Day Camp at YMCA Camp Surf

SURF'S UP AT THE Y!

Your family can count on YMCA Camp Surf to ensure your child is having fun in a safe, nurturing environment. Located on forty-five acres right on the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, CA, YMCA Camp Surf is one of a kind. With activities including archery, climbing tower, arts & crafts, team building and of course surfing and boogie boarding our staff are committed to working with children and teens to help them develop the skills and relationships they will need to be confident, healthy, and connected as they grow. No need to pack a lunch as all campers can enjoy a hot lunch. Camp Surf is much more than a typical day camp!

Since 1882, our camps have inspired kids with countless opportunities to laugh, lead and make lasting friendships. 


FIND YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE!

camp is calling

FALL 2023 DAY CAMP SIGN-UPS

  • Registration is open now!
  • Check out all of our Fall/Winter sessions: 
    • September 25–29, 2023
    • October 2–6, 2023
    • November 20–22, 2023

GET READY TO REGISTER

MEMBERS SAVE ON CAMP!

YMCA members save an average of 15% on camp.

To receive the Y member rate for any program, your membership must be active throughout the duration of the registered program session(s), otherwise the non-member  fee will be applied. Learn more about the benefits of becoming a Y member, and join us today! 

TIPS FOR A SMOOTH SIGN-UP


 

VOYAGERS

Ages: 6-8 & 9-12 |  FIND SESSIONS

Join YMCA Camp Surf’s traditional Day Camp program to get a little taste of everything we have to offer. Campers have opportunities to participate in all of our camp activities. Our programs focus on building self-confidence, making friends and developing social skills, and trying new things, all while creating lifelong memories and having fun!

REGISTER


 

WHAT IS CAMP SURF?

surfing boysYMCA Camp Surf, located right on the coast with direct access to the beach, is like no other Day Camp experience around. Your child will enjoy an amazing week filled with adventurous games, crafts, and fun engaging camp activities which promote friendship, achievement, and a sense of belonging. Camp Surf has an on-site Archery Range, Climbing Tower, Skate Park, and beach access for Surfing, Body Boarding, or lounging in the sun. Kids will explore and learn about the outdoors searching through tidal life during Jetty Exploration and learn about ocean safety through Sand, Waves, and Rips!

WATER QUALITY

The safety and wellbeing of our campers is paramount to everything we do. We automatically receive daily testing results facilitated by San Diego County. The day-to-day results depend on several factors including swell and current direction, and can be quite unpredictable - open one day and closed the next; open in the morning and closed in the evening; open all week long or closed all week long. In the event we have a beach closure we have plans in place for engaging alternative programming that includes:

  1. On-site activities such as our expanded skate park, archery range, climbing tower, sports activities, bicycles, beach and jetty explorations, and more.
  2. When the water is closed, campers will be transported by bus to off-site beaches. Ex. Tidelands Park or Coronado Beaches. Our staff (including lifeguards) will continue to supervise campers at these beaches. Currently, due to permitting and logistic needs, we are only able to transport to off-site beaches on Tuesdays during the camp week.

While the ocean is certainly a big draw and part of camp, we are not strictly a surf camp. The value and benefits of the YMCA Camp Surf experience extends far beyond that. Campers will develop strong friendships, spend great time outdoors, develop social skills, feel a sense of belonging, and exhibit increased confidence.

We group campers by age and offer all ages tons of time to play, explore, and build responsibility in the outdoors. Our staff are top-notch, passionate about providing a fun, safe, and supportive experience. Each day will be spent building lifelong memories. Register your child now for YMCA Camp Surf Voyagers Day Camp or check out one of our specialty Day Camps below. Here’s a shortcut to all day camps at Camp Surf, or go straight to the program finder and type or copy/paste a search code (e.g., CPVOY04) into the search bar to zero in on your camps.

