YMCA Camp Hi-Rock
A Branch of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA

Camp with Character, Programs with Purpose since 1948

YMCA Camp Hi-Rock
Frequently Asked Questions
Click on the links below to read answers to some of our common questions.
(If you don't see your question listed below, please contact us and we will be happy to talk to you!

Where is YMCA Camp Hi-Rock?
What is the most important thing I can do to make sure my child has a positive experience at camp?
What facilities are available?
What are the living arrangements?
Can you tell me more about the cabins?
What is the staff-camper ratio?
Can you tell me more about your counselors?
What is the size of the camp?
What is the age range of the campers?
Can my child come for one week only?
Is YMCA Camp Hi-Rock a religious camp?
Will my camper be guaranteed his/her bunk mate request?
What is the quality of the food?
How is your swimming program run?
What is the breakdown of the camp schedule?
How do I talk to my camper while he/she is at camp?
Can I visit my camper while he/she is at camp?
Can my child keep medication in the cabin?
What is the camp's policy towards medications or drugs?
What are your disciplinary policies?
How do I pick up or drop off my camper?
Do you have more openings this summer?
How do I register for camp?

Where is YMCA Camp Hi-Rock?

YMCA Camp Hi-Rock is located in the south-westernmost corner of Massachusetts, bordering New York and Connecticut. The entrance to camp is about 15 miles from Great Barrington, MA. We highly encourage families to sign up for a tour of camp. Call ahead to reserve tour at your convenience; we are open year-round and can coordinate visits during any time of year.

What is the most important thing I can do to make sure my child has a positive experience at camp?

Following registration, the camp office will send you highlights from the Parent Handbook, which thoroughly explains all of our policies, procedures, activities, and guidelines. Please read the Parent Handbook, available at the Parent Info page, as well as the contents of this website, to educate yourself and your child about camp. Before your camper comes to camp, encourage him or her to have new experiences and challenges.

What facilities are available?

YMCA Camp Hi-Rock has approximately 40 camper cabins, a high ropes challenge course, a low ropes/team building challenge course, a climbing tower, tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts, sports fields, archery and BB ranges, an infirmary, a large dining hall, a camp store, an arts and crafts building, a waterski dock, numerous trails and campsites, and a complete waterfront with docks, beach, and a boathouse.

What are the living arrangements?

All campers stay in rustic cabins. Two counselors sleep in the cabins with the campers except for the oldest boys' unit, in which Adirondack shelters house two bunk beds with up to one counselor. In all cases, every ten campers will be accompanied by at least two counselors. Each unit has a separate bathhouse, which is adjacent to the cabins.

Can you tell me more about the cabins?

All of our cabins have electricity and bunk beds. Two staff members live in with campers in each cabin group of up to 10 campers. The cabins are arranged in groups, called Units, near a bathhouse that has showers, sinks, and toilets. The Unit Director and Assistant Unit Director live in the Unit with the rest of the staff and campers. The oldest boys in the Mohawk Unit live in Adirondack shelters with electricity and four bunks in them. Though they have one side that is more open than a four-walled cabin, the overhanging roof protects the campers and their belongings from the weather. The Mohawk Unit provides the older boys with a little more of an outdoor camping experience, which many prefer.

What is the staff-camper ratio?

The overall staff to camper ratio at YMCA Camp Hi-Rock is 1 to 3. Our camper cabins are staffed at a ratio of 2 to 10.

Can you tell me more about your counselors?

We hire a diverse group of counselors from both an American and international base. Our Unit Directors have several years of camping experience, and all our Resident Camp counselors are 18 or older. Each Camp Hi-Rock employee submits a YMCA application and three references, and undergoes an interview. All our staff also undergo a completed criminal background check before working with children. Camp Hi-Rock looks for counselors who show strong YMCA character, in addition to a clear understanding of healthy youth development.

What is the size of the camp?

YMCA Camp Hi-Rock has a capacity of 300 resident campers and 100 day campers, situated on 1,000 acres of protected forest in the Berkshire Mountains. Our resident campers stay in one of six units that are divided by age and gender.

What is the age range of the campers?

Our Resident campers are from 7 to 15 years old and our Day campers range from 5 to 12. LITs must be entering their Junior year of High School or 16 years old.

Can my child come for one week only?

Campers can come to YMCA Camp Hi-Rock for any length of time ranging from one to eight weeks. All of our two-week sessions are divisible into separate one-week sessions, with the exception of session 2 during the beginning of July.

Is YMCA Camp Hi-Rock a religious camp?

Like all YMCAs, we focus on the four character values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. YMCA Camp Hi-Rock is a part of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA, which is non-denominational and focuses more on spirituality than religion. There is no structured time for religious services at camp. We do, however, build time into the schedule to discuss the character values and the importance of being a person of character, and we strive to help each camper develop his or her own beliefs.

Will my camper be guaranteed his/her bunk mate request?

Because of the extreme difficulty in coordinating cabin assignments for every camper, we do not guarantee bunk mate requests and will not try to honor requests for multiple bunk mates. However, we will do our very best to honor every camper's first bunk mate request, as long as they are of similar ages and/or grades.

What is the quality of the food?

