Camp Erdman Summer Camp FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Camp Erdman

When does registration for summer camp begin?

Registration for our overnight camps is now open! Just use our online registration!

Can we visit camp prior to registering?

We operate year round programs and have campers on site so we are very conscientious of who is visiting. Please call ahead to verify that we are open for visits. During the summer season, visitors are only allowed during pick-up and drop-off.

What are "specialty camp add-ons"?

Specialty camps are separate morning activities that are not included in the Traditional Camp experience. Our specialty camps are adventure, horse, surf, climbing, resilience, Ike Hawaii, and specialty camp sampler. Please notice that these are not separate camps. They are just separate morning activities that sometimes require specialized instructors or areas that we travel to. Everyone returns to camp at lunch and is integrated into programming with the rest of Traditional Camp.

What is your cancellation policy?

If you need to cancel your registration for Summer Day Camp, Nā Alaka'i, or Camp Erdman programs, notify us by calling 808-637-4615 or emailing us at info@ymcahonolulu.org.

Requests for a program cancellation on or before April 30, 2023 will receive a full refund, including your $100 deposit. Starting May 1, 2023, there will be a $50 service fee per child and transaction. Service fees will be applied to your family's account as a credit which can be used for any YMCA programs and services. The remainder of the balance will be refunded. Refund requests will only be processed for programs weeks that have not yet started.

Pro-rated refunds will be processed only in the event a child is sent home for showing COVID-19 symptoms or needs to quarantine at home due to exposure to COVID-19.

Do you offer payment plans?

Can children bring a cell phone to camp?

No. Cell phones or any electronics are not permitted at camp. Camp is a safe place to let your children have a little freedom and learn independence. They will be able to meet new friends and face challenges instead of sitting on a phone. Parents can send camper mail through post or our camper email. Experience has shown that a call to Mom and Dad can often make an adjustment problem worse, not better. Camera technology has also created potential problems of taking photos in sensitive areas.

What happens if my child gets sick at camp?

We employ trained health care staff during the summer at all times. Our Health Center provides a space for short-term care, but we try not to house sick children for longer than a day. Our staff call parents when a child is sick and required to stay in the Health Center. Most times children just need some rest and fluids to feel better. However, if an illness lasts longer than a day or is very serious, we will call you and ask for you to pick them up.

When is the Camp Store open?

Campers will visit the Camp Store once during their session. The Camp Store will also be open during check-out on Fridays.

How do purchase a gift card for my camper(s) to use at the store?

Gift cards can be purchased here and are valid for 5 years from the purchase date. We recommend purchasing a gift card for your camper prior to the start of the session.

Our Camp Store has a variety of merchandise available for purchase including t-shirts, water bottles, stickers, hats, sweatshirts, etc. All merchandise is priced $25 or under.

Can I write to my camper(s) while they are at camp?

Absolutely! You can email letters to cmail@ymcahonolulu.org. Emails are printed out and given to campers Monday-Friday after lunch.

Are photos available during my camper's session?

At check-in, you'll receive information on how to access and view our online photo albums. Throughout the week, our media team adds new pictures to the online alum for you to view, share, and stay updated on the happenings at camp. Our media team also updates Instagram and Facebook frequently. 

If my child is on the wait-list, what are the chances of him/her getting in?

Wait list availability is difficult to predict. We receive transfers and cancellations, right up to the day camp starts. Once we receive a cancellation, we contact all available phone numbers, leaving messages to contact us within a certain amount of time. If the first person is unavailable, we move on to the next family on the list.

How many adults are there to how many children?

We follow American Camp Association guidelines in maintaining a 2:12 ratio of staff to campers on camp at all times. In addition to this we make sure there is no time when campers are left unsupervised.

What happens if my child gets homesick?

Homesickness can be a challenge for some campers. We have several steps to work with it. In most cases we will simply encourage the camper to stay busy and think positively. Most times this works quite well. The camper starts to enjoy themself and make new friends.

What is a "stayover" and what do they do?

Our programs are designed in one-week sessions but because some campers have such a great time, they wish to stay for more. In these cases we give families the option of having their campers “stayover” for two or more weeks without being picked up. So they “stayover” from one session to the next. During this time they are given a day where they do laundry and relax a little. Campers choose which activities they’d like to do at a slower pace than a regular camp day. When the next session begins, they join right in and are well rested to begin another week of camp.

What happens if my child does not like the food?

We think our camp food is some of the best around. We encourage each camper to try what is being served but we don’t force them to eat. If campers don’t like what is being served, we provide options. At each meal there is a well-stocked salad bar and fresh fruit. At breakfast, a buffet with hot and cold cereal is available along with the hot entrée. Our staff is trained to watch what campers are eating. If a child is not eating a healthy amount, they will report the matter to the health care staff.

Who do I inform about my child's food allergies?

First, make sure you have listed all health concerns on our Health History form through ePACT. Then, at Check-In, you can personally discuss your campers specific health issues with camp health care personnel. They will ensure the information is communicated to the other departments at camp, including your child’s counselor.

What about bullying and teasing?

Whenever you have groups of children together, teasing and bullying can occur. We do everything we can to prevent this from happening. Our staff are trained in how to spot this behavior and put a stop to it. We have no tolerance for this type of behavior and a camper could be sent home for bullying or intimidating actions.

What safety procedures do you have in place?

We are committed to providing safe and meaningful camp experiences this summer.
We will continue to update our procedures based on any additional public health guidance changes, and we will let you know of those changes.
 

We ask parents/caregivers to make sure their child is healthy prior to coming to day or overnight camp. During the course of their time with us we observe campers’ health situations and if someone is sick/injured we provide onsite care through our health nurse and at the same time ask parents to come and pick up their child.  
 
Any camper or staff member that exhibits symptoms will activate our Health Safety Response Plan, which will include isolation from our camp population and if the illness has any COVID-19 symptoms we do a COVID test. Regardless of the health condition we contact parents and work on the appropriate course of action given the situation.  
 
We follow the local governmental health guidance relative to masking. Effective March 26, 2022, our State has masks as optional both indoors and outdoors. If the situation changes we will adjust to the then appropriate guidance and communicate that to parents.  We respect anyone’s choice to use a mask if we are in a state where they are not required.
 
Resident Camp Ohana Groups - one cabin each - are composed of up to 14 children with 2 counselors Day Camp Ohana Groups are composed of up to 12 campers and 1-2 trained counselors.
 
At this time local health officials are not requiring contact tracing of cases due to the low case rates and risks. If changes in COVID guidance were to change, we will follow the new guidance and keep you updated.

Our priority is keeping our campers, families and staff safe. We will follow the latest protocol from the CDC, state and county, and make decisions accordingly.
 
Given the nature of COVID-19, we will send children showing symptoms of COVID-19 home for further testing and clarification. Upon being cleared of communicable illness, we welcome your camper back to camp. Our Camp Nurse and Medical Director always treat a child experiencing illness at camp very seriously. We work closely with our medical staff, as well as the camper’s parents and guardians to determine the best course of action