All members of the Coniston Community, including staff and campers, are expected to behave appropriately at all times. At the end of each session each camper is evaluated by his or her cabin leader. If inappropriate behavior, bad language, or use of threats/fights are noted, etc., your camper may be dismissed and asked not to return to camp in the future.
As a close-knit community, YMCA Camp Coniston expects each camper to respect themselves, their cabin mates, and everyone in camp as well as all property. All campers dismissed for disciplinary reasons are not allowed back in camp for the remainder of the summer.
It is our hope that all of our campers are healthy and injury free while here at camp, however minor illnesses and accidents can occur.
We will provide medical care for your camper here at camp within our scope of medical capabilities. If our nursing staff feels that an injury or illness warrants a visit with a physician, we arrange this care and follow any treatment plan prescribed within our limitations.
It is important that we maintain our Health Policies so that we can provide sufficient and consistent care to our campers and staff. The following rules apply:
Camp Coniston has a local pediatrician on call and utilizes New London Hospital. The parent must assume any other medical arrangements desired.
YMCA Camp Coniston will provide services to children with disabilities or any special needs in the same manner as services are provided for other children of comparable age.
YMCA Camp Coniston will make reasonable accommodations that do not fundamentally alter the nature of the residential camp experience as described in the “Coniston Experience” statement.
Requested accommodations shall be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
We discourage you from telling your camper that he or she can come home after a few days. This actually encourages homesickness and often makes a child less happy.
Parents should understand that initial letters home might involve strong homesick feelings, especially from first time campers. If after a second unhappy letter, you have concerns; please do not hesitate to give us a call.
We will try to make your child’s experience at camp satisfying prior to calling you. We frequently speak with parents regarding their child’s homesickness while discouraging the child to directly speak with their parents.
We donate all items left at camp to a local charity. Due to the number of requests we can not mail lost and found items. Make certain to look in all lost and found locations for your child’s clothing.
Tipping the staff is discouraged. We do have a “staff appreciation” budget for pizza parties, etc. if you wish to show your appreciation for a job well done. See either the Director or Associate for details.
There are many factors that go into cabin placement and every effort is made to honor requests. However, first year requests are the only ones guaranteed. Campers must request each other and be in the same grade.
With Internet use so common among our campers and staff, it is important to define some guidelines for behavior when interacting with others in the Coniston community online.
We ask that campers respect our staff members’ privacy and personal “space” both during camp and also during the “off-season”. While at school, college, or work, our staff members retain the right to limit the contact they have with campers. It is important that campers respect the staff member’s request to limit communication. We strive to ensure that all staff-camper relationships are of an appropriate and safe nature.
In addition, we ask that campers and staff be very careful about what they post on the Internet in any form. It is important to understand that EVERYTHING you post on the Internet is very PUBLIC and likely to STAY on the internet indefinitely. All the major search engines index and archive the internet constantly.
Please review what you intend to post carefully. Don’t give out personal information, email addresses, or other contact information. Don’t use any inappropriate language or speak badly of anyone. Keep all Internet communications civil and polite. Treat others as you would yourself and as if they were in the same room.
If you find anything on the internet that you feel is inappropriate or disparaging of the camp or any member of the camp community, please email the webmaster and report it. All such matters will be treated as confidential.
