Summer Camps
The Ithaca YMCA offers exciting camp experiences for children aged 3-16 years old.
Check the links below for more information, or you can sign up for our newsletter to have updates delivered by email.
Camp Adventure (Ages 5-12)
Counselor in Training Program for Teens (Ages 13-16)
Pre-K Summer Blast (Ages 3-5)
Why YMCA Camp?
Parents, this summer, give your children an unforgettable experience with our YMCA camp programs! Designed for a wide range of ages and interests, each program is crafted to nurture growth, ignite curiosity, and create lasting memories. Here's why you should choose our camps:
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Pre-K Summer Blast: Perfect for little ones aged 3-5, this program offers a safe and engaging environment to develop essential social, motor, and cognitive skills. With themed weeks, creative activities, and daily outdoor play, your preschooler will thrive while building confidence and friendships. The program helps prepare children for Kindergarten!
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Camp Adventure: For kids aged 5-12, this camp combines action-packed activities with weekly field trips to state parks and education centers. Centered on fun, character development, and exploration, Camp Adventure encourages kids to stay active, try new things, and enjoy the great outdoors.
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Counselor-in-Training (CIT) Program: Tailored for teens aged 13-16, this transformative program builds leadership skills, confidence, and real-world experience. Participants will gain hands-on mentoring opportunities, professional certifications like ARC CPR, and skills that prepare them for future success.
Choose YMCA camps for a summer filled with growth, fun, and adventure. Limited spaces are available, so secure your spot today!
*Looking for financial assistance with camp? Contact Emily Richardson, Membership Director by emailing erichardson@ithacaymca.com for the next steps.
YMCA Summer Camp History:
Camping, like many Y programs, is about learning skills, developing character and making friends. But few environments are as special as camp, where kids become a community as they learn both how to be more independent and how to contribute to a group as they engage in physical, social and educational activities.
Camping teaches self-reliance, a love for nature and the outdoors and the development of attitudes and practices that build character and leadership—all amidst the fun of crafting, water play, disc golf, archery, talent shows and meaningful relationships. Y counselors are dedicated to making sure camp is an amazing experience for every camper.
The Y is one of the largest providers of camp programs. There are over 1,850 day camps across the country, 315 overnight camps for youth and teens and many specialty camp programs that meet the diverse needs of children and teens, such as youth with differing abilities and illnesses.
Ys nationwide serve 1.4 million youth and adults at camps every year, including 970,000 kids and adults through summer day and overnight camp programs and more than 439,000 youth, teens, families, school and retreat groups through group camping overnight programs.
The Y gives youth early work experience, employing 61,000 college-aged young adults as summer overnight camp leaders each year, guiding their career interests in youth development.
Tens of thousands of teens are annually enrolled in leadership development programs every summer at YMCA day and overnight camps that provide valuable responsibilities in leadership.
