Preparing Your Child For Success at Summer Camp

Nurture self-confidence and autonomy in your camper by allowing them to experience a new adventure and be themselves. 

• Discuss the setting, schedule, and activities they’ll get to participate in. Start with Family Camp or Short Session. 
• Assist your child but don't pack for them. Campers need to manage their own belongings.
• Help them practice self-care, including brushing their teeth and hair, putting dirty clothes into their laundry bag, and washing their hands frequently.
• Practice applying bug spray, antiperspirant (unscented), and sunscreen at home. 
• Practice putting long hair in a braid or ponytail to help prevent lice. 
• Teen girls may start their period unexpectedly. Pack accordingly and encourage them to talk to their counselor or camp nurse. 
• Normalize feelings. Some homesickness and anxiety are part of any new adventure. 
• Encourage your child to bring a comfort item such as a stuffed animal, book, or photo.
• Provide your child with materials to send letters home. Let them know that you are excited to hear about their experiences. 
• Don't tell your child they can call home or that you will pick them up early. 
• If homesickness becomes severe enough to impact a camper’s ability to enjoy camp, we will contact parents/guardians and make a plan to help the camper succeed at camp. We do not offer campers the choice to call home. If a child is not able to stay at camp due to homesickness, the parent/guardian and the Camp Director will make the decision together before communicating with the camper.

In order to create a safe and fun camp environment, we ask campers to follow three basic guidelines.

1. Respect Yourself: Speak kindly about yourself, maintain personal hygiene, and follow rules.
2. Respect Others: Speak kindly to and about others, keep your hands to yourself, and respect personal property.
3. Respect Camp: Take care of camp equipment, buildings, and trails, and support camp activities.

If your camper has any behavioral or emotional concerns or a diagnosis that may impact their experience at camp, please contact the Camp Director so we can create a plan for an excellent experience at camp. Our staff is trained in providing support to a wide variety of children and we look forward to getting to know your child and helping them enjoy Camp Silver Creek.

We have a no-tolerance policy for bullying, including physical (hitting, tripping), verbal (name-calling, belittling, humiliating), and social (exclusion, coercion). We recognize that conflict between children is normal and we work to provide them with healthy strategies for resolution. 

If a child breaks camp rules, we will work with them to seek a solution for a positive camp experience. If the behavior continues, we will notify parents to pick up their child from camp. No refunds are made if a camper is sent home for violating camp policies.

We do not permit visitors at camp. Family visits tend to disrupt camp activities and detract from the magic of being away from the rest of the world. If there is cause for concern about your camper, we will contact you. If you have a family emergency, please call the Camp Director.

NOTE: If you're using Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps, or another navigation app, enter “YMCA Camp Silver Creek” as your destination. Using the camp’s mailing address may direct you to a location on Silver Falls Highway, approximately 10 minutes away from camp.

YMCA Camp Silver Creek is located within Silver Falls State Park outside of Sublimity, OR. We are in the private Youth Camp section of the park. Our address is: 19984 Silver Falls Highway, SE, Sublimity, OR 97385. If you are lost in the park, please ask for directions from the State Park Booths.

From Portland:

I-5 South, take exit #253/STAYTON/DETROIT LAKE

Turn left on N SANTIAM HWY (OR 22)

Continue to follow OR 22; take ramp toward STAYTON/SUBLIMITY

Turn left on CASCADE HWY SE

Turn right on SILVER FALLS HWY SE (OR 214)

Turn right into the area for camp grounds / private camps

Turn left after the Park Service booth

Turn left at the first road and follow it about 2 miles into camp

From Salem:

Take HWY 22 toward STAYTON/DETROIT LAKE

Take ramp toward STAYTON/SUBLIMITY

Turn left on CASCADE HWY SE

Turn right on SILVER FALLS HWY SE (OR 214)

Turn right into the area for camp grounds / private camps

Turn left after the Park Service Booth booth

Turn left at the first road and follow it about 2 miles into camp

1. Fill out the Financial Assistance Application.

2. Email it to Felicia Fisher at ffisher@theyonline.org.

If you have any questions, contact Felicia at 503.399.2788.