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Days at Camp. Nights at Home.

YMCA Day Camps fill your child’s day with new friends, new skills, and a connection to nature through meaningful outdoor experiences

All summer day camp options feature 'traditional' camp activities such as archery, swimming, paddling, field games, outdoor education, arts and crafts, and/or team building. The specific 'traditional' camp activities that will make up your camper's schedule will vary by location and age.

Participants may register for Traditional Day Camp or choose a 'specialty camp' to register for. With our specialty options, campers spend more time on their chosen activity each day.

Specialty Camps

In addition to experiencing some of the wide range of 'traditional' camp experiences, participants who register for a specialty camp also spend part of each day pursuing a 'specialty' activity or theme their week of camp is centered around.

Traditional Options

Traditional ways to experience YMCA summer camps happen through various outdoor activities.

Activities may vary by camp and age group.

Traditional Day Camp

Traditional camp is about exploration and discovery. Campers will explore by hiking, studying the wonder of nature, building connections through teamwork, and conquering many challenges under the leadership of well-trained staff. It exposes participants to various activities, including archery, fort building, tie-dye, gaga ball, swimming, nature studies, paddling, arts and crafts, cookouts, group games, and more. Campers will participate in some, but not all, of these activities, depending on their age and camp locations. Each camper will leave camp with a wide range of memories and experiences!

Wee Backpackers Camp

The Wee Backpacker program aims to continue fostering a love and appreciation for the outdoors. Campers sing songs, tell stories, and play games while beginning to experience the variety of activities camp has to offer. Wee Backpackers maintains a low staff-to-child ratio.

Little Seeds Day Camp

‘Planting Seeds’ of interest and appreciation for the great outdoors in our youngest campers at Little Seeds Summer Camp! Little Seeds maintains a low staff-to-child ratio under the watchful eye of leadership staff and counselors trained to meet the needs of young campers. Little Seeds offers children the opportunity to engage in nature-based programming while experiencing new things and making new friends!

Summer Extravaganza

Summer Extravaganza is the last chance to enjoy the great outdoors at camp before summer ends! All available activities are jam-packed into a single session.

Arts and Imagination

Kids are encouraged to express themselves, increase self-awareness, and embrace their creative spirit.

Arts and Crafts

Participants discover their artistic side and let their imaginations soar. Projects may include sketching, painting, collage, beadwork, and more. Participants create masterpieces to take home and enjoy!

Dragons, Fairies and Friends

Participants let their imaginations soar in this magical fairytale-themed activity. Adventures will include themed arts and crafts, a mystical quest, and a royal celebration!

Mystery Quest

Looking for a mystery to solve? Participants will learn more about the many stories surrounding Streefland’s mythical beings. They will set out on a daily adventure to hunt for clues, set traps, and have fun solving mysteries.

Photography

Participants will learn the basics of photography and experiment with portrait and landscape photography. Each day will be a different theme – from the viewpoint of an ant or include a tree as a subject. If possible, bring a digital camera or phone to take pictures during the week.

Pirates

Arrrrrgh! Young buccaneers learn the swashbuckling lingo of pirates, play games like Capture the Pirate Flag, try their balancing skills as they walk the plank, go on treasure hunts, and much more.

Superheros

BAM! POW! KAZAM! Kids think, dress, and act like superheroes! Activities include super games, super crafts, and super fun. Where else can kids spend the day exploring their superpowers as their alter-ego superheroes, meet other superheroes and save the world?

Theater

Kids free their imaginations and develop improvisational skills! Participants explore the theater world through games, acting exercises, script rehearsals, and even performing for an audience.

We Dig Dinos

ROAR! Campers will travel back to explore the Jurassic period with their favorite dinosaurs. We Dig Dinos camp aims to ignite the passion and fuel the enthusiasm of budding paleontologists. Campers dig for fossils, create their dinosaur, and more! Will your kids have a great time at this camp? You bet, Jurassic!

Horse Camp

Participants in our horse program develop from novice riders to young adults experienced in many aspects of equine care, grooming, riding, and training. 

Lil' Pardners

Introductory

Participants in this specialty camp will have our youngest campers saying "howdy" with big grins. They'll spend a part of each day at the horse stables and say "giddy-up" for a pony ride, a hayride, and campfire sing-a-longs in the great outdoors!

Colts

Beginner

Colts is an approximately two-hour-per-day introductory program for campers with little or no experience around horses. First-time riders will build confidence and skills while learning the basics of western horseback riding. Instruction includes safety, leading, mounting, dismounting, reining, and basic riding.

