YMCA Camp Hi-Rock
A Branch of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA

Camp with Character, Programs with Purpose since 1948

Resident Camp Parent Information

Note: Parents of Day Campers can find more relevant information by going to the Day Camp Parent Info page.

This page details the policies and procedures for YMCA Camp Hi-Rock's Resident Camp program. To learn more about specific programs and activities, please visit our Activities page or our Resident Camp page. Carefully browsing through the contents of this page, as well as the rest of the website, can help you prepare your camper (and yourself) for a successful Hi-Rock summer. You can also download a comprehensive Resident Camp Parent Handbook to read at your convenience.

Camp Hi-Rock is committed to ensuring that every camper's stay with us is safe, happy, and rewarding. Our goal is to challenge and nurture the individual, build self-esteem, instill leadership and social skills, strengthen the body, lift the spirit, and sharpen the mind. We strive to accomplish this by fostering an atmosphere built around the YMCA's four character values - caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility - while developing skills, making friends, and having a great time!

Feel free to contact us at any point if you have any questions or concerns not answered within this website. The Camp Hi-Rock staff would love to hear from you!

Administrative Information: Before/After Camp

Registration Policies
Changes, Cancellations, or Special Requests
Medical Policies and Procedures: Required Medical Forms
Medical Policies and Procedures: Medical Care
Transportation
Packing List for Campers
Check-In Procedure (Coming to Camp)
Check-Out Procedure (Leaving Camp)
Other Important Administrative Information

Resident Camp Information: While Your Camper is at Camp

Camp Store
Laundry
Correspondence: Mail; Food Care Packages; Phone Calls; Emails
Visiting
Homesickness/Other Problems
Camper Code of Conduct
Other Resident Camp Information

Registration Policies

Registration forms are published in the fall and sent to all campers who attended camp the prior summer. All forms are also available for download here. Upon receipt of a registration form and deposit, the camp office will send parents a confirmation packet, which includes: confirmation of registration and payment; medical forms; and a Parent Handbook, which details all information found on this website. Camp Hi-Rock will only process registrations and mail confirmation packets once we receive a complete registration form AND payment for the initial deposit. This is to ensure that all our camper spots are held fairly.

Final payment of camp program fees, as well as any written changes, cancellations, or additional requests, are due by May 1. Payments can be made by check, money order, or credit card authorization (VISA/MasterCard only). Payment plans are available; please contact our office well in advance of the May 1 deadline to find out more. If you are registering after May 1, please submit all payment and paperwork immediately or no later than 2 weeks before your camper's intended arrival, to ensure your camper's place at camp.

If there are any special custodial circumstances of which we should be aware, please inform the camp office, in writing, as soon as possible. YMCA Camp Hi-Rock must be provided with legal documentation concerning any parental visiting issues. Our camp office will not release personal records or data, medical examination reports, or evaluations, to anyone without the consent of the camper's parent/guardian.

Changes, Cancellations, or Special Requests

If you need to make any changes to your original registration form, please contact the camp office as soon as possible, and send written notification no later than May 1. These changes or requests may include: session changes, waterskiing week requests, transportation needs, special dietary requests, cabin mate requests, or authorization of persons to pick up your camper.

If, for any reason, your camper cannot come to camp at the scheduled time, PLEASE NOTIFY OUR OFFICE IMMEDIATELY! There may be a waiting list for camp, and someone might be glad to take the place originally reserved for your camper. The initial deposit is not refundable. Any other payments will only be refunded if the camp office receives written notice of cancellation by May 1. Refunds can take 8-10 weeks to process, regardless of the amount. If a camper is unable to come to camp due to an accident or illness after May 1, all advance payments are refundable provided a doctor’s note is submitted. Refunds will not be granted to campers who choose not to complete their stay due to homesickness or dislike of our programs, or to campers who are expelled from camp due to their failure to comply with the Camper Code of Conduct.

Medical Policies and Procedures: Required Medical Forms

Commonwealth of Massachusetts law requires campers to have documentation of a physical examination, conducted by a licensed physician within two years prior to their stay at camp. Camp medical forms are available here, and are preferred to any other forms. If you will be submitting medical forms other than the Camp Hi-Rock forms, please make sure that the physician has signed off on the "Camp Hi-Rock Medical Form" or included a screen for signs of active tuberculosis.

