OVERVIEW
The YMCA skate camp is an ideal summer destination for any one interested in beginning the journey of skateboarding, or honing their skills in a gorgeous natural environment. We understand that there are many details to be double checked before relinquishing your loved ones to a sleep away camp. So, we are here to help! Click through the links to experience a glimpse of everyday life at camp.
CAMP EXPERIENCE
The YMCA camp is a skateboarder’s paradise. Located beside the beautiful sequoia lake, skate camp offers a unique connection to nature and camaraderie. For over thirty years, we have run our program to offer a specialized summer camp experience in a fun and safe environment. There is a myriad of different opportunities to skate and create. A place where life long memories are made every day. It is a destination no skater would want to miss. Our campers have access to many programs.
DAY AT CAMP
SCHEDULE
Every moment of the day is magic at YMCA skate camp!
7:45 Rise and Shine! – After our morning staff meetings where we connect as a team, counselors awaken their cabins to prepare for an epic day!
8:15 K.P. & Homebase – Homebase is the common meeting area where the camp unites before meals. Here we announce the activities for the days as well as conduct fun team building exercises. Furthermore, this is the time for cabins to wash their hands while K.P. is finished. K.P., aka Kitchen Patrol, is the activity of setting the plates and cutlery for the camp in the dining hall while Homebase occurs. Each cabin has KP duty at least once during the week.
8:30 Breakfast! – Oh man I hope it is breakfast burritos! Meals are served family style. Exemplary table manners are encouraged while the cabins eat together.
9:15 Get Fresh – This is the time for campers to brush their teeth, and get their gear together for morning activities.
9:45 Warm Ups – Prepare campers for an action packed day through physical and mental challenges. With a focus on stretching, calisthenics and teamwork, morning warm ups are a healthy and fun means of getting the day started.
10:00 Focus Groups – We offer a wide array of instructional skateboarding for all skills levels. Whether it is your first time on a skateboard, or you wish to master your bowl skating, we are here to help! Our trained and skilled staff members provide excellent skate guidance.
Focus groups are not limited to skateboarding. Campers can choose from a variety of creative and structured classes. For more on the particular activities, click on the links below.
Board Making with Create A Skate
11:00 Free Skate – A time where kids are allowed to roam freely at camp. Similar to recess at school, campers have the ability to choose how to spend their time in a safe and monitored environment. With counselors stationed at every park and a medical staff member on hand, campers can skate or create! Furthermore, the shop and waterfront are open before lunch. Check out our parks and activities.
12:00 Back to our cabins – The bell rings to signify the end of the morning session. Everyone heads back to their cabins to regroup for lunchtime.
12:15 K.P. & Homebase – Just like the morning, this is our time to come together as a camp, pass along letters from parents and introduce the activities for the afternoon.
12:30 Lunch – We have a salad bar, vegi options, and on Wednesday we hit up Beach Front Blast!
1:00 Free Skate! – Skate camp is free range for our campers! The facilities are open for their exploration and enjoyment. This block of time is when we host many of our fun contests throughout the week. Check out how you can spend your time at the activities page.
5:00 Back to our cabins – Get ourselves nice and clean for dinner time!
5:15 K.P. & Homebase – Final announcements for the evening. I hope we play pine cone basketball!
5:30 Dinner – By this time, the temperature has cooled down and sequoia lake begins to glisten with the sherbert hues of dawn. Eating on the patio offers a gorgeous view of the camp grounds.
6:00 After dinner free skate! – This tends to be the best skate session of the day. Find out where the filmers are posted and have a great evening session with your friends. The street course goes off!
8:00 Back to our cabins – The sunlight is gone. Time to clean up and wind the evening down with spectacular activities.
8:30 Campfire – With the exception of movie night on Monday, campfire is where we spend our nights laughing until our bellies hurt. Campfire provides our campers and staff an open forum for communication and enjoyment. It is an opportunity for campers to perform hilarious skits, demonstrate their individual talents and experiment with story telling, jokes and musical performances. Campers are encouraged to stand up in front of a large audience, composed of friends and staff members, which allows them to gain confidence in public speaking. Camp Fire is a fun and entertaining way to end each day. Each cabin must perform a skit at least once during the week. I can’t wait for the next season of bag man!
9:15 Head to the Rec. Hall – Get some snacks from the shop, watch a skate video, play some board games at lounge lizards, or even get to know a visiting professional at our pro Q & A.
10:00 Back to our cabins – Time to take showers, brush our teeth, and prepare for bed.
11:00 Light out – Catch that beauty rest before another epic day of skate camp!
PRICING
Week Long Session- Tiered Pricing
Tier 1: $1050
Tier 2: $950
Tier 3: $850
Tier 4: Varies- Financial assistance available
Family Camp Session – $1,520 Cabin with 4 people ($400 Deposit)
Family Camp Session- $350 Per person (Tent Camping)
Two Week CIT Program – $1,400
Hold Over (weekend stay between sessions) – $150
Saturday Pick Up – $75 (Must be by 11am)
Shuttle service to/from Fresno – $70 round trip ($35 one way)
YMCA Camp Sequoia Lake understands that families have different abilities to pay for summer camp. Camp provides one of the most valuable experiences in your child's life, and we strive to make it attainable for all. Please choose the payment tier you can afford. Your selection is confidential and in no way will affect your child's experience at camp.
