Where is Y Camp Santa Maria?

We are located about 45 minutes west of Denver, near Bailey, Colorado and is easily accessible off of U.S. Highway 285.  Click here for a map and directions.

How are Camp Santa Maria Staff Members selected?

Our staff members go through a rigorous hiring process, including a written application, an interview, and all candidates must provide 3 written references. In addition, all of our staff members are subject to a state and federal criminal background check including fingerprinting. We hire staff members based on their experience working with youth, knowledge and skills in specific camp activity areas, and their ability to create positive relationships with campers and fellow staff members. In addition staff are chosen for their commitment to being a role model for kids and developing the camp community.

How does Y Camp Santa Maria help campers adjust to being away from home?

Our staff is trained to help campers cope with their feelings of homesickness. A good portion of staff training focuses on child development, behavioral guidance, and overcoming homesickness. Once at camp, fun programs and meeting new friends keep campers busy.  Our staff members strive to provide a nurturing environment where campers can overcome their feelings of homesickness, become more independent, and feel proud of their accomplishments.  We strive to create a community that serves as your camper’s home away from home. We also have a list of suggestions for parents to use before sending their kids to camp.

How does Y Camp Santa Maria handle behavioral issues?

When you get a large number of people all together in one place all living together for any period of time, issues between individuals can arise. At Y Camp Santa Maria we practice Behavioral Guidance to address these types of issues. On the first day of a session all the campers learn about the guidelines and rules of camp. Staff take time to let campers know the boundaries of acceptable behavior. Then each cabin creates their own Cabin Code of Living, with guidance from their staff, on how they want to treat each other for the session. Each cabin then chooses one (1) word to be their motto for the session and shares that with the rest of their village and camp. These contracts and mottos help to provide a framework for the staff to guide the cabin’s behavior through out the session.

If issues arise in a cabin or between members of different cabins the first intervention happens with cabin staff. In staff training we train the staff in methods to guide each person involved in the incident to a mutually agreeable solution. It can take some time. If the cabin staff need assistance, a Unit Director, or the Camp Director will be called. It is our goal to keep kids at camp. There are certain behaviors however that we will not tolerate at camp. Behaviors such as physically attacking another person, physical-emotional-or psychological bullying, inappropriate sexual contact, and continued refusal to follow the camp policies. All campers and staff are held to these standards.

If a camper gets into a situation that needs staff intervention, Y Camp Santa Maria will use the following steps to address the issue:

1) Staff and the camper(s) involved will sit down and talk about the incident. Any other people involved in the event will also be talked with. If needed a Unit Director or the Camp Director may be involved.

2)  The parents of the camper(s) involved will be called and informed of the situation.

3) The camper(s) will create with the staff a behavioral contract which will state the issue being addressed and actions that each person involved will follow. Parents will be called and filled in on the particulars of the contract.

4) If the behavior of the camper(s) is such that it is determined that the camper needs to go home, or the camper is unwilling to change their behavior, the parents will be called and expected to pick up their child as soon as possible. In some cases a camper may be removed from camp and be allowed to come back the same summer. If a camper is removed from camp and does not come back, a discussion between the camp and the parents may need to take place before the camper can come back to camp.

What is the camp position on bullying?

At Y Camp Santa Maria we take the issue of bullying very seriously, and the people who choose to bully at camp get to leave camp. Whether the bullying is physical, psychological, emotional, or even electronic it is grounds for a camper to be removed from camp. We train our staff in the various forms of bullying prevention and even the different ways boys and girls bully. If you have any questions about bullying or what constitutes bullying at camp, please contact us.

Does YMCA Camp Santa Maria offer scholarships?

It is our belief that the camp experience is an important part of childhood, and we provide that experience for all children no matter their family’s financial situation.  Y Camp Santa Maria provides financial assistance to camp families that complete our financial assistance application process and qualify.  To apply for financial assistance, please complete a Financial Assistance Application.

How can I be best involved in my child’s camp experience?

Parents play an important role in a camper’s experience at camp.  Sending your child to camp prepared for their experience is important to their success.  It is important for parents to discuss with their camper what to expect while they are at camp.  Campers are always excited about receiving mail, and parents are encouraged to correspond with their camper through mail while they are at camp.  At Camp Santa Maria, we also encourage camp families to have open communication with our staff so that we may serve campers in the best way possible. You can also visit our Parent Pages to learn more about how you can be a part of your camper’s experience.

Is transportation provided to and from camp?

We feel that it is important for families to drop their campers off at camp and pick them up after their experience.  Pick-up and drop-off days give parents an opportunity to visit with camp staff and to enjoy a day in the mountains.  We do not provide transportation to and from camp unless campers are traveling by plane from out of state.  Pick-up occurs on Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.  Drop-off occurs on Sundays from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

What type of medical care is provided at camp?

Y Camp Santa Maria provides a full time medical person who lives on site to provide medical care to campers.  We are also connected with a pediatrician and clinic in Conifer and are serviced by local emergency medical services.   It is important that parents discuss special medical needs with the Camp Director prior to coming to camp.

Can my camper make phone calls?

In general, campers will not be allowed to make phones call due to the number of campers that we have at camp and the effects that calling home can have in prolonging homesickness.  A staff member will contact you in the case that your camper is ill or experiencing on-going homesickness.  Parents are encouraged to call camp with any concerns and our staff members are happy to update parents about their child’s experience.  Please note that campers are not permitted to have cell phones at camp, so please leave them at home. Your camper will survive, and perhaps even thrive, without their phone at camp.