Channel Islands YMCA’s Post

Winter will be over before we know it, so don't lose track of your summer camp planning! Here are eight tips on preparing for the season: https://hubs.la/Q02hJwsZ0

Safety First: Why Parents Prioritize Safety When Choosing Summer Camps for Kids Summer camp is a rite of passage for many children—an opportunity to forge friendships, explore new interests, and create cherished memories. However, these experiences are best enjoyed when parents can fully embrace the joy of their child’s adventures, free from nagging worries about safety. By selecting camps with robust safety measures in place, parents can wholeheartedly celebrate their child’s summer escapades, knowing that every precaution has been taken to keep them safe. See more: https://lnkd.in/gAKBJWEM #themountaintribe #tmtbasecamp #summercamp2024

I recently learned from a 947 show with Anele Mdoda, about the drowning of a child at a campsite in South Africa (not related to our operations) and want to sympathize with the family. I think that the incident that happened at Parktown Boys High School in January 2020(not related to our operations, should have brought about the need for intervention in any facility that works with young people but we still see not much has been done. We went about an developed a policy called "We care about the one", simply coming from a place where each child matters and we want every child to go back home safely after a camp. In recent years, it has become evident that many campsites (I will speak for South Africa, where I have more knowledge from our base of operations) are falling short when it comes to innovation in various aspects. Particularly referring to the safety of the campers. While camps play a valuable role in children's development beyond the classroom, it's important to continually assess and improve safety measures. As a player in the school educational tourism industry, it is important to recognize the significance of providing a safe environment for children without compromising the fun and educational aspects of the camp experience. Establishments should work actively on implementing safety protocols and measures to ensure that children can enjoy their time at camp while minimizing risks. The use of technology can allow campsites to get a better understanding of the campers before their arrival and use such data to adequately plan and be prepared for their arrival. Living in an age of data-driven decision-making, Campze built metrics to profile each learner before their arrival, this includes understanding their physical wellness, and importantly their confidence around water. But we do not only leave it there, we also ensure that there is adequate supervision at all times. Our goal is to strike a balance between adventure and safety by incorporating innovative approaches. By doing so, we aim to create an environment where children can learn and have fun, while parents have peace of mind knowing that their child's safety is our top priority. We understand the importance of ensuring the safety of every child attending our camps, and we are committed to continuously improving our safety practices to provide a secure and enriching experience for all participants. We are calling our campsite facilities, to partner with us in ensuring the safety and well-being of our learners at camp. #Campze #FirstOneAdventures #School #Camps

Your Ultimate Guide to Navigating Sleepaway Camps for Kids Are you considering sending your child to a sleepaway camp? This comprehensive guide, designed to help you make an informed decision, is your key to unlocking the unique benefits of sleepaway camps. #SleepawayCampParentsGuide

Am I Ready? What Parents Should Know About Overnight Camp Introduction: Welcome to Ready For Camp, where adventure awaits! As summer approaches, many parents are considering sending their children to overnight camps for the first time. It’s natural to have questions and concerns about this big step, but rest assured, we’re here to help ease your worries and guide you through the process. In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know to determine if your child is ready for camp and how you can prepare them (and yourself) for this exciting adventure. Understanding the Benefits: Overnight camps offer numerous benefits for children, including building independence, developing social skills, and fostering a love for the outdoors. Research shows that children who attend camp experience personal growth, increased self-confidence, and improved resilience. Assessing Readiness: Consider your child’s personality, interests, and previous experiences away from home. Talk to your child about their feelings and expectations regarding camp. Are they excited, anxious, or unsure? Keep in mind that it’s normal for both parents and children to feel a mix of emotions about this new experience. Choosing the Right Camp: Research different camps to find one that aligns with your child’s interests and needs. Consider factors such as camp activities, duration, location, safety protocols, and staff-to-camper ratio. Read reviews and testimonials from other parents and campers to get a sense of the camp’s reputation. Preparing Your Child: Involve your child in the preparation process by discussing what to expect at camp and addressing any concerns they may have. Practice basic skills such as packing a bag, making their bed, and following a daily routine. Encourage your child to be open-minded and adaptable, as they’ll be encountering new experiences and people at camp. #GratienMukeshimana #28COE #28coeecosystem #wiseability #camping https://lnkd.in/eSXUTprh