Tier 1: Most accurately reflects the true cost of camp operations for each camper, including but not limited to: staff, meals, wear and tear of facilities and grounds, utilities, insurance, equipment repairs, overhead and depreciation. Please pay this amount if you are able.
Tier 2: Reflects the basic cost of attending camp, including food, staff, program supplies, and limited maintenance expenses. This is a partially subsidized rate.
Tier 3: Reflects the most basic cost of attending camp, including food, staff, and supplies. This is a subsidized rate.
Tier 4: Represents a partial scholarship made possible through donations to the YMCA's Annual Campaign and Campership program. Please submit a scholarship application.
CIT Program: Campers entering 11th or 12th Grade
This two week program allows those interested in working with children and/or being a camp counselor or future leader the opportunity to learn about child development, positive communication, and effective leadership techniques. The CITs will enjoy the traditional activities that campers love but will also take an active roll in leading these activities.
EMPLOYMENT
Here at the YMCA skate camp, we pride ourselves in selecting truly capable human beings. United by the passion for skateboarding, we come together as a team to celebrate one another as well as provide a positive experience for our campers. We conduct ourselves with the concept of“In Loco Parentis”, or rather, in the place of the parent. We take the safety and enjoyment of our campers serious. With that being said, all staff members are required to be apart of our week-long staff training. During the staff training, the staff is guided through a number of different emergency procedures, daily responsibilities, first aid/CPR training, child development psychology, and much more. Our goal is to prepare the staff to be positive role models for all of our campers.
WANT TO BECOME A SKATE CAMP STAFF MEMBER, CLICK HERE.
JOB DESCRIPTIONS
Must be 18 or older to apply
Listed below are a number of different jobs available at camp. Keep in mind, you must set a good example in all you do and say. You are the leader of youth! Some of the teachings extended to the youth will be through the exemplary lives of their leaders. This implies a great responsibility and obligation to live as an example to our campers in keeping with their needs, interests and abilities.
Counselor – Must be an avid skateboarder. Counselors are responsible for skate instruction every morning. Must be well organized. Counselors are responsible for seven campers each week. Counselors stay with their campers in the same cabin, and are responsible to keep them safe physically and emotionally. They are to enforce the cleanliness of their campers and cabins. On commission duty, counselors are required to act as a lifeguard for a scheduled block of time at a particular skate park. They can skate, and hang with the campers. Counselors must organize their cabins to navigate through camp in a timely manner. The job is not an easy one. However, having the responsibility of mentoring seven campers each week is beyond rewarding.
Hospitality – Will be required to do general maintenance of facilities. Responsible for the cleanliness of the kitchen, restrooms, trash cans, dining hall and rec hall. It can be a dirty job, but it offers free time to skate and a great entry level position to camp. Work hard, and gain an experience of a lifetime.
Kitchen Crew – Become apart of a hard working crew! Learn to cook for over one hundred people. Kitchen crew will be required to do general serving, line prep work, and cleaning of kitchen.
Lifeguard – What better way to spend your summer than working beside the gorgeous Sequoia Lake. Life guards must have current Lifeguard certification and Red Cross training. They will be responsible for guarding the waterfront area during scheduled hours. Will be responsible for opening and closing waterfront procedures. Previous experience is important.
Driver – The role of the driver is integral to the success of camp. Drivers are responsible for scheduling, coordinating, and maintaining all camp transportation needs. Responsible for transportation in regards to medical needs and emergencies. Responsible for maintenance and safety of the “White Whale” (skate camp van). Experience driving a large vehicle will help. Experience with excel is helpful as well.
Shop Manager – The shop is open three hours per day. Shop managers are required to take inventory and organize all shop goods. They must organize campers by cabin into a database from which store purchases may be accounted for. Shop managers set the price, stock the shelves, and maintain cleanliness of their zone. Also, must have a desire to talk with campers and set positive vibes. Experience with excel and retail is ideal.
Media Director – Coordinate the weekly videos. Oversee filming, editing, and overall production of the video. Work with interns and campers to enhance their skills. Must have experience filming and editing as well as equipment.
Photography/‘Zine Director – Work with the media department to capture camp each week. Lifestyle, skateboarding, and land scape photography practices. Help instruct campers with their own photography practice.Organize and coordinate weekly skate camp zine. Work with a group of campers to educate them on the process and production of a hand made zine. Must have experience with journalism and photography and have your own equipment.
Art Director – A fun and creative way to spend your days at camp. Art Directors are required to instruct campers on the process of making a skateboarding with Professor Schmitt’s Create A Skate Program (http://www.createaskate.org). The Art Director is required to glue and press enough boards for the program. Furthermore, they are required to implement fun projects and crafts for campers throughout the week.
Facilities Maintenance – Help keep skate camp facilities in top form. Maintain camp’s safety. Must have experience working on skate ramps. Background in construction/carpentry is required.
Music Director – Encourage creativity with the gift of music. Music Directors must create, and coordinate a curriculum to teach campers how to begin or enhance their skills. With a focus on guitar and percussion, music directors work with campers to create a new band each week. Required to play as a band at the final campfire. Experience teaching music is ideal. Link to music program.
VOLUNTEER
Give back to camp by volunteering your time. Help us offer an incredible summer experience for our campers. Must be at least 18 to apply. Contact the YMCA if interested. Sk8@campsequoialake.