YMCA Camp Roger Frequently Asked Questions

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Registration and Paperwork

When can I register my child for camp?

Registration for camp will begin in Septmeber after camp and ends once the session is filled. We may not have all the specialty camps scheduled by then. But we will have all our specialty camps set by January 1st. Registration for each session closes at least one week prior to the camp session.

How can I register my child for camp?

Complete the registration form (online or paper) and submit it to the YMCA with $50 deposit or full payment. If you are applying for financial assistance, you must also submit proof of income (IRS 1040 tax form, W-2s, copies of one months worth of paycheck stubs). Incomplete registration forms will be returned.

How much is the deposit?

The deposit is $50 per camper per session, including those applying for financial assistance. Deposits are non-refundable and are only transferable for the same camper as a deposit for another session. The deposit will only be returned if you first choice session is full.

What forms of payment are accepted?

The YMCA accepts checks, money orders, and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express). Online paymet is through PayPal which takes most credi cards and even has the ability for you to pay with a check! Cash for the exact amount is accepted if delivered to the YMCA office during business hours; change is usually not available.
When are the final payment, health form, waiver, and camper information sheet due?
Full payment and all camp paperwork is due two weeks before your child's camp session. Failure to submit payment and/or completed paperwork by the deadline could result in your child not attending.

Does the health form have to be signed by a doctor?

Each camper's health form must be signed by a licensed medical professional (i.e. doctor, physician assistant, registered nurse). The health form must also be signed by the parent or guardian of the child. Unsigned forms will be returned.

If my child has had a physical within the past year, does s/he need to have another one?

As long as you submit a copy of his/her most recent physical and all sections of the Camp Roger health form (except the signature of the licensed medical professional), your child will most likely not be required to have a second physical. The Camp Roger health form must be signed by a parent/guardian; this gives the YMCA permission to seek medical treatment if so needed. In some cases, we are unable to accept a child's previous physical form and in this situation the child would need to have another physical.

How can I get a refund?

If you notify the YMCA office at least 15 days prior to your child's camp session, your camp fee will be refunded minus the $50.00 non-refundable deposit. Campers who must leave camp for medical reasons not of their own choosing will be sent a prorated refund. A refund will not be given to those campers who miss their camp departure, fail to attend, choose to attend late/depart early or are sent home for behavioral reasons.

Where is the YMCA office? What are your office hours?

The YMCA office is located at 3098 S. Highland Drive, Suite 440 in Salt Lake City. It is in the Highland Park Plaza building, which is the brown brick building just south of Adib's Rug Gallery (formerly the Villa Theater). The YMCA is open 9am-5pm Monday-Friday year-round. The YMCA is closed all weekends and limited holidays.

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Facilities

Where is Camp Roger located?

Camp Roger is located one-hour east of Salt Lake City in the Uinta Mountains. Specifically, camp is 14.5 miles east of Kamas on Mirror Lake Highway at Soapstone Basin. Driving directions to camp are on this website.

Is Camp Roger a safe place?

YES! All staff at Camp Roger are college-age or older with a clean/acceptable background. They participate in one-week of training before camp starts and learn about working with children, child abuse prevention, policies and procedures, emergency training, CPR/First Aid, and more. The maximum staff to camper ratio is 1:8. Staff are never alone with individual campers.
The facilities at Camp Roger also ensure camper safety. While there are always risks being in the outdoors, the YMCA has made facility improvements to improve the safety of camp. Camp is surrounded by a fence. Cabins provide sufficient shelter from inclement weather. The doors on the cabins and bathhouses lock to keep out unwanted visitors (i.e. animals, unannounced visitors)

Are there phones, computers, or email at camp?

No. Because Camp Roger is located in the heart of the mountains, communication is very limited. There are neither grounded phone lines nor any cell phone or Internet service; however, the YMCA has a satellite phone to make emergency calls and communicate with parents if the need arises.

How do I get a message to my camper?

If you have an emergency message that you must get to your camper, please call the YMCA at 801.466.6299. We will deliver your message within 24 hours. Unfortunately, we are unable to deliver messages received after 5pm on Friday in most cases.

What does a typical cabin look like?

All cabins are one-room buildings with five sets of bunk beds, electricity, and small storage area. Each cabin is decorated by the counselors that live in the cabin so each cabin feels like home. To view pictures of a cabin, visit the Camp Facilities page of this website.

How many campers and staff stay in a cabin?

