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Day Camp

Stretching Imaginations, Learning, & Playing

For more than a century, the Y’s Day Camps have empowered Chicagoland’s youth to do mighty things — make friends, have life-shaping experiences, develop new skills, and, of course, have fun!

At the YMCA of Metro Chicago, we believe in the power of play. At Y Day Camp, we play for fun and for progress. And we can’t wait to see how youth discover their favorite ways to play all summer long!

Register While Space is Available

Don’t miss out on the summer of a lifetime! Day Camp registration opens in-person and online at 5 a.m. March 1, 2024 for members and March 15, 2024 for non-members and our camps are filling up quickly. So grab a spot before they’re all gone and get ready to jump into a world of fun and creative exploration! 

Register for Day Camp

Find the Right Day Camp For You

Whether it's participating in an array of engaging and recreational activities at Traditional Camp, learning sports skills and strategies at one of our sports and aquatics camps, or blasting off into fun at Space Camp, the Y has a Day Camp for you. We’ve even put together this extensive (but helpful!) e-brochure that showcases all of the programs available at the Y!

View the E-Brochure

Keeping Children Happy, Safe & Engaged All Summer Long

A typical Day Camp schedule includes an ice-breaking welcome activity, hands-on learning time, reading time, and unstructured choice time — plus a goal review to wrap up the day! These well-crafted schedules provide a balance of growth and learning, and fun and play no matter the season!

Most Summer Day Camps operate Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

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Explore Our Teen Leadership Camps 

Leader-in-Training (LIT) is our most powerful program for the development of teens in Metropolitan Chicago. For younger teens (grades 9 & 10), LIT is designed to develop the skills needed for success in high school, employment opportunities, and life in general. 

Counselors In Training (CIT) is for teens who want to learn how to be camp counselors. They will work with our site summer camp team to plan and lead camp activities, engage in skill development, and take a deeper dive into what it means to be a professional role model at camp, in a safe and well-supervised environment. 

Full STEAM Ahead with our Specialty Camps!

Want to step into the shoes of a master tinkerer, a robotics engineer, a crafter, or a detective? Interested in experimenting with LEGO blocks, editing movies, or creating inventive works of art? Exploring topics in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM), these special-interest camps are sure to delight, challenge, and inspire!  

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Keeping Youth Safe All Summer Long

Under the supervision of our experienced staff that are trained in first aid, CPR, child-abuse prevention, water safety, and health and safety protocols, youth will experience a full day of play, exploration, learning, and personal growth. Many of our counselors and staff themselves attended Y Day Camp, which has ignited their own passions for helping youth make friends, develop skills, and — of course — have fun.

Preschool Age Children

The summer is a great time to start! Success starts early! That’s why the Buehler YMCA, Sage YMCA and Fry Family YMCA offers DCFS-licensed, year-round Early Learning programs for 2.5- 5 -year olds. Our teachers are professionally trained and DCFS- certified, with continual professional development to ensure the best and most current practices in the classroom are happening.

Our preschool programs offer children the ability to learn through play and to confidently explore and build positive self-esteem. Our preschool Creative Curriculum promotes individual children’s growth through play, investigation, exploration and creativity.  

We provide a catered nutritional breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack, weekly swimming for full-time children when instructors are available, an indoor and outdoor play area, weekly library visits and field trips. 

Partners

  • The Y’s typical Day Camp schedule includes a welcome activity, opening circle/check-in, experiential learning time, snack time, physical activity, lunch, literacy, intentional choice time, closing circle and goal review.
  • Whether you want to step into the shoes of a master tinkerer, a robotics engineer, a chef, or a detective, we have Specialty Camps just for the camper in your life! Campers will explore topics in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Match (STEAM), which are sure to delight, challenge, and inspire. Find the right Specialty Day Camp program and burn off some STEAM!
  • The YMCA is committed to the health, safety, and wellbeing of all of our campers!

    Handwashing procedures are reinforced and integrated into activities throughout the day. 

    Campers should bring a labeled water bottle with them every day. Touchless water filling stations will be made available to campers and staff. 

    Enhanced cleaning protocols are in place, including the frequent sterilization on high touch objects, surfaces, and toys, as well as overnight deep cleaning of our facilities. 

