Summer Camp FAQs

YSSC is focused on developing the “whole child” by helping youth grow in character, skills, relationships and faith. Over many years, we have found that this mission is best accomplished through a longer residence experience, rather than a short one-week program. With two or more weeks at camp, children are more deeply immersed, develop broader community living skills, establish more significant relationships, and get more practice stepping out of their comfort zone and bouncing back from setbacks. They also can gain a deeper understanding of God and His love for them, and how faith plays an essential role in family, friendships, activities, and goals. We talk more about our purposeful two-week program here.

Our American Camp Association accreditation stipulates compliance with nearly 300 best practices and safety and quality standards. Other steps we take to support health and safety for our camp community include:

• Live-In Cabin Counselors
• All staff are CPR certified, along with other relevant training/certifications depending on staff role
• Mandatory check-in required for all visitors
• Camp Infirmary staffed around the clock by a Registered Nurse, full-time manager, and assistant
• Local pediatrician on-call 7 days/week
• Urgent Care and Children’s Hospital within an hour away
• Rehearsed Emergency Preparedness Plan

A typical day at camp follows the schedule below. Variations are implemented for off-sight days and weekends.

Tuition covers camper’s housing, food, 24-hour supervision, participation in all onsite and offsite activities, use of all camp equipment, weekly laundry, camp T-shirt, memory book, and memory video link. Not included in tuition are transportation costs, spending money, and camp sweatshirt.

YSSC strongly urges campers to secure Cancellation Insurance for tuition reimbursement should they be unable to attend their session for any reason. Cancellation Insurance is provided by MH Ross/ Tripmate and is only available at the end of the online camper application process.

• All cancellations must be in writing and acknowledged by Camp Registrar.
• Cancellations that occur on or before March 31 will result in a $300 cancellation fee.
• After April 1 and until one month prior to your child’s camp session, cancellation will result in a $750 cancellation fee.
• One month prior to your selected session, the full tuition balance is due and no refunds will be provided after that. Exceptions will be made for medical emergencies.
• Cancellations for our XL Add-on Week will result in a $50 cancellation fee.
• If for any reason YSSC must cancel a session, such as civil authorities requiring closure due to fire or pandemic, camp will refund the prorated tuition with no cancellation fee.

YSSC’s staff is comprised of undergraduate students, graduate students, and professionals who are selected based on emotional and Christian maturity, youth work experience, strong communication skills, diverse talents and backgrounds, and zest for life. Candidates undergo an extensive interview, reference checks, and criminal background checks prior to hiring. All staff receive 1-3 weeks of training in a variety of child development topics. All staff members are CPR certified, and some have additional certifications (Wilderness First Responder, lifeguard certification, etc.) depending on their role.

At YSSC, 70-75 staff members serve 120-130 campers each session for a staff/camper ratio of 1:2. In cabin groups, YSSC maintains a ratio of one cabin counselor for every 6-7 campers.

YSSC’s beautiful mountain setting is an ideal environment in which campers can see God’s handiwork, creativity, and power in vivid ways. Additionally, through Bible study, guest speakers, and all variety of teachable moments, we delight in helping children understand more fully God’s love for them and the value of Jesus Christ’s guidance in their lives. In the daily flow of life at camp, fun and faithful staff members model God’s truths and tools for Christian living. Camp families consistently remark that YSSC is a place where campers discover a faith of their own, feel comfortable asking hard questions, and are amazed by the wonder of God’s creation.

YSSC’s approach is gentle and non-denominational, focusing on the basics of the Christian faith:

• We accept the Bible as God’s Word and salvation is available to us through His son Jesus.
• We strive to help campers take the next step in their own personal journey of faith, whether learning about God’s love for the first time, or choosing to allow Christ to be a greater influence in their decisions, activities, and relationships.
• We believe a Christ-centered community is key to shaping the hearts and minds of campers.

