OVY Camp 2024 - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
~ Updated January 16, 2024 ~
Registration for OVY Camp 2024 will open on March 1st
Waitlist: If your camper is put on the Waitlist, DON'T WORRY! There is a very good chance that we will be able to get your camper into a week at OVY Camp. We will contact you by phone and email if a space becomes available. Sometimes, spaces become available on the first day of camp.
Campers: Entering 5th-9th Grades
One week of overnight summer camp at OVY Camp still costs as little as $25.00 per youth! If you registered online last year, you can use the same profile this year - just be sure to update all your camper's information. It must be current! Register Here: OVY Camp 2024
Volunteer Counselors-in-Training (CIT's): Must have completed their 9th grade by the start of camp
You are eligible to apply to the CIT Program if you are entering 10th grade next school year. Previous campers can use their camper profile from last year! Acceptance to a session is conditional on the FULL completion of the application. If accepted, you will be accepted to a maximum of two weeks of OVY Camp 2024. Register Here: OVY Camp 2024
Staff: Come join our amazing team this summer!
This is not just another summer job - becoming a Staff member at OVY Camp is an opportunity to make a lasting and positive impact on children. You will be a part of a small, team-oriented staff that is dedicated to building meaningful relationships with the campers, leading fun and exciting activities, and creating an inclusive atmosphere for all. We have program and kitchen positions available! Apply today! Paid-Staff Apply Here: OVY Camp 2024
Download an Opportunities Announcement Flyer for OVY Camp 2023 - English & Spanish
Be sure to sign up to receive OVY Camp news and updates as well as our quarterly newsletter by entering your email in the “Subscribe” window at the bottom of any page on our website!
The FAQ below is divided into five sections: Summer Camp Program, Health and Safety, Registration and Costs, and Volunteers and Staff. If you cannot find an answer to your question in the following FAQ for OVY Camp 2024, please call (650) 208-7633 to speak to our Program Director, Owen Mylod Yee.
~Please continue to check the OVY Camp website for the latest updates about OVY Camp 2024~
Click Below to Jump Ahead
Summer Camp Program
What’s included in the week-long experience at OVY Camp?
6 days/5 nights (Sunday Afternoon thru Friday Morning)
breakfast/lunch/snack/dinner every single day (using organic and local ingredients when possible)
a day-trip to Pescadero State Beach
an official OVY Camp T-shirt
swimming pool time every day
daily opportunities for arts & crafts, pool time, cooking, ice cream making, skits & songs, sports & games, archery, and hiking
campfires
spend a night camping in a tent
HOW OLD DO YOUth HAVE TO BE TO GO TO OVY CAMP 2024?
Campers: Youth entering 5th-9th grades are eligible to register to OVY Camp. For example, a youth that just finished 4th grade in the Spring of 2024 would be eligible to attend OVY Camp 2024. - - Click here to register for OVY Camp!
Volunteers (CIT’s): Volunteers need to have completed their 9th grade year. Most CIT’s are entering grades 10-12 or are college-aged students. - - Click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer (CIT) this summer!
WHEN ARE THE DATES FOR OVY CAMP 2024?
Session 1: Sunday June 23 – Friday June 28
Session 2: Sunday June 30– Friday July 05
Session 3: Sunday July 07 – Friday July 12
Session 4: Sunday July 14 – Friday July 19
Session 5: Sunday July 21 – Friday July 26
Be sure to sign up to receive OVY Camp news and updates as well as our quarterly newsletter by entering your email in the “Subscribe” window at the bottom of any page on our website!
Space is limited, so sign up today! Click here to register for OVY Camp!
Can i see a list of important reminders about OVY Camp?
Sure!
Transportation: Parents/guardians are responsible for arranging transportation to and from OVY Camp.
Important Dates & Times: Please make sure that your camper arrives on Sunday between 1-3pm and is picked up on Friday at 10am.
Packing List: A recommended Packing List for all campers can be found on our website: Packing List for OVY Camp 2024
Camp Address: 5360 La Honda Rd, San Gregorio, CA 94074
Camper Medications: All camper medications must arrive in their original container and with instructions. Please put the medications in a zip-loc bag with your camper's name written on the bag in permanent marker. A doctor's note is absolutely necessary for all prescription medicines. This can be uploaded onto your camper’s online registration profile.
Allergies or Dietary Restrictions: If your camper has any allergy or dietary restriction, please notify OVY Camp as soon as possible to ensure your camper receives the best care possible.
Camper Mail: If you would like to send mail to your camper, please send a letter to OVY Camp addressed to your camper's name by Monday of your camper’s session.
Registration for Campers: Please make sure your online registration profile is 100% complete by 2 weeks prior to your camper’s session of OVY Camp.
Click here to register for OVY Camp!