1. Medical Form/Medical History Form: The camper's parent or guardian must complete and sign the front side of the Medical Form within 6 months of their camper's stay at camp. A licensed physician must complete and sign the reverse side of the form, which includes a medical history, immunization records, and a physical examination report. Please include your camper's insurance information on this form and provide camp with a copy of both the front and back sides of your camper's health insurance card.
2. YMCA Camp Hi-Rock Medication Administration Release Form: Camp Hi-Rock cannot administer any prescription or non-prescription medication brought from home to a camper without a complete Medication Administration Release Form. This form requires details including the name of medication, directions for use, and the patient's name. Both a parent/guardian and a licensed physician must sign this form.

Please mail your completed medical forms to camp no later than 2 weeks before your camper's stay at camp, and retain a copy to bring to check-in or to hand in at the bus stop on check-in day if your camper will ride a bus. We cannot allow any camper to remain at camp without a current and complete medical form. The Medical Form also includes documentation of parental consent, allowing the camp staff to provide emergency medical attention for a camper if necessary, and basic health insurance information to be used if the camper requires medical care or prescription medication. In order to meet specifications set by our local Board of Health, only the Camp Hi-Rock medical forms are acceptable.

Medical Policies and Procedures: Medical Care

Daily medical care is provided by the camp nurses, in accordance with standing orders from our consulting medical practice, Macony P.C. Our nurses are available 24 hours a day. Sick call is held four times daily for mildly ill campers. First aid kits are kept in all program areas as well as in the campers' living areas, and are also carried on hikes and overnight campouts. The majority of first aid will be administered by medical staff; however, the general staff are trained in CPR and First Aid and will administer first aid when necessary.

All prescription or non-prescription medications must be handed to the camp nurses on check-in day and must be accompanied by a Medication Administration Release Form. All medications, including vitamins, are to be administered under the direct supervision of a camp nurse. These medications will be locked in the camp infirmary when not required. Should a medication be required to be kept on a camper's person, a physician must provide written authorization for the medication to be kept with the camper at all times. Medications will only be administered once the camp nurses have approved the prescription as detailed on the Medication Administration Release Form. The nurses may administer other nonprescription medications according to our standing orders if needed by your camper during their stay, provided you have not indicated an allergy to such medications on the Medical Form. They may also administer prescription medications prescribed by a local physician during your camper's stay.

At least one of our registered nurses will be on camp at all times, and our counselors are certified in CPR and First Aid. When any serious accident or illness occurs at camp, we will administer medical care and will notify parents as quickly as possible. If necessary, campers will be transported to a hospital or doctor's office for further treatment. In the case where the camp emergency vehicle is inadequate given the patient's needs, our Emergency Action Plan will be activated. In the case of minor accident or illness, parents will be informed only if the camper is required to be seen by a doctor. Parents will not be called every time campers visit our infirmary.

Should your camper require medical treatment by a doctor, we will transport them to and from the hospital or doctor's office. Any expenses incurred (doctor or hospital fees, medications, etc.) will be the responsibility of the parents/guardians. YMCA Camp Hi-Rock does not provide insurance for campers. Please include your camper's health insurance information on his/her Medical Form, and provide a copy of the front and back sides of the camper's health insurance card.

Please note that YMCA Camp Hi-Rock does not provide insurance for campers.
Parents should include all health insurance information with medical documentation;
any fees incurred as a result of medical treatment will be applied to the parent's bill at the end of the summer.

Transportation

Parents or guardians driving their campers to Camp Hi-Rock can find directions here or through most online map websites. If you use directions from somewhere other than those provided by Camp Hi-Rock, please double-check with our directions once you reach the general vicinity of the South Egremont/Mount Washington area. The directions listed by some websites may include some roads with little or no signage, and can be difficult to follow for anyone not familiar with the area.

As an alternative to driving your campers to and/or from camp, Camp Hi-Rock offers bus transportation for some of our major service areas: Fairfield and Bridgeport, CT, Westchester County and Manhattan, NY, and Boston, MA. Limited airport transportation is also available. Buses are only available at the start and end of each two-week session; parents must arrange transportation for campers coming to or leaving camp in the middle of a two-week session. Bus fees are $100 for roundtrip and $50 for one-way transportation. Dates and locations are listed below. For bus times, please refer to your confirmation material, or contact our camp office (times are subject to change; please contact our office in advance for confirmation of pick-up and drop-off times):

Please note:
*Campers taking the bus home will leave on a Sunday**, even though camp sessions end on Saturday. Parents who pick up their campers from camp must arrive on Saturday morning.
**All buses run on Sunday except for buses taking campers home on Saturday, August 16, the last day of camp.

If your camper does not live within driving distance, Camp Hi-Rock also offers transportation to and from local airports. Please contact our office well in advance to coordinate flight details and transportation requirements.

