Camp Echo is Accredited by the American Camp Association
Fun And Safety: ACA Camps Set the Standard
ACA Accreditation means that the camp you are considering for your child cares enough to undergo a thorough (over 300 standards) review of its operation -- from staff qualifications and training to emergency management.
American Camp Association collaborates with experts from The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth service agencies to assure that current practices at the camp reflect the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation.
Camps and ACA form a partnership that promotes summers of growth and fun in an environment committed to safety.
The benefits of camp extend further than just childhood development.
The camp experience defines former campers even as adults.
Camp has changed many lives, introduced people to new passions, and broadened horizons.
If you have (literally) a minute, watch the short video below to learn how,
Because of Camp ..., some folks you may know developed lasting friendships, learned self-esteem, became a team player, learned how to care, and much more!
Click here to find out who else went to camp,
and to watch additional videos with messages for parents from the American Camp Association.
Gordie Kaplan, Executive Director of the Illinois Section of the American Camp Association, attended Camp Thunderbird for Boys in Bemidji, Minnesota
as a camper and a staff member from 1950 (at age 8) through 1967 (age 26). This camp had one eight-week session each summer.
Some of the many things he learned at camp were the following:
"I never 'boo' anyone or anything.
I learned to share and work as part of a team.
I learned that everyone has something they can do well and contribute to others.
I learned to greatly respect Native American cultures and values.
I learned to respect people who work with their hands and did not have extensive formal education.
I learned to respect the rural, small town life style and most of their values (except values that were and are negative or exclusionary or prejudicial).
I learned to respect others and their property.
I learned to relate to others who differ in a whole host of ways from me and my family.
"I learned to eat what was provided for us, and to be grateful for it, because many people do not have enough to eat.
I learned to 'Take what you want but eat what you take.'
I learned the one rule we had as a guideline for almost everything:
'You can do whatever you like as long as it doesn't affect yours or others health and safety, or spoil the fun of someone else.'
I learned it was OK to not be the best at everything I tried, and OK not to do everything well.
I learned what I could do well, and that it was OK to feel good about these accomplishments.
I learned to care for my clothing and 'stuff' and my personal hygiene, and to be neat and clean.
I learned how to try new activities.
I learned to love the natural environment and to value wilderness.
I learned to love canoe tripping and camping out especially in the Northern Minnesota and Ontario Wilderness areas.
I learned to love folk music and to sing.
"I learned to pay attention to details.
I learned the value, fulfillment, and enjoyment of doing hard work -- including physical work.
I learned to delegate.
I learned to make decisions and solve problems by myself and with others.
I learned to trust.
I learned how to lead and how to follow.
My creative energy was unlocked and began to flourish.
I learned how to speak in public to a large group.
"I learned much, much more but these are the things that come to conscious memory most easily."
We can't promise that everyone will learn all these things by going to summer camp,
but if you ask anyone who attended summer camp what they learned, they will tell you things like the above.
Summer camp is a great place to learn self-confidence, resilience, and independence.
As the pioneer of "sleepaway" camp, YMCAs have been serving communities for more than 150 years and YMCA camps are a wonderful choice for parents who are looking for a safe and fun place to send their kids.
YMCA camps help kids have fun, grow positively, meet healthy role models and learn good values.
YMCA camps also provide a positive and inclusive atmosphere in which to grow that satisfies a child's need to belong.
YMCAs today are collectively one of the nation's largest providers of camping programs with 265 resident camps and nearly 2,000 day camps across the country including 120 specialty camps for kids with disabilities.
YMCAs serve nearly 400,000 youngsters and families each year through their resident camping programs.
Another 600,000 enroll in YMCA day camps annually.
YMCAs also employ nearly 12,000 teenagers each summer as lifeguards and camp counselors.
The McGaw YMCA's Camp Echo is a proud member of the YMCA camp family!
The YMCA of the USA offers an easy-to-use search tool to find a YMCA camp near you.
Many parents searching for a summer camp are overwhelmed by the number of camps available,
and struggle to differentiate one from the other.
Click here to see, at a glance, what sets Camp Echo apart.
Dr. Chris Thurber is a board-certified clinical psychologist, author, consultant, and father.
During the academic year he works as a school psychologist at Phillips Exeter Academy;
this summer will be his 29th year at YMCA Camp Belknap, where he works as the waterfront director.
