Day Camp

YMCA Summer Day Camps

June 5, 2020 - Summer Day Camp Update

The Coronavirus Pandemic has proven to be extremely hard time for many families and organizations, the Y is no different. We have had to make many changes and some of those changes will continue to roll out as our community starts to re-open and we all start to find our new normal.

Change is difficult and it is especially difficult when it forces a service that we have offered for as long as time to be suspended like summer camp. The YMCA takes making these decisions very seriously and we consult with many experts nationally, locally and at our state level.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Lansing has worked to explore all options of summer day camp. Given the Governor’s guidelines for max capacity to ensure the safety of kids and families, the YMCA of Metropolitan Lansing has decided to suspend all summer camp for the summer of 2020.

We recognize the sadness some of our kids who will not be spending the summer with us and we hope you know we feel in that same sadness. We also recognize the hardship this may cause parents as they seek care for their kids during the summer months. Please know we are making decisions that will sustain the Y through this pandemic so that moving forward you and your family will be able to count us for not only camp but for all the other programs you have come to know and love for many years to come.

May 28, 2020 - Summer Day Camp Update

Dear Camp Families and Y Members,

I hope that you and your family remain in good health during this challenging time.

Thank you for your patience over the past couple of months as we have worked diligently to learn as much as we could about COVID-19 and the effects it may have on our summer day camp programs.

Our senior leadership staff have made the difficult decision to suspend all 2020 summer day camp programs at the YMCA of Metropolitan Lansing. After endless hours of strategic discussion and analysis to better understand all the moving parts related to COVID-19, we felt it was best to pause for this summer and build awareness to our “Y camp family” at the earliest opportunity.

We know that many families are facing a challenging time now and will be into the summer as they juggle multiple priorities that may include managing kids’ schedules, home-life and work. To help with those needs, we have developed YMCA@Home – a set of free resources that include kid-friendly projects, educational resources and activities to keep your kids active.

For families who had already enrolled for camp for summer of 2020, please view the FAQ below:

Please stay safe and healthy, and we thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,

Jeff Scheibel

CEO/President

What does it mean that YMCA Day Camps are cancelled?

We have already registered for camp this summer- what are our options?

For those of you that have registered for summer camp and have paid full or partial programming fees, we will be issuing full refunds including the $35 deposit fee.

How is YMCA of Metropolitan Lansing responding to serve community needs during this crisis?

Unprecedented times often call for extraordinary actions, and the Y has a history of responding in powerful, transforming ways. Recognized as one of the strongest community service organizations in the area the Y was prepared when called upon to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. The Y is proud to respond to the ever-changing needs in the area. While services are developing and growing each day, early examples of service include:

Child and Family Meal Sites: When schools closed many children and families lost access to healthy meals. The Y quickly partnered with Lansing School District-Sodexo Magic and the City of Lansing to distribute essential food at drive-up & pick up locations M-F with food packages available Saturday-Sunday. As of May 27^th, we have served more than 75,171 meals and this number grows by nearly 1,000 each day.

Virtual Programming and Social Connectivity: The Y is staying committed to our communities health and wellness in these times of physical isolation by providing free online fitness classes for everyone through YMCA360.org led by Y professionals. Classes are designed for all age groups including a special section for senior citizens.

Blood Donation Station: The American Red Cross is experiencing a severe shortage of lifesaving blood. The Y has set up blood donation stations at our locations and will continue to do so during this time.

What is YMCA@Home?

Mystic@Home webpage was created to allow families to experience Mystic Lake Camp in their home. It is packed with fun outdoor activities to keep kids engaged and connected to the out-of-doors.

My camper is having a really hard time with this. Do you have any tips on talking with them?

Many campers count down the days until summer camp at the Y. With this news, they could be feeling sad or disappointed about not being able to attend day camp this year. Here are some helpful parent resources on how to navigate those conversations with your child.

https://reformjudaism.org/blog/2020/04/30/how-talk-your-kids-about-canceled-summer-plans

https://www.app.com/story/life/2020/03/13/coronavirus-how-talk-your-kids-disappointment-everything-canceled/5037133002/

I have additional questions or would like more information-can I contact the Y?

Yes, but with limited staff working, it may take longer than our usual 1-2 business days to return calls and emails at this time. Please use the following contact information until further notice:

For Westside Day Camp: Contact Todd Fisher at westside@lansingymca.org

For Oak Park Day Camp: Contact Todd Fisher at oakpark@lansingymca.org

For DeWitt Day Camp: Contact Anita Frese at dewitt@lansingymca.org

For Parkwood and Camp PaWaPi: Contact Kimberly Vaughn at parkwood@lansingymca.org