ACA Accreditation means that your child’s summer camp cares enough to undergo a thorough peer review of its operation — from staff qualifications and training to emergency management.

ACA-Accredited Camps Set the Standard

Many of our staff were campers at Camp Ocoee and return year after year to offer the same transformative, camp experience to the next “generation.” The summer staff is recruited from past campers and staff, staff contacts, from area and national colleges and high schools, and international counselor programs. Prospective staff must complete an application, provide references, and be interviewed. Applicants 18 and older must pass a criminal record check and fingerprint check.

Our training includes safety and risk management, emergency procedures, communication, conflict resolution, trauma-informed care, behavior development, child abuse prevention, safe environments, fostering friendships, and much more. Staff attend a week long training prior to camp with continual in-service training throughout the summer and year-round.

If it is just raining (or as we call it at camp Liquid Sunshine) we will continue with our program as normal.  If there is thunder or lightning we will bring the campers into a secure building to play games until the storm has past.  

The safety and well-being of our campers is our highest priority, and we want to assure you that we are fully prepared to respond to changing weather conditions.

Our camp is located on a dam-controlled lake in the foothills, and we take weather-related risks seriously. We monitor weather conditions closely using multiple reliable sources, including NOAA weather radios and cell phone alerts. We also use two-way radios along with bells and sirens to communicate across our camp, including in an emergency situation.

In the event of any forecasted or sudden severe weather:

• We follow a clear, established emergency plan tailored to our location and terrain
• Campers and staff are moved to designated safe shelters if necessary
• We do not hesitate to modify camp schedules or activities if weather poses and safety concerns
• We will communicate with parents and provide updates in the event of a weather emergency

We are confident in our protocols and our staff’s training, and we appreciate your trust in us.

A health care staff member is on duty at all times to ensure the safety and well-being of our campers. The camp nurse manages all medications—both prescription and non-prescription—as well as minor illnesses and injuries. Over-the-counter medications are also available as needed.

Parents or guardians will be notified at the discretion of the camp nurse, particularly in the event of a significant health concern, a continuing fever of 101°F or higher, or if a camper requires treatment beyond what can be provided in our Health Center.  In  case of emergency, we take the camper to Erlanger Express Care or Erlanger East hospital.

All staff are trained in First Aid and CPR.

Campers enjoy three nutritious, family-style meals each day in our air-conditioned Ellis Dining Hall. Meals are shared with cabinmates and counselors, creating a fun, community dining experience.

At lunch and dinner, campers can choose from a salad and sandwich bar, and breakfast always includes a cereal and yogurt bar alongside hot meal options.

If your child has special dietary needs or food allergies, please note them on the Medical Form so we can make sure they’re accommodated.  While we are not able to provide vegan meals, we are happy to provide meat-free options for campers who do not eat meat.  Parents are welcome to bring food with their camper to ensure they have the needed nutrition during their stay.  After check-in parents will deliver the food to the dining hall.   

Please note that Camp Ocoee is a nut-free facility. We do not serve foods containing peanuts or tree nuts and ask that campers do not bring any nut products to camp to help keep all campers safe.

Our food service team works hard to keep every camper happy, healthy, and well-fed!

For the safety and security of all campers, visitors are not permitted during summer camp sessions. This helps campers fully engage in the camp experience and maintain a consistent routine.

Our front gate remains closed outside of office hours, ensuring that camp stays a safe and supervised environment at all times.

Campers do not have access to telephones. A staff member will initiate a call when appropriate. If a camper needs to be reached in an emergency, the camp office will make the necessary arrangements. Cell phones are not permitted.

It’s completely normal for campers to miss home, especially during the first few days. Our staff make a focused effort to help campers work through homesickness by acknowledging their feelings and helping them adjust to camp life. We keep campers actively engaged in fun, meaningful activities and encourage them to build new friendships and routines.

If a camper experiences significant or ongoing homesickness, camp staff will contact you to discuss ways we can best support your child together.

If an item is lost, campers should notify one of their counselors right away. Our staff make every effort to help campers stay connected to their belongings.

All lost and found items each week are placed on the L&F Tree in the games room under the dining hall and displayed on the fence during check-out day.  Items are kept in the Infirmary and are donated to charity two weeks after camp ends. 

To help prevent lost items, we recommend labeling clothes and personal belongings with your camper’s name.

If you notice after camp that your camper did not return home with a specific item, please call the office or email us at campocoee@ymcachattanooga.org to let us know.  Items left behind can be mailed back to families, but parents/guardians are responsible for the postage costs.

Please note that our capacity to store and launder Lost & Found items is limited, so timely reporting is important.

As a YMCA camp, Camp Ocoee places a strong emphasis on the development of Christian character. Our mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

Each day, campers take part in an interdenominational chapel service led by staff and cabin groups. In the evenings, before taps, campers gather in their cabins for a short devotion—an opportunity to reflect on the day’s experiences. These moments foster meaningful discussion and serve as a valuable part of strengthening Christian faith, grounded in our core values of caring, respect, responsibility, honesty, and faith.