Camp FAQ’s
WHAT SHOULD WE PACK FOR CAMP?
Each day campers should bring a bag/backpack with swimsuit, towel, sunblock, bug spray, lunch, snacks, water and/or refillable water bottle and change of clothes. Campers should wear closed toe shoes, flip flops are not allowed. Toys, games, electronic devices, and valuable items should be left at home. The YMCA is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
WHAT HAPPENS ON THE FIRST DAY?
Once they arrive on their first day, campers will receive a warm welcome to Camp Massapoag. Our friendly staff will greet campers at the Moosegate and tell them what group they are in and where to find their cabin. Your child will be introduced to their counselor and meet the campers in their group at their cabin. From there, all campers will meet around the flagpole for the flag raising ceremony followed by morning assembly. After morning assembly, groups are dismissed to begin daily programming. They will spend the day with their group experiencing all the exciting activities Camp has to offer.
Our YMCA Camp Staff will do all we can from the first moment to comfort your child, ease fears, and help make the first day (and every day) a positive experience. The best thing we can do is to make sure every camper knows that our staff are friendly and eager to answer any questions they may have. Please help us reinforce the practice of asking where to go, what to do, where to place belongings, etc. Also, please have campers on time for the bus and properly prepared for camp. Try to have your child ready early for their first day so that we can get right into making great memories!
DO CAMPERS NEED SUNSCREEN/BUGSPRAY?
Camp Massapoag recommends that all campers and staff use sunscreen and take precautions such as wearing protective clothing and hats, taking advantage of shade, and staying hydrated. Please send your camper with sunscreen that you’ve determined is appropriate and teach them to apply it. Provide enough to apply several times a day throughout the camp session. Staff will remind campers to apply sunscreen regularly and take other sun protection precautions.
Camp Massapoag is located in the woods and bugs are a natural occurrence. We encourage applying bug spray before camp and providing your camper with bug spray, to reapply throughout the day. Staff will assist any camper who needs it. We also encourage teaching your camper how and where to check for ticks. Staff will give daily reminders for campers to do tick checks but they cannot assist with them.
CAN PARENTS VISIT CAMP DURING THE DAY?
Pending approval from the Camp Director or Assistant Director, visitors are welcome during the camp day. Please follow these procedures for visiting camp:
• Contact the Camp Office to request a time to visit camp. Typically, we prefer visits to occur at the very beginning or very end of the day, but we can obviously be flexible as needed.
• Check in at the office immediately upon arrival. A member of the leadership team will take you to your child’s group. For camper safety and staff peace-of-mind, visitors will be escorted by staff at all times while on camp property.
• Visits should be no longer than 30 minutes in the interest of keeping each camper’s attention on their group.
ARE YOUR STAFF TRAINED?
All of our staff are CPR & First Aid certified and have completed background checks. All our staff have completed a camp staff orientation and training course. This course covers various child and adolescent behavior management techniques, small and large group activities, emergency planning, medical emergencies and goals for camper and character development. Our waterfront is protected by certified lifeguards during all swimming activities and counselors are also on hand to help build confidence around the water.
LOST AND FOUND?
Everything your camper brings to camp should be plainly marked with their name in permanent ink. Please use first and last name in a very visible area on all clothing, towels, backpack, lunchbox and anything else brought to camp. The lost and found storage area is accessible to campers and families. Lost and found will be cleaned out every two weeks. Items will be deposed of if not claimed.
WHAT IF IT RAINS?
We have a rainy-day schedule for inclement weather. Depending on the amount of rain, we will still follow our normal schedule outdoors. When the rain is too heavy or there is thunder/lightning, groups will retreat to cabins or the covered gymnasium for games and activities until the weather clears. Specialists will be prepared with rainy day alternatives for their activities that will allow campers to still get a full camp experience even when it’s raining.
HOW DOES LUNCH WORK?
All campers are required to bring their own lunch and drinks. The lunch should be packed in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack. Frozen juice boxes and water bottles can also keep the lunch fresh and provide extra liquids for hot days. Please put your camper’s name on the outside of the lunch bag. Camp staff are not able to heat up lunches for campers.
DO CAMPERS NEED MONEY AT CAMP?
The camp store sells drinks, snacks, and camp swag. To add money to your camper’s camp store account, log into your Camp Brain parent portal, click “view details” and under your account page will open. From there you will see the option to add money to your child camp store account. You can call the Camp Office to add money to your camper’s account. The Camp Store will NOT accept cash directly from campers.
CAMP STORE MONEY IS NON-REFUNDABLE.
HOW DO I KNOW WHICH BUS IS MINE?
