Summer Starts Here
Discover a summer of fun at the YMCA! Our age-tailored camps cater to preschoolers, teens, and everyone in between across 20+ convenient St. Louis and Metro East locations. Choose from Traditional Day Camp or Special Interest Camps, with Before and After Camp Care available to extend hours. Offerings may differ by location, so explore our exciting camp lineups at a YMCA near you!
Traditional Summer Camp
Offered throughout the summer, Traditional Camps are designed for a wide variety of conventional interests that may include arts & crafts, group games, nature exploration, swimming, field trips and more. Camps are themed weekly. Most activities are held outdoors with indoor activities provided based on the day and theme. Campers are divided into groups by grade level or age.
Special Interest Camps
Special Interest Camps are designed to offer activities focused on a particular interest while incorporating traditional Y camp principles. Camp size may be smaller and may be offered indoors or outdoors based on activities. From 9 am - noon, campers participate in their special interest camp. From noon - 4 pm, campers participate in traditional camp activities.
Special Interest Camps include Aquatics, Arts & Humanities, Sports, Gymnastics, Teens & More!
Teen Camps
Civics & Service Academy
Through interactive workshops and guest speakers, participants will develop skills in advocacy, public service, and organizational leadership - preparing them for future roles in government, policy, and nonprofit work.
Emotional Wellness & Skillbuilding
Designed to help teens become their best selves by discovering their strengths, leadership style, and unlocking their personal growth path.
Fun Club Before & After Camp Care
Fun Club, the Y's Before & After Camp Care, is available as an add-on to all camps at an additional fee. Fun Club allows campers to arrive as early as 7 am and/or stay as late as 6 pm. Fun Club is available for campers ages 5-12.
Counselor in Training
The CIT program offers teens the opportunity to gain practical experience working with campers while cultivating essential skills and knowledge. The program's primary goal is to empower teens with leadership abilities that extend to their school, home, and community life.
Applications should be submitted by April 11, 2025. Applicants undergo an interview and screening process.
Additional Camp Information
Welcome to the world of YMCA Summer Day Camp, where each day promises a new adventure! We are devoted to creating unforgettable camping experiences, and we have designed our Camp Parent Handbook to be a helpful guide for you.
Welcome to Inclusion & Adaptive Support Services, whether you're a returning or first-time Summer Day Camp participant. 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.
Key Points to Note:
- Registrations are processed based on the order of receipt at the branch and subsequently by the organization's Inclusion & Adaptive Support Services department
- To avoid delay in the registration process, fully complete and provide all requested documents.
- Please allow at least two weeks for processing, especially during peak Summer Day Camp enrollment times.
- Your child's start date depends on the staffing and capacity situation at the branch, regardless of their support needs.
- We ensure information is securely handled per HIPAA guidelines.
- Additional information may be requested.
The Gateway Region YMCA is committed to serving individuals without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected factor. Our goal is to provide inclusive opportunities for all community members in our programs. While we make every effort to accommodate, there may be situations where a child's needs exceed the scope of our recreational, non-therapeutic programs.
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.
Give every child the gift of Y Summer Camp. Make a meaningful difference in a child's life with your tax-deductible donation.
Nationally Recognized Safety
Y Summer Day Camp is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all children. We're proud to have earned Praesidium Accreditation®, the highest honor in abuse risk management, demonstrating our dedication to the well-being of every child in our care.
Activities vary by location but may include swimming, arts & crafts, sports, nature exploration, games, and character-building exercises.
Camp hours vary by location. Some branches offer extended care through Fun Club before and after regular camp hours.
Yes, scholarships are available through the YMCA Annual Campaign for eligible families. A completed application and supporting documents are required.
Campers should wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes. Swimwear and a towel should be brought on swim days.
Registration can be completed online or at your local YMCA branch. All forms must be fully completed, and immunizations must be current.
Refunds are issued if cancellation is made in writing at least two weeks before the camp session starts. Deposits are non-refundable.
Field trips are included in the camp fee, but campers must wear their Y camp T-shirt on trip days for safety.
Minor injuries are treated on-site, and parents are notified via an accident report. For serious injuries, 911 will be called, and parents will be contacted immediately.
Medications must be in their original packaging and accompanied by a completed Medication Authorization form.
Children with symptoms of contagious illnesses must stay home. A doctor's note may be required for reentry to camp.
Campers should bring a water bottle, healthy lunch, snack (if in Fun Club), sunscreen, and a swimsuit and towel on swim days. Electronic devices and valuables are not allowed.
Parents must sign their child in and out daily. A valid ID and family password are required for pickup by authorized individuals.
Ratios range from 1:10 to 1:12 depending on the camp and age group.
See what our camper parents say!
She has been happily at camp for four summers now! Not only has she made new friends, she has learned new skills and has a boosted confidence with all of the YMCA skills she has learned throughout the years.
— YMCA Camp Parent
All of the counselors over the years have been wonderful to my daughter and have made a big impact on her life from an early start. It really does take a village and the YMCA is a big help.
— YMCA Camp Parent
I am a single mom and the YMCA helped me with Summer Camp costs for several summers. My son had fantastic, fun-filled summers!
— YMCA Camp Parent
Last year, the Gateway Region YMCA saw...
day camp participants
served by our Inclusion & Adaptive Support Services
in Go for Green, lessons for campers who haven’t passed their swim test
Overnight YMCA 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.
Become a Counselor
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.