Frequently Asked Questions

Staffing, which ensures a safe, memorable, and positive day camp experience for all campers is our number one priority. Experienced City of Poway staff serve as on-site coordinators and program directors and all participants, activities, and field trips are carefully supervised. Day Camp counselors go through extensive pre-employment screening and are all CPR and First Aid certified.

The answers to most commonly asked questions can be located on our Day Camp website. For questions regarding camp registration, waiting lists, or refunds, please call the Community Services Department Class Registration line at 858-668-4570. If you still need assistance, please call the Lake Poway Day Camp line at 858-668-4776.

A camp lead is on-site at all times. Each of our camp leads and group counselors are trained in First Aid and CPR, and emergency medical services are minutes away. Before camp begins, all staff participate in an emergency response training that focuses on camp safety practices and procedures. In addition, the park is patrolled by Lake Rangers.

Lake Poway Day Camp follows strict guidelines with camper medication. If your camper requires medication, please be sure to fill out all of the necessary paperwork that can be found on the Forms Page. We are unable to accept medication without these forms, which also require a physician's signature. On the 1st day of each camp week, we collect medication during sign-in, and store it in a locked area. During the camp day, medication is administered by our on-site camp lead. Inhalers and Epi-Pens will also be collected during sign-in. Group counselors will carry inhalers and Epi-Pen with them at all times to ensure they are accessible when necessary.

Lake Poway Day Camp provides an extended care program as a service for working parents that are not able to pick up their children by 4 p.m. This program runs from 4-5:30 p.m. Campers will automatically begin transitioning into the extended care program at approximately 4 p.m. If you are not able to pick up your child by 5:30 p.m., you are responsible for making alternative arrangements, as staff is not authorized to work past program hours.

CIT is short for Counselor in Training. Our CIT program is designed for teens, ages 13 to 17, who are interested in developing leadership and communication skills, participating in outdoor adventures, and having fun. Each week CITs assist a day camp group as they go swimming, hiking, boating, fishing, create arts and crafts projects, play creative group games, participate in exciting field trips, and explore the outdoors. The CIT program is ideal for those teens who have aged out of the traditional day camp program, yet still want to participate in all the fun that the program offers. Participation in the CIT program is not a guarantee of employment. CITs may request a letter acknowledging their volunteer hours from either the lead counselor or the camp coordinator.