At the end of the day, counselors will help remind campers what bus they are on and then each bus will be called to line-up. Attendance is taken by the bus monitor before they get on the bus and after. Buses do not leave camp property until all children are accounted for. Bus monitors will be present on each bus. Be sure your child knows their bus stop. Encourage them to speak with any of the staff if they don’t know which bus they should board. Campers are only released from the bus to authorized adults on your camper registration form. Adults must present a photo ID.
You can register for any bus assignment you’d like. However, changes to bus assignments CANNOT be made during the week your child is attending camp. Call the Camp Office for more information about this policy. If circumstances require you to pick your child up directly from camp, please review the Parent Pick-up Information for more details.
WHY ARE PHOTO ID’S IMPORTANT?
To ensure camper safety, we will release campers only to the authorized adults listed on your Camper Registration. Adults picking up campers must present a Photo ID in order for campers to be released. To help expedite the pick-up process, please have your Photo ID ready at camp and bus stops.
WHAT HAPPENS IN AN EMERGENCY?
Camp Massapoag has established emergency procedures for severe weather, fire, and missing campers. Safety drills are held regularly. If an official “State of Emergency” is declared, we will be in contact with local authorities and comply with their direction and instructions. In such an event, please call the Lowell YMCA (not camp) at 978-454-7825 for information.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE WATER FRONT AND CHRISTIAN’S LAW?
Our Waterfront program is supervised by the Waterfront Director, who oversees our certified life-guards. Additionally, counselors of the groups at the Waterfront are stationed on the beach to assist with supervision. All campers will have one swim period per day. All campers are encouraged but not required to swim. Campers who choose not to swim will remain on the beach under staff supervision. The swimming ability of each camper is assessed on the first day of each session to determine their appropriate swimming level. In compliance with Christian’s Law, campers who have been deemed as “non-swimmers” or “at-risk swimmers” by our Waterfront staff will be fitted with a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). There will be a proper fit test done to see if it is suitable for that child. Parents may sup-ply their child with their own PFD. Please make sure the PFD is marked with the child’s first and last name and a parent or legal guardian’s emergency contact information. If, at any time, the PFD provided by a parent or guardian is determined to not be properly fitting, or is damaged or otherwise not in serviceable condition, the Camp Office shall immediately notify the parent or legal guardian who provided the PFD. In such case, the minor shall not be allowed to participate in any swimming/bathing activity pending verbal permission from the parent/legal guardian for the minor to be properly fit tested for a PFD provided by Camp. Any verbal permission shall be subsequently documented in writing within 24 hours, and, at a minimum, provide the date, time and name of the parent/guardian who provided permission.
PARENT DROP-OFF
We have a rolling drop-off from 8:45AM-9:00AM every day. After 9:00AM all campers must be signed in at the Camp Office.
PARENT PICK-UP
Parent pick-up at Camp Massapoag takes place between 4:00 PM and 4:30 PM. Campers not picked up by 4:30 will go to Extended Care and a $5 fee will be applied to your account. Photo ID is required for pickup every day.
For everyone’s safety and to ensure that our buses can board and depart as scheduled, we ask that you schedule early pick-ups prior to 3:00 PM.
PLEASE DO NOT ENTER CAMP PARKING AREA WHILE BUSES ARE PRESENT.
If you plan on picking your camper up prior to 3PM, please email or call the office as early in the day as possible. All early pick-ups take place in the Camp Office. Photo ID is required for campers to be released from camp. No camper will be released to anyone whose name does not appear on their Camper Release on the Registration Form. Parents must email specific written instructions to Camp to alter camper authorization information.
EXTENDED CARE
Extended Care is available for an additional fee at Camp Massapoag. Morning Care starts at 7AM and afternoon care starts at 4PM and pick-up ends at 6PM. Late pick-ups are billed at $1/minute. Fees will be billed to your account and due that same Friday. Persistent late pick-ups/late payment will result in loss of extended care.
BUSES
Please arrive at the bus stop 10 minutes before the scheduled bus arrival time and wait 10 minutes after the scheduled time to be sure you do not miss the bus.
YMCA Camp Massapoag is not responsible for any child left unattended at a bus stop in the morning. Any child who is not met at the bus stop in the afternoon will be taken to the Lowell YMCA.
Campers are not left alone at bus stops and the bus does not wait.
If you would like your child to walk home from the bus, please notify the camp in writing. YMCA Camp Massapoag works with the bus company to ensure safety and efficiency. Bus times are subject to change. The camp has contact with the bus dispatcher for emergencies. Though families may register for different AM & PM bus stops, registered stops may NOT be changed during the week of attendance. To make changes to busing call the camp office prior to the registered week. Inappropriate bus behavior can result in loss of busing. Gum, food, and drinks are not allowed at any time on the bus. Bus monitors are present on each bus.