Lake Superior YMCA
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YMCA Day Camp Guidelines

View Program Handbook

Participant Requirements

To ensure a safe and positive experience, campers must:
  • Stay with the group at all times – For safety and proper staff-to-child ratios, children cannot leave the group.
  • Participate in structured activities and transitions independently – We cannot provide one-on-one or small group support. Ratios are 12–15 children per staff member.
  • Be toilet trained and use the bathroom without assistance – Staff cannot assist with bathroom needs or changing clothes.
  • Engage in outdoor activities for extended periods – Most programming is outdoors, even in light rain. In severe weather (lightning/thunder), we will move indoors. Campers should be prepared for hiking, bugs, and varying temperatures.
If these requirements cannot be met, the child may be removed from the program, and families will still be responsible for the weekly fee.
 
Keeping Friends Together
Day camp is all about fun and friendship. If you’d like your children to be in the same group, please indicate this on the registration form. They will remain together for the entire week.

 

Locations

  • Essentia Wellness Center (EWC) – 4289 Ugstad Road, Hermantown
  • North Star Academy (NS) – 3301 Technology Drive, Duluth
North Star campers will bus to the downtown YMCA for swimming once a week. At the Y at the Essentia Wellness Center, campers swim on-site. Swim schedules vary annually.

 

 

Register online at lakesuperiorymca.org/register or contact 
ar@lakesuperiorymca.org. Families must complete all 
registration forms and payments before their child can begin 
attending any program

Drop off and pick up will be inside Mitchell Lodge from 8:00
a.m. – 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Caregivers 
must sign their child in and out daily and present ID. If you 
need to collect your camper early for any reason, then please 
be sure to let us know at least a couple of hours before you 
arrive and we can be sure to have your camper ready for 
you.
We will be providing transportation for an additional fee from 
Cloquet to Camp Miller on July 6-10 and from Hinkley to 
Camp Miller on July 27-31. To add transportation for those 
sessions, please email campmiller@lakesuperiorymca.org

Most campers bring a backpack or bag to camp that contains the following items:

  • Closed-toe shoes that attach to the foot (please no sandals or shoes with heels)
  • Water bottle(s)
  • A hat
  • Change of clothes
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug spray
  • Campers should wear OLD CLOTHES to camp.
  • A towel
  • swimsuit for swimming everyday
  • Rain gear

  • A book

    It is also a good idea to label your campers' belongings, so 
    they make it home at the end of the day. Please do not 
    bring personal electronic devices: iPods/iPads, cell phones, 
    computers, any other electronics that are expensive and 
    can be broken or disruptive to camp, matches, lighters, knives, valuable items, gum, candy, or snacks.
     

Essentia Wellness Center at the Hermantown YMCA

Week 1: STEM Camp
Week 2: Adventure Camp
Week 3: Sports Camp
Week 4: Cooking Camp
Week 5: All About Animals
Week 6:  Art Camp
Week 7: Adventure Camp II
Week 8: Sports Camp II
Week 9: Cooking Camp II
Week 10: All About Animals II
Week 11: Art Camp II

North Star

Week 1: Art Camp
Week 2: STEM Camp
Week 3: Adventure Camp
Week 4: Sports Camp
Week 5: Cooking Camp
Week 6: All About Animals
Week 7: Art Camp II
Week 8: Adventure Camp II
Week 9: Sports Camp II
Week 10: Cooking Camp II
Week 11: All About Animals II

CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CCAP)
The Lake Superior YMCA will send you an invoice at the beginning of every month for the outstanding balance. Please be advised that the county payments are often behind on their periods of service payouts and the bill may not reflect all periods of service that we have received payment on from the county.

All CCAP families must fill out a “CCAP Families Payment Agreement” that will be provided upon receipt of CCAP paperwork. It is the caregiver/guardian responsibility to:

●  Know what you have been awarded from the county.

●  Know your co-pay amount.

●  All communication with the county is the responsibility of the caregiver(caregiver/guardian).

●  The county is not allowed to share information with us beyond your awarded amount of coverage.

●  Pay balance in full.

Please notify your case worker directly that you are utilizing the Out-of-School Time program for care and what specific school site your child(ren) will be attending. Out-of-School Time has a child care provider number with St. Louis County. Families must do this at the beginning of the school year, and when the summer program begins if switching to a different school location. We can assist you with your provider number as needed.

Child Care Assistance is not accepted for Day Camp Odyssey as Camp Miller is not a certified center. 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

We believe every child should experience Out-of-School Time programming.  Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we are able to offer financial assistance to families in need. Families must apply for Child Care County Assistance prior to applying for financial assistance. Financial Assistance is awarded to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.

Families are responsible for all child care payments until financial assistance has been awarded. Financial assistance is awarded at a discounted rate based on qualifications and applies only to future enrollments, not past-due balances. Families should wait to receive their financial assistance award notification before registering their child for the program.

Financial assistance applications are available by contacting kcorbett@lakesuperiorymca.org or 218-722-4725 x 124.

Get ready for a summer adventure like no other! Kids from the Duluth area will hop on the bus to YMCA Camp Miller in Sturgeon Lake for a full day of outdoor fun—then return home with stories to tell. From swimming and nature exploration to games and friendships, this program brings the magic of resident camp to your camper in one unforgettable day.

  • Ages 7-13
  • Only 5-day plan available (no partial week pricing)
  • Member Pricing: $327/week
  • Community Pricing: $365/week
  • Available weeks:
    • June 15-19
    • June 22-26
  • Drop-off Locations
    • Essentia Wellness Center at Hermantown YMCA
    • North Star Academy
  • Drop-off time: 7-8 am
  • Van transportation leaves at 8 am from drop-off sites
  • Van transportation leaves Camp Miller at 4 pm to return, back to pick-up site approximately 4:45pm.
  • Pickup time: ends at 6 pm.
  • Lunch provided at Camp Miller
  • Child Care Assistance is not accepted for Day Camp Odyssey as Camp Miller is not a certified center. 

Regular email about the program will be shared with enrolled 
families. Welcome emails will be shared one week in advance 
from your child's week at day camp. 
Please follow us on the Facebook page for updates and 
pictures: www.facebook.com/ymcacampmiller/
For questions, please contact:
• Camp Miller Program Director, Katie: klakatosh@lakesuperiorymca.org or 
call 218-372-3188 ext. 104
Community Services Program and Camp Director, Leslie Bucar: lbucar@lakesuperiorymca.org or call (218) 336-8965x3904