Click here to view an OVY Camp 2024 Sample Daily Schedule
HOW WILL MEAL SERVICE WORK AT OVY CAMP?
OVY Camp is known for its delicious food! That’s because our Kitchen Staff is amazing! Meals at camp are nutritious and kid-friendly. When possible, we try to use organic and local ingredients. A variety of choices are offered for each meal.
Please be sure to indicate on your online registration system if your youth has a food allergy, dietary restriction(s), or special food-related needs at least 2 weeks prior to your youth’s camp session. If your youth plans on eating vegetarian/vegan while at camp, this must be indicated on your camper’s online registration profile. In order to properly plan meals, we need to know if your camper is a vegetarian, has food allergies, and/or needs special meals before camp begins.
Can my child call home or send emails?
OVY Camp fosters a supportive and positive atmosphere. We encourage growth, independence, and confidence-building. Therefore, we prefer that our campers spend their time enjoying nature, making friends, and trying new things, rather than emailing or making phone calls. Families are encouraged to send letters to their campers. Please make sure letters are postmarked by the Monday of their week of summer camp. Campers are encouraged to send letters to their families back home.
Where do campers sleep at night?
For all but 1 night, campers sleep in our cozy cabins with blue roofs.
For 1 night, campers will be pitching tents in our beautiful sprawling meadows surrounded by trees! Of course, our trusty Counselors will be in a tent right next door to campers and volunteers.
Does ovy camp have extra camping gear like sleeping bags?
If your camper needs a sleeping bag or additional camping gear, please call our camp office at (650) 208-7633 at least 2 weeks prior to your campers’ session of OVY Camp. We will help make sure your camper is prepared for OVY Camp this summer!
Health and Safety
What about receiving medical attention while at camp?
If your camper takes medication(s), has allergies, or has any health issues, please provide as much information as possible when registering online. If necessary, contact OVY Camp to give more information about your camper by calling (650) 208-7633.
On the first day of camp, families will check in with the Program Director, and Medical Staff upon arrival. At that time, parents/guardians have the opportunity to discuss special medical needs, allergies, medications, and any other health issues before they leave their child at camp. Medications brought to OVY Camp must be in their original containers. All prescription medications (including Epi-pens and Inhalers) must be accompanied by a Doctor's Note, which can be uploaded onto the camper’s online registration profile.
The Program Director and Medical Staff will be available to speak to families by phone throughout each session regarding any concerns they may have.
what if there is suspected or confirmed covid-19 case at camp?
All OVY Camp Staff, under the direction of our Health Supervisor, will be trained to identify COVID-19 symptoms. We will respond by immediately isolating the individual in our on-site quarantine area. We will work with public health officials to take next steps.
MY CHILD IS IMMUNOSUPPRESSED. CAN MY CHILD STILL COME TO CAMP?
OVY Camp cannot guarantee that you or your family will not be exposed to COVID-19 while at camp despite our comprehensive OVY Camp Health & Safety Plan. We recommend discussing overnight summer camp with your medical health provider before signing up for OVY Camp this summer.
Registration and Costs
WHAT IS THE COST OF OVY CAMP?
OVY Camp is committed to always providing families with the MOST AFFORDABLE and the HIGHEST QUALITY summer camp options for their youth. You simply will not find a more affordable summer camp experience in the Bay Area!
OVY Camp raises funds all year long to subsidize the cost of camp so that all Bay Area youth have the opportunity to go to camp!
Based on an honor system*, no paperwork or verification is required; simply select the registration fee that is appropriate for your family’s current financial situation. This information is kept completely confidential.
Tier 1: $750 - Tier 2: $500. - Tier 3: $250. - Tier 4: $100. - Tier 5: $50. - Tier 6: $25
*Please be honest when choosing the registration fee that is appropriate for your family’s current financial situation. Thank you!
HOW DO I REGISTER FOR OVY CAMP 2024?
Be sure to sign up to receive OVY Camp news and updates as well as our quarterly newsletter by entering your email in the “Subscribe” window at the bottom of any page on our website!
Registration for OVY Camp 2024 will open on March 1st
Click here to register for OVY Camp! - It’s super easy.
OVY Camp is partnering with CampDoc.com once again to better serve our campers and volunteers. CampDoc.com offers an electronic health record system for camps, and you can now complete your camper’s health information electronically.
The security and privacy of your camper's health information is important to us. The CampDoc.com site is secure, encrypted, and password protected. Only OVY Camp's health staff will have access to camper health information.
Returning Campers
You will receive a notification email from CampDoc.com to login and update your camper’s information.
You may use the same login previously created to access your CampDoc.com information.
If you forgot your password from last year, enter your email on the login page and click “Forgot Password” to reset your password.
