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Their Best Summer Ever Starts Here

Unforgettable adventures, new friendships, and safe fun at the East Belleville YMCA.
 

Sign Up Starting Dec 26   See Weekly Schedules


Camp Hours

9 am-4 pm
Before & After Care Available from 6:30 am-6 pm

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Camp Dates

May 26 - August 7

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Weekly Rates

$140 Y Members
$180 Non-Members

MAY & JUNE CAMPS

👋 TRADITIONAL CAMP (Welcome Week)

Kickstart the summer with the ultimate friendship builder! Whether new or returning, campers will bond through high-energy team challenges, creative storytelling, and epic icebreakers. It’s all about finding your squad and making camp feel like home.

Who: Ages 5-12 | Price: $140 $112 Mem / $144 Non
Includes: Daily swim.

⚠️ Note: No Camp Monday (Memorial Day)

Register for Welcome Week 

🚀 TRADITIONAL CAMP (Space Week)

3... 2... 1... Blast off! Join the crew for a galactic adventure where campers become "astronauts of community." Through cosmic challenges and interstellar teamwork missions, we’ll explore the universe while discovering new strengths. It’s a week of gravity-defying fun to launch the summer right!

Who: Ages 5-12 | Price: $140 Mem / $180 Non
Includes: Daily swim and field trip.

Register for Space Week 


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🏈 Flag Football All-Stars
Ages: 8-12 | Focus: Athletics & Skills
Hut, Hut, Hike! Whether you're a rookie or throwing perfect spirals, this high-energy camp teaches the fundamentals of the game in a safe, non-contact environment. We focus on agility, passing, and teamwork—ending with plenty of touchdown celebrations.

Register for Flag Football > 

Calling all animal lovers! From the farmyard to the jungle, we are celebrating creatures big and small with imaginative games, animal tracking, and wild crafts.

🦁 TRADITIONAL CAMP (Animal Planet)

Who: Ages 5-12 | Price: $140 Mem / $180 Non
Includes: Daily swim and field trip.

Register for Animal Planet 

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🏴‍☠️ Pirate Week (Aquatics)
Ages: 5-12 | Focus: Swimming & Imagination
Ahoy, adventurers! Set sail for a shimmering realm of myth and magic. Beyond buried treasure, we’ll explore legendary underwater kingdoms filled with mermaids, sea dragons, and ancient folklore. It’s a blend of imaginative play and aquatic adventure for those ready to conquer the high seas.
🏊 Prerequisite: Campers must be strong swimmers and able to pass a swim test.

Register for Pirate Week > 

🤸 Gymnastics
Ages: 5-12 | Focus: Agility & Strength
Stick the landing! Whether they are brand new tumblers or balance beam pros, campers will develop strength, flexibility, and coordination. This dynamic camp focuses on building confidence and mastering skills in a safe, supportive environment.

Register for Gymnastics > 

🌊 TRADITIONAL CAMP (Ocean Explorers)

Dive into a deep-sea adventure! We’re taking a voyage beneath the waves to explore marine life, coral reefs, and the mysteries of the deep. Campers will become ocean scientists and conservationists through hands-on experiments, creative crafts, and aquatic challenges. It’s a week to spark curiosity and discover how we can protect our blue planet.

Who: Ages 5-12 | Price: $140 Mem / $180 Non
Includes: Daily swim and field trip.

Register for Ocean Explorers 


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🌱 Gardening Camp
Ages: 5-12 | Focus: Nature & Botany
Dig into fun! Young botanists will get their hands dirty exploring the secret world of plants, soil, and insects. From planting seeds to harvesting treats, campers will discover where our food comes from and build a connection with nature. It’s the perfect week for curious minds ready to grow.

Register for Gardening > 

🏅 TRADITIONAL CAMP (Y-Lympics)

Go for the Gold! The torch is lit for a week of friendly competition and Olympic-style fun. From Opening Ceremonies to the final relay, campers will tackle obstacle courses and team challenges. It’s not just about winning—it’s about sportsmanship, inclusion, and the spirit of the games.

