Honoring The Mission
Recognizing the leaders and campers who bring the mission to life every day.
Honoring Campers
Camp Connector
Camp Connectors are campers who share their love of Y Camp with friends, family and their community, helping new campers discover the impact of camp for the first time. Many campers already do this naturally, talking about their favorite memories, traditions and friendships with their loved ones. By inviting someone new to Y Camp, they help create a more welcoming environment where others can feel included, learn what it means to do all the good they can, and experience the same sense of growth and connection that makes camp so meaningful.
How To Become A Camp Connector: Camp is more fun with friend! Once your first-time camper completes their registration, you’ll officially become a Camp Connector and earn an exclusive sticker and promo item, our way of thanking you for doing all the good you can and sharing your camp story!
Have your referral list your name in the Referral Section of their Camper Confidential Form during registration. You can pick up your thank-you gift at check-in this summer!
Core Value Campers (Overnight Camp)
Core Value Campers are recognized each week at our closing campfire, Honor Point, as a way to celebrate the way campers live out Y Camp's core values. Our community is built on the four core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Throughout the week, both campers and leaders can nominate someone who they’ve seen truly represent one or more of these values. Our nomination box quickly fills up with stories of campers supporting others, stepping up as leaders and making thoughtful choices in everyday moments.
At the end of the week, our team carefully reads through each nomination and selects one camper to represent each core value. During the closing campfire, those nominations are shared with the entire camp, and each recipient is recognized and presented with a pin representing the value they demonstrated. With only one camper chosen per value each week, it is a meaningful honor and a reflection of the positive impact they’ve had on the camp community.
Camper Of The Day (Day Camp)
Camper of the Day is a special recognition in Day Camp that celebrates a camper who consistently represents all four of our core values—caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Selected by Day Camp Leaders and Directors, this camper stands out for the way they treat others, participate in activities and contribute positively to the group throughout the day.
Each morning, the Camper of the Day is recognized in front of their fellow campers and awarded a special pin. Along with the recognition, they get to take on a few fun roles throughout the day, being the first to jump in the pool, helping as the lunch hopper and assisting at the Trading Post. It’s a meaningful way to celebrate campers who lead by example and make Day Camp a better experience for everyone around them.
Honoring Leaders
Camp Connector
Camp Connectors are leaders who share their Y Camp experience with friends, family and their community, encouraging others to apply and join the staff team. Many leaders come to Y Camp because someone they trust encouraged them to take that step, and this program recognizes that impact. By referring someone to work at Y Camp, leaders help bring in individuals who are ready to mentor campers, build leadership skills, work as a team and make a positive impact each day. In doing so, they help strengthen a mission-driven staff team that directly shapes the camper experience.
How To Become A Camp Connector: If your referral joins our 2026 summer staff team, you’ll receive a sticker and a special Camp Connector promo item as a thank you for helping to build our mission driven team.
Octus Poctus
Octus Poctus is a long-standing Y Camp tradition rooted in recognizing the incredible leaders who serve camp each summer. It represents the highest level of leaders at Y Camp and is a way to give meaningful thanks to those who go above and beyond for their campers and fellow leaders.
Each week, at our closing campfire, Honor Point, we recognize a small number of leaders with the Octus Poctus Pin. Throughout the week, campers, fellow leaders and directors can submit nominations in the dining hall, sharing real examples of leaders who have made a lasting impact, whether through mentorship, teamwork or the way they show up every day for their campers. The nomination box often fills quickly and is often overflowing with stories that reflect the strength of our leader team.
Our team carefully reviews each submission and selects only a few leaders to receive this honor. During the closing campfire, their nominations are read aloud in front of the entire camp before they are called forward and presented with the Octus Poctus Pin. With only a handful of recipients each week, this recognition is deeply meaningful and reflects the powerful role these leaders play in shaping the camp experience and doing all the good they can.