New Campers
You will receive an “Invitation” email from CampDoc.com.
Click on the green "Accept Invite" link within the email to create your CampDoc.com account.
Enter your full email address, and click continue to set your password.
All Campers
Once logged in, select your camper's name and click on the health profile link to complete your camper's information.
Required questions will be marked with an * and outlined in red.
Upload any required documents to your CampDoc.com account. If you're on a phone/tablet, you can take a picture to upload the document.
Return to CampDoc.com at any time to make changes or update your camper’s health information before camp begins.
We’re excited to let you know that your camper’s health information will save from year-to-year, so once you complete it in CampDoc.com this season, you won’t have to start from scratch next year.
CampDoc.com sends out periodic reminder emails for outstanding balances and incomplete health information. These notifications will come from campdoc.com, so please add this to your safe sender list to avoid accidental delivery to junk and spam folders. We don’t want you to miss important notices about camp!
Please note that CampDoc.com supports the current and previous major releases of Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari which provide improved security and performance for health information.
We are excited to continually improve, building safer, more productive and more efficient systems to create the best experience for you and your family! Click here to register for OVY Camp
How does OVY Camp provide such an affordable summer camp program?
Optimist Volunteers for Youth, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are 100% tax-deductible. OVY Camp fundraises all year long in order to make the summer camp program so affordable. There are 3 main fundraising strategies:
First, OVY Camp is made possible by the generous donations from Optimist Clubs, businesses, and individuals that sponsor campers attending OVY Camp.
Second, OVY Camp rents out its facilities to other groups throughout out the year such as: a non-profit youth program (Vida Verde), weddings, retreats, and reunions. Click here to check out our camp facilities.
Third, every year in the weekend before the Super Bowl, OVY Camp puts on a drive-thru Crab & Shrimp Feed!
Click here for more information about the OVY Camp Crab & Shrimp Feed!
Click here to make a donation to OVY Camp!
HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO GO TO OVY CAMP?
Campers: Youth entering 5th-9th grades are eligible to register to OVY Camp. For example, a youth that just finished 4th grade in the Spring of 2023 would be eligible to attend OVY Camp 2023. - - Click here to register for OVY Camp!
Volunteers (CIT’s): Volunteers need to have completed their 9th grade year. Most CIT’s are entering 10th grade - college-aged students. - - Click here to learn more about becoming a volunteer (CIT) this summer!
can i request to be in the same Session and/or cabin as a friend or family member?
If your camper would like to be placed in the same cabin as another camper, BOTH campers must indicate each other's names in the Cabin Mate Request Section of the online registration. We will try our absolute best to accommodate each and every request, although it is not guaranteed.
What happens if my child is on the Waitlist?
If your camper is put on the Waitlist, DON'T WORRY! There is a good chance that we will be able to accommodate your camper into a week at OVY Camp. We will contact you by phone or email if a spot becomes available. Sometimes, spots become available on the first day of camp.
May a camper attend more than one session?
Due to the high demand for spaces and our commitment to providing opportunities for many youth from all over the San Francisco Bay Area, campers may attend only one session per summer.
WHAT IS THE CANCELATION POLICY?
Full refunds will be awarded if OVY Camp has to close summer camp programs for unforeseen circumstances. Up until 2 weeks before the start date of each camp, you may cancel and receive a full refund. 50% of registration fee is non-refundable if your cancelation occurs less than 2 weeks before the start date of each camp.
NO REFUNDS OR CREDITS WILL BE ISSUED AFTER THE CAMP SESSION BEGINS.*
*However, your satisfaction matters most to us and refunds will be considered. Participants who are dissatisfied with a program for any reason must request and fill out a refund request form prior to receiving a refund so we can make the camp better in the future. Refunds will be evaluated on a case by case basis by the Executive Director.
Volunteers and Staff
How are OVY Camp Counselors selected?
Our amazing summer Counselors are selected because they exhibit high levels of responsibility, create inclusive environments for the campers, and are passionate about the OVY Camp mission statement. They are hired as a result of an extensive application and interview process, which includes references. Once hired, our Counselors are required to be background-checked. All staff members are CPR and First Aid Certified. Our camper to Counselor ratio is often 3:1.
Many of our Counselors are former OVY Camp volunteers (aka Counselors-in-Training or CIT's). This means OVY Camp made such an impact on them that they wanted to return and re-create the same experiences for a new generation of campers.
Click here to check out how to become a Staff at OVY Camp 2023!
When can my camper become a volunteer (Counselor-in-Training?
If your camper is no longer entering 5th - 9th grades, your youth can consider applying to be a volunteer, a Counselor-in-Training (aka CIT). In other words, CIT’s need to have completed their 9th grade.
Click here to check out how to become a CIT at OVY Camp 2023!