WELCOME TO DAY CAMP AT JOE AND MARY MOTTINO FAMILY YMCA
Your family can count on Joe and Mary Mottino 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!
SUMMER 2023 DAY CAMP SIGN-UPS
- Weekly sessions: June 8 - August 15
REGISTER TODAY
MEMBERS SAVE ON CAMP!
YMCA members save an average of 15% on camp — one whole summer adds up to a whole lot of savings!
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 SUMMER DAY CAMP
Learn more about our Summer 2023 day camps! View the digital version of Joe and Mary Mottino Family YMCA's summer camp guide here or check out the camp descriptions below, and view a list of camps by week here (PDF) and view descriptions below.
SAVE TIME WITH SEARCH CODES
When you're ready to fill your cart with a summer's worth of camps, 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. CPSPEC40).
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 all traditional camps at Joe and Mary Mottino Family YMCA, or go straight to the program finder and type or copy/paste a search code (e.g., CPTRAD40) into the search bar to zero in on your camps.
CHALLENGERS
Ages 10-13 | SEARCH CODE: CPCHL40 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.
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CLUB 6/7
Ages 6-7 | SEARCH CODE: CPCL40 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.
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DISCOVERY
Ages 8-9 | SEARCH CODE: CPDCS40 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.
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HIGH FIVES
Age 5 | SEARCH CODE: CPHF40 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.
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LIT FIELDWORK
Ages 14-16 | SEARCH CODE: CPLITF40 FIND SESSIONS
LIT Fieldwork is an opportunity for teens who have successfully completed our training course to use their leadership skills in the field of camp and enjoy the rewards of working with the YMCA’s incredible staff team. Teens will experience various camp programs, 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. Teens will be placed into age-appropriate camps prior to the start of the fieldwork week. Join our team in making a difference in the lives of many young campers this summer while earning school-required or volunteer service hours!
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LIT TRAINING
Ages 14-16 | SEARCH CODE: CPLITT40 FIND SESSIONS
The LIT training program is designed for older campers to obtain the skills they need to become a Camp Leader. Teens will learn what it takes to work with campers and gain real world work and life experience through communication skills, management techniques, and building their self-confidence. LIT’s will also receive CPR and First Aid training. The LIT program is required each year for all participants regardless of past experience in the program.
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BEFORE & AFTER EXTENDED CARE
Ages 5-13 | SEARCH CODE: CPEC40 FIND SESSIONS
Extended care is intended to provide parents with additional resources and care for their child.
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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 Joe and Mary Mottino Family YMCA, or go straight to the program finder and type or copy/paste a search code (e.g., CPSPEC40) into the search bar to zero in on your camps.
Adventure Traveling
Ages 9-13 | SEARCH CODE: CPADVT40 FIND SESSIONS
Camp Join the ultimate adventure of exploring fun and exciting attractions in the North County area! Campers will travel around North County for age-appropriate field trip spots while playing games, singing songs and other fun-filled camp activities. Destinations may change weekly. Campers are divided into age-appropriate groups for activities.
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American Girl Doll
Ages 5-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPAGD40 FIND SESSIONS
Led by Kristen Washington, the official American Girl brand influencer, campers can take an adventure with the American Girl Doll stories! Using different dolls as our guide, we will walk through history learning about our favorite American Girls. Campers are encouraged to bring their doll every day, but they are not required.
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Art Adventure
Ages 6-11 | SEARCH CODE: CPARTA40 FIND SESSIONS
Campers will get a chance to explore the wonderful world of art by adventuring through different forms of art. Your artist will learn about famous artists and create masterpieces using their techniques. Campers will learn about color design, line texture, and balance in this awesome camp!
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Dance
Ages 6-10 | SEARCH CODE: CPDNC40 FIND SESSIONS
Campers will have daily dance lessons to learn several styles of dance and improve their technique and coordination. Campers will work together with our dance instructors to create a routine that they will learn and practice all week.
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Dessert Island
Ages 6-11 | SEARCH CODE: CBDI40 FIND SESSIONS
Campers will focus on creating magnificent desserts of all kinds. From cakes and cookies to homemade ice cream and puddings, this camp will surely satisfy! Although some healthy options will be explored, sugar and spice and all things nice will make up this week of camp!
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Disney Adventures
Ages 5-9 | SEARCH CODE: CPDISA40 FIND SESSIONS
Who is your favorite Disney character? Ariel? Stitch? Mickey? Everyone is a Disney character in this wonderful week of exciting Disney Adventures! Campers will combine arts & crafts, drama & creative play as they explore their favorite Disney characters.
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Edible Science
Ages 7-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPES40 FIND SESSIONS
Discover the kitchen chemistry that leads to some of your campers favorite treats. Campers will learn as we enjoy consuming our science experiments. This hands-on adventure will engage the minds while whetting their appetites.
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Funster Detectives
Ages 5-6 | SEARCH CODE: CPFDT40 FIND SESSIONS
A simplified version of our returning detective camps, Funster Detectives will test campers’ ability to problem-solve using age-appropriate items. This camp is a great way for our youngest campers to test their comprehension of items such as letters, numbers, colors, pattern recognition, and simplified logic puzzles that will be the basis of our mysteries and can be adjusted in difficulty by our educator to match your child’s comprehension level.
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Jr. Zookeeper
Ages 5-10 | SEARCH CODE: CPJRZK40 FIND SESSIONS
Calling all animal lovers! Become a zookeeper with visits from multiple animals throughout the week! Learn how to be a zookeeper on this epic animal adventure.
