Summer camp at the Y is about having fun and making lifelong memories and friendships. As a parent, you want your child to be supported in a way that will help them thrive. At Y Camp, we offer a safe environment where every camper experiences belonging, adventure, and achievement.
Support for Shy and Nervous Campers
At Y camp, our counselors create a fun and encouraging space for all campers through patience and understanding. For campers who may be feeling a little nervous or shy at the start of camp, camp counselors take extra steps to make sure they feel welcome. Our camp activities help them explore and engage at their own pace, and before they know it, those first-day jitters will be a distant memory for your camper!
“I focus on building trust from the start with a warm welcome and personal connection. I ease them into activities at their own pace, offering choices and using small-group interactions to help them feel comfortable. I make sure they have opportunities to connect with others, whether through a buddy system or low-pressure icebreakers.” - Tom Taylor Y Camp Director, Shane Arcadia
Special Traditions and Events that Make Y Camp Unique
One of the many things that makes Y Camp special is our unique traditions, which create moments that campers look forward to year after year. Y Camp offers tried-and-true camp classics mixed with new experiences, including campfire sing-alongs, cup stacking, fun outdoor challenges, and so much more! Your camper gets to be part of something special with team-building activities, forever friendships, and never-ending fun that makes their summer magical!
“Campfire is an awesome way to open our day and close it on a fun, interactive, and intentional note. Our camp names also create a special connection between our counselors and our campers, leaving them with a silly, fun, unique name to remember for the rest of their lives.” - Pearl Street Y Camp Director, Rhalena Seballos (aka Frisco)
Building a Sense of Belonging for All Campers
As part of the YMCA mission, we create a supportive environment where every kid is encouraged to be their true self. To help campers form friendships and get a more personalized experience, we create small groups for them to better get to know each other throughout camp adventures. By the time summer ends, your child won’t just feel like they were part of camp, they’ll feel like they were part of the Y Camp family.
“We greet all campers by name as they come or leave from camp and encourage kids to share their talents and interests with counselors and other kids.” - Lakewood Y Camp Director, Chris Wells
Empowering Campers Through Adventure
Y Camp is all about trying new things! With fun activities and challenges, your child can explore new and lifelong skills, interests, and experiences. Maybe it’s becoming an athlete, finding a passion for theater or art, or learning to be a leader! Y Camp provides plenty of opportunities for campers to discover what they are capable of and what they’re interested in. With plenty of encouragement from our camp counselors, your child will go into the new school year knowing they can do anything they set their mind to!
“You encourage them as best as you can, letting them know that trying new activities is a good thing and that it can teach them not to be afraid of facing new challenges.” - Haselwood Y Camp Director, TG
An Active Summer Awaits
Camp is where magic happens by staying active! Our camp counselors pack each day with exciting activities that help get campers moving and enjoying the outdoors. Your camper will enjoy sports, crafts, swimming, and engaging in outdoor games.
“From field games to sports, crafts to experiments, swimming to skits, our campers are sure to stay engaged and active throughout the summer.” - Mel Korum Y Camp Director, Jake Irish
Trusted and Trained Camp Counselors
At the heart of Y Camp are our trained and passionate camp counselors. Each of our counselors completes extensive training to ensure they are ready to provide the best possible camp experience for your child. They receive training in YMCA safety protocols and learn how to create a magical camp experience for every participant.
“Counselors go through many different trainings, so they are prepared and ready for camp. We have training from first aid to how to run a camp game and many more in between. The counselors leave trainings and training week ready for camp!” - Gordon Y Camp Director, Daryl Griffin
Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility
Y Camp offers activities that focus on the YMCA core values: caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Through fun games and challenges, our camp counselors help campers understand how to apply these values in their everyday lives. Your child will get the opportunity to work with and support others all while practicing kindness to their fellow campers.
“These values are taught to our campers in a variety of ways. We focus on promoting these values at our morning campfires, during our small group time, and in our specialty camps. The core values are actively encouraged with positive reinforcement and are also demonstrated by all camp staff.” - Mel Korum Y Camp Director, Jake Irish