Welcome to YMCA Youth Programs! Our youth programs are designed to support your child during virtual school time as well as during before and after-school hours. Our staff believes that every child should have a chance to grow and shine in a caring and encouraging environment.
This Parent Manual provides information to help you and your child have a successful experience. Please read everything carefully, and let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We’re looking forward to a great school year. You can review our Waiver and Permissions form here and our complete policy information here.
We take pride in our youth staff, directors and leadership staff. If your experience is not a positive one, please contact your Site Director.
If you have serious concerns about any YMCA youth program, please contact our confidential hotline at 919-719-9690.
For billing and account information, please call 919-719-9989, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. or email our customer service team.
COMMUNICATION
YMCA staff will provide you with updates about your child’s participation in YMCA programs. We strive to communicate effectively about our programs through newsletters, posted signs about upcoming events, email and staff communication during Rides In/Out. If you have questions, please feel free to contact your site director.
EMAIL ADDRESS ON FILE
Be sure to update your online account with an accurate email address. The Friday prior to your child’s first day of participating you will receive an email with updates for the week for Track Out Camp. YMCA After School newsletters are monthly. The email will provide you with important updates for your child's success.
PARENT INPUT
If you have serious concerns about any YMCA youth program, please contact your camp director. You may also call our confidential hotline at 919-719-9690 or submit a confidential report.
PARENT VISITS
All visitors must check-in at the program office. To schedule a visit, please contact your Program Director. If you have concerns or questions about your child’s participation, please contact the Program Director.
WRITTEN NOTES
Parents should write a note in instances of:
• Early pickup
• Pickup by someone other than those designated as emergency contacts with pickup authorization on your child’s account
• Medication needs (Please review the “Health & Safety” section.)
• Modified activities, extra help or additional support for your child
CUSTODY
Please alert the YMCA program office of child custody arrangements. It is imperative that official, current court documents are maintained in your child’s file if custody or visitation is a concern. Without court orders, we cannot withhold a child from his/her parent. Based on the information that you share with your director, he/she will tell you if additional documentation is required. If additional information is required, you may send it to risk@ymcatriangle.org.
The parent(s) who registers the child for the program is responsible for payments. We cannot sub-divide fees.
If parents are separated or divorced with joint custody, both parents must provide written consent for all names on the Emergency Contacts & Authorized Pick-ups list.
WHAT TO WEAR
- Sneakers or closed-toe shoes are recommended.
- All belongings should be clearly marked with the child’s name.
WHAT TO BRING
After School and Before School
- A healthy snack
- A water bottle
- Homework
Track Out Camp
- Lunch
- Two snacks
- Bathing suit, towel
- Change of clothes
WHAT TO REMEMBER
Toys, personal listening devices, portable game devices, cell phones, trading cards, stuffed animals, pets and money should stay at home.
The YMCA is not responsible for lost, stolen or broken items.
LUNCHES AND SNACKS
• YMCAs do not serve lunches or snacks.
• Participants should bring a nutritious lunch, beverages/water bottle and two snacks for full-day or school-day programs.
• We recommend small, cooler-type lunch boxes, clearly marked with the child’s name and phone number.
• Non-perishable items are recommended since refrigeration is not available.
• Students do not have access to a microwave.
• Healthy snack options include fresh fruit, raisins, pretzels, small granola bars and 100-calorie snack packs.
• Water, sugar-free beverages, and six-ounce servings of 100% fruit juice are healthy beverage options.
• Participants are not allowed to purchase items from the vending machines.
• We make accommodations for students with food allergies.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
At the YMCA, we believe in reinforcing good behavior and teaching our youth participants the importance of our five core character traits: respect, responsibility, caring, honesty and faith in God. We recognize good character by pointing out participants who display these traits throughout the day.
ADA POLICY
We’re committed to providing equal opportunity and access to all children.
YMCA of the Triangle does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of disability or on the basis of any individual’s association or relationship with an individual with a disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations offered at any of its locations.
Everyone who attends YMCA programs has unique needs. We are better when we take time to find out what those needs are, build empathy and understanding, and respond to individuals appropriately. The YMCA offers inclusive, welcoming programs dedicated to serving those needs in the best way possible.
Because every person is unique, we address each request individually. Your child’s success and safety in our programs are our top priorities; therefore, we respectfully ask parents and caregivers to inform the YMCA, prior to the start of the program, of any special needs which may require special accommodations, so we can work together to support your child in reaching their full potential.
If you have questions about ADA accommodations at the YMCA, please contact your camp director for assistance.
MEDICINE PROCEDURES
Please do not pack medication with your child’s belongings. Parents (not the child) must bring necessary medications to the program office. Medications must be in their original containers with written instructions for dispensing. A Medication Distribution Form must be provided for staff to dispense all over the counter medications including topical ointments, teething gel, diapering creams, lotions, sprays, creams and powders.
Generally, children are prohibited from having medication with them, unless the medication is dispensed on their person (such as an insulin pump) or a doctor has specifically indicated in writing that the child may self-administer and safety precautions are met for the safe handling of the medication. If a doctor has given this written permission, a copy must be provided to the YMCA. A parent or guardian must give the medication to the program staff.
