---

---

SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

Check out the digital edition of our summer day camp guide. Download the Summer Camp Grid (PDF) for easy reference in using Catalog Tags to quickly find and register for camps online.

---

Camp Locations and Hours of Operation

How to Register for Day Camp

• Find a Day Camp Program and Register Online
• By phone: (619) 464-9622
• In person at the Registration Desk at the John A. Davis Family YMCA

If your camper has any special needs, please let us know when registering. We are here to inspire kids to work together, play together, and create friendships that can last a lifetime. At the John A. Davis Family YMCA, we are passionate about youth development for all. Because your child’s safety is our number one priority, accommodations for children with special needs are made based on the availability of trained staff, camps available, and your child’s needs and our available resources.

Please complete and submit an Inclusion Intake Form to our camp department prior to registration. Forms are available at our Welcome Center. Due to high demand, please allow a minimum of two weeks for evaluation of registration materials.

At time of registration, you may choose to:

• Pay in full (includes a $25 non-refundable deposit)
• Put down a $25 non-refundable deposit at time of registration. Balances will be due the Monday prior to the first day of camp.
• An additional $25 will be applied to all registrations starting the Tuesday before the camp begins.
• An active membership is required at the time of the program start date to receive the member pricing discount.

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 2020. Medical Release forms can be found at the YMCA Registration Desk or can be downloaded from the form library (see Medical section)

Vendor Waivers

Some specialty camps, particularly those that travel to an off-site location, require an additional vendor waiver. Day Camp programs requiring these forms should have a link available to download the waiver as a PDF on the specific Day Camp page — it may also be included within the form library . If it is not present, please contact us and request a copy of the waiver be sent to you.

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.

---

Day Camp Categories

Traditional Day Camps

Join Y Day Camp for a week, or an entire summer of fun! New experiences, skill building, a sense of community, and lasting friendships are all part of Traditional Day Camps. Trained camp leaders focus on caring, honesty, respect and responsibility in all of our activities to maximize fun during the day! Set in the YMCA style of different activities and themes each week, your camper will participate in team building games, arts & crafts, science experiments and more!

Day campers will be divided into small groups by age, and will participate in activities appropriate to the interests and needs of their group.

Traditional Camp Field Trips & Events (PDF)

Find Traditional Day Camps at Davis

Specialty Day Camps

Our phenomenal specialty day camps combine the traditional fun of YMCA day camps with the more specialized skills and learning of our outside specialty camp providers or YMCA experts. Each specialty day camp has a wide range of subjects to campers to enjoy - from sports-related day camps concentrating on skills and techniques, to creative camps like ceramics that focus on expanding artistic skills and confidence.

Find Specialty Day Camps at Davis

Sports Day Camps

Recreational games and skill building with focus on sportsmanship and a different sport each day. Enjoy basketball, soccer, baseball, flag football, a trip to our pool and many other active games.

Find Sports Day Camps at Davis

Leader in Training

Within this program, teens learn leadership, group management skills, child development basics, and policies and procedures in relation to working with youth. Interacting with campers and representing the Y requires a certain level of maturity. For this reason, the Fieldwork program is selective. Upon completion of the L.I.T. Training Course, teens will be invited to participate in the fieldwork program. L.I.T.s will be required to follow the Y camp staff dress code: solid, non-denim pants or shorts, unaltered Y L.I.T. t-shirt; tennis shoes. Female L.I.T.s will be required to wear one-piece bathing suits when applicable. Dress code and behavior expectations will be detailed during the training course. The program is designed for campers to enroll in at least one session of fieldwork upon completion of the training course.

For the safety of our campers and L.I.T.s, returning L.I.T.s must still enroll in an L.I.T. Training Course in order to be eligible for fieldwork. L.I.T.s may also receive a letter demonstrating their 35 hours of community service for each week of fieldwork that they complete.

Find LIT Day Camps at Davis

Special Needs Day Camps

The YMCA is proud to offer low-ratio day camps for children with special needs, providing a day camp experience in a safe, fun and nurturing environment. All camp counselors for this program have additional experience working with special needs campers.

