Group Retreats and Family Retreats at Surf

EXPERIENCE YMCA CAMP SURF AS A FAMILY, SCOUT, OR GROUP!

YMCA Camp Surf offers a unique oceanside locale for hosting your group or family! We offer safe, fun, life-changing outdoor retreat experiences for groups throughout the year – families, Scouts, YMCA Adventure Guides, community groups, Young Life, corporate and more. Enjoy delicious food, beachfront facilities, cabin and camping accommodations and a variety of self-guided and staff facilitated activities, including a certified United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) lifeguard service team.

Weekend family and scouting retreats are available from April to October and include:

Two-night lodging (Friday evening to Sunday afternoon)
Staff-led programming throughout the weekend
Meals served Saturday breakfast through Sunday breakfast (in our scenic McKinney Oceanfront Center)

For information regarding the possibility of hosting retreats during the months of November through March, or for mid-week and extended options, please call us at (619) 423-5850 or email [email protected] for availability.

FAMILY CAMPING

The YMCA of San Diego County offers unforgettable weekends full of fun and adventure for the whole family at two stunning overnight camp locations. Each weekend package includes lodging, meals, and a variety of staff-led activities designed to suit all interests and ages. Whether you’re looking to unwind, explore new activities, or simply spend quality time with family and friends, we have the perfect setting for you.

YMCA Camp Surf has all you need for a great Southern California family seaside getaway. Our family programs run on weekends, April through October, with days and nights filled with activities for everyone. Visit our activities section at Camp Surf to learn more! Fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves after fun-filled days exploring the shore! Hang out on the beach under the watch of our very own USLA-certified lifeguards. Get the full Southern California experience by visiting our skatepark. Test yourself at our archery range or scale to the top of our climbing tower to see great views of downtown San Diego, the Pacific Ocean, San Diego county’s high peaks and Mexico! Walk to Imperial Beach or drive to nearby Coronado for shopping and dining opportunities. Family camping at Camp Surf is a unique experience available for families to come and experience a seaside getaway together. We provide the equipment, you provide the fun!”

2025 HOLIDAY WEEKEND FAMILY CAMP CALENDAR

- NEW! Scout Family Camp | Friday, April 25 – Sunday, April 27
  - Scouts and their families come try out a weekend of adventure in nature — together!
    - Fee: $198/person
- Memorial Day Weekend | Friday, May 23 – Monday, May 26, 2025
  - Kick off Summer with us on some beautiful San Diego weather right on the coast.
    - Fee: $218/person
- NEW! Fourth of July Weekend | Friday, July 4 – Sunday, July 6, 2025
  - Experience the local fireworks on the Camp Surf beach and celebrate a festive Fourth of July weekend with us. Please note that this will be tent camping only.
    - Fee: $189/person
- Labor Day Weekend | Friday, August 29 – Monday, September 1, 2025
  - Say goodbye to summer and kick off your fall enjoying sand and sun with us here at Camp Surf.
    - Fee: $218/person
- Military Family Weekend | Friday, November 7 – Sunday, November 9, 2025
  - If you or a member of your family are active military, veteran or have military affiliation please join us this weekend at a special rate. Three-day and single-day packages are also available.
    - Fee: $115/person with military affilitation or $218/person for non-military

Want to visit us with your family on other weekends during the year? Or want to bring a YMCA Adventure Club or large group to Camp Surf? We host families April through October. Please call us at (619) 423-5850 or email [email protected] for availability and to reserve your visit.

2025 Family Rates and Availability

Two-night stays are available on most weekends throughout the year. Check in on Friday evening and stay through Sunday morning. Extended three-night stays are offered over Labor Day and Memorial Day holiday weekends.

Rates: 3 day/2 night stays are $189 per person. This includes food, programs and lodging! Extended 4-day Holiday Family Camp weekend rates are $218 per person. Financial Assistance may be available for San Diego County residents. Please be sure to visit our Refund Policies page.

SCOUTS AT CAMP SURF

YMCA Camp Surf offers enriching programs for all scouting programs, April through October, with winter dates available by request.* We offer a variety of programs designed to help scouts develop skills and character, cultivating caring for our environment and each other. Camp right on the beach or stay in our cozy and spacious cabins. We are able to accommodate many group sizes ranging from small troops to large councils.

