The safety of every camper is our highest priority. Sherman Lake YMCA Camp is accredited through Praesidium, a national leader in abuse prevention. This means our policies, staff training, and supervision practices meet rigorous, research-based standards designed to help prevent abuse before it can occur.

Our approach is proactive and layered, focusing on clear boundaries, active supervision, and a culture of respect.

Clear Boundaries & Privacy Expectations

• Private changing only — campers do not undress in front of others, including in cabins

• One person per bathroom or shower stall

Active Supervision

• Staff supervision in bathhouses and during transitions

• Intentional staff positioning to maintain visibility and accountability

No One-on-One Situations

• The “Rule of Three” — no camper is ever alone with a staff member

• Interactions occur within view of others

Culture of Respect & Safety

• Campers and staff participate in a community commitment process that emphasizes:

  • Respect for personal boundaries

  • Consent and appropriate behavior

  • Speaking up when something feels wrong

Staff Training & Accountability

• All staff complete comprehensive child abuse prevention training

• Ongoing supervision and evaluation throughout the camp session

• Clear procedures for responding to and reporting concerns

We believe that creating a safe camp environment requires more than policies - it requires a culture of awareness, accountability, and care. Our goal is for every child to feel safe, respected, and supported at camp.

Creating a safe camp environment starts with hiring the right staff. Our process is designed to identify individuals who demonstrate strong character, sound judgment, and a commitment to maintaining appropriate boundaries with youth.

Careful Screening & Hiring

• All staff complete a thorough application and interview process

• Interviews assess judgment, decision-making, and ability to uphold camper safety

• Reference checks and background screenings are required for all staff

• Candidates are evaluated on their ability to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment

Training & Preparation

• All staff complete comprehensive pre-camp training focused on camper safety, supervision, and appropriate boundaries

• Training includes recognizing, preventing, and responding to child abuse

• Staff are trained in real-life camp scenarios to reinforce expectations and decision-making

Ongoing Supervision & Accountability

• Staff are actively supervised and supported throughout the camp season

• Expectations for behavior, boundaries, and supervision are reinforced daily

• Clear procedures are in place for reporting concerns or policy violations

Inclusion & Community Building

• Diversity and inclusion training is an integral part of staff development

• Topics such as privilege, sensory inclusion, implicit bias, and conflict resolution are explored and applied to camp life

• Staff are expected to contribute to a culture of respect, belonging, and accountability for all campers

Creating a safe camp environment requires clear expectations, consistent supervision, and strong boundaries. The following policies are in place for all campers and staff and are designed to protect the safety and well-being of everyone in our community.

Privacy & Personal Boundaries

• Private changing is required - campers do not undress in front of others, including in cabins

• Bathroom and shower stalls are limited to one person at a time

• Campers are expected to respect personal space and boundaries at all times

Supervision & Accountability

• Staff actively supervise campers throughout the day, including during transitions and in bathhouse areas

• The “Rule of Three” is always in effect - no camper is ever one on one with another camper or staff 

• Staff are positioned intentionally to maintain visibility and awareness

Respectful Community Expectations

• All campers participate in a community commitment process that emphasizes:

  • Respect for others

  • Consent and appropriate behavior

  • Speaking up when something feels wrong

• Behavior that compromises the safety or well-being of others is addressed promptly

These policies are consistently reinforced by staff and are a key part of maintaining a safe, respectful, and structured camp environment.

Sherman Lake YMCA Camp is committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for campers of all gender identities. Our practices are grounded in clear policies, strong supervision, and respect for each individual.

Cabin Placement & Options

• Campers are assigned to cabins based on their identified gender

• An all-gender cabin is available during select sessions and must be requested on your Cabin Request form in your CampInTouch account

• Participation in the all-gender cabin is optional and based on interest and availability

If an all-gender cabin is not available for your camper’s session, our team will connect with you to determine the best placement option.

We do not ask any camper to “prove” their gender. Doing so would be discriminatory and is not consistent with our policies or values.