For safety reasons, all medications are stored and locked in the program office.
WHEN TO STAY HOME
Please do not send your child to YMCA programs with any of the following symptoms:
• Sore throat
• Excessive coughing
• Diarrhea or vomiting
• Fever
• Head lice
• Undiagnosed rash, sore, or other skin condition
• Any other contagious disease or symptom
A child must be diarrhea, vomiting and fever-free for a full 24 hours before returning to the program. A physician’s note may be required before re-admitting a child to the program. Please read our refund policy for illness.
DROP OFF & PICKUP
Specific Drop off and pickup procedures may vary from site to site. Please check with your Site Director for details. Parents may check students in or out at any time during the day by stopping at the office. Parents will be asked to present a photo ID at the time of pickup.
PICKUP PROCEDURES
At pickup time, children will only be released to parents, legal guardians and those designated as emergency contacts with pickup on your child’s account.
Drivers must display YMCA pickup cards or photo identification.
If you plan to have anyone else pick up your child, you must notify a youth director or office manager in writing.
Parents who drop off or pick up children outside of scheduled times must call the number on the outside sign. A staff member will greet you outside and assist you in signing your child out.
Severe weather may affect the pickup process. In cases of driving rain and/or lightning, staff will keep children sheltered until conditions improve. This may slow down the pickup process, requiring drivers to wait. The safety of YMCA children and staff is our first priority.
The YMCA/our staff or volunteers do not buckle children of any age into their car seats or fasten seatbelts, even when requested by the parents. We make every effort to be efficient in the Rides Out line. We provide parking spaces or space for a parent to pull up so they can secure their own child.
PICKUP CARDS
To ensure the safety of all participants, parents will receive pickup cards. Please clearly print your child’s first and last name on the card and display it on the car windshield at pickup time. YMCA staff will request a picture ID from anyone who attempts to pick up a child without displaying a card. If you need additional cards for sitters, grandparents, etc., please ask at the program office. If a questionable situation arises, staff will hold the child until a parent has been contacted. A driver’s license may be requested for identification.
PICKUP LATE FEE
A late fee is charged for children picked up after the last pickup time. The late fee is $5 for the first 10 minutes past pickup time and $1 for each additional minute thereafter. Two staff members will remain with the child until a parent arrives.
STAFF
The YMCA prides itself on hiring quality staff that embody our Mission and have a passion for being a positive role model for children. Many of our counselors are high school and college students. Staff members are selected through a comprehensive application and interview process, and often have previous experience in other YMCA programs.
Each staff member completes a minimum of 30 hours of staff training that emphasizes the importance of safety, child development and fun. The YMCA strives to maintain a 1:10 ratio for youth camp programs.
We want you, as a parent or guardian, to know about staff behaviors that we consider appropriate, such as air high fives, praise and program-related discussions. Examples of inappropriate behavior include lap sitting, full front hugs, rough play, profanity, harassment, overly personal discussions and receiving personal gifts from counselors.
OUTSIDE CONTACT POLICIES
During staff time off or when no longer employed with the YMCA, these persons are private citizens and are not subject to our employment rules and procedures. Knowing this, we instruct our staff that any contact with campers outside of our programs, whether in person, by phone or online, can only happen with the express approval and involvement of the camper’s parent or guardian.
BABYSITTING POLICY
It is our policy not to endorse or recommend staff as babysitters. Any babysitting arrangements with present or former YMCA staff shall be based on the judgment of the parent or guardian. For the complete YMCA of the Triangle babysitting policy, please see our Youth Information Form.
BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
At the YMCA of the Triangle, our behavior expectations and discipline procedures are based on our core values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and faith. We believe in creating a safe, secure and fun environment where all youth have the opportunity to learn the importance of demonstrating good character. We believe that in order to do this, all youth need to know and understand the rules and expectations for appropriate behavior. We also believe that when youth do not follow the rules or when they demonstrate inappropriate behavior, we have an opportunity to help youth learn from their mistakes.
The YMCA promotes behavior guidance and discipline through creating a positive environment, developing structure and clear limits, promoting social and emotional learning, reinforcing our core values and addressing challenging behaviors.
The YMCA of the Triangle youth programs use six simple rules to communicate behavior expectations to the youth in our care. The purpose of these rules is to ensure the safety of our campers and staff and to create a positive environment for all. These rules are:
1. Listen and follow directions.
2. Do what’s right.
3. Keep your hands and feet to yourself.
4. Try everything and do your best.
5. Be an Upstander. If you see something, say something.
6. Be safe and have fun!
All youth are expected to follow the rules established by the YMCA for the safety of all youth in the program. Your cooperation and support ensure that all youth have a safe and fun experience.