Yes, many campers come to YSSC with a special friend or two. We do our best to honor cabin requests for friends of similar age and grade. Cabinmate requests must be mutual and are not guaranteed. A request to not be housed with a certain camper may result in the inability to be housed with another requested individual. In addition, because new friendships are a significant part of the summer camp experience, we seek to assemble cabin groups that will allow new friendships to develop. The Cabinmate Request Form can be filled out online up to 2 weeks prior to the session start.

Campers are arranged in cabin groups by gender, age, grade, and in consideration of cabinmate requests and each camper’s Personality Profile, as provided by parents. There may be a one or two year age spread within a cabin. Each counselor shepherds up to 7 campers for the entire session. Some campers come to YSSC with a friend, although many come to camp alone. We will arrange cabins in such a way as to encourage new friendships in cabin groups.

We begin a wait list. To assure a balanced program each session, there are a limited number of spaces for both boys and girls, and for each age group. Unit I is 3rd-6th grade; Unit II is 7th-8th grade; and Unit III is 9th-10th grade. For the most updated availability information, please call the Registrar at 800-775-9772.

The most popular mode of transportation is our Charter Buses staffed by YSSC staff and available from Orange County, Pasadena, and Valencia. Campers needing to fly to camp can arrive at Fresno International Airport (FAT) and will be met by camp staff and transported by shuttle the 60 miles to YSSC. Of course, we always appreciate when camper families drive to or from camp so they can see our grounds and meet our staff. Sign up for transportation options on your online Transportation Form.

Yes, we do offer a complimentary weekend program for campers who are staying for consecutive two-week sessions. They will enjoy camp activities, as well as rest, before the new session begins.

Once your camper is enrolled in session, you will receive a confirmation email from our Registrar. Starting in early Spring, we will email instructions for the following online forms to be completed:

• Personality Profile
• Health History
• Physician’s Exam
• Cabinmate Request (optional)
• Transportation
• Camper Code of Conduct
• Camp Policies
• Camp Store

In addition, we will email you a Family Handbook with general information and a What To Bring List. Reminder emails will be sent closer to your session regarding payments, missing forms, and how to best prepare your child for camp.

Campers’ laundry is done halfway through each session, so campers need only pack one week’s worth of clothing. We urge campers not to bring expensive clothes or clothes that require special care. A handy What To Bring List will be emailed to you in your Family Handbook. Please label all items brought to camp with your child’s name. We strongly recommend having your child help label and pack camp gear in order to develop familiarity and ownership of their personal belongings.

Like many traditional summer camps, YSSC asks campers to “unplug” from technology so they can more easily “plug in” to their new camp community. Our No Technology Policy applies to YSSC’s charter buses and extends through the entire session. By leaving technology at home, campers engage more quickly and are more poised to take advantage of the fun, friends, and adventure offered by YSSC. Campers develop friendships that are not dependent on social media and gaming. They grow to better understand the expressions and feelings of others. Campers remark that they notice more about their surroundings, are more creative, and feel relieved of the constant pressure/stress they feel from Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok.

Gadgets to be left at home include cell phones, tablets, laptops, mp3 players, smart watches, electronic games, and tech toys. Please note that cell phones may not be used as cameras by campers. However, E-readers without internet connectivity are permitted.

We ask that parents call to speak to their camper only in the case of emergency. Campers are seldom near a phone and it is challenging to coordinate calls with camper schedules. Additionally, calls from home can cause homesickness in a camper or jealousy among cabin mates. We highly encourage cheerful cards, letters, and emails from family and friends throughout the session. “Camp Stamp” emails can be purchased through you Parent Account. In case of emergency, please call the camp office and we will arrange for a time for your camper to return your call as soon as possible.

We do not allow campers to receive care packages while at camp. Camp is already full of so many good things, fun friends, and engaging activities that care packages often get overlooked by campers. Furthermore, receipt of a care package can result in jealousy and anxiety among cabin mates. However, campers still very much enjoy letters, cards, and emails (through your Parent Account) from friends and family.

The first few days of camp can be an anxious time for any camper. We thoughtfully program these days to develop closeness within cabin groups so children feel safer, known, and have a sense of belonging. If homesickness persists, the counselor, head counselor, and director work together to help the camper work through and overcome this challenge. We may invite parent input to aid in the process. It is our deep desire that the camper stays at camp, experiences success, and develops stronger muscles of resilience and independence for the future.

