WELCOME TO CAMP ACORN AT SOMERSET HILLS YMCA
GENERAL INFORMATION
CAMP LOCATION
Somerset Hills YMCA, 140 Mt Airy Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
CAMP HOURS
Regular camp hours:
9:00am-4:30pm
Before camp care hours:
7:30am -9:00am
After camp care hours:
4:30pm-6:00pm
AM DROP-OFF
All parents must park their car and bring their child to the Camp Check-in Desk and sign them in. Please do not drop your children off by the tent where we may not see that they have arrived.
PM PICK-UP
On the first day of camp you will be provided with “Pick-Up Cards” for any individuals that are authorized to pick up your child. These cards must be completed with your child’s name, the name of the camp, and the name of the person picking up your child and displayed upon arrival for pick-up. Anyone who does not have one of these cards at pick-up must present a government-issued photo ID and the camp staff will match the identification to the list of authorized individuals prior to releasing the child.
REGULAR HOURS PICK-UP: 4:30PM
- At pick-up, please form two lanes of traffic for the car line across the front of the building and remain in your car.
- When you reach the counselors, they will ask for your Camp Pick-Up card and will escort your child(ren) to your car.
EARLY PICK-UP
- If you need to pick up your child early, it must be done before 4:00pm or after 4:45pm. Between 4:00pm and 4:45pm Camp staff prepare the children for the Regular Hours pick-up process and deviations at that time are disruptive to the program.
EXTENDED HOURS PICK-UP: AFTER 4:45 – 6:00PM
- At pick-up, please park your car and pick your child(ren) at the Camp Check-in Desk.
- You must present your Camp Pick-Up card to the staff at the Camp Check-in Desk and then sign them out.
SWIMMING
There will be daily swim for all camps. We will strive to offer all camp groups a swim lesson Monday-Thursday with free swim on Fridays. Please check your child’s weekly calendar for swim times. Please send proper swimming attire (no cutoffs/shorts), a towel, goggles (optional), and a plastic bag for wet clothing. Please make sure that all swimwear is age-appropriate and take into consideration that the ages of the children your child will be swimming with may vary considerably.
PIZZA & ICE CREAM FRIDAYS
Each Friday at camp, we offer Pizza and Ice Cream lunch. We partner with Bedminster Pizza Brothers who prepares and transports the meal for our campers.
- The cost of the pizza lunch is included in the camp program, no additional fee is required.
- Lunch includes two slices of pizza, water and an ice pop (peanut-free) for dessert.
- A list of specific ingredients for the pizza and ice cream lunch will be available at the Camp Check-In Desk.
- If preferred, children with food allergies or special dietary needs are welcome to bring a lunch on Fridays.
PHOTO STREAM
Throughout the camp day, our camp staff are taking fun photos of our campers and uploading to our private photo stream on the GroupMe platform. Registered camp families will receive an email inviting them to create their GroupMe account and join the photo stream.
TEXT ALERTS
To receive Text Alerts with important information regarding Summer Camp delays, cancellations, and other important information, please enter your information in the form below and click the “Subscribe Now” button:
SIGN UP FOR SUMMER CAMP TEXT ALERTS
TRIPS
Kinder Camp, Traditional Camp, all Sports Camps (Basketball, Soccer and Sport Mix). These camps include one field trip or special event during each 1-week session. Details can be found in your Weekly Welcome Email sent out the week before.
- Trips are generally to local venues and are included in the camp fee.
- Children are required to wear their camp T-shirts for the trips.
- All camp staff is needed to run the field trips; and, therefore, there will not be a camp alternative on the day of a trip for children who do not wish to participate.
LOST AND FOUND
Please be sure to label everything your child brings and wears to camp.
If something has been lost, within a few days please check the Lost & Found bins – they are located near the Camp Check-In Desk and in the main lobby of the Y.
Items that have not been reclaimed by the end of each session are donated to charity.
EMERGENCY CONTACTS
Should parents need to reach a camp director in the event of an emergency, please contact the Somerset Hills YMCA Welcome Center at 908 766 7898 (press 1 at the prompt). Be prepared to provide your child’s name and camp group for quick locating.
CAMP CONTACT INFORMATION
Gabi St. Fleur
Senior Director of Youth Development
908 766 7898 x8545
[email protected]
Nyaja Brandon
SACC & Teen Program Coordinator
908 766 7898 x8546
[email protected]
MEMBERSHIP
Greater Somerset County YMCA is a membership organization. Membership dues enable the Y to continue to focus our efforts on developing youth, improving healthy living for all, and fostering social responsibility to create positive and lasting social change. A current membership is not required for camp registration, however, a discount is given to current members.
AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION ACCREDITATION
This important seal of approval means that we have complied with up to 300 health, safety and program quality standards set by the ACA (acacamps.org) including meeting established guidelines for building and program quality and camper-staff ratios. An ACA accreditation assures our camps meet both industry-accepted and government-recognized standards. It means that we have gone to great lengths to provide a safe and quality environment for your child by choosing and training a great staff, setting up smart safety precautions, planning excellent curriculums, and following the standards of the American Camp Association.
ALL OTHER PROGRAM-WIDE POLICIES, PROCEDURES & INFORMATION
Please review the Summer Camp Handbook for all other applicable program-wide policies, procedures, and important information for families.