a permit to do so).  Please be sure that all family members and friends on your pick-up list are aware of the pick up and drop off location. Directions to the McGrath Family YMCA Sports Complex are available on our website.

Where do I drop off and pick up my child at the Santee Lakes Regional Park in Santee?

Drop off and pick up for Santee Lakes will be located in at Lake Five.  Drop off times are between 8:30 and 9:00 am and pick up times are between 4:00 and 4:30 pm. When arriving at Santee Lakes let the kiosk know that you are dropping off at YMCA camp and they will let you through.  Please allow yourself an extra 10 minutes to drop off and/or pick up as Santee Lakes Regional Park is quite large. Directions to Santee Lakes are available on our website.

What is the staff to child ratio?

The East County Family YMCA is accredited by the American Camp Association which requires certain staff to child ratios. During one day and break camps our ratio is one staff per ten campers. During the summer our ratios may be lower depending on the age of the campers.

What if my child doesn’t want to swim or forgets his/her swimsuit?

Usually 80% of our campers want to swim and the other 20% engage in alternate camp activities.  If a swimsuit is forgotten, the child will not swim, however staff will attempt to call the parent to bring a suit.

What if my child can’t swim?

Please inform the camp staff when dropping off your camper. All campers wishing to swim in the deep end are required to pass a swim test.  If a child is unable to swim from one end of the pool to the other without holding on to the side or if a child chooses not to take the swim test, she/he will be required to stay in the shallow end of the pool.  Counselors are in pool with children and around the edge for additional supervision.  YMCA Certified Lifeguards supervise every camp swim.

What is the bathroom procedure?

No camper is ever allowed into a bathroom until inspected for safety by a camp staff.  No camper is ever alone with a staff person in the bathroom.  All campers take bathroom breaks with the entire camp or in small groups accompanied by camp staff.

What if my child is just a few months too young to attend a camp?

For most of our camps we have a one-month grace period.  Parents with age related questions may contact the Camp Director.

The camp I want to register for is already full.  Is there a wait list?

We do have a wait list.  When a camp fills up, the front desk staff begins a wait list.  All people on the list are called when a space becomes available in the camp.  The first person to register gets the space.

When will my phone call be returned?

We work very hard to make sure your phone calls are returned.  You should expect your call to be returned within 24 hours.

I still have questions that have not been answered.

If you still have questions, please feel free to contact Day Camp Director, Alicia Branam, at (619) 464-1323 x8124 or abranam@ymca.org.