Sugar Valley Day Camp
Sugar Valley Camp encourages children ages 3 – 12 to learn about nature and enjoy the outdoors by exploring Bill Yeck Park, playing games and making new friends. Campers will be placed in groups of similarly aged children. They will be treated to guest speakers, special presentations and activities. Each day of camp is predominately spent outdoors. Campers will be in the woods and exploring the creeks. Campers should expect to wear clothing and shoes that can get wet and dirty.
Campers should bring a filled water bottle and a packed lunch that does not require refrigeration. All campers will receive a t-shirt during their first week.
Camp is held rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Preschool weeks are 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m.
Before care is available from 8 to 9 a.m. After care is available from 4 to 5:00 p.m.
Resident camp registration begins online Monday, April 10 at 10 a.m. Nonresident camp registration begins online Monday, April 17 at 10 a.m. Phone registration will begin one day later.
Jump on the summer camp fast track! In an effort to improve your camp registration experience, we have created a way for you to fill out the required camp forms PRIOR to the first day of camp registration. This will make your camp registration go faster, and decrease the chance that your child will be placed on a camp waiting list.
2023 Camp Weeks:
Week 1: June 5 – 9, Adventure Explorers (ages 6 – 12)
Fee/week: $150 residents, $170 nonresidents, $30 before and after care
Explore Bill Yeck Park in a whole new way. Up the trails, through the woods and down the creek we go! Follow clues, games and other activities to get a feel for the park and summer fun.
Week 2: June 12 – 16, Survivor (Field Trip Week) (ages 6 – 12)
Fee/week: $160 residents, $180 nonresidents, $30 before and/or after care
It will be a competition all week long! We will participate in nature trivia, animal identification games and much more! Teams will tie-dye team bandanas that they are invited to wear on the last day for the ultimate challenge! Campers will take a field trip to Oak Grove Park to learn about fishing and archery. The cost of the field trip is included in this week’s fee.
Week 3: June 20 – 23, Splashtacular Adventures (No camp June 19) (ages 6 – 12)
Fee/week: $120 residents, $140 nonresidents, $30 before and after care
Let’s spend a week doing all things water! Campers will learn about the water in the parks, explore all the splashtacular things water is capable of, and play a variety of water games.
Week 4: June 26 – 30, Taking Flight (ages 6 – 12)
Fee/week: $150 residents, $170 nonresidents, $30 before and after care
Let’s explore all the nature above our heads. There are many critters that live in our treetops. We will spend the week learning all about which animals can fly and how they use flight to help them survive.
Week 5: July 3, 5 – 7, Nocturnal Nature (No camp July 4) (ages 6 – 12)
Fee/week: $120 residents, $140 nonresidents, $30 before and after care
We may not see them while we are in the parks, but critters roam the trails of Bill Yeck Park at night! Join us for a week of learning all about nocturnal animals. Campers will participate in games where they can pretend to be nocturnal. There is no camp on Tuesday, July 4.
Week 6: July 10 – 14, Land of the Lost (ages 6 – 12)
Fee/week: $150 residents, $170 nonresidents, $30 before and after care
What was it like to explore the landscape of our parks before we had trails, maps and compasses? Campers will search for fossils and seek historical answers while exploring as 21st-century humans!
Week 7: July 17 – 21, Mammal Mania (Field Trip Week) (ages 6 – 12)
Fee/week: $160 residents, $180 nonresidents, $30 before and/or after care
Mammals far and wide will find this week’s camp fur-tastic! We will search the park for native mammals and talk about mammals from across the globe with guest speakers and games. Campers will take a field trip to Learning Tree Farm. The cost of the field trip is included in this week’s fee.
Week 8: July 24 – 28, Colorful Creation (ages 3 – 5)
9:00 a.m. – noon OR 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
All the different colors in nature are what make your parks so beautiful! We will spend each day looking for a featured color. At the end of the week, we will explore all the colors we learned about. Campers are encouraged to wear the featured color each day to camp!
Week 9: July 31 – August 4, Furry Frenzy (ages 3 – 5)
9:00 a.m. – noon
A week of camp where your teddy bear is welcome to tag along! We will learn all about mammal friends living in Bill Yeck Park. Make memories on picnics and hikes, and with games and crafts. You and your stuffed friend will enjoy a week of exploring with new friends!
Additional Camp Information:
Staff
Many staff coordinators and counselors are college students pursuing a degree in parks and recreation or education, or they have previous experience in the field. Assistant counselors are at least 16 years of age and have experience working with children.
Inclement Weather
Camp is primarily an outdoor program and will be held rain or shine. The Smith House will serve as a meeting area and shelter for Sugar Valley Camp.
What to Wear
Dress your child in comfortable old clothes and closed-toe shoes. Sandals and flip-flops are prohibited due to poison ivy and other naturally occurring hazards. Please put your child’s name on all items brought to camp. Many pack an old pair of shoes to wear when visiting the creek.
What to Bring
Bring a water bottle to refill during the day. All-day campers should also bring a packed lunch that does not require refrigeration. Lunch should not include any peanuts or tree nuts.
Daily Sign-In & Sign-Out
We take strict precautions in accepting and releasing children from the program. Please inform counselors of any changes. Daily sign-in and sign-out is required.
Sunscreen & Insect Repellent
Counselors are not permitted to apply sunscreen or insect repellent. Campers can bring their own and reapply.
Medical Procedures & Emergencies
All counselors are trained in first aid and CPR and carry a first aid kit. Health history information is kept on site. In the event of a medical emergency, parents and 911 will be called. The child will be escorted to the hospital or released to the parents. If parents cannot be located, the emergency contact will be called. In the event of minor injury/illness, the child will be treated, an incident report will be completed, and parents will be notified at pickup.
Medication
Staff is permitted to perform only basic first aid. They are also authorized to dispense some types of prescription or nonprescription medication. Rule 5101:2-18-15 (4) 2 of the Ohio Administrative Code states that a child day camp shall set its own policy regarding whether to administer prescription or nonprescription medications. If your child requires medication during camp hours, you must complete additional required forms. If your child carries an epi-pen, complete additional required forms.
Discipline
Review our summer camp discipline process.
Registration Deadline
The last day to make registration changes is noon the Monday prior to your camper’s start date.
Cancellation Policy
If you should need to cancel your camp registration for any reason, please let us know 7 or more days in advance of the camp starting and we will process a full credit or refund. If you need to cancel less than 7 days prior to camp, please reach out to our office about your refund options.