Supporting Camper Identity

• Campers and staff of all gender identities are welcome

• If a camper shares a name, pronouns, or identity different from their registration, we will honor and support them while at camp

• Sherman Lake YMCA Camp will support campers and will not coerce, force, or compel a camper to identify in any way

Privacy & Safety

• All campers follow the same expectations for privacy, including private changing and single-use bathroom and shower spaces

• All cabins operate under the same supervision and safety procedures

• The “Rule of Three” is always in effect - campers are never alone with another individual (camper or staff)

• Each camper has their own bunk and designated personal space

Communication with Families

• We encourage campers to share their camp experiences with their families

• If a camper shares information about their identity while at camp, we respect their privacy and autonomy

• We will only share this information with caregivers if the camper gives express consent, unless there is a concern related to the health or safety of the camper or others

Our goal is to ensure that every camper feels safe, respected, and supported while participating in camp.

We partner with families to support the success of every camper. We recognize that success looks different for every child, and proactive communication helps us create the safest and most positive experience possible.

Before Camp: Planning for Success

• Complete all required camper forms as early as possible

• Sharing information in advance allows our team to anticipate needs and develop appropriate support strategies

• Our staff reviews all camper information and will follow up if clarification is needed

If your camper has specific physical health, mental health, or behavioral needs, we ask that you contact our Camp Director at least 30 days prior to your session to discuss how we can best support your child.

During Camp: Staying Connected

We know time away from home can be an adjustment. Families are encouraged to stay connected in the following ways:

• Mail: Letters are encouraged. Many families send them in advance or bring them to check-in. Providing stamped, pre-addressed envelopes can help campers write home

• Email: A one-way email system is available; messages are printed and delivered daily during mail call

• Photos: Photos are shared throughout the week. While we aim to capture a wide range of moments, we cannot guarantee each camper will be photographed daily

• Journals: Campers receive a journal to reflect on their experience and share stories when they return home

When Camp Will Contact You

Our team will contact families directly if there are concerns related to a camper’s health, safety, or well-being. This includes situations such as:

• Illness or injury

• Ongoing behavioral concerns

• Requests to change cabin placement

• Concerns related to mental health, including expressions of self-harm

• Disclosure of abuse or other serious concerns

Sherman Lake YMCA has partnered with KultureCity, a non-profit organization recognized throughout the nation for utilizing its resources to revolutionize and effect change in the community for individuals with sensory needs or those with invisible disabilities. We’re very proud to be the first YMCA to partner with them.

Our certification with KultureCity includes staff training on recognizing sensory needs and how to handle sensory overload situations. We are also equipped with sensory bags that have various tools to help campers deal with sensory overload and engage with others. Prior to Camp, families are encouraged look at our social story to help prepare, either through the Kulture City app or website, at https://venue.kulturecity.org/venues/sherman-lake-ymca.

Safety is always our number one priority. We don’t just strive for children to be safe while at Sherman Lake YMCA, but outside in the real world. That is why all of our staff are not only nationally background checked, but all staff that work with children are mandatory reporters and are trained on appropriate boundaries with children. Every policy and rule we have is made to create and teach about healthy and safe relationships. It’s up to all of us adults to prevent abuse and create a safe environment.

As a caregiver and a safe adult for your children and/or campers, here are some helpful tools for you to use year-round to help teach children how to stay safe.

• Teach your child about their body, with proper body part names. This will allow them to correct words when they need to tell someone anything about an injury or rash or other problems.

• Teach about appropriate physical touch. Children understand when rules are about safety, such as no hitting or wearing your seatbelt. Add rules about physical contact to include “never let other people touch your private parts.”

• Teach your child consent. Their body is their own and they have the right to say no to any contact, even something simple like a high five or a hug.

• Teach your child what to do if someone breaks the rules about touching them. They should know what to say to that person, to move away, and to tell a safe adult.

• Teach your child to tell you or another safe adult if someone breaks a rule about touching them. Tell them to keep telling someone until someone responds and does something about it.

