2013 Summer Camp Welcome Guide - YMCA of Greater Toronto

Coping with homesicknessAll YMCA Camp Pine Crest staff make a special effort to help campers overcomehomesickness by helping them accept the natural feelings of missing family orfriends. Our counsellors talk to campers about their feelings while assuring themthat homesickness is a normal part of being in a new place. We keep our campersbusy and try to interest them in new and exciting activities.We hesitate to recommend removing a camper from camp due to homesickness.Taking him or her away too soon may make it difficult for your child to overcomehomesickness in the future. In the cases of persistent homesickness we willcontact the home to provide an update and work on a plan that best suits theneeds of the camper, family and the camp.Campers are not typically permitted to call home as we have found that thisusually escalates the feelings of homesickness.Please do not tell your child that they can call home if they feel homesickwhile at camp.It’s completely normal for parents to be nervous and miss your child as well.Please do not hesitate to call camp during your child’s session to receive anupdate on how they are doing and speak to one of our senior team or theircounsellor to put your mind at ease. You can also check out general updates onour Facebook page to stay connected to some programs that your child will beparticipating in at camp.Campers with Special needs and Reach for the RainbowAt the YMCA, we believe that the camp experience can benefit all children. That iswhy we work to assist families in integrating children with special needs into ourcamp programs.Additional staff support is given to camper groups, along with one-on-onestaff support to individuals with special needs. Campers with special needs areintegrated into the cabin group entirely and will attend all programs with theircabin group. We are proud to work with Reach for the Rainbow, a partner agency,in providing the opportunity for all campers to experience the pleasures andfriendships of integrated programming. Please contact Reach for the Rainbow atto find out more about registering your child in camp through their program.8