Buckaroos

Intermediate

Buckaroos is an intermediate program for campers with at least one year of riding experience. Approximately two hours of daily instruction includes a basic skill review, intermediate ring riding, trotting, grooming, and saddling.

Broncos

Advanced

Build confidence as you develop horsemanship skills. Trained instructors will teach the basics of western horseback riding. You will work on leading, mounting, ring work, grooming, trotting, and saddling. By week’s end, groups may have the opportunity to enjoy a scenic trail ride.

Circle Y

Advanced

In Circle Y Camp, experienced riders spend ten hours per week in advanced riding instruction, including mounting, trotting, and ring work. Riders also learn about proper horse care, such as feeding, grooming, and saddling.

Nature and Science

Kids are inspired to explore our natural environment and delight in the wonders of discovery.

Critters and Crawlers

Participants become “Eco-Explorers” as they investigate the natural surroundings at camp. We will take nature treks to explore our camp environment and search for signs of local wildlife. Activities include bug safaris, nature hunts, and more!

Farm and Garden

Participants discover how plants, animals, soil, and people work together to produce the food we eat daily.

Farm to Table

In Farm to Table Camp, campers will learn harvesting techniques and culinary skills to help them prepare and cook recipes from the garden to the table. Campers will spend a portion of their time tending to garden and farm needs before learning how to interpret when vegetables are ripe, how to pick them correctly, and culinary skills to complete a recipe. Campers can try each dish with fellow campers and take the recipe collection home from the week.

Fish, Frogs, and Forts

Filled with exploration and environmental education, we’ll focus on fort-building and discovering insects, fish, and frogs. Campers will take one field trip (weather permitting) to a local lake to learn basic fishing skills while practicing the catch-and-release method for shore fishing.

Junior Rangers

This program is made possible through a unique partnership with the National Park Service. Participants will earn their Junior Ranger badge and experience firsthand the Junior Ranger motto of Explore, Learn, and Protect.

Lake Exploration

Participants become “Eco-Explorers” as they investigate the natural surroundings at camp. We will take nature treks to explore our camp environment and search for signs of local wildlife. Activities include bug safaris, nature hunts, and more!

Outdoor Living Skills

Participants discover the finer points of preparing for a big outdoor adventure while learning various practical camping skills, including building a fire, making camp shelters, knot tying, campfire cooking, and more!

Pioneering

Participants take an exciting trip back in time as they learn how the early pioneers lived. Kids will explore heritage foods, crafts, and activities from the 19th century.

STEAM

Participants will spend the week engaged in hands-on, interactive projects. There will be lots of learning, using their imaginations, and exploring the indoors and outdoors at camp!

Wild About Nature / Nature Explorer

Enjoy the great outdoors as we explore the wonders of nature! Participants will hike along our many paths to discover the camp's natural landscapes and ecosystems. Kids learn to identify various trees, plants, and animals.

Outdoor Action

Kids have fun learning about rules, equipment, technique, and sportsmanship in the fresh air.

Archery / Slingshot

Participants learn the fundamentals of archery, examine equipment close-up, and learn the science behind target shooting. Instructors teach proper grip, stance, and aim alignment. YMCA of the North provides equipment.

Climbing / Challenge

Learn about basic climbing, belay techniques, knot tying, and safety. Challenge participants to test their strengths, strategy, and skill on our ropes courses.

Extreme Adventure

This activity provides challenging activities that work on advancing skills in climbing, archery, paddle sports, outdoor survival, and more.

Log Rolling

Participants discover how the sport of log rolling (or “birling”) developed out of maneuvering logs down rivers to the old sawmills. Skills learned are great for improving balance and coordination!

Outdoor Adventure

This activity provides challenging activities that work on advancing skills in climbing, archery, paddle sports, outdoor survival, and more.

Outdoor Cooking

Kids develop their camping skills by learning how to safely build a fire and cook over it. Campers receive lessons in outdoor cooking safety, cooking techniques, and the essentials for making healthy food in the great outdoors.

Outdoor Games

It’s all fun and games as participants learn to play various outdoor games with a “camp style.” Participants learn to play gaga ball, 9-square in the air, and other field games.

Water Action

Young people develop life-long skills with opportunities for water safety and recreation.

Canoe / Kayak

Participants learn paddling skills and canoe/kayak safety as they experience the challenge of navigating water! Kids learn to identify the parts of the canoe/kayak, paddling techniques, and the importance of teamwork.

