Choose an Age Group to Learn More
For our youngest summer camp group, our top priority is creating a safe, comfortable, and fun camping experience for each and every kid
Campers work together on friendship, discovery, and new outdoor activities.
Key Info for Explorers
- This is your child’s first step into summer camp – we take that very seriously.
- We place a strong emphasis on camper belonging.
- Up to 4 counselors and 20 campers will share a lodge together for the week. Providing a chance to connect other campers their age.
- Built in support time for rest, getting ready, applying sunscreen, etc.
- Nutritious meals with fruit and cereal at breakfast and a salad bar at lunch and dinner
- Fun evening programs like campfires, skits, and theme nights
- Bedtime routines include brushing teeth (yes we’ll make sure!), a quiet story or activity, and time to share thoughts and adventures from the day
- Staff stay in the lodges overnight, the campers are always with an adult
- Our camp week ends with a special candlelight ceremony on Thursday night and a family BBQ on Friday afternoon.
Our most energetic campers enjoy a true outdoor adventure with a focus on building skills and self-confidence.
The Challenger village is designed to give our summer campers more independence and decision-making opportunities while being guided by our trained staff.
Key Info for Challengers
- On opening day, each camper gets to select their Mad Skills. Campers will get to participate in these activities throughout the week getting learn deeper skills in the activities they chose.
- Camp activities are co-ed to build a sense of community and belonging
- Trained staff build an adventure in a safe and supportive environment.
- Nutritious meals with fruit and cereal at breakfast, a salad bar at lunch and dinner.
- Evening programs include traditional campfires, skit-nights and themed all camp events.
- Bedtime routines include cabin responsibilities, reflection, and recognition
- Staff stay in the cabins overnight, the campers are always with an adult
- Our camp week ends with a special candlelight ceremony on Thursday night and a family BBQ on Friday afternoon.
Register Online for Challengers
The Adventurers Village is a new program for those teens feeling a little more adventurous combining the best of traditional summer camp with adventure programming. Campers will stay in our semi-permanent canvas tents, with a concrete floor and bunk beds. The village has an awesome community pavilion to enjoy smores, share stories and connect with friends. The Adventurers Village is co-ed, but campers sleep in single gender tents with camp counselors. Our Adventurers will have the opportunity to participate in some day trips to explore the local area. Other activities will include swimming, archery, hiking, canoeing and adventure focused activities such as survival skills and fire building.
Key Info for Adventurers
- Adventure campers will participate in our “all camp” activities (Opening Campfire, Carnival, PYP, evening programs and Candlelight Ceremony)
- Camp activities are co-ed to build a sense of community and belonging
- Adventurers will have the opportunity to participate in some day trips to explore the local area and have the opportunity to have more input as to what their schedule looks like.
- Adventurers will build leadership and communication skills through multiple teambuilding activities and a service project with other teen campers.
- Adventure campers will build lasting friendships and self-confidence in a supervised “unplugged” environment.
- Nutritious meals with fruit and cereal at breakfast and a salad bar at lunch and dinner.
- Adventurers' stay in a rustic canvas-tent village with their very own gazebo and outdoor fireplace that they get to customize and decorate every week.
- Bedtime routines include canvas-tent responsibilities, reflection, and recognition
- Staff stay in the canvas-tents overnight, the campers are always with an adult
- Our camp week ends with a special candlelight ceremony on Thursday night and a family BBQ on Friday afternoon.
The Pathfinders Village is an exciting opportunity for teens to experience the best of what Camp Marston has to offer. All girl campers will be staying in lodges, while boy campers will be staying in two of our new yurts! Note that there is adult supervision in every yurt and lodge. At the beginning of the week, guided by their counselors, campers will develop the schedule for the week based on their interests. These include mad skills such as canoeing, archery, climbing tower, art/crafts, swimming pool and Pathfinder specific activities such as blacksmithing. By giving the campers input as to what their experience will be, they’ll not only gain confidence and independence but also learn about leadership and community.