Find All YMCA Special Needs Day Camps

Extended Day Camp Hours

Only pay for what you need. If you need care outside of the scheduled camp hours, the Y offers an extended care program. Extended care is complimentary in the morning and an afternoon option is available for a weekly cost. More time means more fun, more adventure and more memories!

Morning hours: 7:00am - 8:30am - FREE
Afternoon hours: 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Extended Day for the week     $47  |  $56

Find Extended Day Camp Hours at Davis

---

What to Expect and Prepare For

Sign In and Sign Out Procedures

In order to ensure the safety of your camper, it is mandatory that each camper be signed in and out daily with a legal signature and time by an authorized adult.

Authorization To Pick Up Camper

Only adults who are authorized in writing by the parent will be allowed to pick up your camper. All adults picking up campers from Camp are required to identify themselves with a photo ID.

Late Arrivals

It is imperative that your camper arrives to camp on time. If campers are late, it will be the responsibility of the parent to ensure that the camper is signed in and arrives safely with his or her designated camp.

Late Pick-Ups

Children not picked up at the end of the camp day at any of our sites will be placed in our Late Parent Program. A late fee of $1 per minute starting at 6:01 pm will be charged and due before the child can return to camp the next day. For example, camp pick-up ends at 6:00 pm, and a child is picked up at 6:25 pm. There would be a $25 charge.

Lunches and Snacks

All campers must bring their own lunch, a small snack and water bottle to camp daily. Afternoon snack included. Please send only non-perishable foods because refrigeration is not available. If needed, an optional lunch program is available through our Seamless Summer Feeding Program only for camp sessions 2 - 8. 

Clothing

Campers are required to wear closed toe shoes and socks daily. Belongings are the responsibility of the camper. A backpack is helpful in keeping your camper’s belongings in a safe place. Please clearly mark your camper’s belongings with his/her name.

What Not to Bring to Camp

The following are not allowed at camp:

• Personal toys
• Animals
• Weapons
• Drugs
• Alcohol
• Electronic devices
• Candy and soda (healthy eating is encouraged)

Sun Protection

Parents should apply sunscreen before campers arrive to Day Camp in the morning. We apply sunscreen multiple times throughout the day. If you do not want sunscreen applied to your camper, or would like a special type of sunscreen applied, please send a note to your child’s Camp Unit Leader each Monday and provide them with the special sunscreen.

Swimming

Please see your camper’s camp calendar for specific swim days. Campers who wish to swim must bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and warm change of clothes. All campers are required to take a swim test before swimming in the YMCA pool or beach on a daily basis. The swim test consists of jumping in deep water, returning to the surface, treading water for 60 seconds and swimming 25 yards (the length of the pool) on the surface with rudimentary side breathing. If a camper is unable to pass this test or if a camper chooses not to take the swim test and cannot stand comfortably in the water (water no higher than the armpits), s/he will wear a life jacket in the pool and will stay in the closely supervised shallow end of the pool. In order to keep your camper safe, all campers take the swim test every day. During beach visits, campers are required to take a swim test daily, if campers pass the test, they are allowed to go in waist deep, if they do not pass, they are allowed to go in ankle-deep.

For your camper’s safety, all campers visiting the beach will be given brightly colored rash guards to wear throughout their visit.

SUMMER DAY CAMP DESCRIPTIONS

Learn more about our Summer 2023 day camps!

TRADITIONAL CAMPS

Traditional camps are ultra-spirited, fun-filled camps with weekly themes that guide activities for the week. New experiences, skill building, a sense of community and lasting friendships are all part of traditional day camp experience. When you're ready to register, here's a shortcut to traditional camps at John A.Davis Family YMCA, or type CPTRAD22 in the search bar in the top left corner of the Community Portal. Use the filter tab to zero in on your camp.

SPECIALTY CAMPS

Does your child have a specific interest or hobby? Looking for a camp that specializes in sports or STEM? Browse through the specialty camps section for camps that combine the traditional fun of YMCA day camps with the more specialized skills by providers or YMCA experts. When you're ready to register, here's a shortcut to specialty camps at John A. Davis YMCA, or type CPSPEC22 in the search bar in the top left corner of the Community Portal. Use the filter tab to zero in on your camp.

 

---