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 A Reason to Survive First Aid and CPR.
(ARTS) center and local parks. 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
Families are encouraged to
YES! attend the Camp Hero Award
YES! (Youth Enrichment Summer) outings afford children in Ceremony on the Friday
military families, ages 7 to 12, the opportunity to explore a afternoon of camp. This
variety of San Diego area attractions. YES! outings take place ceremony is an opportunity to
the Thursday of camp and will include a visit to either the congratulate campers and
Horseback Riding or YMCA Camp Surf. Camp Hero campers recognize their accomplishments
will be waitlisted to the YES! outing not offered during their
from throughout the week.
week of camp in order to serve a larger amount of children.
 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 Her third summer at
arrive to Camp with sunscreen already applied. the Armed Services
YMCA, Lyndsay is a
What to Bring San Diego native and
graduate of University
It is recommended that you send your camper with a
backpack to keep all their belongings together. All of California, San
belongings should be labeled with your camper’s name Diego with a degree in Sociology. Her
before sending to camp. Camp Hero campers must bring passion for working with children of all
their own lunch and water bottle to camp daily (except ages has made working at the ASYMCA
when noted in the camp schedule). Please send only non a incredible experience. Lyndsay is
-perishable foods as refrigeration is not available. Please ecstatic for the third year of Camp Hero
also be sure your camper has sunscreen and a and pumped for the new improvements
sweatshirt. this year!
Andrea Fields: Program Leader
What not to Bring Andrea is more than ready to jumpstart
Campers may not bring electronic devices (cell phones, her fourth summer at the Armed
iPods, video games), toys, jewelry, or money to Camp Services YMCA! A Southern California
Hero. The Armed Services YMCA is not responsible for native, summer has
always been her favorite
season! Andrea is a
graduate from San
Let’s Camp! Deposits
Diego State University,
with a degree in
Camp Hero Eligibility Camp Hero registration forms and Women’s Studies and
Camp Hero is open to children of a twenty dollar non- refundable Social Work. She looks forward to
military service members from all deposit will be required to register directing her passion for empowering
service branches. The military for camp. Should the family fail youth and their families through ASY’s
service member must be rank E6 to cancel their child’s camp at summer programs for military youth.
or below and assigned to a San least two weeks prior to the first
day of camp or the child not Cathy Tann: Program Leader
Diego military installation or San
attend camp, the family will be Cathy could not be
Diego based ship. Children must
placed on the ASYMCA ineligible more excited about
be between seven and twelve
program list. kicking off her second
years old by August 1st to be
Emergency Procedures summer with the
eligible. There will be no age
ASYMCA! Cathy is a
exceptions. Priority will be given
Contacting Campers Texas native with a
to children who have not
If you should need to reach your degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and
participated in either the after
child during camp please call our Elementary Teaching Credential from
school Operation Hero program
front desk at 858-751-5755. the University of North Texas. She is
or 2011 Operation Outdoors.
They will take your message and looking forward to using her
get the information to your child. background working with youth both in
Financial Contributions and out of the classroom to contribute
The Armed Services YMCA is Camper Illness or Injury to the camp experience this year!
proud to provide over 40 free If your camper becomes ill at
programs to San Diego military Donnabelle Buban: Program Leader
camp our staff will contact you to
service members and their Donnabelle is thrilled for her first
pick them up. Please have
families each month. Should you summer at the
arrangements to do so in a timely
wish to make a contribution to the ASYMCA. Donnabelle is
manner. If you child is injured
Armed Services YMCA in support a graduate of
camp staff will take whatever
of programs such as Camp Hero Cuyamaca College with
steps are necessary to obtain
you may do so by sending your a degree in Child
medical care. If we are unable to
donation to the Armed Services Development, and also
reach you and your child needs
YMCA at 3293 Santo Road, San holds a Child Development Teacher’s
medical attention they will be
Diego, CA 92124 or call 858-751 Permit from the Commission on
transported to the hospital by an
-5755 for more information. Teacher Credentialing. She is looking
ambulance. All expenses for
forward to using her background
emergency medical care are the
working with young children to create a
responsibility of the parent.
more meaningful summer this year!
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. Some acts may result in immediate
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.
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
dismissed from the Camp Hero.
suspension or dismissal including
but not limited to: fighting,
intentionally harming others, theft,
and possession of weapons or
drugs.
 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
ARTS Center
11:30 a.m. Lunch Lunch Lunch YES! &
12:00 p.m. Outdoor Camp Buses leave for Outdoor Camp local field trip
Games local field trip Games August 4: with picnic
YMCA Camp Surf
1:00 p.m. August 11:
Project WILD Project WILD Horseback Riding
Activities and Camp Hero Activities and August 18:
2:00 p.m. Experiments local field trip Experiments YMCA Camp Surf Buses Return
2:30 p.m. August 25: Camp Games
Horseback Riding
ARTS Center
3:00 p.m. Camp Hero Camp Hero
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