Fishing

Kids get hooked on fishing as they learn basic fishing skills. Local lakes and rivers provide the scene for fishing fun using the catch-and-release method. Campers can bring their pole and tackle or use equipment provided by YMCA of the North.

Sailing

Each day young sailors learn the basics of sailing and safety with YMCA instructors. Participants will be taught techniques and terminology for operating our fleet of sailboats as they practice their skills.

Water Adventure

Participants spend the whole week enjoying an incredible array of water activities, including boating, canoeing, kayaking, or swimming, along with other fun water games and adventures.

Teen and Leadership

Young people build self-confidence and leadership skills through new adventures and experiences.

Teen Archery

Fine-tune your archery skills and learn new ones as camp leaders highlight games and friendly competitions throughout the week. This camp features a field trip, and YMCA of the North provides equipment.

Teen Artist

Self-expression comes to life in this creative art camp! Your imagination becomes the window of discovery as you create original art. You will create masterpieces to take home and enjoy!

Teen Canoe / Kayak

Embark on a canoeing/kayaking excursion full of adventure. Develop your paddling skills on the St. Croix River and learn boating safety as you experience the challenge of navigating the water!

Teen Challenge

Are you up for a challenge? Head out on bold, challenging adventures of climbing, canoeing, fat tire biking, and more as you test your strength, strategy, and skill through a week of your favorite activities.

Teen Climbing

Test your strength, strategy, and skill as you focus on a challenging daily climb. Learn and develop climbing skills, belay techniques, knot tying, and safety.

Teen Content Creator

Participants in the Content Creator camp will use their creativity to highlight the camp experience through video-making. Instructors will emphasize responsible technology and collaboration with other campers and staff. Bring a tablet to take videos during the week, if possible.

Teen Farm

Participants discover how plants, animals, soil, and people work together to produce the food we eat daily. Campers will experience the daily routines of caring for rotational grazing sheep and chickens and practice caring for egg-laying hens. Campers will learn about regenerative farming and how to be good stewards of the land through these hands-on farm chores and work in the garden.

Teen Fishing

Lakes provide the scene for fishing fun using the catch-and-release method. Campers can bring their pole and tackle or use equipment provided by YMCA of the North.

Teen Green Team

Campers who enjoy and appreciate the outdoors will spend time exploring the natural environment.  These teen campers will also play a leadership role in promoting Leave no Trace and good environmental ethics at camp.

Teen Mountain Bike

Our days are organized with trail riding, bike maintenance, games on and off the bike, and a few days for the beach and pool to keep our bikers cool! We are pleased to announce that we have both single and double tracks. This camp will also provide the basic skills and awareness needed for safe and enjoyable mountain biking. YMCA of the North provides bikes and helmets.

Teen Outdoor Adventure

This camp provides challenging activities that work on advancing skills in climbing, archery, climbing, outdoor survival, and more.

Teen Photography

Learn the basics of digital photography and experience both portrait and landscape photography. Each day will be a different theme – from the viewpoint of an ant or include a tree as a subject. If possible, bring a digital camera or phone to take pictures during the week.

Teen Survival Skills

Develop your camping skills as you work together to set up camp and prepare for a big outdoor adventure while learning various helpful camping skills, including building a fire, building shelters, knot tying, campfire cooking, navigating maps, and more!

Teen Quest

Teen Quest is an exciting day camp program geared toward teens that want real outdoor fun! As a group quest, you will decide and plan out some of the camp activities and events throughout the week. This program develops valuable life skills such as open communication, team building, cooperation, and conflict resolution.

Teen Water Adventure

Campers spend the whole week enjoying an incredible array of water activities that may include boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, log rolling, paddleboarding, and other fun water adventures.

Leaders-In-Training

Discover your leadership qualities by learning to lead campers in activities and assist in planning the week for your group! The second week allows you to put those new skills to the test while you shadow a counselor and assist staff in camp activities.

Available At

Experiences vary by location.

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Hudson, WI

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Lakeville, MN

Day Camp Kici Yapi

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Lino Lakes, MN

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Loretto, MN

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Monticello, MN

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Byron, MN

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Rosemount, MN

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Lakeville, MN

Two young ladies at a climbing course

Making Adventure Accessible

The YMCA offers need-based financial assistance to help people access the programs that are important to them.

Here to Help

Have a question or need assistance?

Our customer service team is always happy to help.