There are two staff and up to eight campers that live in one cabin for the week.

Is there electricity and running water at camp?

The buildings at camp have electricity. Only select buildings ( I.E., the lodge, bathhouses, and infirmary) have running water. The bathhouses are so modern that it hardly feels like camping!

Are there private or community showers in the bathhouses?

There are private showers in both the girls' and boys' bathhouses.

What kind of animals and bugs are at camp?

Remember Camp Roger is in the great outdoors so we must share our space with those that were there before we were. Campers will encounter mosquitoes, flies, and the occasional spider or tick. Campers are encouraged to bring bug spray, but for those who do not the YMCA will supply the repellent. The more interesting guests that grace our meadow are ground squirrels/gophers, mice, deer, and moose. In addition, there are beavers and fish in the nearby water sources and occasionally a snake on one of the trails.

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Program

What activities do the campers participate in?

The activities offered at Camp Roger include horseback riding, low ropes course, arts and crafts (i.e. leather craft, pottery), archery, swimming, mountain biking, hiking, outdoor education, campfire skits, fishing, sports (i.e. basketball, sand volleyball, soccer) and fun!

Can campers with special needs attend Camp Roger?

Camp Roger accepts all children who can spend six days away from home; can bathe, get dressed, and use the restroom without assistance; can sufficiently follow instructions; and are comfortable living in a very rustic setting. If your child has special needs, please adequately complete the registration form, health form and camper information sheet so that we may best serve your child. Camp Roger has welcomed children with learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, epilepsy, physical disabilities, and children in wheelchairs.

What time do the campers wake-up and go to bed?

Campers wake-up at 7am and have lights out at 10:00. Each day is action-packed so campers have free time during each afternoon to provide them with plenty of energy to enjoy all activities.

How many times will each camper get to go horseback riding?

All Traditional, LIT, Creative Arts, Amazing Race, and International campers will have the opportunity to go horseback riding once. Wrangler campers will go horseback riding at least five times, plus they will spend time each day with the horses: learning about their daily care, grooming, Western riding, and more. Camp Roger has only 20 horses and schedules horseback riding in every activity slot possible, but unfortunately the number of horses combined with the campers does not allow for daily horseback riding.

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Staff

How many staff work at Camp Roger?

There are approximately 20 staff consisting of 12-16 counselors, 4-5 program specialists, two cooks, nurse, maintenance worker, assistant camp director, and camp director.

Are the staff well trained?

All staff must attend a five-day training prior to camp. During this week of training they are certified in First Aid and CPR as well as receiving extensive education on child development, safety, child abuse prevention, policies and procedures, diversity, conflict resolution, and programming areas. Many of the staff have previous experience working with children or through their college degree courses.

Is there medical staff on-site to tend to the campers conditions?

There is at least one licensed medical professional, such as a nurse or wilderness first responder, at camp at all times. Plus, all camp staff are CPR and First Aid certified.

Can I meet the staff before my child goes to camp?

We encourage all new and returning campers to come to the Open House. Open House for 2007 is June 9th from 9:00-3:00. Parents and campers can meet the staff, tour the camp, and enjoy a piece of the fun that the campers will experience!  If you are unable to attend the Open House, you can schedule a meeting with the camp director by contacting him at 801.466.6299 or camproger@ymcasaltlake.org.

Is Camp Roger a religious camp?

Camp Roger is a non-denominational camp that welcomes children from all backgrounds.

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Financial Assistance

Do you offer financial assistance/scholarships?  How does that work?

Yes. The YMCA believes that all children deserve the opportunity to attend camp. Unfortunately, the YMCA can only distribute as many scholarships as the amount of money raised so not every child is guaranteed a scholarship.

What is YMCA financial assistance?

The YMCA strives to serve all people regardless of ability to pay. Financial assistance is a scholarship that provides fee assistance for deserving campers. Scholarships provide the opportunity for kids to attend camp who otherwise might not be able to due to financial limitations.

Who is eligible to receive financial assistance?

The YMCA uses HUD federal income guidelines based on family size and household income to determine those that qualify for financial assistance.
Economic need is the primary criteria for receiving a scholarship. Families are eligible regardless of gender, race, color, national origin, religion, financial status, marital status, sexual orientation or disability. We strive to achieve more diversity in our campers, and therefore actively seek out relationships with schools and partnering organizations who will help us provide scholarships to a diverse group of children.
As we hope to allow as many children as possible to attend as a result of our fundraising, we grant financial assistance for one session per camper. We welcome siblings from the same family.