Packing List for Campers

Please help your camper pack appropriately for his/her stay at camp, and discourage your camper from bringing any expensive electronics or valuables. We recommend that you use a footlocker for camp no taller than 18 inches so that it will fit underneath the bunk beds. Please be aware that each camper is responsible for his/her belongings. We cannot accept responsibility for damage to, or theft of, personal property while at camp. You may wish to bring a combination lock for a footlocker, and to label your camper's bags, cases, and footlocker.

The following is a list of suggested items for campers to bring to camp for a two-week session. All items should be clearly marked for identification. Since campers spend a large portion of their day outside, we advise that they bring clothes which they will not mind getting dirty. Please remember that camp activities will still run in periods of light rain.

Toiletries, as needed: shampoo, soap (in container), comb/brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, tissues, sunscreen, non-toxic insect repellant

*These items, and more, will be available in our camp store.

Please note:
Be sure to pack enough warm bedding and clothing; nights can be cold.
The following items may not be brought to camp: glass containers; aerosols; target sport equipment; PSPs, Gameboys, or similar handheld devices; knives or Leathermans; fireworks; food or gum; lighters; TV’s, computers, or cellular phones.
Campers may bring personal music listening devices, but they are not allowed outside the camper’s cabin. If they are used outside the cabin, they may be confiscated until the day the campers leave camp.
Any other items listed above, including cell phones, are not permitted, and will be confiscated until the camper leaves camp.

Lost and found items will be washed and sent to Goodwill after each session. If your camper loses something of significance, let our office know and we will do our best to locate it.

Check-In Procedure: Coming to Camp

• If you are dropping your camper off at camp, please plan to arrive between 10am and 1pm.
• All drivers MUST OBEY POSTED SPEED LIMITS when driving in and around Camp Hi-Rock. The main road in Mount Washington, our local community, has many sharp turns and changing speed limits. Please help us preserve a safe and peaceful mountain environment.
• When you arrive at the camp entrance, proceed to our main gate next to the maintenance buildings. Please inform the camp staff of your name and the name of the camper you are checking in. You will receive tentative information on your camper’s Unit name and camper number. At this point, please separate your camper’s medical forms and swimming materials from the rest of his/her belongings; footlockers, trunks, and suitcases will be transported directly to your camper’s unit area.
• Please park your car, as directed by one of our camp staff, to minimize impact and improve traffic flow. Our staff will be dispersed throughout the camp to direct you towards our check-in location.
• When you arrive at the check-in location, you will meet our Executive Director, Jessica Speer-Holmes, and our Camp Director, Charles Hirsch. It is at this point that you will find official and final information on your camper’s Unit name and camper number.
• There will be various tables with information on additional programs, such as our waterski program, our eCamp one-way email service, and our swim program. Please stop by these tables to confirm registration in, or inquire about, these activities. You will also have the chance to confirm your camper's birthday, as well as verify our listings for people authorized to pick up your camper from camp.
• All balances should be paid before your camper comes to camp. Please confirm the status of your account at our Billing/Accounts table. Unpaid accounts can be settled by cash, check or money order, or VISA/MasterCard authorization. At this time, you can also confirm your camper's store account, and add any extra funds.
• The camp nurses will have a table to meet parents, double-check the status of your camper’s medical forms, and to accept any medications and/or vitamins you wish to be administered to your camper while at camp. Campers will also undergo a lice check by trained staff members.
• Before finalizing check-in, feel free to meet our Unit Directors and other administrative staff. Our Unit Directors will have the chance to personally greet you and your camper, and to discuss any issues you would like to address.
• Camp Store: You can also visit our camp store with your camper to purchase items without accessing your camper's store account. Camp store funds will not be accessible by campers until the first full day of camp.
• Lunch: Feel free to enjoy a cold lunch buffet, prepared for campers and families.
• Changeover: If your camper is coming back to camp from a previous session and you arrive after 1pm, please proceed directly to our office so we can follow proper check-in procedure.
• Swim Tests: Many campers will be proceeding to our waterfront to swim test on check-in day; please say goodbye in a timely fashion to help your camper begin a smooth transition into camp life.

