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/WINTER 2023-2024 DAY CAMP

  • November 10, 2023
  • November 20–22, 2023
  • December 18–22, 2023
  • 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! 

TIPS FOR A SMOOTH SIGN-UP


YOUR GUIDE TO DAY CAMP

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).

 

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 and swim lessons from our trained Y staff. 

Extended Care

Ages 5-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPEC28 FIND SESSIONS

Registering for Extended Care provides families with additional care for their campers once the camp day ends at 4:00pm. Extended care runs 4:00–5:30pm and snacks are provided daily. * Please note that extended care is included for camp sessions 3 days or less. There will be an additional fee and registration for camp sessions 4 days or more.

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)

Art

Ages 7-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPART28  FIND SESSIONS
In our intersession art camp, campers will have the chance to explore their artistic talents and learn about the unique events and elements that make each season special. Campers will have the opportunity to use art mediums such as watercolors, pastels, paint, clay, photography, and more, as well as play games and make new friends!

Cooking

Ages 8-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPCK28 FIND SESSIONS
Grab your aprons and join us as we explore all the amazing treats and dishes that each season has to offer. Whether it’s fall, winter or spring, campers can expect to create, taste, and celebrate the flavors of the seasons through cooking, baking, decorating and more.

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 every week. Each day, our gymnasts will spend almost three hours of gymnastics time while also doing arts, crafts and games.

LEGO

Ages 7-11 | SEARCH CODE: CPLG28 FIND SESSIONS
Join us for a session filled with fun, learning, and endless LEGO possibilities! Campers will participate in various creative challenges that encourage them to think outside the box, design unique structures, and experiment with different themes.

LEGO Builders Jr.

Ages 5-7| SEARCH CODE: CPLGB28 FIND SESSIONS
This intense LEGO building camp is for the extreme LEGO lover. Campers will learn how to craft, build and construct different LEGO structures through exciting games and instruction. Campers will also have the opportunity to use their imagination to create their own structures and masterpieces.

Little Artists

Ages 5-7 | SEARCH CODE: CPLART28 FIND SESSIONS
In this camp, our little artists will be able to express themselves through creating different projects daily. Each day they will learn about a different style of art and practice what they learn. Campers will get to be creative and design their own masterpieces to share and show off. This camp may get a little messy, but it will be tons of fun!

Outrageous Art

Ages 6-12 | 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!

Little Scientists

Ages 5-7 | SEARCH CODE: CPLSC28 FIND SESSIONS
Unleash your inner scientist as we get exponentially messy. Campers will experiment with foamy explosions, gooey projects and so much more! Campers will also have fun as they participate in camp games, songs and crafts. Please send your camper to camp in clothes that can get messy.

Parkour

Ages 7-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPPRK28 FIND SESSIONS
Learn how to run, vault, flip, climb and roll over obstacles in the safety of our gymnastics center. Campers will spend time in the gym and will learn how to safely maneuver through their environment in a fun and creative way. Campers will also participate in camp activities such as art, science and games.

Rookie Sports

Ages 5-6 | SEARCH CODE: CPRSP28 FIND SESSIONS
Each week campers will learn how to play sports such as t-ball, basketball, soccer, floor hockey and other fun sports. Our camp staff will provide a fun and engaging camp environment to let your camper explore new sports and learn new skills. 

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, dodgeball and more. Sports Galore camp is designed to teach campers recreational sports and the value of exercise. Focus will be placed on team play and skill development.

Science

Ages 7-11 | SEARCH CODE: CPSCI28 FIND SESSIONS
Intersession Science camp will provide campers hands-on experiences and knowledge about the natural world, all while having fun and making new friends. Each session of camp will connect campers with the world of science as it relates to the seasons and unique events occurring during each camp.

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