Chris is widely published in the academic and popular press.
You may have seen or heard him on the Martha Stewart Show, Today Show, CBS Morning News, NPR, or PBS.
His ideas on how to maximize the benefits of the camping experience for children have been featured in
Time, Parents, Scholastic Parent & Child, Parenting, Good Housekeeping, Women's Day, US News & World Report,
Newsweek, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and The Wall Street Journal.
Together with Jon C. Malinkowski, Chris has created The Summer Camp Handbook:
Everything You Need to Find, Choose, and Get Ready for Overnight Camp -- and Skip the Homesickness.
Long available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble for $14.95 (or less), the entire book is now available free online.
This web-based book is a tremendous resource for parents looking for the right camp, parents who have already selected a camp, and
parents with children at camp -- as well as families packing for camp and young people heading off to camp for the first time.
The popularity of Richard Louv's 2005 book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder,
has inspired groups around the country to begin a nationwide movement to reconnect children and nature.
Camp Echo provides the perfect setting for accomplishing this task.
Campers can leave their computer keyboards and cell phones at home -- and spend two weeks playing, learning, and experiencing the great outdoors.
Research has shown that outdoor play helps relieve stress, stimulate the imagination, and encourage creativity.
Parents who send their children to camp are giving them an experience they can't easily get in the city or suburbs during the school year
-- fostering their heath and well-being -- helping them build a life-long appreciation for the wonders of our world -- and promoting "green" values.
Click here to visit the "Children & Nature Network" website.
Click here for a PDF on Nature Deficit and how nature benefits children.
Click here to read more about the national "No Child Left Inside" movement.
Click here to view the "Get'em Outside" video.
Click here to read more about the "Leave No Child Inside" movement in the Chicago area.
Click here to read an article by Richard Louv on the Sierra Club website.
Click here to listen to an interview with Richard Louv on NPR.
Click here to purchase Last Child in the Woods from Amazon online.
Nature Rocks is a national campaign to inspire parents and caregivers to get children outside to paly and explore,
to make playing in nature a fundamental part of childhood and family life again.
Launched in May 2009, Nature Rocks builds on the momentum of the burgeoning grassroots movement and demonstrates to families that a healthy environment,
playing, and exploring in nature are essential ingredients for family bonding and for raising happier, healthier, and smarter children.
A growing body of research indicates that children who spend more time in nature are happier, healthier, and smarter.
Check out Nature Rocks for fun and easy ways to connect families with nature.
Nature Rocks has over 100 activities for groups and families and a "find nature" tool to identify local outdoor opportunities.
We want all families throughout America to see for themselves how much Nature Rocks.
Nature Rocks' spectrum of activities and tools are designed to foster fun family bonding.
Nature Rocks was founded by ecoAmerica and the Children & Nature Network, and has been brought to life through partnerships with The Nature Conservancy,
REI, the American Camp Association, and the Flora Family Foundation all of whom provide funding and/or in-kind support.
Click here for more information about Nature Rocks.
The Healthy Family Home Project is a collaboration between YMCA of the USA and Eli Lilly that is designed to help any family in any community make healthier decisions and lead healthier lives at home.
The program offers families practical tools for making small, sustainable changes that can make a big impact over time.
Visit the Healthy Family Home website for more information to learn about a variety of ways you can integrate physical activity (play), healthy meals, and family time into your homelife.
Research from the Search Institute shows that lots of factors influence how our kids grow up and the choices they make.
When life gets complicated, it can be easy to forget the basics -- the foundation that helps kids make positive choices in many areas of life.
Search Institute's widely used framework of Developmental Assets offers a practical, positive strategy for making a difference.
Grounded in scientific research, Developmental Assets are 40 essential building blocks of healthy development.
Think of assets as the "good stuff" that young people need in their lives to help them grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.
Camp counselors can play a vital role in building these assets as they relate to your child.
Research shows that the more Developmental Assets young people experience, the less likely they are to engage in a wide range of high-risk behaviors including underage drinking, violence, illicit drug use, sexual activity, gambling, eating disorders and school truancy.
Just as important, the more assets they experience, the more likely they are to engage in positive or thriving behaviors, such as succeeding in school, helping others, maintaining good health and overcoming adversity.