Clear expectations and guidelines, positive reinforcement, wholesome role modeling, and a cultivated sense of fairness are key components in our effort to maintain a safe and nurturing camp environment. We work hard so that every child will develop greater social skills and succeed at camp. Disrespectful, unwholesome, defiant, mean, or violent behavior (including teasing or harassment of any kind) are not tolerated.

If discipline problems arise, we handle each conflict on an individual basis. In most cases, a camper and counselor/head counselor will discuss the inappropriate behavior and logical, relevant consequences may be enforced. Continued misbehavior will result in a contract between the camper, parent, and director. Broken behavior contracts result in the camper going home early from camp with no tuition reimbursement. [View Camper Code of Conduct]

Nutritious, kid-friendly food is served family-style at YSSC. Campers love it and often ask for recipes! Breakfast favorites include eggs and bacon, homemade cinnamon rolls and yogurt, french toast and pancakes; breakfast always includes fruit and cereal options. Lunch favorites include sandwiches, burritos, and salad bars. Dinners often follow a theme: western barbecue in the meadow, Italian night, and the end of session tri-tip banquet. Wheat breads, fresh fruit and vegetables, and real dairy products are important to our menu. And a yummy dessert can always be expected after dinner! It isn’t a surprise that campers chant “1, 2, 3, kitchen staff rocks!” at mealtime.

Our camp snack bar, known as “The Canteen,” offers healthy choices such as juices, fruit popsicles, and granola bars, instead of sodas and candy bars.

Campers’ health is a high priority for us at YSSC. We try our best to accommodate basic food allergies and other dietary needs, including vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy and lactose-free diets. In addition, YSSC is a nut-free program. That said, due to the size of our program and the growing number of special dietary considerations, we may not be able to meet all specialized diets. We request that the parents/guardians of campers with special dietary needs discuss reach out before registration to discuss the feasibility of accommodating their needs. In cases of complex dietary issues, we ask that a family help coordinate a menu for their child and provide supplementary food items so that our food service staff can continue to do their job effectively.

Our infirmary, “Club Med,” is staffed by a registered nurse, infirmary manager, and assistant. Typically, our Club Med staff distributes camper and staff staff vitamins and medications at mealtime. For bedtime medications, campers stop by Club Med on the way to their cabins for the night. Because we are a small camp, our Club Med staff grows to know each of our campers and can meet individual needs well. All medication must be sent to camp in original packaging and in labeled ziplock bags to be turned into Club Med upon arrival. If you have a special concern about your child’s healthcare needs, please contact our office at (800) 775-9772 or email us at info@yssc.com.

Our infirmary, “Club Med,” is staffed by a registered nurse, infirmary manager, and assistant. If your child requires medical care beyond simple first aid or they stay overnight in the infirmary, the Club Med staff will call to advise you. This includes campers with fevers over 100º, flu-like symptoms, or recurring headaches and stomach aches.

Yes, please come see us before your child attends. Call 800-775-9772 or email info@yssc.com ahead of time so we can be expecting you, or you can schedule a visit on the Contact Us page of the website. Tours of YSSC are available from June 10 through August 15 each summer.

Yes, YSSC is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). The ACA is a national, non-profit organization that supports and promotes standards of excellence and best practices in organized camping. As an accredited camp, YSSC undergoes regular independent audits to demonstrate its compliance of nearly 300 quality standards covering health and safety, facilities, personnel, administration, and programming. ACA accreditation is camping’s “good housekeeping seal of approval.” The ACA further provides camps with ongoing education and support, and offers parents information to help select a program and prepare their child for camp.

We are members of Christian Camp and Conference Association which provides education, resources, and networking for Christian camps worldwide. In addition, YSSC is a member of Western Association of Independent Camps, an association of accredited independent and family-operated programs, which offers best practices education and a variety of resources.

We encourage that! Please call 800-775-9772 or email us at info@yssc.com to request references.