If you sense something is wrong - you see a sudden change in behavior or hear unusual comments - here are ways you can talk to any child in your life. Find a relaxed time to talk one on one. If they tell you about something inappropriate, ask for an example or for more details without leading questions. If the actions were inappropriate, but not actual abuse, make sure to talk to the teacher or adult in charge to ensure corrections are made.

• If a child discloses abuse, how you respond plays a big role. Follow these steps to help.

• Listen. Stay calm and let them talk. Ask minimal questions that will allow you to understand what happened without leading.

• Reassure. They may be confused, angry, and scared. Use a few simple comments like “I know this is hard to talk about, you are very brave for bringing this up.” “You are doing the right thing by letting someone know.” “This isn’t your fault.” “I’m very sorry this happened to you.”

• Protect. Make sure they’re safe and do not let the accused person have any further contact with them.

• Report. Write down everything they shared, in as much detail as possible using their actual words, not your own interpretation. Report concerns or abuse to your local police department.

As mentioned before, the safety of the children at Sherman Lake YMCA is our number one priority. In the event that a staff member believes a form of abuse has happened, they will communicate it directly to their supervisor. The situation will be reported as required by mandatory reporters and the CEO will be the lead staff member in charge.

Applying for financial assistance at Sherman Lake YMCA is easy and confidential. Scholarships are provided to ensure the Sherman Lake YMCA Camp experience is accessible to all.

For more information and to apply, please visit our Financial Assistance page.

Counselors are asked prior to the camping season which cabins they are comfortable leading and sleeping in, just like campers. All female cabins will have female counselors and all male cabins will have male counselors. An all-gender cabin could have counselors of any gender.

Campers are assigned to cabins based on age/grade, and gender. On the Camper Questions form, we ask if campers are interested in being in an all-gender cabin. Only campers that opt-in to the all-gender cabin, will be put in that cabin. All other campers will be put in a cabin based on their selected gender.

Other factors that influence cabin assignments are cabin mate requests, staffing capacity, accommodation of medical needs, etc. Campers will not be assigned to a gendered cabin that they did not select during the registration process.

Campers and staff are invited to share their name and pronouns during cabin and large group introductions regardless of which cabin they are in. Campers and staff do not have to share their pronouns if they do not want to and with an absence of stated pronouns, will be referred to by name. Campers and staff may change their name and pronouns as often as they would like and staff are trained to offer the opportunity to share names and pronouns regularly throughout the week.

If your child expresses the desire to switch lodging from what was originally assigned, we will work with both the camper and custodial parent(s)/ legal guardian(s) to develop a plan that takes into consideration the camper’s mental, emotional, and physical safety, as the wellbeing of our campers is our number one priority. We will NOT change your camper’s lodging WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT.

No matter what cabin your child chooses to reside in, privacy and personal boundaries are a standard expectation and are discussed at the beginning of every week. Every camper has their own bunk and designated space for their personal items. All campers have access to a private bathroom and changing space. For campers who require gender affirming undergarments or prosthetics, we recommend they come with a bag that can be kept in their bunk and easily brought to washing machines for care and cleaning throughout the week as needed.

Counselors are trained on privacy measures such as speaking to campers who may need extra support away from the larger group, discussing with all campers the importance of privacy, and making it known that privacy measures are for all campers not just campers with “exceptional requirements”, setting out rules on respecting privacy including a camper’s right to not be touched by others without permission (even in so-called benign ways like hugs or high fives), and that campers stay out of each other’s bunks and belongings.

Sherman Lake YMCA Camp maintains staff to camper ratios in accordance with American Camp Association standards. A minimum staff/camper ratio of 1:8 for our youngest campers and 1:10 for our older campers is always maintained. Staff are in cabins with campers whenever campers are. Staff are trained to never be alone with campers and to maintain the appropriate balance of privacy and supervision.