What is the process?

Parents complete the standard camp registration form, include the Financial Assistance Form, and Teacher Reference Form and return with documented proof-of-income (copy of current tax return, W-2s, paycheck stubs) and $50 deposit. The YMCA will notify your family no later than June 1st regarding your exact scholarship amount.

How is financial assistance distributed?

A portion of the scholarships will be given on a first-come first-served basis depending on space available in the requested camp session. Remaining scholarships will be set aside for clients of partnering organizations.
The executive director can allow for special-case judgement in awarding scholarships. Extenuating circumstances, recent changes in family situation, history of a family with our YMCA (i.e. volunteering for camp clean-up day) and other factors can allow for case-by-case decisions.

Will my child receive a full (100%) scholarship?

No. We have found that families that make an investment are more likely to attend camp, whereas families that do not make an investment are very likely to back out at the last minute. Our minimum fee for those in the greatest financial need is $50. Occasionally a partnering organization will offer to pay all of the parent's share. We strongly urge against that, as our experience has been that it leads to a very high chance of cancellation. However, we gladly welcome organizations that help us stretch our scholarship dollars by offering to contribute toward a child's scholarship or paying a portion of the parent's fee.

What if my scholarship is not enough?

In the event that the YMCA is not able to provide you with a scholarship that meets your family's needs, you may request a refund of your $50 deposit in writing no later than 2 weeks before your child's camp session. Verbal requests and requests received less than 2 weeks before your child's camp session will not be honored.

Does the YMCA offer other ways to help raise money to pay for camp?

The YMCA highly recommends that you begin teaching your child responsibility, a YMCA value, before s/he goes to camp. A great way to do this is by encouraging your child to help you save money to pay for camp or by volunteering at Camp Clean-Up Day.

When is Camp Clean-up Day?

In order to open camp for the summer and prepare it for the campers, the YMCA hosts an annual Camp Clean-up Day usually held the Saturday prior to Memorial Day weekend. For 2007, the camp clean-up day is scheduled on Saturday, May 19th from 9am-4pm. We welcome volunteers of all shapes, sizes, and abilities, including youth and scout groups, to help clear brush, paint, wash windows, clean buildings, pick up trash, move furniture, etc. It's a great way to spend a day outside and make a difference! The YMCA provides lunch for all volunteers who have signed-up in advance. To sign-up, contact the YMCA at 801.466.6299 or camproger@ymcasaltlake.org.

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Camper Experience

Do you honor buddy requests?

We honor up to two buddy requests as long as they are the same gender and within a year of each other's age. We will call you if we are not able to honor a buddy request for any reason other than one of the buddies did not register for camp.

Can I send my camper mail?

Yes! Kids love receiving postcards, notes, cards, and letters from home while at camp. We suggest that you mail via the post office by Tuesday to assure delivery by Thursday. Camp Roger is not within the delivery areas of UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc. Please address letters as follows:
YMCA Camp Roger
Child's Name
General Delivery
Kamas, UT 84036
You may also bring letters on Monday to camper check-in and give them to the staff for distribution throughout the week. We know your kids like candy but so do mice! Please do not send food or candy.

How will I know my child is having a good time at camp?

It is typical for first-time camp parents to be worried about their children, but there is no need. From the time the campers get to camp, staff work with the campers to get to know them and help them make new friends. Most campers are so busy having fun, participating in new activities, or laughing with their new friends that they rarely have time to think about missing the comforts of home.
If you provided your email address on the registration form, you will receive a general email update during your child's week at camp. This can be a great assurance for parents!  If you are extremely concerned about your child, feel free to contact the YMCA office at 801.466.6299 or camproger@ymcasaltlake.org. Practically every week one YMCA employee from the Salt Lake office visits Camp Roger.

What kind of food is served?

All meals offer several options to accommodate for children's varying tastes and needs. Meals are prepared fresh daily to provide the campers with nutritional balanced choices.
Breakfast may be pancakes, bacon, and fresh watermelon OR biscuits and gravy with sausage and canned peaches. Milk, hot cocoa, toast, cold cereal, oatmeal, and fresh fruit are available every morning.
Lunch may be grilled cheese sandwiches, soup, apple slices, and Jello OR chicken sandwiches, tator tots, fruit cocktail and yogurt. Milk, bread, peanut butter and jelly, fresh fruit, and salad are available every lunch.
Dinner may be a choice of spaghetti with meat sauce or macaroni and cheese, served with a bread stick, green beans, and fruit salad OR a choice of tacos or burritos with all the toppings, served with corn, cantaloupe, and a brownie. Milk, bread, peanut butter and jelly, fresh fruit, and salad are available every evening.

