Big Elk Creek Camp
Your Best Summer Ever!

We take camper health seriously.

Medication is securely stored and managed appropriately, and staff are informed about camper medical concerns, allergies, and dietary needs.

We work closely with families to help ensure campers have a safe and successful experience.

More information here: Big Elk Creek Parent Handbook

Camp is designed to help kids unplug and reconnect with real life.

One of the biggest benefits parents notice after camp is how refreshed, confident, and socially connected their children become after spending a week away from screens.

Instead of phones, campers experience:

• Campfires

• Hiking

• Swimming

• Archery

• Team games

• Outdoor adventure

• Face-to-face friendships

We use organized check-in and checkout procedures to help ensure camper safety and smooth transitions for families.

Authorized pickup procedures are carefully followed, and staff personally greet families during arrival and departure.

More information is available here: Parent Handbook & Camp Policies

Big Elk Creek Camp serves campers ages 7–17 through age-appropriate programming, activities, and supervision.

Staff are trained to understand the developmental needs of different age groups to help every camper succeed.

Big Elk Creek Camp gives kids the opportunity to:

• Build confidence

• Make lifelong friends

• Experience real adventure

• Disconnect from screens

• Grow in independence

• Create memories they’ll never forget

Register for Big Elk Creek Camp

Absolutely. Camper safety is the foundation of everything we do at Big Elk Creek Camp. Our staff complete extensive training in:

• Camper supervision

• Emergency procedures

• Conflict resolution

• Homesickness support

• Leadership

• Child communication

• Waterfront safety

• Behavior management

At Big Elk Creek, safety isn’t just a policy — it’s our culture.

Yes. Campers are supervised throughout the entire camp experience.

We use:

• Continuous counselor supervision

• Two trained Counselors in every cabin (overnight camps)

• Buddy systems

• Structured schedules

• Staff positioning during activities

• Supervised transportation

Our staff are trained to always know where their campers are and proactively engage with them throughout the day.

Camp Magic is our specialty and our Counselors creat it! Our counselors are energetic, caring mentors who genuinely enjoy working with kids.

We intentionally hire staff who:

• Lead by example

• Encourage campers

• Build confidence

• Create belonging & fun

• Keep campers active and engaged

• Model positive behavior

At Big Elk Creek, counselors are much more than supervisors — they become trusted role models.

We take emotional safety seriously. Because your camper is in our care, our staff maintains proactive, eyes-on supervision to ensure a safe and supportive environment. Big Elk Creek Camp actively promotes and builds a culture of:

Kindness

Respect

Inclusion

Teamwork

Positive Communication

If conflict or mean behavior arises, our trained staff intervenes early. We don't just stop the behavior; we guide campers through healthy conflict resolution and teach respectful communication skills to help them grow.

Waterfront safety is extremely important to us.

Our waterfront procedures include:

• Several Red Cross certified lifeguards

• Additional Counselor supervision

• The buddy system

• Lifejackets are mandatory for all campers

• Structured swim procedures

• No swimming after dark

Safety standards are followed at all times.

Homesickness is completely normal — even experienced campers sometimes miss home.

Our staff are specifically trained to help campers through homesickness with:

• Encouragement

• Friendship-building

• Emotional support

• Positive engagement

• Healthy communication home

Most campers who feel nervous on Day 1 are smiling, laughing, and fully engaged within a very short time.

In fact, overcoming homesickness often becomes one of the most powerful confidence-building experiences a child can have.

See: https://www.bigelkcreekcamp.com/parent-handbook

We lead with intentional, low-pressure fun: Our team is trained to consciously bring a lighthearted, enthusiastically "silly" attitude to everyday moments. This intentional playfulness removes social pressure, instantly breaks the ice, and helps hesitant campers forget their fears. It's a part of the Camp Magic at Big Elk Creek Camp!

That’s one of the things camp does best!

Our counselors intentionally help campers:

• Meet cabin mates quickly

• Participate in group games

• Feel included

• Build friendships

• Develop confidence socially

Many campers arrive knowing nobody and leave with friendships that last for years.

Camp is often a child’s very first major independent experience — and that’s incredibly valuable.

Our staff are trained to help first-time campers feel:

• Welcome

• Comfortable

• Included

• Supported

Many parents are amazed at how much confidence and independence their child gains after just one week at camp.

We believe kids thrive when they feel:

• Seen

• Heard

• Respected

• Included

• Encouraged

Our staff are paying attention to your camper and we're trained in:

• Active listening

• Empathy

• Conflict resolution

• Positive mentorship

• Healthy communication

We intentionally create a camp culture where ALL campers feel valued and supported.

Big Elk Creek Camp is intentionally designed to help kids grow in confidence, independence, resilience, friendship, leadership, and outdoor skills.

This is not a “babysitting camp.”

It’s a transformational experience where kids:

• Disconnect from screens

• Connect with nature

• Build real friendships

• Learn responsibility

• Develop confidence

• Experience adventure

• Create lifelong memories

Camp Magic is that feeling campers leave with when they:

• Feel like they belong

• Build real friendships

• Gain confidence

• Laugh constantly

• Feel supported

• Discover what they’re capable of

It’s the reason campers count down the days until they can come back.

And it’s the reason many parents tell us:

“Camp changed my child.”

Campers experience a wide variety of activities including:

• Swimming

• Archery

• Hiking

• Outdoor survival skills

• Team games

• Leadership activities

• Nature exploration

• Campfires

• Group challenges

• Traditional camp activities

To make the experience truly their own, campers frequently get to choose their preferred activities throughout the week, allowing them to focus on what they love most. > Every week is packed with adventure, laughter, and unforgettable memories. Learn more here: Big Elk Creek Camp Activities & Information

Absolutely.

One of the most powerful parts of camp is helping kids safely step outside their comfort zone.

Whether it’s:

• Challenging the low ropes course

• Speaking up

• Making new friends

• Trying archery

• Performing in a skit

• Sleeping away from home

Our counselors celebrate effort, courage, and growth — not perfection.

Research consistently shows that quality overnight camps help children develop:

• Confidence

• Independence

• Resilience

• Leadership

• Social skills

• Emotional growth

• Problem-solving abilities

Camp gives kids opportunities to grow in ways that simply can’t happen through screens or structured school environments alone.

Honestly, if parents could see what we get to witness every single day from our perspective, our registration would be completely full in a heartbeat. The day-to-day transformation, the sudden bursts of confidence when a child conquers a new challenge, and the genuine, positive friendships that form out of nowhere are incredible to watch. They don't just have fun—they come home more resilient, independent, and secure in who they are.

We proudly uphold the YMCA core values:

• Caring

• Honesty

• Respect

• Responsibility
  

These values guide everything we do — from activities and teamwork to leadership and friendships.