FAQ

1. What is Camp Mason’s philosophy and program emphasis?

Our mission guides the choices we make.

"Through the transforming experience of outdoor camping – rich in bonding friendships, physical activity, and fun – YMCA Camp Mason will lead youth, families, and community to an awareness of our core traditions of environmental stewardship, spirituality, and respect for our fellow man."

Our program emphasizes being active and building community in an outdoor setting. We strive to keep body and mind in motion through activities that encourage groups to work and play together, rather than solitary pursuits. Our activity list will give an idea of the sorts of things we do. We assist campers in designing a schedule around activities that they choose.

2. How does a typical day at Camp Mason play out?

Every day is an exciting adventure with plenty of things to do! Check out a day at camp for a detailed schedule and an overview of a typical day. At the beginning of each week, we assist campers in designing a schedule around the activities they wish to participate in, so they have the opportunity to do the things they came to camp wanting to do - not activities we pick for them. We offer more than 30 different program options plus an assortment of daily outdoor adventure trips. Check out our activity list for a better idea of all the choices. Once a camper forms his/her schedule, attendance is required and campers must attend activities which are constantly supervised. The evenings are set aside for all-camp and all-village group activities of various types subject to the campers ages and interests. All campers also have the opportunity to attend daily swim time at the pool in the afternoon.

3. Who are the staff?

Summer staff and outdoor center naturalists are primarily college-aged young people with an interest in outdoor education or community-based programs. Each staff member undergoes a rigorous screening process including interviews with the director, reference checks, and nationwide criminal and sexual offender background checks. We hire people from around the country - and the world - who are chosen for their integrity, their energy, and their community spirit. To learn more about who’s who during the summer please visit the summer team page.

4. Who actually runs Camp Mason?

Camp Mason is an independent YMCA camp established as a non-profit corporation exclusively for the purpose of running a great summer program for kids.

It is operated and governed by a twenty member volunteer Board of Trustees elected each November by and from the active community of Camp Mason family members. The Board includes parents, camper and staff alumni, and interested community supporters of the Y People who really believe in the camp and the work it does with young people!

The Board appoints the executive staff including David DeLuca as CEO. Dave has directed YMCA camping programs his entire career (most recently as Executive Director of YMCA Camp Becket in Massachusetts). Dave joined Mason in 2007, and is a member of the American Camping Association.

Alison Fisk directs the Outdoor Center. She began her camping leadership career with three years with the Girl Scouts and then came over to join us as a naturalist and Program Director for the most recent three years prior to assuming her position as Outdoor Center Director. She holds a degree in Environmental Sciences.

Don Jennings directs all of our Summer Camp Programs. Hailing from Massachusetts, Don has worked at both YMCA and 4H camps. In addition to his extensive experience as a YMCA camping professional, Don was also a Montessori teacher for 15 years. Prior to coming to Camp Mason, Don was the Program Director at YMCA Camp Becket.

Unlike some camps whose key staff hold other jobs most of the year and just focus on camp for the summer months, our staff are full time professionals who work at it all year. They do not simply change hats and show up with the kids! To learn more about our administrative staff please visit the staff bios page.

5. Is camp really a safe place for children?

YES! Insurance and youth advocate studies over the years have shown over and over, that despite the vigorous and often challenging activities at camp, a child is as much as 8 times more likely to be injured while at home during the summer. The reason is simple. Supervision and leadership! All the time! Additionally all activities are controlled by trained and certified leaders in accordance with the highest of all possible standards for that activity.

Our staff are trained to recognize bullying and other behaviors that compromise the emotional safety of campers, and intervene and interact accordingly. We are well equipped to constantly and consistently guide campers in positive social interactions.

6. What are Camp Mason’s camper to staff ratios?

This is a trick question. Anyone who gives you a simple answer is being misleading. Ratios are complex. For instance, our overall staff to camper ratio is about 2.75:1. However, that includes specialists and activity leaders, etc. Here is the real scoop. In the cabins, each group of 8 -10 campers will have a minimum of two bunk counselors, often three. At the activities, something needing higher levels of supervision such as riflery may be 3:1, while something simpler such as softball may come in at 8:1. Out-of -camp trips are 4:1 or better. However, no matter how small the group, there are always two staff around.

7. My child won’t know anyone in camp. Will he/she feel left out?

All children come to camp nervous. Even veteran campers often come back in a different session or are in a different cabin than last year's friends. Put ten children together, all with the same concern, and in about an hour you would think they were life long friends. One of the great things about camp is making new friends! Our staff often have similar feelings, and are trained to help groups of campers work together and share experiences that encourage stong bonds. Everyone starts out together, and everyone makes lots of new friends very quickly.

8. Will my child be homesick, and if so what can we expect?

Everyone, adults included get homesick to some degree. It is a healthy human reaction. Part of the camp experience is about learning how to deal with homesickness and overcome it, so we can move on to the fun stuff! We work with homesick campers extensively and succeed 99.9% of the time in helping them through this growing experience. Usually by day three of camp any thoughts of homesickness are long forgotten. There is more information on homesickness provided in our parent pack after registration. Please reassure your camper homesickness is common to almost everyone at camp, it's okay, and it is very easily overcome. Assure them once they get busy with activities, make new friends, etc. they will be shocked at how quickly camp time has flown by and that it's already time to go home!