    Staff will go through extensive training to be prepared to carry out all the safety procedures required.
  • Registration opens March 1, 2024 and can be completed online, at your local Y, or via phone. If you prefer to contact our team, please call 773-905-5115 (Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.). 
  • Fifteen — YES, FIFTEEN — locations across Chicagoland offer Day Camp! 

    These locations include:  *Day Camp programming is held at neighboring schools throughout the summer. More information will be available as part of the registration process. 

    * YMCA Safe ‘n Sound will also be held at neighboring locations. 

  • All campers participating in Traditional Day Camp and Specialty Camp are required to put down a non-refundable deposit per week of camp. If you are using the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and have a copay under $100 or have siblings with $0 copay, no deposit is needed. 

    All campers must be fully paid in full by the Wednesday prior to attending the week of camp. A $15 late fee will be added for payments made after the Wednesday before the week of camp, which is due before the first day of the camp week.  

    Once your summer camp week(s) ends and if you do not plan on further using your Y membership, the membership must be canceled by the membership department/front desk. Please note, there is a minimum of 5 business days’ notice before your next drafting date that is required and membership cancelation must be completed by the 15th of the month. Any membership cancellation will be effective as of the next billing cycle. The cancellation may be made in person or email with receipt of confirmation. All campers must hold a valid youth or family Y membership to receive the member rate, and it must remain valid until September 1, 2024.   

    Do you accept Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) funds? 
    Our program is eligible for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), which may cover some of the cost of care. To qualify the applicant must: 

    1. Live in Illinois 
    2. Be employed and/or going to an eligible educational activity (high school, trade school, college, etc.) 
    3. Have children younger than 13 that need care while you are working or going to school 
    4. Have income below allowable limits – check at https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=118832  


    If you would like assistance in applying for CCAP, please contact the Enrollment Coordinator. 

    Foglia YMCA, Indian Boundary YMCA and Elmhurst YMCA 
    Annette Schafer, Enrollment Coordinator 
    312-978-7743| [email protected] 

    Buehler YMCA and Sage YMCA 
    Lamya Cristillo, Enrollment Coordinator 
    312-545-1730 | [email protected]  

    South Side YMCA 
    Ari Osuna 
    312-975-2680 | [email protected] 

    Rauner YMCA, Peterson YMCA and New Field YMCA 
    Nicole Rodriguez Jalomo 
    773-988-0644 | [email protected]  

    Lake View YMCA and Kelly Hall YMCA 
    LaVerne Mayomi  
    312-890-8567 | [email protected] 

    Irving Park YMCA and McCormick YMCA 
    Karen Figueroa 
    312-285-9135| [email protected] 

    All camp CCAP applications need to be submitted by April 15 to be considered for the 2024 camp season. 

  • The YMCA provides financial aid for families in need. Applications for Financial Assistance are available at the Member Experience Desk during regular business hours, or you can find the application at this link. 
  • All paperwork, including the emergency packet, is due the Wednesday before your child attends camp. Campers will not be permitted into their day camp without receipt of these documents. Documents are provided to you when you register your child(ren). 

    If your camper has a medical need requiring medication during camp (routine or emergency medication), the Permission to Dispense Medication form must be completed and turned into your Camp Director. Additionally, any camper with an allergy requiring emergency medication must have a Severe Allergy & Anaphylaxis form on file as well. 

    All camp CCAP and financial aid applications need to be submitted by April 15 to be considered for the 2024 camp season. 
    • Camp deposits for all camps are non-refundable.
    • Camp deposits for all camps are non-transferable.
    • All specialty camps have a deposit, to be paid like traditional camps.
    • All cancellations must be in writing 14 business days prior to the start of registered camp week and will be issued as a voucher for use toward other Y fees. The deposit will be forfeited.
    • All cancellations made less than 14 business days prior to the start of registered camp week will be non refundable and non transferable.
    • In the event the YMCA cancels a camp week, all money paid, including the deposit is refunded.Camp deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.

    Refunds required due to third-party approval will be processed two weeks after the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) approval letter arrives at the center. 

  • No! The Y is for everyone, and you do not have to be a member to participate in Day Camp. However, members do receive a discount* and early access to registration. 

    *All campers must hold an active and valid youth, household, or family membership at the YMCA of Metro Chicago to receive the member rate, and it must remain active and valid until at least September 1. If membership is terminated prior to September 1, 2024, the non-member rate is due on all camp registrations after the date the membership is terminated.