There is no real “typical day” at Camp Santa Maria. Each day at YMCA Camp Santa Maria will be a different experience for staff and campers. To help you get a picture of what your schedule will look like, we have provided a “typical” day’s schedule below. For more detailed camper schedules, click on the age group links below.
Daily Staff Schedule
7:15-8:00 All Camp Wake-Up & Cabin Clean-up
You might be up earlier if you have something special going on that day that needs an early set-up. You might get up later if you are on trail and are making your own meals. Then again you might be up earlier too! Keeping your cabin clean is important, and will need to be done each day so that you do not have to spend your off time cleaning your cabin.
8:00-8:45 Breakfast & Morning Announcements
You will be asked to eat with your campers as mealtimes are a great way to talk with camper and help develop cabin community and culture.
8:45-9:30 Camp Chores
You and or your cabin will have some assigned chores each day. With such a small staff we all pitch in and help keep camp looking good.
9:30-12:30 Activities by Age Group
You will more than likely be teaching activities in the morning unless you are in the office or the kitchen. Having said that, you might also be asked from time to time to help out with a variety of activities-we are all in this together.
12:30-1:15 Lunch & Afternoon Announcements
As with breakfast you will be asked to eat meals with your cabin.
1:15-2:15 Rest Hour (napping, reading & writing letters)
This is NOT let the campers run around without supervision time. Nor is it time for you to catch up on the sleep you chose not to get the night before. It is a time when kids and staff can relax and recharge for the afternoon activities.
2:15-4:15 Afternoon Activities
In the afternoons you will most likely be teaching or running activities again. We will do cross training in how to run activities so that you will be able to switch from time to time with other staff.
4:15-6:00 Lodge and Meadow Games & Camp Store
This is a time when campers can choose from a variety of activities or choose to have unstructured but supervised time with other campers. You might be asked to run and activity or supervise a group of kids. This time also lets staff try out new activities that they think would be cool for camp.
6:00-7:00 Dinner & Evening Announcements
Yup, once again you guessed it, you will be eating with your campers!
7:30-8:45 Evening Program (outdoor games, campfires and skits)
As staff you will be helping to run, or be in charge of the evening programs. These programs may be village specific or include the whole camp. Some staff will have this hour off from time to time.
8:45-9:00 Friendship Circle & Recognition (songs, camper recognition)
This process at the end of the day allows campers to recognize and be recognized by fellow campers. This end of the day reflection and recognition period is part of the foundation of community development at Santa Maria and helps tie cabin themes into the camp program.
9:30 Cabin Time & Lights Out
If you are on during the evening, you will be in your cabin helping your campers get settled after a long day and get to sleep. If you have the night off it will be a time to rest and perhaps catch up with the outside world, hang out with your fellow staff members, or enjoy some personal time.
12:00 midnight. Back in cabins and in bed.
If you had the night off, you need to be back in your cabin and in bed by midnight. Great counselors get enough sleep.