9. Our child has been prescribed medication; are you equipped to handle this and other medical concerns?

Whether it is allergy, asthma, ADD, or any other medication, we can administer it. Our around the clock health care team consists of an RN and an assistant with advanced medical training, such as an EMT or nursing student. Our Camp Doctor is on retainer, and his facilities are less than 10 minutes from camp. The nearest hospital is Newton Memorial, about 20 minutes away. Our health care team will meet with you and your child on opening day. This is our opportunity to communicate with you regarding administration of medication, and/or treatments ordered by your doctor. We record and track health matters in accordance with the highest accepted professional standards.

10. My child is a picky eater; how is the food at camp?

Our buffet style meals offer a variety of hot entrees and side items, a full salad bar, and of course PB & J sandwiches. We serve kid friendly food such as spaghetti and meat balls, macaroni and cheese, chicken patties and pizza. Campers always find something at every meal that suits their tastes. Our food handlers are professionals who work with us all year long, and they can cook!

11. Will our family's cultural and religious differences be a problem?

Our community of campers and staff come from many diverse backgrounds, cultures, and faiths. It is this celebration of diversity that makes Camp Mason unique! We strive to make sure no one is ever made to feel uncomfortable and inclusion for all is a primary objective. Our program is grounded in the four core values of the Y, which are: Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. These are the cornerstones of any successful community, regardless of culture or religion. The behaviors that match these 4 core values are what we strive to have in common for the entire camp community, while simultaneously embracing and appreciating diversity. We are in a unique position to mentor campers in resolving differences, and practicing how to be a good friend to all.

12. How will I communicate with my child while he/she is at camp?

Regular mail comes and goes daily. We also accept faxes for campers and e-mails, following the guidelines laid out in the parent handbook. We strongly encourage campers to write home regularly, but often they are to engaged in the camp activities to do so. We do require every camp to write home at least once during their stay!

Campers are not permitted to make or receive telephone calls while at camp. Telephone usage by campers is counter productive to the process of engaging the circumstances at hand, and building the relationships that are a vital part of the camp community. Please do not give your child a cell phone! Camp is not the appropriate place for cell phones and they tend to create problems. We are striving to develop strong, independent youngsters who can think and function on their own as part of a community. Our staff, as professional role models, are uniquely positioned to assist campers in dealing directly with any issues that arise. Additionally, allowing free use of the phones in camp by everyone is simply a logistical impossibility.

13. My child will be 13; which village will he/she be in?

The 13 year olds are unique, in that they are on the bridge, age wise, between Junior and Senior villages. The tricky part is, that with 13 year olds, there is no guarantee which village they might end up in. For example, in a particular session we have many 12 yr. olds, some or all the 13's will end up in senior village. If we have many 14 and 15 year olds in a particular session, then the 13's might end up in junior village. There is no way to be certain until you arrive. However, making a note on the registration form as to a preference would be helpful, should the spit allow us to shift some of the 13's one direction or the other. Cabin sizes and set-up are nearly identical, regardless of village, as are the activities, with a few exceptions. They have trading post at different times, as well as an hour difference in lights out. Many of the daily activities are done together. She will certainly have a great time, no matter what village she ends up in!

14. Are references available?

Of course! Call or e-mail us using the contact us link. It takes a little time as we randomly find past campers in your area, and simply contact them to get permission to give you their phone number. Since we do not set up an advance group of well screened “known” references, nor give our references any discounts, please limit your time with them and be courteous.

15. What does it mean that Camp Mason is accredited by the American Camp Association?

Accreditation is a voluntary process in which we must meet a rigorous set of up to 300 standards for health, safety, and program quality. Many of these standards go above and beyond the minimum requirements of government agencies charged with mandatory inspections of camp facilities. By holding ourselves to such stringent standards, it is our guarantee to you that we actively committed to preserving, promoting, and improving the camp experience for all. Follow this link to learn more about the American Camp Association.

16. What is the registration process?

It depends on the programs you are interested in. For Traditional Camp, Ranch Camp, and the Leaders in Training (LT) - register using our online enrollment form here: register now. Or download the registration form as a pdf file to be faxed or mailed to us (see the contact us page). For Adventure Bound treks enroll here and download: AB registration as a pdf file to be faxed or mailed to us.. For Day Camp, register here and download DC registration as a pdf file to be faxed or mailed to us. Or call us and request registration material be mailed the old-fashioned way! After we receive your registration, we will confirm it with you, and mail you a hard copy of the parent handbook. Then you then need to complete and return to us (available here as pdf files) a medical form and a confidential form, or we can mail these to you directly.

17. We live close by, is there a day camp option?

Sure! Check out our day camp page.

18. Is Camp Mason open all year for groups, conferences, schools, or tours?

Sure! Check out our group, conference and schools page. If you interested in see Camp Mason prior to enrolling for summer camp, just let us know at our contact us page. We offer personalized tours for both summer camp and the outdoor center. Just let us know several days in advance so someone can be sure to greet you and show you around.

19. Are you hiring?

We are always on the lookout for energetic people with a passion to make a difference in the lives of others! We have Spring and Fall naturalist positions as well as summer counselor and support staff positions. Check out our prospective staff page for more information and applications

20. How do I speak to a live person that can answer more of my questions?

Our phone number here at Camp Mason is (908) 362- 8217. Someone is in the office every weekday until 5:00PM. May through August we also are around most weekends.