The YMCA does not allow the following behaviors including but not limited to:
• Any action that could threaten the physical or emotional safety of the youth, other youth or staff. Prohibited conduct may include, but is not limited to: abusive jokes, insults, slurs, threats, name-calling or intimidation
• Destructive behavior
• Behavior that is a violation of personal boundaries or is of a habitual nature and negatively impacts the program, and/or safety and enjoyment of others
• Behavior that is of a sexual nature
• Some behaviors could result in immediate suspension or dismissal.
The YMCA uses positive discipline which means staff members promote desired behaviors through teaching and reinforcement. Staff will redirect or problem-solve with youth when they are not displaying desired behaviors, rather than restrict behaviors by taking away opportunities or controlling youth with fear of punishment. We believe this approach focuses on the needs of the youth and contributes positively to the youth’s overall development. Staff shall use positive discipline, which shall include the following:
• Communicate to youth using positive statements
• Encourage youth, with adult support, to use their own words and solutions in order to resolve interpersonal conflicts
• Communicate with youth by getting on their level and talking to them in a calm, quiet manner about the behavior that is expected
• There are times when restrictions may be necessary and will most likely be directly linked to the health, safety or well-being of the youth or others. The YMCA staff does not use corporal punishment under any circumstance. In the event of a youth harming themselves, another youth, or an adult, staff may physically restrain the youth to ensure safety.
YMCA DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES
The YMCA staff desire to partner with families of the youth in our care. If at any time you have concerns about your child’s behavior or success in our program, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Youth Director to set up a conference.
If a youth is unable to meet established behavior expectations, YMCA staff will follow these disciplinary procedures below given that the nature of the behaviors does not require immediate suspension or dismissal.
- Conversation between staff and youth to discuss behavior and reset expectations.
- Staff will first use positive reinforcement and redirection to redirect a youth’s behavior. If this is ineffective, staff may use a timeout as an opportunity for the youth to take a break from the behavior before rejoining the group.
- Staff will communicate with parents/guardians if/when youth is not following established YMCA rules. This communication may be at Rides Out, over the phone or via a parent conference.
- If positive discipline and redirection are ineffective in changing the youth’s behavior, the Youth Director may suspend the youth. The length of suspension will be determined based on each individual situation. Factors such as type/severity of behavior, behavior history, age of youth, etc. will be considered when determining the length of the suspension.
- If the youth continues to have challenges after a suspension, the Youth Director may set up a conference with the parent/guardian to develop a behavior plan for the youth.
- If suspensions nor a behavior plan are effective in changing the child’s behavior, the child may be dismissed from the program. Dismissal from the program for disciplinary reasons could result in permanent removal from all YMCA programs.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
The goal of the YMCA of the Triangle is to meaningfully include all youth and provide accommodations in our programs when needed. To help us achieve this goal, we respectfully ask parents or guardians to inform the YMCA, prior to the start of the program, of any special circumstances which may affect your child’s ability to participate. By providing information regarding the strengths and needs of your child, the staff can prepare helpful accommodations that will better serve all children in our programs.
Upon being informed of such circumstances, the Program Director or other staff member may request a meeting to gather more information and discuss the accommodations that can be created to successfully include your child.
BULLYING AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Bullying is any unwanted behavior that involves a power imbalance. Here at the Y, our goal is to stop bullying, and we encourage our participants, parents, and staff to be Upstanders. An Upstander is one who recognizes when something is wrong and acts to make it right. If there is disclosure, discovery, or suspicion of bullying we will handle each instance case by case and with care. At the Y we are building a caring, respectful, honest, and responsible community for all; the safety of our program participants is our main concern.
Conversely, we define conflict as a disagreement or argument in which both sides express their views and there is an equal power balance. We believe conflict with resolution is a natural and important part of Youth Development. Conflict can be constructive if managed in the right way. We will identify and resolve conflicts in a healthy and proactive fashion. The conflict resolution skills we learn and practice will make a positive impact on our Y programs and in every child’s future.
Maintaining a Healthy Environment
- If your child needs to take medication during the day, please bring the medication in the original container with your child's name on it.
- Please complete the YMCA of the Triangle Medication Form.
- Frequent hand washing will be encouraged. Hand sanitizer will be readily available.
- Activity areas and equipment will be cleaned on a regular, routine basis according to CDC and NCDHHS guidelines.
Safety at Camp
We want to remind you of YMCA policies and practices that help keep our YMCA youth programs secure for your child.
Many of our summer day camps and after school programs are operated at local schools. As partners with our schools, we are required to keep all doors closed and locked at all times. Sometimes, a staff member may stand in an open doorway, but you should expect that our entry points for our programs at schools will always be closed and locked. If you need assistance at any of our sites operated on YMCA property or offsite, text or call our site phones to reach a staff member.
Parents, family members and any other authorized adult must show their photo I.D. or pick-up card in order to pick up children in our care. Please make sure your emergency contacts are up to date in your online portal and that you've checked the box for "allowed to pick up." Please also confirm that we have the most up-to-date phone numbers for you and your family.
All YMCA Summer Day Camp staff must complete a variety of trainings that include child abuse prevention, bullying prevention and a variety of other topics on how to keep children safe in a variety of situations.
Thank you to you and your family for choosing the Y. We appreciate your partnership.