YMCA of Metro Chicago adapts 2021 summer camps
As many school districts prepare to resume full-time, in-person instruction in the fall, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago is revising its 2021 Summer Camp programs to incorporate more social and emotional learning into the camp day for kids after spending much of the past year in remote learning.
Y camps follow recently modified health and safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local public health authorities, so campers this summer will be organized into “pods” of no more than 10 participants to keep groups separated and to reduce the risk of cross-exposure.
Y counselors reinforce safe habits such as mask-wearing, frequent hand washing, and social distancing.
Capacity at all in-person camps is limited in accordance with public health guidelines, a check-in process with temperature screenings is required of all campers and staff, and camp staff receive additional training on updated COVID-19 protocols.
“As always, summer camp at the YMCA will be fun, but it will look a little different this year, as will school in the fall,” said Jill Doerner, senior vice president of Operations, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.
“What we are aiming to do is help parents get their kids ready for school. The goal of our in-person day camps and overnight camps is to provide a fun experience for our campers, while also easing kids back into a peer learning environment to make sure that they become familiar with the safety measures they'll see when school starts.”
As in previous years, Y camps provide structure to a child's day, incorporating scheduled time for physical activity, skills building, lunch, play, and reflection. Extracurricular exposure to literacy, STEAM subjects, and critical thinking helps prevent summer learning loss.
Starting June 1, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago is offering three types of camps accredited by the American Camp Association to accommodate every family's unique needs, whether those be in person or virtual:
In-person day camps
In-person day camps provide a traditional day camp experience with organized educational and recreational activities that develop self-confidence, character, and teamwork. There is an array of specialty camps to choose from, including art, science, and sports, while incorporating social-emotional learning and other core Y hallmark values: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
Day camps will be offered at 15 Chicago area locations, including: Buehler YMCA in Palatine; Foglia YMCA in Lake Zurich; Hastings Lake YMCA in Lindenhurst; Sage YMCA in Crystal Lake; Fry Family YMCA in Naperville; YMCA Safe 'n Sound in Naperville; Indian Boundary YMCA in Downers Grove; Elmhurst YMCA; and Camp Duncan in Ingleside.
Overnight camps
After a one-year hiatus last year due to the pandemic, the YMCA of Metro Chicago is resuming Overnight Camp in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan this year. The association is offering four Overnight Camps in 2021: Camp Duncan in Ingleside, Illinois; Camp MacLean in Burlington, Wisconsin; Camp Nawakwa in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin; and Camp Pinewood in Twin Lake, Michigan.
Activities will include kayaking, fishing, archery, and hiking, giving youth a chance to strengthen their teamwork skills in a supportive, caring environment.
Online camps
For families not quite ready for in-person activities, the Y is also offering Online Camps that bring the Y camp experience kids know and love to the comfort and safety of home.
As with the in-person camps, the Y's online camps offer themes ranging from cooking to coding and emphasize experiential learning. With interactive online instruction, low counselor-to-camper ratios, dedicated time for physical activity, and home-delivered supply kits, the Y's Online Camps provide a dynamic experience that offers so much more than screen time.
Start times and rates for the in-person camps vary by location, with most sites offering before and after care from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Capacity is limited to comply with social distancing requirements and state regulations, and open positions will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Financial assistance is available to qualifying families.
For details about the YMCA of Metro Chicago's 2021 Summer Camp options and how to register, visit ymcachicago.org/summercamp or call (773) 905-5115.