Key Info for Pathfinders
- Pathfinder campers will participate in our “all camp” activities (Opening Campfire, Carnival, PYP, evening programs and Candlelight Ceremony)
- Camp activities are co-ed to build a sense of community and belonging
- Pathfinder campers will experience the same magic of camp by participating in the traditional camp activities and have the opportunity to have more input as to what their schedule looks like.
- Pathfinders will build leadership and communication skills through multiple teambuilding activities and a service project with other teen campers.
- Pathfinders will build lasting friendships and self-confidence in a supervised “unplugged” environment.
- Nutritious meals with fruit and cereal at breakfast, a salad bar at lunch and dinner.
- Boys will be in the yurts, while girls will stay in the cabins/lodges. Every yurt and cabin/lodge with have an accompanying adult supervisor.
- Our camp week ends with a special candlelight ceremony on Thursday night and a family BBQ on Friday afternoon.
This program is for older teens looking to build responsibility, teamwork, and friendship in a more intimate setting.
As the oldest campers on camp, the L.I.T's focus is on personal growth, communication, and leadership.
Key Info for Marston L.I.T.'s
- Our LIT's learn through leadership development workshops, practice and hands-on activities
- During our LIT program, teens learn what great leaders do and say.
- The program makes time for camp fun like the Climbing Tower and swimming.
- Our Leadership Counselors act as mentors to all of our LIT Participants.
- Every evening, LIT's come together to debrief and discuss what they have experienced and learned that day.
- LIT participants graduate from the program with lifelong skills and friends.
- Successful graduates of the LIT program are encouraged to apply for the Camp Assistant program the following summer!
Our Outdoor Wilderness and Leadership (OWLs) program is a 4-day backpacking adventure that immerses campers in the natural beauty of Catalina Island. While traversing the island campers will get to experience the beautiful and unique landscape while building their leadership skills.
Key Info for Marston O.W.L.'s
- Our OWL's learn through leadership development workshops, practice and hands-on activities
- During our OWL program, teens learn what great leaders do and say.
- Ages: 16 to 17
- Grades: Entering 12th Grade
- Our CA program is a three-week overnight volunteering experience that helps transition enthusiastic campers to successful counselors.
- Teenagers in the CA program participate in leadership workshops throughout the first week.
- During the second week, CA’s are helping with Mad Skills and helping with activities under the supervision of our most experienced staff.
- During the third week, CA’s are placed in a cabin under the supervision of our most experienced staff
- CA’s are challenged daily to lead and create activities with children.
- Our CA’s are provided with an evaluation and a letter verifying how many Community Service Hours were completed.
- The CA program is a competitive volunteer experience for those teens entering 12th grade and they must apply and interview for placement.
TO APPLY - Please complete and return the Application Form. Please note - There are a VERY limited number of openings for the CA program each summer and acceptance into the program is not guaranteed.
CA Application
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DATES & RATES
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CATEGORY |
MEMBERS |
NON-MEMBERS |
| CAMP PRICING | $990 | $1,100 |
| CAMP PRICING (2 WEEK CAMP) | $1,980 | $2,200 |
| O.W.L.S. | $1,440 | $1,600 |
| BUS TRANSPORTATION (EACH WAY) | $50 | $50 |
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Please Consider A Donation At The Time of Registration Since 2005, more than $500,000 has been given to help offset repair and replacement costs at our camps from families like yours! |
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| Help Send a Kid to Camp | YMCA of San Diego County Overnight Camps is committed to providing everyone in our community access to the power of the camp experience, regardless of their ability to pay. Through the generosity of donors such as you, we are able to provide financial assistance to families in need. |
| Support the True Cost of Camp | Our camp fee is a subsidized rate and doesn’t represent the true cost of sending a child to camp. We are asking each family to consider adding a tax-deductible donation to support the actual cost of camp operations to include long term care, upkeep, and facility improvements. |
- $150 deposit is required for all registrations and is applied to the total amount due
- Balance Dues: All balances are due by May 15, 2025 (Sessions 1-9).
Scholarships Available - As a mission-driven nonprofit organization, the YMCA is committed to serving everyone in our community and ensure they have the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive — which is why we provide financial aid through our ACCESS Scholarship Program, reducing the cost of memberships, program fees and child care services offered by the YMCA of San Diego County.