Sending a child to camp for the first time, while exciting, can also make parents apprehensive. We'd like to address some concerns you may have:
What makes Clyde York 4-H Center a safe place
for my child?
Our facility is ACA Accredited. ACA stands
for the American Camping Association. Only about 25% of America’s 12,000
camps are ACA accredited. ACA accreditation is something we voluntarily
participate in. It involves vigorous review of our operation, from staff
qualifications and training to emergency management.
Clyde M. York 4-H Center is a gated camp with
access to our facility strictly limited and monitored. Once campers
arrive at camp, anyone requesting entrance to the facilities will be identified
and escorted.
The health and safety of each camper is of
utmost importance to us. Every precaution is taken to protect campers from
sickness or accident. A nurse or person trained in first aid is on duty at all
times, and emergency care is available a short distance away. The first
aid station is stocked with necessary over-the-counter medications and
first aid supplies. The 4-H Center nurse organizes and dispenses all
camper medications, including PRNs, over-the-counter remedies and
vitamins. The 4-H Center staff are required to be first aid and CPR
certified. They also undergo additional health care training during staff
orientation weekend.
The most common injuries at camp are small scrapes,
bruises and bug bites. You can help your camper stay healthy by encouraging
them to wash their hands regularly, wear bug spray and sunscreen
every day, and cough/sneeze into their elbow (not
their hand). Also, encourage them to wear flip flops only in the
shower. Camp has a lot of uneven terrain and shoes that stay on the feet are
the best prevention against twisted ankles.
The 4-H Center Manager, Camp Nurse, or your camper's
county extension agent will contact you if your camper has the
following: a temperature above 100 degrees, needs to be transported
off camp for additional medical attention, or if discipline issues
arise.
We encourage campers to drink plenty of water
throughout the day. The Clyde York 4-H Center has thirteen water fountains centrally
located throughout camp. Water coolers are provided to areas that are not close
to a water fountain. We encourage parents to send a reusable water bottle with
their child. We have a bottle filling station beside the canteen that campers
can refill their water bottles at throughout the day. We have water bottles for
sale at the canteen in case your camper would like a summer camp souvenir.
My camper requires medication. What do I need to do?
Contact your county agent about your camper’s needs. There are forms that will need to be filled out.
Non-expired medications are required to be brought to your departure destination in the original container. Each medication is required to have a F600M form on file for EACH medication your child takes. Please be sure to specify what time of day your child needs to take each medication. The more information you write about how your child's medication is administered, the less you may be called to explain any information the nurse may need.
What if my camper has special dietary needs?
Campers with dietary concerns are encouraged to
bring their choice of staples. Storage space, refrigeration, and
cooking facilities will be provided at no additional cost.
Please inform your county of any allergy
concerns, and food labels for all menu items will be made available to them.
Our menu items contain food allergens like
dairy, egg, soy, wheat, or may have been manufactured in facilities that
use those ingredients, including peanuts, and tree nuts. While we use
reasonable efforts to inform our guests of ingredients/allergens in our foods,
due to cross-contact and other factors we cannot guarantee that any food items
will be free of any specific allergen.
How can I contact my camper?
The Clyde York 4-H Center’s phone number is
(931) 788-2288.
To ensure your child’s safety, cell phones are
not allowed at camp.
When a camper leaves home, he or she needs to be
allowed the space to develop his or her own personality. Therefore, we
discourage phone and visitation interruptions from parents or relatives during
the camp week.
The Clyde York 4-H Center will take emergency
messages during regular business hours. If routed to voicemail, please dial
extension #259. This extension is checked daily by county extension agents.
Messages will be filtered to the appropriate county agent. When leaving a
message please be sure to leave your name, county, camper’s name and telephone
number for a return phone call. Children should not be called during the week
except in the case of emergency.
But what if they’re
homesick?
It’s really not a
sickness. It should be called “missing home.” And, it is normal for some
children to experience fleeting moments of homesickness, i.e. missing home.