Who: Ages 5-12 | Price: $140 Mem / $180 Non
Includes: Daily swim.

Register for Y-Lympics 


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⚾ Baseball & Softball
Ages: 8-12 | Focus: Athletics & Skills
Batter up! Step onto the diamond for a week of fielding, hitting, and base-running drills. Designed for both rookies and seasoned players, we focus on mechanics, strategy, and sportsmanship. Whether you're learning to catch or swinging for the fences, it’s a home run for fun.

Register for Baseball > 

🦈 Aquatic Adventures
Ages: 5-12 | Focus: Swimming & Marine Science
Take the plunge into the deep blue! We’re exploring the ocean’s hidden layers, from sunlit coral reefs to the mysterious midnight zone. Combining marine science with active pool time, campers will discover aquatic ecosystems through swim challenges and creative crafts. It’s a splash of learning and adventure!
🏊 Prerequisite: Campers must be strong swimmers and able to pass a swim test.

Register for Aquatic Adventures > 

JULY CAMPS

🚒 TRADITIONAL CAMP (Hometown Heroes)

Not all heroes wear capes! Join us to celebrate the real-life superheroes of our community—from firefighters to teachers. Campers will meet local legends, explore different ways to serve, and participate in "Hero Training" challenges. It’s a week dedicated to gratitude, service, and discovering the hero within.

Who: Ages 5-12 | Price: $140 Mem / $180 Non
Includes: Daily swim and field trip.

Register for Hometown Heroes 

🎨 TRADITIONAL CAMP (Spirit Week)

Show your true colors! It’s the most vibrant week of the summer. Each day we rock a specific color head-to-toe—from crazy socks to face paint—to represent the YMCA Core Values: Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. Get ready for a week of high-energy spirit, creative expression, and a whole lot of brightness!

Who: Ages 5-12 | Price: $140 Mem / $180 Non
Includes: Daily swim.

Register for Spirit Week 

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⚽ Soccer Camp
Ages: 8-12 | Focus: Athletics & Agility
GOAL! Hit the pitch for a high-energy week of footwork, passing, and scrimmages. Designed for both rookies and club players, we focus on ball control, game strategy, and teamwork. It’s all about developing skills and a love for the game in a positive, supportive environment.

Register for Soccer > 

💧 TRADITIONAL CAMP (Water Week)

Make a splash this summer! We’re beating the heat with a week dedicated to H2O. From high-energy sponge relays to soothing sensory tables and nature stream walks, campers will explore the wonders of water. It’s the ultimate way to stay cool, keep moving, and dive into fun.

Who: Ages 5-12 | Price: $140 Mem / $180 Non
Includes: Daily swim and field trip.

Register for Water Week 


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🤽 Splash Into Summer (Aquatics)
Ages: 5-12 | Focus: Swimming & Team Games
Ready, set, splash! Go for the gold in this action-packed aquatic camp. Campers will compete in high-energy water relays, team challenges, and pool games designed to build confidence and sportsmanship. It’s a wet and wild week of friendly competition!
🏊 Prerequisite: Campers must be strong swimmers and able to pass a swim test.

Register for Splash Camp > 

📖 Storybook Musical
Ages: 5-12 | Focus: Arts & Theater
Once upon a time... in a summer camp far, far away! Campers will step inside the pages of their favorite stories and become the authors of their own adventures. From building fantasy worlds and creating characters to acting out epic tales, this week is all about imagination, crafts, and storytelling magic.

Register for Storybook > 

🌲 TRADITIONAL CAMP (Nature Week)

Unplug and go wild! Nature Week is the ultimate outdoor classroom. From tracking animal footprints to discovering local ecosystems, campers will get their hands dirty with science, exploration, and creativity. It’s a week dedicated to celebrating the great outdoors and discovering the wonder right in our own backyard.

Who: Ages 5-12 | Price: $140 Mem / $180 Non
Includes: Daily swim and field trip.

