Overnight Camp
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A complete Parent Survival guide is mailed to each camper home by early spring. Some forms are available on-line in PDF format. All Ihduhapi campers are asked to return the following forms to the Ihduhapi office:
(All forms are PDF files -- you need the Adobe Reader to view them)
Health Form (2008)
Welcome and thank you for your interest in Camp Ihduhapi! Whether this is your first camp experience or you are a pro at the outdoors scene, you will love to be a part of our camp community. Every summer, kids come from around the Twin Cities to meet new faces and have fun outside. There are many questions that first time campers have.
One question is, “Why is Camp Ihduhapi so special?” Because of what it stands for: Independence. With the help of the Summer Staff you will spend your days learning skills from activities that you choose, playing large group games and having fun with your cabin group. During your week, you will have the opportunity to spend one night at a campsite with your cabin group where you all cook your own meals and sleep in tents under the stars. From your First Day to your last, you will remember your week at camp throughout the year.
See you this summer!
Brian Burns
Camp Director
The Summer StaffCamp Ihduhapi assembles a staff of about 60 people who work as a team to bring camp alive. This team is really the heart and soul of what makes camp a good place to be. They are people who enjoy seeing kids have fun and being outside. They do everything from sing songs to repair equipment and from tying shoes to curing homesickness.
Who are they? The Ihduhapi summer counselors and lead staff are caring high school and college-age students who are devoted to spending the summer with youth.
Many staff members are former Ihduhapi campers.
Each cabin has 2 qualified counselors who participate in a week of intensive training preparing them to facilitate small groups and camp activities.
Many counselors come to us from around the world to provide camp with a variety of cultural perspectives.
Counselors teach by example the 4 core values of the YMCA: Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility. All staff are CPR and First Aid certified.
What happens on the first day at camp?You will check-in at the Camp’s main entrance.You and your parents will meet your counselor and cabin-mates at your cabin.
There will be time for you and your parents to explore camp. The whole cabin will then rotate through camp to check in at the nurse, waterfront, office and store.
Once everyone is at camp All cabin groups visit the health care provider to check in medications, the camp store where you set up your account, and the waterfront where you take a swim test and learn the waterfront rules.
Everyone has lunch together, and we sing songs after the meal.
Everyone goes to their cabins to finish unpacking and to have a little time to get to know the people in your group.
Campers pick all of the activities they would like to do as Achievements and counselors go to sign them up.
The whole camp gets together to play a large game on the A-field.
Everyone has dinner
The evening activities start with a big Opening Campfire.Many first-time campers ask: Where do we stay? With who? How long? Most of the camp sessions last for 1 week, from Monday through Saturday. There is one session that lasts for 11 days, Tuesday through the following Friday, and the Summer Sampler that is just 2 nights and 3 days.
While you are here, you will stay in a cabin with 8-10 other campers and 2 counselors
Each camper gets their own bunk.
There is no running water in the cabin (it’s rustic!), but each cabin is close to the new bathhouse.
You can pick activities to do for achievements - Achievements are a time each day where you have a chance to learn about a specific activity like canoeing, archery, arts and crafts, etc. There is also a time each afternoon called Fun Time when you can pick a different activity to do each day. During each day, there will be times when your cabin will do things together that you and your counselors decide
If you marked the name of a friend on your registration form, we will put you and your friend in the same cabin. You may try to sign up together for Achievements when you get to camp. If you come without a friend, that just means you have many more chances to meet a friend at camp. You will be in an instant group of friends when you meet your cabin-mates.
That’s O.K. because it happens to everyone. We would suggest that you bring something from home that makes you feel comfortable. Something like a blanket, picture, stuffed animal, or book will help you feel better if you start to miss home. Also, make sure that you bring plenty of supplies to write home so that you can write a letter or postcard when there’s time.
You will be so busy outside all day that calling or getting a call would be hard. Also, there is no phone for campers to use for personal calls. Your parents can write or fax you at camp. You can also write to your parents.
What are the benefits of summer camp? What will my child gain from a camp experience?
Stronger self-esteem from meeting new people.
Time to work with other kids in a group.
Opportunity to learn about themselves.
Spend time around positive adult role models.
Learn about YMCA values: Respect, Responsibility, Caring and Honesty
What do I need to know about having a camper?
Camp Ihduhapi is a fun, safe environment where kids are encouraged to make their own decisions or choices. We help them challenge themselves by trying knew things and meeting new people. There are times in the daily schedule that campers can decide what they are going to do, so if there is something that they would like to try, they can make that choice. We always say that the more kids put into their camp experience, the more they get out of it.
How can I help my camper prepare for their session at Ihduhapi?
Encourage them to try new things while at camp.
Help them to know how proud you are of them for going to camp!
Talk to them about what living with 8 other kids in cabin may be like.
Let them know that if they get homesick they can write to you and talk with their counselor.
Let them know to ask questions if they don’t know something.
Tell them they can always talk to their counselor if they have any concerns.