This is a terrific opportunity for young Mainers: a fully-funded two-week adventure exploring Maine's woods and waters! "Thanks to generous funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act, the Maine Department of Education, and the Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative, we are able to provide these amazing two-week summer programs at no cost to participating families."* -Direct from the program webpage As these are grant-based and true wilderness expeditions, the organizers can only go so far in offering accommodations for disabilities. That said, if you can meet the physical and personal demands outlined in the eligibility criteria, you should consider this opportunity, especially if you bring/represent a little difference. These organizations are all doing the work to make other outdoor learning programs more accessible and inclusive. *There is a little fine print to navigate around eligibility (household income, student age and ability, etc.) but the program is people-driven, so just drop them an email if you have questions. You will be able to talk to a human. Teens to Trails Chewonki Foundation Maine Outdoor Brands Maine Inside Out Maine Environmental Education Association Maine Academy of Natural Sciences Live and Work in Maine The Outdoor Education Group (OEG) The Association for Experiential Education WinterKids Maine Department of Education #LifeHappensOutside https://lnkd.in/deT5dCgF

Englobe UK would like to wish all our employees, clients, communities, and associates a very Happy Easter. May this day remind us of hope, love, and new beginnings, also that our children can find things when they really want to! Enjoy the holiday and indulge in some Easter treats! #EasterHoliday #EnglobeUK #Englobe #ExcellentPeople #GreatPlaceTowork #ProudOfOurWork #WaterTreatmentServices #Remediation #RemediationContractor #SoilTreatmentFacilities #BrownfieldContracting #EnablingWorks #IntegratedEnvironmentalServices #InfrastructureProjects #CivilEngineering #HealthandSafety

Hey Overnight Camp Friends, It is early March, tiz the season to be finding new campers and engaging more families in your summer experiences. For the sake of benchmarking, your enrollment should be close to 70% by now. I get this number by assuming your retention is 65% and all of the returning campers have signed up. In addition you have added some new campers to get you to 70%. If you’re not there or not even close, let’s talk about your non summer focus. If you are spending all of your time chasing school groups and weekend retreats, your looking at the wrong income stream, keep your eye on the ball. By now you should have reached out to all the camp families who have not yet signed up. Call them! Don’t just send an email. You will learn more about your camp from parents who do not resend their child than from anyone else. Create a sense of urgency. A flyer that says, Sessions Are Filling Up, will get Mom to respond to your registrar. But you have to call them as well as send emails and snail mail. If you do not have benchmarks and are unsure of the direction and timing of enrollment and marketing, call me. I can get you on the right path with right mind set on how to be successful. Directing an overnight camp is complicated. Fixmycamp.com Gsh1958@gmail.com

Hey Camp Directors, your camp is really good! So what? As camp professionals, we spend a good deal of time thinking about how we can move from Good to Great. That’s a noble gesture and a good use of time. The problem with thinking about the movement of good to great is that we start to ignore the elephant in the room, which is, what’s wrong? Spending all of our time thinking about the good aspects of our camp and improving on them keeps us from thinking about the things that are wrong with our camp. Rather than spending all of our focus on the unique aspects of our camp and how we camp improve upon them. We should spend some time thinking about why parents don’t register their child for our camp. We can all come up with 50 reasons why parents choose us. Can you come up with ten reasons why parents do not choose your camp? A dozen great things about camp will be ignored as soon as Mom finds something she doesn’t like. You have a lot of competition. You have to start looking for holes in your program, your staff, your marketing, your facilities, your leadership and start working on repairing those problems. As camp draws closer and we are scrambling to understand why we haven’t hit our enrollment goals we have to start asking ourselves hard questions. If we do not start to understand our weaknesses now, we will have the same issues next year. Fix camp this summer, so your retention reflects it next summer. Just for a moment stop focusing on great and just think about getting things right. Stop ignoring the obvious, fix it now. Telling yourself you’ll address it in the fall is what you did last year. It didn’t work. If you can’t find those ten things that are wrong, start calling Mothers of kids who didn’t come back. They’ll be happy to tell you a few of them. Fixmycamp.com