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Karate
Ages 7-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPKRT40 FIND SESSIONS
Every great journey begins with one step. This camp will help your Karate Kid hone in on skills in the martial arts. Campers will learn traditional karate techniques in addition to learning how to defend themselves. If your camper is tired of the same old summer and ready to get up and move around, this camp is for you!
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LEGO-Builders
Ages 5-9 | SEARCH CODE: CPLGB40 FIND SESSIONS
Campers will be working together to build marvels of architecture and creatures that come to life with LEGO! Daily building objectives and engineering challenges will keep campers engaged every day of camp!
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LEGO-Mation
Ages 7-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPLGM40 FIND SESSIONS
Inspired by The LEGO Movie and the other LEGO movies it spawned, this camp is an adaptation of our long-running and popular Claymation camp, but the videos in this camp will be made using LEGO bricks and figurines for the scenery, props and characters.
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Master of DIY
Ages 6-11 | SEARCH CODE: CPMDIY40 FIND SESSIONS
Pinterest lovers unite! This camp will let campers explore their creative side! Campers will have focused Do-It-Yourself projects daily and fun take-home projects. Campers will also participate in unique DIY challenges that encourage innovation, creativity and imagination.
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Minecraft YouTube
Ages 7-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPMYT40 FIND SESSIONS
Gaming on YouTube is a really big thing these days, and why wouldn’t it be? It combines two of the most awesome things kids can do! This camp is exactly that! Campers will be playing this awesome game while in front of the camera (This is not a live stream, and profanity or inappropriate actions will not be tolerated). In addition, we will be doing short lessons in acting so campers will be able to let their personality show through during the game and will be able to make the highest quality video they can. Does your child have what it takes to be the next big YouTube gamer?
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Musical Theatre
Ages 7-14 | SEARCH CODE: CPMT40 FIND SESSIONS
Take the stage in musical theatre camp! This camp will take campers through the various aspects of theatre, and the steps that go into creating a successful performance at any level of theatre. Your child will work with our professional actors/theatre directors as we go through casting, rehearsal, stage and prop design, choreography and much more; all leading up to the matinée performance at the end of the week. This camp is a great way to build confidence and public speaking skills! It also sets the groundwork for aspiring theater artists.
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Nerf Camp
Ages 7-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPNERF40 FIND SESSIONS
Nerf camp is a great way to stay active and have a TON OF FUN this summer. This camp will encourage teamwork and strategy building through the use of obstacles and games like capture the flag, Nerf tag and so much more!
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Pokèmon Trainers
Ages 5-9 | SEARCH CODE: CPPKMT40 FIND SESSIONS
Trainers Calling all aspiring Pokèmon Masters, this camp is for YOU! Campers can bring in all of their Pokèmon Cards and will have the opportunity to battle their friends! Campers will enjoy creating their own Pokèmon characters, designing a storyline and even learn the history of Pokèmon.
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Silly, Sloppy Camp
Ages 7-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPSSC40 FIND SESSIONS
Let’s have some silly, sloppy and slimy fun in the sun this summer. We will play a variety of goofy, wet & messy games each day. Please wear your bathing suit.
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Slime Factory
Ages 5-11 | SEARCH CODE: CPSF40 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!
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Soccer Skills & Drills
Ages 6-11 | SEARCH CODE: CPSCSD40 FIND SESSIONS
Soccer fans will get a kick out of this camp! The YMCA will provide instruction featuring daily clinics, scrimmages and tournament play. Drills will focus on dribbling, passing, shooting and position techniques.
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Splash
Ages TBA | SEARCH CODE: CPSPLSH40 FIND SESSIONS
Make this summer a splash in our most popular summer camp program! Campers will receive a swim lesson Monday-Thursday by a certified swim instructor. They will enjoy free swim time in the morning and afternoon in the main pool. Please pack sunscreen and a hat for protection from the sun. Campers will also enjoy other fun games and activities all week long!
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Sports Galore
Ages 7-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPSG40 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.
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Top Chef
Ages 7-12 | SEARCH CODE: CPTC40 FIND SESSIONS
Top Chef camp teaches campers how to make a wide variety of different foods using a wide variety of cooking methods. Children will learn how to perform cooking methods such as proper cutting, boiling, and pan frying in as safe an environment as possible, and under the watchful eyes of some of our most experienced teachers. Your camper will learn how to make dishes from a variety of different cultures. We cater to different dietary restrictions and needs, so if your child has any allergies or other dietary restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, lactose intolerant, etc.) please let us know when signing your child up so we can alter our material appropriately.
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REGISTER
About Us
Our Branch
JOE AND MARY MOTTINO FAMILY YMCA
Address: 4701 Mesa Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056
Phone: (760) 758-0808
Camp Locations and Hours of Operation
Address: 4701 Mesa Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056
Phone: (760) 758-0808
Address: 221 North Emerald Way, Vista, CA 92083
Phone: (760) 758-0808
Day Camp Hours:
8:00am - 4:00pm
Camp Hours: Drop-off: 8:00am – 9:00 am | Pick-up: 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Extended Care Hours: Drop-off: 7:30am – 8:00am | Pick-up: 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Directors and Supervisors
CAMP DIRECTORS AND SUPERVISORS
Gage Daniel
Camp Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (760) 758-0808 ext. 1922
About Our Staff
Joe and Mary Mottino 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 summer. See our Refund/Voucer/Transfer Policies for more information.
Waitlists
When a day camp session is full, you may add your child to a waitlist enrollment — choose "Join Waitlist" during the registration process when signing up online. We’ll provide an update via email that lists all day camps with open availability. Registration is first come, first served. We recommend that families check the website often, as other spaces may become available prior to email communications going out.
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 this summer.
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, Gage Daniel at [email protected], with any questions, comments or concerns!
