Summer Camp

By choosing Y Summer Day Camp, you’re choosing more than a summer daycare service. Y camps are high quality, affordable and convenient all summer long.

YMCA camps participate in Pennsylvania’s Keystone STARS program, which — like a hotel rating system — ensures program quality, staff credentials, health, and safety of all campers. All camps are STAR accredited.

Children spend time indoors and outdoors as experienced staff lead campers in a wide variety of activities each day, including nature, water fun, games, weekly off-site field trips, sports, instructional/recreational swimming, arts and crafts, and new friendships.

In addition, the Y incorporates wellness into the day’s offerings. Children participate in playful activities that teach basic knowledge on how to incorporate proper nutrition, exercise and positive self-image into their daily lives. Lunch and camper T-shirt included.

Y camps nurture the healthy, successful growth of every camper by emphasizing values such as caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. And, we make sure you know about and are comfortable with the activities your child takes part in every day.

Our trained staff is upbeat and interacts with campers with warmth, patience, understanding, and fairness.

In addition, they:

• Are responsive to a wide range of campers’ feelings, needs, cultures, abilities, and languages
• Encourage leadership skills in campers by letting them offer ideas to expand or enrich an activity
• Allow campers to make and learn from their own mistakes

We also make sure that there are positive relationships among staff. We know that campers look to camp staff as role models, watching and learning as they cooperate, communicate and solve problems with each other. Our camp staff spends time developing relationships with families and understands that open communication between staff and parents is critical for the well-being of each camper.

Your child’s safety and security is our top priority and is achieved through established and practiced procedures. We take every precaution to insure safety for your child, including:

• Secure entry
• Frequent site inspections
• Maintenance of buildings, playgrounds and equipment

All staff is trained in CPR, first aid and water safety.

Camp will include favorite experiences like group games, songs, arts/crafts, nature, water fun, and more – all delivered within health and safety guidelines, and social distancing whenever possible.

Building self-respect through skill development for all campers is one of our goals. Camp provides worthwhile experiences such as creating unique and artistic crafts, finding animals in their habitat or learning how to properly kick a soccer ball. Camp counselors are trained to highlight teachable moments and emphasize accomplishments and successes in all campers.

Field Trips, included with your camp fees, will be taken weekly to area attractions as well as to YMCA Camp Sherwin – our 70-acre outdoor recreation camp as well as other local outdoor locations. 

Healthy meals and snacks are the cornerstones of your child’s learning throughout the day. 

Physical activity is an important part of every day at the Y. Large motor skills are developed through daily active play. 

With loads of activity and learning, kids need time to recharge. Rest time is scheduled daily in calming environments with caring supervision.

KidSpot is the Y’s BRAND new summer curriculum chock full of daily themes that include art and group games specific to the themes. Theme examples are Tic-Tac-Trouble, Up in the Air, Robin Hood, Under the Sea, and CSI Mystery. There also are specialty games for campers that extend their experience with us after 4 p.m. Each theme has a camp inspired story and rainy day activities.

Doesn’t it sound fun?

Yes. YMCA indoor and outdoor pools are open and will welcome children for instructional and recreational swimming.

Am I eligible?

You must contact Pennsylvania’s Early Learning Resource Center to determine your eligibility for subsided child care. Eligibility is based upon additional factors that consider household size, income, and personal circumstances. All applications are confidential.

How to apply

1. Complete the required information on the application below.
2. You’ll need (4) recent pay stubs, proof of child support and/or social security benefits (if applicable), food stamp or cash assistance determination letter (if applicable) as well as a copy of your financial determination letter from ELRC (or documentation that you have been denied assistance). Please include a written paragraph explaining your personal circumstances and any information you think will be helpful.
3. Submit your completed application and required documentation. Your confidential information will be submitted and reviewed by the sites Finance Director and they will be in touch within 2 business days to discuss your application.

Financial Assistance Application