What if my child is a picky eater or has numerous food allergies?

Most children are pickier eaters than adults so our menu is planned with the children in mind. If you are concerned that your child will not be able to eat a sufficient quantity of food for whatever reason, you may send up a sack of food for him/her. For example, some parents have sent up soy milk, veggie burgers, etc. to meet the dietary needs of their children. Please label each item as well as the sack and give the sack to the nurse at camper check-in on Sunday.

How do the campers get to camp?

Bus transportation to and from Camp Roger is available for an additional fee of $10 each way. The pick-up/drop-off location is Adib's Rug Gallery (formerly the Villa Theatre). You also have the option to drop off and/or pick-up your child at Camp Roger. There is a free family BBQ for those who chose to drop thier children off at camp.

Do I need to send general allergy or pain medication up with my camper?

Camp Roger has a fully stocked infirmary to tend to all of the typical medical needs of the campers. If your child takes an over-the-counter medication regularly, please give it to the camp nurse at check-in on Sunday. If you are concerned with your child having a random headache or scrape, the camp nurse can supply him/her with the appropriate over-the-counter medication or bandage supplies.
If your child is taking any prescription medications, please give all medications to the camp nurse in the original container that identifies the prescribing physician, the name of the medication, the dosage, and the frequency of administration. Do not pack any medication. All prescribed and over-the-counter medication must be given to the Camp Nurse at check-in.

What should my child pack for their week at camp?

When packing for camp, please remember that Camp Roger is a rustic camp located in the mountains, where there can be hot days and cool nights. Camp Roger provides plenty of opportunities to get dirty. We encourage you to pack old clothes with lots of layers. Long pants and closed toe shoes are required for horseback riding. Please label all personal items with your child's name.

Clothing:

Toiletries:

Miscellaneous:

What should my child not pack for their week at camp?

The following should not be brought to camp: cell phones, jewelry, money, matches/lighters, fireworks/ explosives, guns, knives, drugs, cigarettes, illegal items, valuables, and new/expensive clothing. If any of the above items are found at camp, we will collect, label, and store them until they can be given to a parent/guardian at the conclusion of the week. If any fireworks, guns, knives or illegal items are found, the item(s) will be confiscated, the proper authorities notified, and the camper may be sent home.
Please do not bring food or candy. If you chose to send food items because your child has dietary needs, please label all items and give them to the camp nurse at check-in.
Some campers may prefer to bring electronic games, CD or MP3 players to use while on the bus. These items are allowed but not encouraged. The YMCA is not responsible for any lost, stolen or misplaced personal possessions. All unclaimed lost items will be donated to a charitable organization on September 1st.

Where and when do I drop off my child on Sunday?

If your children are riding the bus to camp, they need to be dropped off on Sunday evening between 3:30-4:00pm at Adib's Rug Gallery (formerly the Villa Theater) parking lot at 3092 S. Highland Drive in Salt Lake City. The bus leaves for camp promptly at 4:00pm
If you are taking your children directly to Camp Roger, they need to be there between 5:00 and 6:30pm.  There is a free family BBQ from 5-6:30pm.

Where and when do I pick up my child on Saturday?

If your children are riding the bus from camp, they need to be picked up on Saturday at 10:00am at Adib's Rug Gallery (formerly the Villa Theater) parking lot at 3092 S. Highland Drive Salt Lake City. All children must be picked up; permission may not be granted for them to walk home. Late parents will be charged an extra fee if staff must stay past 10:30am waiting on you.
If you are picking your children up directly from Camp Roger, you need to be there between 9-11:00am. If you did not originally intend to pick your child up from camp but have changed your mind during the week, we encourage you to arrive by 8:30am to ensure your children and their luggage are not loaded on to the bus.

How do I claim Lost & Found items?

The counselors do their best to ensure that no items are left in each cabin at the end of the week, but there are often articles of clothing left in conspicuous places. The staff attempt to find the appropriate owners for all items before campers get on the bus and depart for home. Unclaimed items are usually sent back on the bus and stored at the YMCA office for convenience. All unclaimed lost items will be donated to a charitable organization on September 1st.

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