Camp Echo staff members are trained to understand the ways in which camp exposes campers to important external assets, and how camp counselors encourage and strengthen your child's internal assets.
Camp Echo staff members know that you are counting on them to be positive role models, and that you have placed your trust in them!
We urge you, as a parent, to learn about the importance of Asset Building. Click here for more information about the Search Institute and the Forty Developmental Assets.
Sharing Personal Information About your Child with Camp Professionals
Camp Echo's Personal History Form and Health Form ask you to share personal information about your child.
We do this to enlist parents as partners in the transition from home to camp -- so we can provide the best possible experience for your child.
We want what you want! A safe, secure, and successful time away, enjoying fun activities in the outdoors.
Some parents are uncertain about what information is appropriate to share.
Sharing information may worry you, because you think it might stigmatize your child, and you want camp to be a "fresh start."
Rather, we use the information to make plans, support your child in the best way possible, and to make sound decisions.
We are careful to share the information only with those staff at camp who your child might approach for help.
Bob Ditter is a child, adolescent, and family therapist in Boston, Massachusetts.
He consults with youth agencies throughout the United States, including the American Camp Association (ACA), Girl Scouts of the USA, YMCA, Salvation Army, JCCA, and many others.
He has visited over 500 camps in the United States, writes for Camping Magazine, the official publication of ACA, and has authored many books and training videos for camp professionals.
Bob has created a 15-minute video to help parents understand why it's so important to provide honest and complete information to the camp.
Click here
to order or read more about these and other Bob Ditter books and DVDs.
At Camp Echo, we teach our staff to be on the lookout for bullying and its effects.
We teach our campers to always be sensitive to the feelings of others.
Bullying will not be tolerated, and bullies will be dealt with in a serious manner.
Bullies are not welcome at Camp Echo.
A lot of young people have a good idea of what bullying is because they see it every day!
Bullying happens when someone hurts or scares another person on purpose and the person being bullied has a hard time defending himself or herself.
Usually, bullying happens over and over. Bullying is ...
Punching, shoving and other acts that hurt people physically
Spreading bad rumors about people
Keeping certain people out of a "group"
Teasing people in a mean way
Getting certain people to "gang up" on others
There are many ways that young people bully each other, even if they don't realize it at the time.
We encourage parents to talk about bullying with their children prior to camp.
Please encourage your child to report problems to their counselors -- and the Head Counselor or Social Worker.
The Camp Echo staff is trained to address such problems in a manner that preserves the confidentiality of such communication.
Campers should not be afraid to approach the Camp Director, the Program Manager, the Main Camp Director, or the Teen Camp Director -- at any time -- asking to talk about things that are bothering them.
If campers don't report problems, it is possible that Echo staff members will remain unaware of the issues, and therefore the support and assistance they are prepared to offer may be delayed.
We care very deeply about your camper's emotional and physical safety.
Please encourage them to report problems as soon as possible.
If you learn of anything about your child or another child that concerns you while your child is at camp, please call us.
As soon as we learn about an issue, we respond.
It's only when we don't know about a problem that we can't solve it.
Click here for a great resource you can use to discuss bullying with your child.
We also realize that campers enjoy keeping in touch with their new friends over the internet after attending camp together. While this type of internet communication
is great, the internet can also become another way for bullying to occur. We want to make sure that campers and parents are aware of how to safely use the internet. NetCetera
is a toolkit put together by the Federal Trade Commission and OnGuardOnline.gov as a resource for parents and children.
At Camp Echo, campers' safety is the number one priority. 99% of parents surveyed after their children have attended camp said the staff worked hard
to ensure the helath and safety of their children.
Camp Echo's staff hiring processes and training ensure that campers are safe throughout their time at Camp Echo.
Staff hired to work at Camp Echo go through a thorough hiring process to ensure that staff have a proven track record of responsibility.
This screening process includes checking the National Sex Offender Public Registry (all staff), FCRA Background Check (18 years and older), Child Abuse and Neglect Background Check
(21 years and older), and ACA Self-Disclosure Sheet (all staff).