About Us

Our Branch

YMCA CAMP SURF
Address: 560 Silver Strand Blvd, Imperial Beach, CA 91932
Phone: (619) 423-5850

Camp Locations and Hours of Operation

YMCA Camp Surf
Address: 560 Silver Strand Blvd, Imperial Beach, CA 91932
Camp Hours: Full day: 9:00am-5:00pm
Drop-Off: Early Bird - 7:30-8:30am or 8:00-9:00am
Pick-up: 4:30-5:00pm or Night Owl: 5:00-5:30pm

Directors and Supervisors

CAMP DIRECTOR
Payton Schoonmaker
[email protected] | (619) 423-5850 ext. 1884

About Our Staff

YMCA Camp Surf takes pride in hiring the best people to fill our camp staff. Each camp leader was hand-selected through an extensive hiring process to ensure the safest environment for everyone. Staff training includes CPR and First Aid certification, transportation safety, behavior management and bully prevention, child protection and abuse prevention, field trip and off-site safety procedures, risk management/prevention and more.


PAYING FOR CAMP

At the time of registration, you may choose to:

Deposits are non-refundable but can be immediately applied as a deposit for another camp if space is available or applied to an already existing camp balance within the same season session. See our Refund/Voucer/Transfer Policies for more information.

INCLUSION PROGRAM

If your camper has special needs, please let us know when registering. YMCA Camp Surf funds and operates an Inclusion Program that may be able to provide an aide for your camper. For more information regarding the Inclusion Program, please call (619) 423-5850

Here's what our parents tell us:

"Thanks to YMCA  for making this camp possible. My child was lonely at home and I was scared to send him to the camp. I decided to trust your organization. Overall my son had a lot of fun and came home with exciting stories about his camp experiences."


REQUIRED FORMS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTS

UPDATED SAFETY GUIDELINES:

Your family's safety is our top priority. We have implemented safety protocols that follow state and local guidelines. It's our priority to help your children enjoy a safe and fun program that builds lasting friendships.

Medical Release Form - Required

In order to register, all campers must have a current medical release form updated and submitted to the YMCA after January 2023. Medical release forms can be updated through your My Y account in our Community Portal.

Vendor Waivers

Some specialty camps, particularly those that travel to an off-site location, require an additional vendor waiver. Camps that require a waiver to be completed will be contacted and provided the waiver before the start of camp.

Camp Scholarships

Financial assistance is available to families who qualify. Applications are available at the service desk and online. Assistance is based on verified income and completed applications.

Apply for a Program Scholarship

More Policies

For more information about YMCA Day Camp policies, expectations and helpful information, visit our Day Camp Policy page.

Giving Back

For every session of camp, the Y provides program scholarships for families seeking financial assistance. This is made possible through the generosity of our community. If you wish to help a child go to camp, please see our camp director for information.


Feedback

We love to hear from our campers and parents! Camp leadership teams use your feedback to make positive changes to our program. Please feel free to contact our Camp Director Payton Schoonmaker at [email protected], with any questions, comments or concerns!

CAMP STORE

The Sugar Shack will be open on Friday during Check out. Cash and Credit Card will be accepted.

  1. On-site activities such as our expanded skate park, archery range, climbing tower, sports activities, bicycles, beach and jetty explorations, and more.
  2. When the water is closed, campers will be transported by bus to off-site beaches. Ex. Tidelands Park or Coronado Beaches. Our staff (including lifeguards) will continue to supervise campers at these beaches. Currently, due to permitting and logistic needs, we are only able to transport to off-site beaches on Tuesdays during the camp week.
    • Pay in full (includes a $50 non-refundable deposit)
    • Place a $50 non-refundable deposit at the time of registration. Balances will be due the Monday prior to the first day of camp.
    • An active membership is required at the time of the program start date to receive the member pricing discount.
    • Financial assistance is available through the Y's ACCESS scholarship program.
    1. On-site activities such as our expanded skate park, archery range, climbing tower, sports activities, bicycles, and more.
    2. Transporting campers via school buses to beaches that are open. Overnight camp will go to South Mission Beach or other local beaches. Day camp will go to Tidelands Park. Our staff (including lifeguards) will continue to supervise campers at these beaches.