Enrollment and Waitlist Update |
It has been a month since we enrolled our first campers for the 2023 season and we are excited to have filled almost 1400 spots with new and returning campers. While some of our programs in some of our sessions are full, we still have spots available throughout the summer.
That said, our longest waitlists are for Traditional Camp and Voyagers, at Outpost and at Birches, sessions 4 and 5. We will be contacting waitlist families in early February to ask them to confirm that they are still interested. If you have a camper on a waitlist and know that you no longer want a spot, please email echoinfo@mcgawymca.org to release the spot.
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Family Camp Early Registration Lottery |
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Youth Camp serves 3rd through 12th graders but everyone is welcome at Family Camp! Camp Echo welcomes families for two weeks in August (August 14-19 and 21-26) and three long weekends: Memorial Day, Labor Day, and September 8-11.
The Family Camp early registration window will be open for one week, from 12 PM (noon) central time on Thursday, January 12 through 12 PM (noon) central time on Thursday, January 19.
Registration is not first come, first served: an application submitted at 11:59 AM on January 19 has exactly the same chance as one submitted at 12:02 PM on January 12.
After the registration window closes, Camp Echo staff will divide the applications into three buckets, which are processed in the following order: returning family campers, new family campers who are McGaw YMCA members, and non-member new campers. Within each “bucket,” families are assigned a random number and applications are processed in numerical order.
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We get a lot of questions about friend - or "cabinmate" - requests. Up to three friends can request to be together in Traditional Camp, as long as the requests are mutual. We do our best to honor friend requests while creating a blend of campers from different schools so that there will be a mix of some familiar and some completely new faces.
For teen programs, cabinmate requests typically do not apply due to program size.
Cabinmate request forms will be available in CampInTouch in February, along with Transportation, Health, and other important forms. All Camper Forms are due by May 1.
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Payment Plans and Trip Deposits |
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For families on the Payment Plan, we will be charging the first of five installments next Friday. Payments will be charged to the default method on file on January 13, February 15, March 15, April 14, and May 15.
Families who selected Pay-as-you-go make payments on their own through CampInTouch, using the payment method and dates that they select.
All balances for all families are due by Monday, May 15. If you anticipate difficulty meeting this deadline, please reach out to us sooner, rather than later to discuss alternate arrangements.
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Campers in our two-week Adventure Trip programs will be charged a $600 Trip Deposit, due Wednesday, February 1. The deposit is non-refundable if the camper cancels and we are unable to get someone to take the spot.
Camp Echo reserves sites and equipment early to get the best prices and ensure availability. We book ferries and flights and rental vans. Charging a deposit allows us to book earlier and get better rates, saving families money in the long run.
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McGaw YMCA Camp Echo
1000 Grove St, Evanston, IL 60201
P 847.475.7400 x259
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The Impact of Camp Echo
Camp Echo Wish List
Camp Echo has also compiled a specific wish list as we look to rebound from the financial impact of a canceled youth camp summer in 2020. Some items that we were ready to replace or add have been moved down our priority list. This list is an opportunity for friends of Camp Echo to help us in the areas that they are particularly passionate or excited about! Please click here to view the Camp Echo wish list.
To avoid any duplicate purchases, coordinate delivery, and ensure proper recognition, we ask that you let us know if you are purchasing or donating for a specific item by emailing our team!
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