First-Timer Information Nights
First-Timer Information Nights are for parents and their children who are either going to Camp Echo for the first time or considering going
to Camp Echo for the first time. These information nights are geared towards the Pathfinder and Main Camp programs. If you are new to Camp Echo, but not registered
for either of these programs and would like more information, please contact Program Manager Meredith Stevens at (847) 475-7400 ext 227.
2012 First-Timer Information Nights take place on the following evenings:
Tuesday, March 20th, 7:30 pm
McGaw YMCA in Evanston, Children's Center Auditorium
1420 Maple, Evanston, IL 60201
Wednesday, April 11th 7:30 pm
McGaw YMCA in Evanston, Children's Center Auditorium
1420 Maple, Evanston, IL 60201
NEW Tuesday, May 8th 7:30 pm
McGaw YMCA in Evanston, Children's Center Auditorium
1420 Maple, Evanston, IL 60201
First-Timer Information Nights provide useful information about all aspects of the Camp Echo experience.
If you cannot attend either of these events, you may choose to view our Camp Echo
slideshow online.
Teen Program Information Nights
Teen Program Information Meetings are for parents and teens who are signed up for 2011 teen programs.
2012 Teen Program Information Meetings take place on the following evenings:
Wednesday, April 25th
6:00 - Boys & Girls Trailblazers
7:00 - Michigan Bike
8:00 - RANGERS
Thursday, April 26th
6:00 - Rocky Mountains, Porcupine Mountains
7:00 - Georgian Bay, Minnesota Canoe
8:00 - Taste of British Columbia
All Teen and Trip meetings take place at the McGaw YMCA in Evanston, 1000 Grove Street, Evanston, IL 60201.
The meetings are an opportunity for parents and participants to ask questions about program details and for us to clarify our goals and expectations for teens.
In order to easily answer questions about each trip, the meetings are grouped by the type of trip (aquatic or hiking) the participant is registered for.
A short presentation is followed by a Question & Answer session.
After the presentation, parents and participants are welcome to stay for the entire meeting or leave as soon as their questions have been answered.
If a participant is signed up for more than one trip or program, we recommend that you attend both meetings.
Camp Echo has partnered with Bunk1, a web-based company in New York, to provide one-way email, camp photographs, and a camp newsletter for parents of current campers -- all password-protected -- for a small fee.
Bunk1 also provides an option for parents to send Bunk Replies (blanks with a bar code), on which campers write replies; the Bunk Replies are scanned and sent back to parents as email attachments.
We do not accept or deliver Bunk Notes during Pre-Camp, Family Camp or Outdoor Education.
Please send Bunk Notes from June 12 to August 12, 2011S only.
Click below to transfer to Camp Echo's Bunk1 website.
Some first-time campers miss home more than others.
Counselors are trained to deal with the initial signs; in severe cases they are assisted by the Head Counselor, who will communicate with parents.
We encourage parents to be brave during a bout with homesickness.
We urge parents to cooperate with the camp administration in these cases and to understand and believe that their child will benefit the most by staying at camp for the entire session.
Parents should avoid making a pre-camp promise to pick up a camper early.
There are no refunds for campers who are sent or taken home early, even if they go home on the first day.
If a child really does not want to go to camp, consider waiting until he or she is a year older.
Even if you believe your child is "ready for camp" you may have concerns about homesickness.
We recommend that you purchase a DVD entitled "The Secret Ingredients of Summer Camp Success" by Christopher Thurber, Ph.D, which is available for $9.95 plus shipping and handling from the American Camp Association Bookstore.
Parent Information Booklet and Campers Forms
Our 2012 Parent Info Booklet and Forms are now available. In this first section are the PDF-Fillabe versions. If you are planning on using this method of filling out your child's forms, please keep in
mind that you may partially fill them in, and print or save them at any point.
Also, there are several places that your
signature is required; please do not forget to sign the forms before sending them in.
The Camp Echo staff is an incredible talented and well-trained group of dedicated individuals. Each summer, 85% - 90% of Camp Echo staff
arrive at camp with a previous affiliation with Camp Echo, either as a camper, staff member, or volunteer. We are very proud of our
history and tradition of exemplery staff.
Curious how the Camp Echo staff is trained? The Camp Echo staff training materials are available on our "Staff" pages:
Staff Manuals.
Interested in learning more about what each and every staff member does during the summer? The Camp Echo job descriptions are
available on our website: Job Descriptions.