Our staff are able to lead a variety of challenging activities such as archery and climbing, educational and marine science programs, arts and crafts, as well as team building and ropes course programming. Spring will bring a new slate of available scout-focused programming designed to help you meet a wide array of skill, experience and educational requirements. Work with our program coordinator, Kapili Pasa, [email protected], to help cater a weekend schedule to meet the needs of your group.

*YMCA Camp Surf is not affiliated or endorsed by any scouting association.

SCOUTING DATES

Special Weekend for Scouts Dates
- Throughout the year, we also offer several weekends with specific themes. In addition to our main schedule we will offer programs and activities specially designed to help with these badge requirements:
  - Marine science
  - Community service
  - Camping and outdoor wilderness skills
  - Nature and conservation
  - Arts and creativity
  - Ocean skills – surfing, ocean safety and kayaking

Please call us at (619) 423-5850 or email [email protected] for availability or to reserve dates.

Accommodations

YMCA Camp Surf offers both cabin lodging and beach camping options, depending on the season. We can fit up to 280 in cabin lodging and over 300 beach camping.

Enjoy your weekend stay in your own private cabin.* Each bunk has its own window, reading light and storage for personal items. Restrooms are shared facilities centrally located and easy to access which are cleaned and sanitized throughout each day. Families must provide their own twin-sized linens and bath towels.

Our traditional cabins in Mariners and Beachcomber Villages sleep up to 16 people. They are clustered around each of our two bathroom and shower blocks. Waterman Village awaits adventurous campers, offering 12-person “cabents”, off-the-grid solar power, its own private fire pit and a large gazebo.

Depending on the season, experience one of the very few places in all of California where you are able to camp out on the beach and fall asleep to the sound of the waves! Camp Surf offers beach campsites exclusively throughout summer, as well as during our Fall and Spring seasons. Bring your own tent to camp right on the sand and wake up to ocean views. It’s just a short walk from your car to your beach campsite. Most families choose to beach camp and there will be a shared area set aside just for families, including communal fire pits.

June, July, August: Beach tent camping only.
April, May, September, October: Cabins and beach camping available.
November, December, January, February, March: Call or email for availability.

*Cabins are not guaranteed for all guests and availability is limited during spring and fall. During busier weekends you may need a minimum of 12 people to request a cabin.

STAFF-GUIDED ACTIVITES

Select activities will be available during scheduled times throughout the weekend! All equipment will be provided at Camp Surf. Available activities may vary each weekend. The schedule will be emailed prior to your arrival. Some of our programs include:

Surfing/bodyboarding*
Arts & crafts
Archery
Climbing tower
Cruiser bike trips
On-site skatepark (skateboards and scooters only)
Gardening
Evening programs

*Ocean conditions permitting

SELF-GUIDED ACTIVITES

Enjoy these other activities and many more on- and off-site fun while you are here:

9-square in the air
GaGa courts
Bouldering wall
Sand volleyball
Basketball
Beach Walks
Various games
Fishing (bring your own rods/tackle)
Explore the Tijuana Estuary
Skateboarding (bring your own skateboard and pads; helmet required)
Beach campfires
Birding

MEALS

All reservations includes meals. We offer meals starting with breakfast on Saturday through breakfast on departure day. With advance notice, Camp Surf is able to accommodate most food allergies and dietary restrictions. Meals are not provided on Friday evening, but there are many fantastic restaurants in Imperial Beach operating within easy walking distance from Camp Surf.

GROUP EVENTS, CONFERENCES, AND RETREATS AT CAMP SURF

Single-day or multi-day, large or small, let us host your next event! YMCA Camp Surf is a beautiful, unique and comfortable setting for business, community, religious or college groups. With a backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, we’ll do our best to cater our programming and facilities to meet the needs of your group or event. For larger events, our McKinney Oceanfront Center can fit over 200 people for meals, gatherings and meetings. If you want some programming, our staff can develop and facilitate groupwork, ropes course or recreational experiences.

Whether you seek oceanfront lodging for conducting your own on-site or off-site programming, a comprehensive packing including meals and staff-led programming, or if you’re staying off-site looking for a unique venue for your gathering, we have something that will work for you.

Please call us at (619) 423-5850 or email [email protected] with inquiries, or for rates and availability.

Family retreats and group retreats