YMCA Day Camp 2024
Day Camp 2024
- Monday-Friday
- Dates: June 12th-August 23rd. No program on July 4th and July 5th.
- Times: 7:45 am – 5:15 pm
- Cost: $45/day
- Ages: 5-12 years
- Location: Cook County YMCA
Day Camp is all about discovery. Kids have the opportunity to explore nature, find new talents, try new activities, gain independence, and make lasting friendships and memories. And, of course, it’s fun too! Families will complete the Day Camp Questionnaire when registering online.
Camper Activities
Campers will be able to use the YMCA gymnasium facility, ISD 166 and Community Center grounds, Grand Marais Harbor, as well as other community areas.
- Nature play (fort building, scavenger hunts, hikes, nature games, gardening, bug catching, etc)
- Large motor play in the gym
- Outdoor cooking
- Arts and Crafts
- Journaling/reading/writing
- Water fun (open swim in the pool, sprinkler fun, and stream exploration)
- Board games and card games
- Free play on the playgrounds
- Sports (kickball, gaga, dodgeball, soccer, archery, etc)
Registration
Registration will open on Monday, March 4th at 8:00 am. Registration will be available online and at the YMCA Member Services Desk. Weekly and daily rates are available. Registration will close by the Thursday of the week before the date(s) of camp or when the date(s) of day camp is full.
Waitlist: If a day is full, participants can register for the waitlist.
Preparing for a fun and safe day is essential! Participants should bring the following items every day to camp.
Lunch
Reusable water bottle
Non-sharable sunscreen/bug spray (to leave at camp)
Hat/cap
Shoes for walking
Rain gear/change of clothes
Swimsuits and towel
We ask that participants do not bring electronic devices to day camp.
Children should come to day camp only if they are healthy and symptom-free. Please refer to the Guardian Handbook for more information on when kids should not attend camp.
Drop-off: The drop-off location is the Community Center playground between 7:45-8:15 AM. Parents can sign in their kids with the YMCA staff member on the path between the big kids playground and the toddler's playground. Between 8:30-9:15 AM campers should be dropped off at the ISD 166 cafeteria during breakfast.
Pick-up: The pick-up location is the Sawtooth Elementary Playground between 4:00-5:15 PM.
If campers need to be dropped off or picked up at other times, please contact the YMCA desk to find out the location of the group and where to meet the staff.
Participants must bring a packed lunch for each day of camp. Snacks are provided by the YMCA.
We are happy to accommodate campers' dietary needs. If your camper has dietary restrictions you can share details by answering a few questions during the registration process or by emailing Agraybeal@cookcountyymca.org.
Deposits and Payments: During registration, a non-refundable deposit for each day/week will be due for payment. The remainder of the fees are due weekly on Fridays to cover fees for the following week through an automatic payment on a credit/debit card or bank draft.
Cancellations and Refunds: Cancellations made by the 1st of the month for program dates within that month will be refunded minus the deposit. After the 1st of each month, program fees are non-refundable.
The YMCA offers financial assistance to keep this program affordable. If you need assistance, download and complete this application and submit it to Alex Gugala, agugala@cookcountyymca.org.
To apply for financial assistance towards Day Camp, download the application here. Complete the form and submit it with supporting documents to the YMCA in person or by email to agraybeal@cookcountyymca.org. Any required documents must be submitted to the Y with the application before the application will be complete and considered. We want to ensure that assistance goes to those most in need. By providing us with appropriate information on your family’s income and size, we can award aid fairly and consistently.
All of the scholarships provided come from donations made by Y members, generous community members, & gifts from area businesses & organizations. We work hard all year long to fundraise for this campaign to help make the services of the Y affordable for everyone. At this time the Summer Day Camp Program does not accept childcare assistance funds from the state.
YMCA Day Camp Program Evaluations
Evaluations are a valuable tool used to measure participant satisfaction, personal impact, and our ability to meet program objectives. The results of these evaluations help us make important decisions. We thank you for your time and participation.
Summer Kids Camp Program Evaluation
