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!
SUMMER 2023 DAY CAMP SIGN-UPS
- Registration is open now!
- Weekly sessions: June 20 - August 18
GET READY TO REGISTER
- Register Online — We have invested in new technology, and signing up online is the best way to secure your top picks. Make sure your new account is ready to register.
- Register by Phone — (619) 423-5850
- View the digital version of our branch camp guide here
MEMBERS SAVE ON CAMP!
YMCA members save an average of 15% on camp — one whole summer adds up to a whole lot of savings! 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
- Log in to your My Y account. If you haven’t logged in since November 2022, you must create a new My Y account.
- Setup is easy. Learn more here
YOUR GUIDE TO SUMMER DAY CAMP
View the digital version of YMCA Camp Surf's summer camp guide here or check out the camp descriptions below, and view a list of camps by week here (PDF).
SAVE TIME WITH SEARCH CODES
When you're ready to fill your cart with a summer's worth of camps, open a tab to our program finder, and log in to your My Y account. Find your camp selections quickly by typing in (or copying/pasting) the SEARCH CODE (e.g. CPVOY04).
WHAT IS CAMP SURF?
YMCA 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!
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.
VOYAGERSAges: 6-8 & 9-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPVOY04 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! |
MARINE SCIENCEAges: 9-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPMS04 FIND SESSIONS This is perfect for your child who enjoys searching the tide pools and sand with unbridled curiosity. They’ll spend parts of the week learning more about our ocean and the life it supports (including ours!). In addition to many of our traditional day camp activities, they will build deeper connections to the ocean and marine life while learning through active and engaging hands-on exploration. |
SHIPWRECK SURVIVALAges: 8-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPSS04 FIND SESSIONS Could your child survive being shipwrecked on a deserted island? Do they know how to build a shelter or start a fire? In addition to many of our traditional day camp activities, throughout the week they will have fun engaging their creativity and developing their survival skills. On the last day we’ll boat them out to an island off shore and… Kidding! They’ll have all the adventure they need with their friends right here at Camp Surf. |
SURF, SKATE & SCOOTERAges: 8-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPSSS04 FIND SESSIONS What’s more SoCal than Surfing and Skating? They go together like macaroni and cheese! And we’ll throw in some Scooters as a bonus. In addition to many of our traditional camp activities and catching ocean waves, your child’ will spend extra time shredding on skateboards and/or scooters at our on-site skate park. We’ll provide everything your child needs to be safe while learning basic surfing and skating skills. |
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:
- 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.
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 summer. See our Refund/Voucer/Transfer Policies for more information.
Interest Lists
When a day camp session is full, you may add your child to a waitlist enrollment — choose "Join Waitlist" during the registration process when signing up online. We’ll provide an update via email that lists all day camps with open availability. Registration is first come, first served. We recommend that families check the website often, as other spaces may become available prior to email communications going out.
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
Day Camp Parent Manual
Check out our Day Camp Parent Manual for easy reference on what to expect and how to best prepare your camper for day camp this summer.
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.
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. In the event we have a beach closure we plans in place for engaging alternative programming that includes:
- On-site activities such as our expanded skate park, archery range, climbing tower, sports activities, bicycles, and more.
- 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.
While the ocean is certainly a big draw and part of camp, the value and benefits of the Camp Surf experience extends far beyond that. Campers will develop strong friendships, spend great active time outdoors, develop social skills, feel a sense of belonging, and exhibit increased confidence.
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.