Register for Nature Week 

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🏀 Basketball Camp
Ages: 8-12 | Focus: Athletics & Agility
Nothing but net! Hit the hardwood for a high-energy week of dribbling drills, shooting contests, and full-court fun. Whether you’re learning a layup or perfecting your jump shot, we focus on fundamentals, teamwork, and sportsmanship in a supportive atmosphere.

Register for Basketball > 

🎨 TRADITIONAL CAMP (Messy Week)

Leave the cleanup to us! It’s the stickiest, slimiest, most colorful week of the summer. From paint explosions to mud pies, campers will dive into hands-on sensory play that prioritizes creativity over cleanliness. Wear your old clothes, because getting messy is strictly required!

Who: Ages 5-12 | Price: $140 Mem / $180 Non
Includes: Daily swim and field trip.

Register for Messy Week 

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💧 H2O Madness (Aquatics)
Ages: 5-12 | Focus: Water Games & Fun
Prepare for the splash zone! It’s the wildest week of the summer. We’re turning up the volume with water balloon wars, wacky obstacle courses, and sponge relay chaos. H2O Madness is high-energy, totally soaked, and pure aquatic fun.
🏊 Prerequisite: Campers must be strong swimmers and able to pass a swim test.

Register for H2O Madness > 


👩‍🍳 Little Chefs
Ages: 5-12 | Focus: Cooking & Creativity
Bon Appétit! Calling all aspiring chefs. Put on your apron for a delicious week of culinary discovery. From kitchen safety basics to taste-testing new flavors, campers will whip up tasty treats and gain confidence in the kitchen. Best of all? They come home with recipes to share!

Register for Little Chefs > 

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🎉 TRADITIONAL CAMP (Celebration Week)

It’s the Grand Finale! Join us for the ultimate summer send-off. Celebration Week is high-energy, festive, and packed with carnival games, team challenges, and our special End-of-Summer awards. We’ll focus on the friendships built and the memories made in a week of pure fun and shared experiences.

Who: Ages 5-12 | Price: $140 Mem / $180 Non
Includes: Daily swim.

Register for the Final Week 

Download Family Handbook (PDF)

👤 Contact: Emily Scott, Youth & Family Director at emily.scott@gwrycma.org or 618-236-9983

📍 Camp is located at the East Belleville YMCA
 

Inclusion Services

Fostering a supportive and enriching environment for children with diverse abilities is the primary focus of inclusive and adaptive programs. The Gateway Region YMCA provides trained staff and accessible spaces to help ensure camp opportunities for every child. When you register online for Summer Day Camp, indicate any needs your child may have and the branch will email you more information and the required forms.

Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance

For families who need additional support, we are happy to offer financial assistance opportunities.

 

At the Y, we stand by the belief that everyone should have the chance to be part of the Y, irrespective of their financial means. To make this possible, we offer financial assistance to those who qualify, supported by the generous contributions to our Annual Campaign. Access the application below. We encourage you to apply early to allow processing time. Following processing, we communicate the approved amount to applicants, which is then applied to their accounts.

Apply Now

Give every child the gift of Y Summer Camp. Make a meaningful difference in a child's life with your tax-deductible donation.

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See what our camper parents say!

🏕️ Overnight Camp Lakewood

The Y's overnight summer camp in Potosi, MO is an experience like no other. YMCA Camp Lakewood brings kids ages 6-17 from all walks of life together to try new things without judgment. With a sprawling 5,000 acre campus and a private 360-acre lake, Camp Lakewood becomes a summer sanctuary accommodating various interests, ranging from paddle boarding to horseback riding to campfires and more.

Learn More

YMCA Camp Counselors are One-of-a-Kind! 

If you have talent, knowledge, and passion for working with children - and you want to work in an organization where you will be rewarded with opportunities to serve, it's time to learn more about what the Gateway Region YMCA has to offer. We offer a variety of excellent opportunities in Early Childhood Education, Y Club Before & After School Enrichment, and Summer Camp.

At the Y, counselors aren't just staff, they're role models and mentors who help campers have their best summer ever! ☀️

Apply Today