WELCOME TO DAY CAMP AT DAN MCKINNEY FAMILY YMCA

Your family can count on Dan McKinney 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 2024 SESSIONS

  • October 4, 2024
  • November 11, 2024
  • November 25–27, 2024

REGISTER TODAY

MEMBERS SAVE

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!

Y COMMUNITY PLUS MEMBERSHIP

  • Up to 15% off day camp and up to 10% off overnight camp. This rate also applies to active members who have not yet upgraded to one of our new membership plans.

Y COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP

  • Up to 10% off day and overnight camps.

     

    TIPS FOR A SMOOTH SIGN-UP

    Please note that you must create a My Y account in order to register. If you are new to the Y, you can set up your account now. If you already have an account, please log in prior to registering to make sure your profile is complete with payment method, valid email address, child's birth date and full name, etc

    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. CPSPEC28).


    YOUR GUIDE TO DAY CAMP

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


    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 Dan McKinney Family YMCA, or go straight to the program finder and type or copy/paste a search code (e.g., CPTRAD28) into the search bar to zero in on your camps.

    ❯ ❯ TRADITIONAL CAMP DESCRIPTIONS (CLICK TO EXPAND)

    HIGH FIVES

    Age 5 | SEARCH CODE: CPHF28 FIND SESSIONS
    High Fives is a perfect fit for our younger campers. With staff supervision at low ratios, campers will spend their action-packed days doing arts and crafts, science projects, playing games and learning new skills.

    CIT FIELDWORK

    Age 16-17 | SEARCH CODE: CPCITF28 FIND SESSIONS
    LITs and CITs will be placed into various age-appropriate camps where they will assist in the daily operations of camp and receive valuable on-the-job experience that will help build a strong foundation for either a recreational or childcare career.

    *Must have previously completed LIT/CIT Training or Renewal Summer 2024 to register for LIT/CIT Fieldwork.

    LIT FIELDWORK

    Age 13-15 | SEARCH CODE: CPLIT28 FIND SESSIONS
    LITs and CITs will be placed into various age-appropriate camps where they will assist in the daily operations of camp and receive valuable on-the-job experience that will help build a strong foundation for either a recreational or childcare career.

    *Must have previously completed LIT/CIT Training or Renewal Summer 2024 to register for LIT/CIT Fieldwork.

    TRADITIONAL EXTREME

    Ages 5-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPTRADEX28 FIND SESSIONS
    Our camps are an exciting way to spend a school break! We include lots of action-packed activities that keep your children engaged and happy, like arts & crafts, sports and games, science experiments, and more! Set in the YMCA style of different activities each and every day, your camper will have a great time while parents have peace of mind knowing their camper is safe.

    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 Dan McKinney Family YMCA, or go straight to the program finder and type or copy/paste a search code (e.g., CPSPEC28) into the search bar to zero in on your camps.

    ❯ ❯ SPECIALTY CAMP DESCRIPTIONS (CLICK TO EXPAND)

    EDIBLE SCIENCE

    Ages 8-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPES28 FIND SESSIONS
    Science you can eat? Just the perfect combination. This camp will focus on learning about science through edible treats and also creating delicious food while learning about the science behind the cooking process. Campers will leave the camp week with a full tummy and a full mind!

    Gymnastics

    Ages 6-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPGYM28 FIND SESSIONS
    A camp you’ll flip over! Watch your child grow in confidence as they learn new skills on the floor, bars, beam and vault. Campers will be put in smaller groups of up to 10 kids based on age and ability to practice their gymnastics skills throughout the week. Each day, our gymnasts will spend two-and-a-half hours of gymnastics time in addition to do other camp activities such as arts and crafts, and sports and games. 

    LEGO Builders Jr.

    Ages 5-7 | SEARCH CODE: CPLGB28 FIND SESSIONS
    This intense LEGO building camp is for the extreme LEGO camper. In this camp, your child will have the opportunity
    to gain hands-on experience working with LEGOs, gears, motors, and other building mechanisms. Campers will have the opportunity to use their imagination to create their own structures and masterpieces.

    Nonmember: TBA | Y Community Member: TBA | Y Community Plus Member: TBA

    Outrageous Art

    Ages 7-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPOART28 FIND SESSIONS
    Get ready to take art to the next level! Campers will learn about different artists and their art forms and will be able to create their own masterpieces through the use of a variety of art mediums like painting, pastels, clay, water colors and more. Be prepared, this camp is sure to be a little messy and a lot of fun!

    Sports Galore

    Ages 7-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPSG28 FIND SESSIONS
    Why pick one sport when you can play them all? Each day will focus on a different sport such as soccer, basketball, football, Dodge ball and more. Sports galore camp is designed to teach children recreational sports and the value of exercise. Focus will be placed on team play and skill development.

    REGISTER

    About Us

    Our Branch

    Dan McKinney Family YMCA
    Address: 8355 Cliffridge Ave., La Jolla, CA, 92037
    Phone: (858) 453-3483

    Camp Locations and Hours of Operation

    Dan McKinney Family YMCA
    Address: 8355 Cliffridge Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
    Camp Hours: 
    Full day
    : 8:00am–4:00pm
    Drop-off: 8:00–9:00am | Pick-up: 3:15–4:00pm
    Extended Care: 4:00–5:30pm*
    *Extended care is included for camp sessions three days or less and will be an extra fee for camp sessions four days or more.

    Directors and Supervisors

    Hannah Lewis
    Camp Director
    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: (858) 453-3483  ext. 1832

    Reese Kirkpatrick
    Camp Coordinator
    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: (858) 453-3483 ext. 2662

    About Our Staff

    Dan McKinney 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 $60 non-refundable deposit). 
    • Place a $60 non-refundable deposit at the time of registration. Deposit discounts may apply based on membership type.
      • Note: any day camps less than three days will have no deposit and will require to be paid in full at time of registration.
    • For Summer sessions, balances will be due three weeks prior to the first day of camp.
      • For school break camps, balance dues will be one week before the camp date.
    • An active membership is required at the time of the program start date to receive the member pricing discount.

    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/Voucher/Transfer Policies for more information.

    Here's what our parents tell us:

    "My child came home so happy and didn’t want to leave at the end of the day. He said it was the best camp EVER and loved all his camp counselors!"


    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. Additional information can be found on the YMCA of San Diego County Day Camp page. 

    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. 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.

    ADAPTIVE CAMP

    Our Adaptive  Camp Program is a designed to support youth with behavioral and developmental needs as it adapts the camp experience to your child's needs and abilities, allowing opportunities for all campers to learn new skills, form new friendships and create lifetime memories. Campers will participate in activities with our traditional and specialty camps based on their interests at a pace that works for them. Our smaller camper-to-staff ratio for Adaptive Camp supports positive inclusion and/or one-on-one support as needed. Space is limited.  

    PLEASE NOTE: Contact the Camp Director and/or Coordinator to initiate an enrollment request and help us prepare a great experience for your camper.  We begin accepting enrollment requests on March 4, 2024 and strive to provide at least one week of camp to all interested families. 

    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 Camp Director Hannah Lewis at [email protected], with any questions, comments or concerns!