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WELCOME TO DAY CAMP AT JOHN A. DAVIS FAMILY YMCA

Your family can count on John A. Davis Family YMCA to ensure your child is having fun in a safe, nurturing environment. The Y offers single-day, weekly and specialty camps to meet the needs of parents and match the interests of our campers. 

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

FIND YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE!

FALL/WINTER 2023 DAY CAMP

  • Session 1: October 6, 2023
  • Session 2: November 20–22, 2023
  • Session 3: December 18–22, 2023
  • Session 4: December 26–29, 2023

REGISTER TODAY

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! 

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TIPS FOR A SMOOTH SIGN-UP

YOUR GUIDE TO DAY CAMP

Learn more about our 2023 day camps! Check out the camp descriptions below.

SAVE TIME WITH SEARCH CODESpro tip in a sun graphic

When you're ready to fill your cart, 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. CPSPEC22).

 

TRADITIONAL CAMPS

camp girl

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 all traditional camps at John A. Davis Family YMCA, or go straight to the program finder and type or copy/paste a search code (e.g., CPTRAD22) into the search bar to zero in on your camps.

❯ ❯ TRADITIONAL CAMP DESCRIPTIONS (CLICK TO EXPAND)

TRADITIONAL EXTREME

Ages 5-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPTRADEX22 FIND SESSIONS
Traditional Extreme includes lots of action-packed activities that keep your children engaged and happy — like arts & crafts, sports and games. Set in the YMCA style of different crazy activities each and every day, your camper will have a great time while parents have peace of mind knowing their camper is safe.

UTK FUN DAY

Age 4| SEARCH CODE: CPUTK22 FIND SESSIONS
This is the perfect intro for your UTK student to all the fun things the Y has to offer. Children will play games, sing songs, do arts and crafts and more during their UTK fun days!

DISCOVERY

Ages 8-9 | SEARCH CODE: CPDSC22 FIND SESSIONS
Join our Y day camp for a week of fun with all the onsite activities our camp has to offer! Campers will build self-confidence, meet new friends, and create lasting memories through different activities like sports and games, arts and crafts, science experiments and more, all based on the weekly theme and interests of the campers. Day campers will be divided into small groups by age and will participate in activities appropriate to the interests and needs of their group.

REGISTER

 

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 all specialty camps at John A. Davis Family YMCA, or go straight to the program finder and type or copy/paste a search code (e.g., CPSPEC22) into the search bar to zero in on your camps.

❯ ❯ SPECIALTY CAMP DESCRIPTIONS (CLICK TO EXPAND)

Cooking Holiday Treats

Ages 7-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPCKHT22 FIND SESSIONS
Our young culinary artists will be loaded with helpful tips and tricks, after spending a week with our talented YMCA chefs. Each day, your little chef will learn to create different delicious, tasty treats and dishes, all of which are themed for the holidays!

Slime Factory

Ages 6-10 | SEARCH CODE: CPSF22 FIND SESSIONS
Slime factory is the scientific study of all that’s NOT allowed at the dinner table. Campers will spend part of their day getting their hands dirty by using different ingredients such as glue, glitter, starch and paint to make the thickest, ooey-gooiest slime around! You won’t want to miss this one - it’s slime time!

REGISTER

 

 

About Us

Our Branch

JOHN A. DAVIS FAMILY YMCA
Address: 8881 Dallas St, La Mesa, CA 91942
Phone: (858) 484-8788
 

Camp Locations and Hours of Operation

John A. Davis Family YMCA
Address: 8881 Dallas St, La Mesa, CA 91942
Camp Hours:Full-day: 8:00am-5:00pm
Drop-off: 8:00-9:00 am
Pick-up: 3:00-5:00pm 

Directors and Supervisors

CAMP DIRECTOR
Marissa Armas
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (619) 464-9622

About Our Staff

The John A. Davis Family YMCA 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 season. See our Refund/Voucer/Transfer Policies for more information.

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.

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 Marissa Amras at [email protected], with any questions, comments or concerns!