Check-Out Procedure: Leaving Camp

• If you are picking your camper up from camp, please plan to arrive between 9am and 12pm.
• All drivers MUST OBEY POSTED SPEED LIMITS when driving in and around Camp Hi-Rock. The main road in Mount Washington, our local community, has many sharp turns and changing speed limits. Please help us preserve a safe and peaceful mountain environment.
• When you arrive at the camp entrance, proceed to our main gate next to the maintenance buildings. Please bring proper identification; you must be authorized on the camper's registration to take anyone off camp. At the main gate, you will receive a ticket allowing you to take your camper off camp, and a "Check-Out Checklist" with the following steps. You should hold on to this ticket until you leave camp.
• If you have any remaining account activity, please stop by our camp office. If your camper has been taking any medications, please stop by our infirmary (next to the office)
• At this point, feel free to head towards your camper’s unit area. You will be able to meet and speak with your camper's cabin mates, counselors, and Unit Director, who will help you bring your camper's belongings to your vehicle.
• Please check in front of the dining hall with your camper to view our collection of Lost and Found, especially if he/she knows of any misplaced belongings. Lost and Found items will be washed and sent to Goodwill after each session. If your camper loses something of significance, please let us know and we will do our best to locate it and contact you. YMCA Camp Hi-Rock cannot be responsible for any lost clothing or items.
• Before leaving camp, please visit our camp store to close your camper’s account, and to pick up any summer souvenirs. While there, please indicate what you would like to do with any remaining camper balances. Remaining funds can be processed in three ways:
• Leftover store funds can be left in your online account as a system credit. This is the simplest method. The credit can be applied towards any future Central Connecticut Coast YMCA fees, including, but not limited to, future Hi-Rock fees.
• The remaining funds can be donated. Donations can go either to our Strong Kids Campaign which provides financial assistance to campers and a general subsidy to all of our youth camp programs, or to our staff appreciation fund, which helps defray the cost of our staff yearbook and end-of-summer staff banquet.
• The balance can be refunded. If you paid via check or cash, the refund must go through our Corporate office and can take up to 90 days, regardless of the amount.
• Store funds which are left unprocessed will be automatically applied as a system credit to your account for balances under $15. For balances above $15, families will be contacted.
• When leaving camp, please show your authorization ticket to the appropriate camp staff.
• Changeover: If your camper is returning for the following session and you come to visit after 12pm, please proceed directly to our office so we can follow proper check-out procedure.
• Buses: Campers taking the bus home will leave camp the Sunday morning after the end of the session, except for session 4. These campers will not be charged the Saturday Night Changeover fee if they have an extra night stay at camp.

Please note:
Do not give your ticket to your camper's counselors; this ticket must be presented as the last step before physically leaving camp. Parents without a ticket will be directed back to the camp office.
Parents whose campers incur additional fees during their stay at camp (for overdrawn camp store accounts, laundry fees, medical fees, etc.) may not be contacted until after the end of their camper's stay. Camp store funds cannot be applied towards these fees during the camper's stay.

YMCA policy prohibits tipping. You may show your appreciation by making a donation to the Staff Appreciation Fund, which supplements the end of season banquet and our Staff Appreciation events and purchases. Please notify our office if you would like to support our staff recognition efforts in this way.

Other Important Administrative Information

Personal History Form: A Camper Personal History Form is available here. This form allows you the opportunity to share information with the camper's Unit Director, the Camper Care Specialist, and appropriate camp staff, and will help us better serve your camper. Please use this form to provide any information that may affect your camper's stay at camp.

Camp Birthdays: If your camper's birthday falls during his/her stay at camp, we would be happy to prepare a cake for them and to have the whole camp wish them a happy birthday. Please contact the camp office well in advance to let us know of a birthday that will happen at camp, and please confirm on check-in day that we have your camper in our list of birthdays that session.

Camp Store

Campers and adults are welcome to visit our camp store while on camp to buy stamps, postcards, clothing and apparel, limited amounts of snacks, and other supplies. Resident campers must draw on money deposited towards store accounts during the registration process. We feel that about $40 is sufficient for a two-week period. If you have not already done so and would like to set up an account for your camper, please contact our office. During the camper's stay at camp, store funds can only be applied towards purchases in the store, and cannot be used to fund laundry fees, field trip fees, or other incidental expenditures.

Laundry

Laundry service is only available for campers staying longer than 1 two-week session and occurs at the start of the next session. Laundry will be sent to a local laundry service, washed, dried, and folded. Parents will be charged approximately $1.25 per pound of laundry, and will be notified after we receive the final invoice. It is the camper's responsibility to organize his/her laundry when laundry call is made. Please provide campers with a large, durable laundry bag that is clearly labeled with your camper's name. Your camper's unit and camper number may be written on the bag for identification.

Correspondence: Mail; Food Care Packages; Phone Calls; Emails

Mail is extremely important to campers. Writing to your camper can make a world of difference. If possible, send several shorter notes, which can be more cheering than fewer longer letters. When writing mail, keep your letters cheerful, and avoid mentioning how much your camper is missed at home. You should address any camper correspondence in this format:

(Camper's Name) - (Unit Name)
YMCA Camp Hi-Rock
162 East Street
Mount Washington, MA 01258
You will learn the name of your camper's Unit during check-in.