Camp Hi-Rock is proud of the variety and quality of food served by our kitchen staff. Each meal has varieties such as vegetarian options, salad bars for lunch and dinner, and fruit options for breakfast. Meals are served with each unit eating together "family style." Campers take turns clearing the table and sweeping their eating area. A cold lunch buffet will be available during check-in to give you an idea of our food service.

How is your swimming program run?

YMCA Camp Hi-Rock has a progressive swim program to accommodate all levels of swim ability. Swim tests are conducted after campers have checked-in. Our lake is a central part of camp, so swimming ability is a crucial part of our safety policies. Please understand that it is common for a camper's swim ability to be different when testing in a cool and dark lake, particularly if his/her main experience is from pools. Please see the Parent Handbook for more details of swimming standards. All campers take swim lessons unless written permission is given to us by check-in.

What is the breakdown of the camp schedule?

Campers select up to four elective programs at the beginning of each week. These programs are instructional in nature and are held for approximately 50 minutes per period, Monday through Friday.
A camper's days consists of these electives plus flag raising/lowering, cabin and camp clean-up, a short siesta after lunch, cabin and unit activities, time to visit the camp store, and general swim and free time. Campers can pursue different activities during general swim including swimming, volleyball, basketball and more.
Evenings offer a variety of activities with the cabin, unit, or the whole camp. Favorite evening programs may include activities such as campfires, socials, Capture the Flag, or themed competitions. On the weekend, we introduce all-camp themed activities to provide a fun and different schedule involving all campers and counselor staff.

How do I talk to my camper while he/she is at camp?

You are encouraged to write letters or send care packages to your camper. Please allow at least 3 days for your correspondence to reach your camper. When sending correspondence to camp, please use the following format:

(Camper Name) - (Unit)
YMCA Camp Hi-Rock
162 East Street
Mount Washington, MA 01258

Parents can also send one-way emails to campers by signing up with an account at our third-party email provider, Bunk1.
Campers are not allowed to make or receive phone calls, but are encouraged to write home. Please do not encourage your camper to bring a cell phone, as they will be confiscated until the end of the session. Camp Hi-Rock cannot be responsible for any lost or stolen property.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND FOOD TO YOUR CAMPERS. Food attracts animals to the campers' cabins, and cannot be properly stored. All packages are opened for health and safety reasons; any food that is found will be discarded.

Can I visit my camper while he/she is at camp?

There are no mid-session visiting days at Camp Hi-Rock. Campers who are attending for more than one two-week session can be visited by parents during the change-over weekends. Parents can also take their children off camp property during these weekends. Parents and other visitors are encouraged not to interrupt their camper's routine by visiting them during the camp session.

Can my child keep medication in the cabin?

All prescription and non-prescription medications, including vitamins, must be turned into the medical staff at check-in, along with any required medical forms. Prescription medication must be accompanied by a release form, signed by a physician, detailing administration procedures.

What is the camp's policy towards medications or drugs?

Bringing, holding, or using any drugs or illegal substances is against the Code of Conduct for all campers and staff at YMCA Camp Hi-Rock. Any camper or staff who is found to have violated the Code of Conduct is subject to immediate dismissal by the Executive Director. Counselors are thoroughly briefed on how to recognize the signs of drug use, and action will be taken immediately. These policies apply to the entire Camp Hi-Rock community, including staff as well as campers.

What are your disciplinary policies?

Campers and staff are expected to exhibit positive behavior, respect the rights of others, and treat all as she/he would like to be treated. Discipline is handled in a fair, consistent manner appropriate to the behavior. If a camper behaves in such as way that his/her actions are having a negative affect on others, this individual is would be dealt with by the counselor, Unit Director, and Camping Director, often in consultation with the parent. We also have an Camper Care Specialist, who can provide extra support or help to a camper with frustrations, homesickness, or behavioral issues. Please read the Camper Code of Conduct in our parent correspondence for our expectations of all Camp Hi-Rock participants.

How do I pick up or drop off my camper?

Parents should drive their campers directly to YMCA Camp Hi-Rock for check-in. We will check in all campers on Sunday between 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM; please make any arrangements necessary to arrive on time. Check-out will also be done at camp. To pick up your camper during check-out on Saturday, please plan to arrive between 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM. No other pick-up or drop-off times are permitted without advance notice, and may result in additional expenses incurred by the parents. There are also several options for bus transportation; please see our registration form, the Parent Info page, the Parent Handbook, or contact our office for details.

(Please note that all times are subject to change; please refer to our Parent Handbook for updated information.)

Do you have more openings this summer?

There is still room for your camper to join us here in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains, but cabins fill quickly, especially during the July sessions. New registration forms are mailed out at the end of each year to families whose campers attended Camp Hi-Rock the summer before, and all forms are available on this site. We recommend sending in the registration form as soon as you receive it; paying the deposit for camp is the only way to ensure a spot for your camper. If you need a paper registration form mailed, faxed, or emailed to you, please do not hesitate to contact us.

How do I register for camp?

The best way to register for camp is to mail us a registration form with payment information. Other options include fax or email, and online registration is also possible. To learn more about registering for camp, click here.

Visit the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA,
an Activate America YMCA

Welcome! We hope you will spend some time exploring our website. Camper forms and staff forms are available for downloading. We welcome any comments or questions you may have.
Emails can be sent to info@camphirock.org
We add new materials often, so please bookmark us and check back soon!

This camp must comply with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and be licensed by the local board of health.