Are you a first-time camper? We understand you may have some questions before your adventure at YMCA Camp Timbers, and we’re here to help! From cabin life to activities, meals, and how to stay in touch with home, we’ve gathered some of the most common questions from first-year campers. We can’t wait for you to join us and experience the fun, friendship, and adventure that make camp so special.
We know that coming to camp for the first time can bring up a lot of questions. Below are answers to some of the most common ones we hear from first-time campers!
You will have around 10 cabinmates of similar age and gender. If you have a friend attending camp who is close in age (within 2 years) and of similar gender, you can request to be in the same cabin, and we’ll do our best to make that happen!
Our goal is that every camper will walk away with at least one new friend! Our staff will do activities and reflections that foster deep connections within your cabins.
At Camp, you will sleep in a cabin with your cabinmates and your counselor(s). Cabins at camp all have bunk beds and are just a short walk to the bathroom.
You will have 3 meals and 2 snacks a day at camp. Don’t worry if you don’t like what we are having you will have access to our fruit/cereal bar at breakfast and our salad bar at lunch and dinner. You won’t walk away hungry as we always have alternatives. If you have a special diet or allergy special options will also be available. A sample breakfast could be pancakes, bacon, milk, juice, and our fruit/cereal bar. A sample lunch could be chicken tenders, tater tots, milk, and our salad bar. A sample dinner could be spaghetti, meatballs, green beans, and our salad bar.
Camp will have tons of fun activities that you will do in your cabin groups including high adventure activities (Giant Swing, Climbing Tower, Zip Lines, and more!), Nature, Arts and Crafts, Fishing, Swimming, Sports and Games, Kayaks, Paddle Boards and more! Each day you will also have Hang Time with your Village (a Village is all the campers who are close in age to you) where you are able to pick what activity you would like to do.
It is very unlikely that you will get bit by a snake while at camp (we have never seen it happen). However, if you get hurt or sick, we have a health officer who will help you feel/get better.
Missing home is totally normal while at camp. Our main way that you will be able to keep in touch with home is via mail. Letters are a great way to let your family know that you miss them and tell them about all the fun things you are doing at camp—don’t worry if you do not know your address our camp staff will be happy to help!
Medicine will be kept with our Health Officer in the Health Office and they will make sure that you get it when you need it. If you need something like an EpiPen or Inhaler they will stay with your counselor so you have it near you at all times.
We would love to answer your questions! Have an adult give us a call at 989-345-2630 or send us an email at Timbers@SaginawYMCA.org
Subscribe to our emails for stories from our latest adventures and camp news.
