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 Kapili Pasa at [email protected] for availability.
FAMILY CAMPING
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!”
2024 FAMILY CAMP CALENDAR
- Kick off the summer season with a fun-filled extended weekend stay at Camp Surf.
- June 23 – September 1, 2024
- We offer beach camping on most weekends throughout the weekend. Subject to availability.
- Labor Day Weekend | Friday, September 6 – Monday, September 9, 2024
Say goodbye to summer and kick off your fall enjoying sand and sun with us here at Camp Surf.
- Military Family Weekend | Friday, November 8 – Monday, November 11, 2024
- If you or a member of your family are in the military, please join us this weekend at a special rate.
For YMCA Adventure Clubs, large groups or if you are interested in other dates, please call us at (619) 423-5850 or email Kapili Pasa at [email protected].
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
- 2023–2024 Scouting Rates and Availability — check here
- 2023-2024 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
- 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:
Please call us at (619) 423-5850 or email Kapili Pasa at [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.
2023-2024 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 Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends are $209 per person. Financial Assistance may be available for San Diego County residents. Please be sure to visit our Refund Policies page.
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 Kapili Pasa at [email protected] with inquiries, or for rates and availability.