Child 1 Age 4 - 6 (Male)
Program(s) focused in Sport (multi)
(5) Overall experience
I was nervous about sending my son to camp however, everything went well. At first, he was nervous however, found friends easily and made relationships with the camp counsellors. As a Y kid myself, I was eager to have my child join the Y day camps as it was vital to my childhood and I created so many lasting memories! My son always asks when he is going back and often sees his camp counsellors when visiting my office at our local Y and is so excited to see them - greeting them with a huge hug and a memory he had with them over the summer! He is already planning his summer adventures with the Y day camps and is more than excited to return.
(5) Reason for choosing the camp
As an employee of the YMCA it is vital that my child has a warm and welcoming environment to spend his summer vacation. As a Y kid myself, I was eager to have my child join the Y day camps as it was vital to my childhood and I created so many lasting memories!
(5) Program quality and activities
My son is easy and has fun with whatever is planned. The relationships he makes with the camp counsellors seem to be his favorite! I wasn't a fan of having the camp run at Glashyn though. I preferred the camp running out of Taggart as it felt a bit safer. The [Glashyn] area isn't the best over the past few years.
(5) Social dynamics and experience
My son made friends with new campers however recognized some from school and his brother's school. He also remembered some kids from the previous years of being at camp and March break camp. We didn't have any issues with bullying and my son was always made to feel comfortable when he was sad or upset. He did have a little issue with another kid he was hanging out with and they made some poor choices together.
(5) Skills and growth
Camp helped my son prepare for Kindergarten and helped with his nervous nature. His swimming skills have increased significantly to the point where while on vacation with our family he decided he didn't need a life jacket anymore and started swimming without hesitation even doing back flips and front flips while in Mexico! Everyone was impressed with his skills.
(5) Staff/Instructors/Counsellors
Loved the camp counsellors! Some I taught in the Child Care and some work for me in the Child Care! The camp counsellors were young so some were not at the stage in their life to deal with conflicts however, this is understandable. If ever there was an issue, they would get the camp lead who could address the issue.
(5) Advice and tips
As the Director of Child Care, I am highly encouraging my families who have children going to Kindergarten in September to join the camps as the camps provide children with pre-kindergarten skills that are required for the fall. I have also shared my good experiences with them regarding my happy camper and his skillset going into kindergarten thanks to the help of the camp.
More reviews of YMCA of the National Capital Region
I can't express enough how exceptional the YMCA camp in the National Capital Region of Ottawa truly is. From the moment we arrived, it was evident that this was a well-organized, top-quality program. ...