This is a part of growing up. We have found that homesickness can manifest
itself in many ways: most children do not admit to being homesick, instead they
will say they don’t feel good or have a tummy ache. Many times a homesick child
will be homesick one minute and the next minute he/she is going off to
activities and running and playing and apparently not homesick any more.
Here are several
tips we can give parents and campers to help minimize the impact of
homesickness:
1. Before
camp discuss this with campers and explain that they may experience an
occasional feeling of homesickness. Tell them that the best thing to do if they
feel homesick is to find an activity or friend to get involved with.
2. Let
campers know that camp is a big step in their growing-up process and that you are
proud of them for being able to take this first step towards independence by
going to camp.
3. Explain
that they will not be allowed to call home even if they are homesick.
4. Make
your farewell on check-in day brief; do not linger at the drop off area for
longer than necessary.
5. Avoid
sending letters that contain statements that could aggravate homesick feelings.
Avoid statements like “we miss you so much here at home”, or “your dog or cat
or pet really misses you” etc.
6. Parent
(and other family member) visits are discouraged: while visits may seem like a
good idea, we have found that they disrupt the camp program and can actually
cause unnecessary homesickness.
In many cases, the parents are actually more
anxious than the campers (kind of a reverse homesickness). As parents
ourselves, we understand your concern for your child’s well-being especially when
sending them to camp for the first time. We occasionally get calls from anxious
parents who need reassurance; we will gladly speak to you about your child’s
progress. Just remember the ole saying, “No
call is a good call!”
How can I send my child mail?
Letters and postcards are the primary method of
communication with your camper. Campers love getting mail and may feel “left
out” if they don’t receive any and their cabin mates do. Send letters with
positive news from home assuring all is well with you and the rest of the
family.
Note: The mail often takes one to two extra days
for delivery. Please send mail a few days early in order for it to reach your
child in time.
Pack pre-addressed and stamped envelopes for
your campers to send letters home. Discuss possible topics and encourage them
to write to you. Make a realistic commitment to write to them as well.
Please limit packages to the basic necessities
for camp and reading books. Food in our cabins may attract critters including
rodents and bugs.
Please do not send campers items that must be
signed for. The 4-H center staff is not allowed to sign for camper’s
item.
How can my child send mail home?
A mailbox will be located at the Canteen for
campers to mail letters home during their time at camp.
Please make sure that
campers have paper, pens, addressed envelopes and stamps. A very easy way
for campers to send mail home is to bring postcards. You can purchase postcards
with the postage already on them from your local post office.
Please make sure that
your camper knows how to address an envelope or postcard; otherwise send them
with envelopes or postcards with the address already on them.
Will snacks and souvenirs be available for my
camper to purchase?
Campers can purchase beverages, chips, and other
snacks in the canteen. Souvenir shirts, hats, many other items are
available in the gift shop.
The Canteen and Gift Shop accept cash
only.
Which activities require extra money to participate in at camp?
Supplies are available to purchase for campers who want to make their own souvenirs in the craft classrooms, such as tie-dye shirts, wood crafts, and leatherwork. The Clyde York 4-H Center’s Craft House, Wood
Shop and purchasing t-shirts for tie-dye/airbrush DO NOT accept cash, only
tokens. Each token is valued at $1.00. A token machine is located in the
Recreation Hall for campers to purchase tokens.
What do we need to pack for camp?
A list of what to bring and not to bring to camp
can be found here.
Please let your child help you pack for
camp. This will give your child a sense of ownership over the camping
experience. It will also help your child to know everything they’re
bringing to camp and how it fits in their suitcase when they have to repack it
by himself or herself.
What if my camper loses something at camp?
The Clyde York 4-H Center cannot assume
responsibility for lost or stolen possessions. We suggest that all items of
clothing are clearly labeled with your camper’s name and county. Lost and
found items are displayed the last night of camp and again the following
morning during closing ceremony. Please discuss with your camper the importance
of keeping up with their belongings. The 4-H Center holds on to lost and found
items for two weeks. All items will be donated to a local shelter after
that time.