Counselors have been trained to prioritize the safety of campers over the curiosity or discomfort of another camper. To be a little uncomfortable is a good way to grow, feeling unsafe is traumatizing. If there is a chronic issue of bullying in a cabin or a group, steps will be taken to attempt to resolve the issue at camp; if this is not possible the camper doing the bullying will be sent home.

There are two types of showers and bathrooms at camp. The first is the gender neutral bathroom in each cabin. All cabins have a shower and toilet that are private with a locking door. There is a sink in a separate partition. The second is our gendered washhouses. Each washhouse has multiple bathroom stalls and shower stalls. The shower stalls have shower curtains that divide the space for changing and shower space. All stalls have standard locking mechanisms.

Campers will change before and after swimming times. We swim at the waterfront and in our Recreation Center’s pool. The waterfront has single-gender changing spaces and gender-neutral changing spaces. There are also bathroom stalls. The Recreation Center offers male, female, and family locker rooms. Campers use the locker rooms to store belongings and change in the bathroom stalls. The family locker room consists of two totally private changing and bathrooms spaces that are gender-neutral.

Campers choose which washroom they are most comfortable using. When campers need to use the bathroom or changing space during the day, staff will position themselves in the entrance area to ensure no bullying or inappropriate behaviors occur. Campers that are older, have earned the privilege and trust, and feel comfortable with it, may travel in a “truddy” (a group of three) and let the staff know which space they are headed to.

There is no way for us to guarantee romantic feelings towards another person will not occur at Camp. That was true before incorporating gender-inclusive practices and will remain true. That said, there are many ways we can ensure that if romantic feelings develop they are safe, healthy and not physical while at camp:

• Campers are not allowed in each other’s beds - this is an existing cabin rule.

• Campers are always supervised and, if they are not directly supervised, staff have been told where the camper is going and will check in if they have been gone for more time than whatever activity they are doing should require (ie. grabbing a sweater, or going to the bathroom). Campers are always in a group of three or more at all times.

• Staff talk about consent with campers as part of everyday activities including rock wall, low ropes, and swimming.

• Romantic relationships at Camp are discouraged. Instead, staff are trained to talk to campers about the goals of camp and healthy relationships. We discuss that camp is about building strong friendships in the cabin and what a healthy relationship feels or sounds like.

Campers that choose an all-gender cabin are most likely to choose it because they are in a gender minority or because they are going to camp with a family member or friend of a different gender. Additionally, single-gender cabins do not necessarily prevent romantic feelings from occurring. Forming romantic relationships is not why campers come to Sherman Lake YMCA Camp; they are much more focused on the jam-packed day of activities keeping them busy than seriously pursuing a romantic relationship. This does not change because of the gender makeup of the cabin.

If campers have begun transitioning prior to their camp session, we will continue to validate and support them while at camp. If your camper has begun any physical alterations as part of their transition, our medical staff are trained to support and assist them. If your camper requires additional support with assistive devices or medications, please indicate that in the ‘Tips For Success’ portion of their Camp forms. No medications or transitioning assistive aids will be administered without parental consent.

There are no medical or psychological studies that support this claim. Most campers will not even notice most gender inclusive practices as being specifically ‘gender inclusive’. Many campers, regardless of gender, want a private place to change. All campers deserve safety, privacy, respect for their body and belongings and a place to sleep at night where they feel safe and respected. Campers are usually so focused on their own camp experience, it is unlikely they will even notice the changes.

We love questions that come from genuine curiosity and are asked in a respectful way to the right people! If your camper has a question about our gender-inclusive practices prior to Camp we are happy to speak to them.

If they have a question during Camp, they can ask their counselor, a leadership team member, or one of the Directors who will answer their question to the best of their ability. We are happy to answer questions about how we make these practices work, clarify misunderstandings, and even share why this is important to us. In all our conversations, we operate with the understanding that trans, non-binary and queer campers are loved and valuable and that we will do our best at Sherman Lake YMCA Camp to ensure that they know this to be true through our gender-inclusive actions and not just our words.