Please allow approximately four days for mail to travel in either direction. Even express mail takes up to three days to arrive, so please plan accordingly. If you send any correspondence via overnight or other priority mail services, please indicate a waiver of the signature requirement to expedite delivery. Failing to do so can increase delivery time by up to two days.

Your camper will be encouraged, but not required, to write home. Do not expect too many letters, as camp is a very busy place. We suggest you pre-stamp and address several envelopes or postcards for your camper to mail home.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND FOOD CARE PACKAGES TO CAMPERS!  Having food in the cabins attracts raccoons, mice, chipmunks, and other animals into your camper's living area. Please respect camp policy and do not send packages of food to your camper. Camp Hi-Rock will inspect packages for campers' safety. Any food sent to camp will be discarded.

Campers may not make or receive phone calls. If you would like to hear how your camper is doing, you may call our office and request that your camper's Unit Director call you back. In special circumstances, exceptions can be made to talk to your camper's counselor or to the Camper Care Specialist, whose duties are to help campers and staff with any problems or issues. Please do not promise your camper that he/she will be allowed to call home. This can prolong homesickness in man cases and contradicts camp policy. Campers should not bring cellular phones to camp.

YMCA Camp Hi-Rock has a relationship with CampRegister, who will provide eCamp email services for our Hi-Rock parents. Through eCamp, parents can send one-way email to their campers quickly and easily. Emails will be distributed in the same fashion as regular mail, but will be processed in approximately one day. For more information, please contact our Camp Director at (413) 528-1227 x14, or by email at summer@camphirock.org. Detailed information on eCamp will be sent out in the spring; you can learn more by visiting the CampRegister website.

CampRegister- A Division of Thriva

Visiting

Parents are welcome to visit their camper on the Saturday between two-week sessions(changeover weekends); please refer to registration material for dated information. When you arrive, check in at the office and we will have a staff member bring your camper from their current camp activity. If you will be taking your camper off camp, it is necessary to sign the camper out to facilitate an accurate count of all campers on camp. For the same reason, we ask you to sign your camper in when you return. You must have proper identification and be authorized on the camper's registration form to take the camper off camp. On these changeover Saturdays, parents may take campers off camp for the day or for an overnight visit, returning by 1pm on Sunday.

If you would like to familiarize yourself with the buildings and layout of Camp Hi-Rock before the start of summer camp, you and your family are welcome to contact us to coordinate a visit. Please call the camp office in advance to arrange a tour.

Homesickness/Other Problems

Often, homesickness lasts only until the camper becomes adjusted to the camp schedule. Our staff members are trained to aid campers in becoming adjusted as quickly as possible. However, if you suspect your camper may experience some homesickness, you can help his or her transition by saying goodbye promptly during check-in. Please refrain from making a fuss, or from suggesting that your camper might become homesick while in your presence. Please do not call camp expecting to talk with your camper. If you wish to receive information about your camper over the telephone, you can contact our office and ask to hear back from their Unit Director. In our experience, homesickness is aggravated, rather than deterred, by phone calls from home. It is for this reason campers are not permitted to receive phone calls.

If your camper is prone to wetting the bed, please notify us in advance. Our staff can work discreetly with mild cases and cooperative parents and campers to help provide a normal camping experience. For more information, please contact our camp office.

Camper Code of Conduct

At YMCA Camp Hi-Rock, we want all members of our community to develop the character values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. We aim to provide a sense of fellowship, an atmosphere of freedom, a sense of enjoyment, and a respect for others. To this end, we have developed a set of behavioral standards for campers to follow called the "Camper Code of Conduct." This document is sent to families in the spring. It is critical that parents/guardians read through this document with their campers, and that everyone understands the nature of these standards before coming to camp. Please contact our office if you have any questions or concerns regarding our expectations of camper conduct. Violations of the Camper Code of Conduct are grounds for removal from camp, without refund, at the discretion of the Executive Director or the Camp Director. Staff members must sign and abide by a similar Code of Conduct while at camp.

Other Resident Camp Information

Please see our Resident Camp page for more detailed information on Resident Camp structure and activities.

Visit the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA,
an Activate America YMCA

Welcome! We hope you will spend some time exploring our website. Camper forms and staff forms are available for downloading. We welcome any comments or questions you may have.
Emails can be sent to info@camphirock.com
We add new materials often, so please bookmark us and check back soon!

This camp must comply with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and be licensed by the local board of health.