SUMMER CAMP AT THE YMCA.

At YMCA camp, every day is an adventure as well as an experience in caring, respect, honesty and responsibility. These are the values that make YMCA camping different and extraordinary.  Join us for an adventure while learning skills that last a lifetime. Click here to view the 2010 Summer Camp Brochure

Wee Backpacker Camp

(For children 3 and 4 years old who are toilet trained).

Sessions and themes:

1. June 21-25 One, Two, Three Come Explore With Me. Get  out of the heat and explore something neat.

2. July 12-16 Marvelous Messes. Getting down and dirty is really fun to do, but not always the best thing to do at home. So come to the YMCA and some good not-so-clean fun. We'll learn a lot. Don't wear white!

Mini Day Camp
Miss Cheryl, Miss Kathy and other Discovery staff head a week of outdoor adventures. Your child will enjoy a safe, positive, and enriching camp experience, designed for 4, 5, & 6 year olds who have not completed 1st grade. Mini campers visit area parks and playgrounds along with our Taylor Family Fun Pool. Activities include arts & crafts, nature, hiking, field trips, games, songs, swim time, snack and much more. Parents drop off and pick up children in Discovery Room 101.

Mini Camp sessions:

June 7-11 Trail Blazers. Explore five different hiking trails in the area. Bugs, tracks, animal homes, plants, rocks, birds and more!
June 14-18 Summer Celebrations. Make a gift for Father's Day, a T-shirt for the Fourth of July and a flag for Flag Day. Then it's off to the outdoors for more summer fun.
June 21-25 Creepy Crawly Creatures. Bugs and reptiles are the stars of this camp. For kids fascinated with some of nature's more interesting creatures.

June 28-July 2 Summer Fun. Lemonade, outdoor games, ice cream, picnics and all the stuff that makes summers great.
July 12-16 Treasure Hunt. We'll use clues, shovels, magnifying glasses and more to find treasures throughout the week.
July 19-23 Super Science. We'll conduct fun experiments and learn more about science in our world.
July 26-30 Wet & Wild. We'll focus on water in art, science and hands-on fun.
Aug. 2-6 Y Olympics. Kids participate and cheer on their friends in backyard, crazy and traditional Olympics.

Day Camp
Day Camp is a fun-filled recreational and educational program especially designed for the young camper who has completed grades K-4. Youth learn to be honest and caring, to respect and to be responsible for themselves and the environment in the natural surroundings of our area’s beautiful parks. Activities include hiking, crafts, camp lessons, life skills, nature, songs, games and swimming.

Day Camp Sessions, field trips and themes:

1. June 7-11 Where in the World is Wiley the Y Guy? Chutes & Ladders Do you love solving mysteries? Travel around the world with us and search for clues of Wiley the Y guy.
2. June 14-18 A Blast from the Past at FarmAmerica. Campers will enjoy imagining what fun it was like living in another time. We will celebrate a new era each day.
3. June 21-25 Jungle Fever at Como Zoo
Let’s go on a Safari and discover what a jungle looks like, what animals live there and what they eat. Who’s ready to Monkey Around?
4. June 28-July 2 Lost in Illusion Magic Show. If you love magic tricks then this camp is for you. Learn some tricks that even your parents wont be able to figure out.
5. July 5-9 Outrageous Outer Space Planetarium
Are you fascinated by all the stars in the sky? Then you’ll have a blast on our astronaut adventures! They’re out of this world!
6. July 12-16 Art Sampler T-shirt printing and Art Museum
Do you have the next Picasso, Van Gogh or Monet in your family? We’ll inspire and celebrate your child’s imagination with creative projects.
7. July 19-23 Sail the Seven Seas at Waseca Water Park. Set sail for a week long adventure with Captain Tiana and her crew in search of the missing treasure.
8. July 26-30 Go Green at New Ulm Putting Green Eco Center
Do you want to make a difference in the world? Engage in fun and meaningful experiences pertaining to important environmental issues.
9. Aug. 2-6 Dynamic Dinosaurs at the Reptile Zoo Is your child a dino-holic? Crazy for the Jurassic? We will meet some of today’s dinosaurs then have a roaring good time on a dinosaur dig.
10. Aug. 9-13 Sports Spectacular Vikings Training Camp
No matter what sport is your little fan’s favorite... this camp is sure to be a winner! Perfect for the spectator too.
11. Aug. 16-20 Mad Scientists at the Children’s Science Museum
Slip on the lab coats - It’s time to explore the mysterious realms of weird science!

NOTE: One Camp t-shirt is provided per child and required on all field trip dates.

Early-bird rates are $113 member, $128 non-member. After April 30, $123 member, $138 non-member.

Horse Ranch Day Camp
Horse Ranch Day Campers who have completed grades 1-4 will receive an introduction to basic horse riding and techniques as well as proper care and grooming of the animals. Additional camp activities include hiking, crafts, camp lessons, life skills, nature, songs, games and swimming. Individual levels will be assessed according to the ability and pre-knowledge of horse riding.

Horse Ranch Day Camp Sessions:

June 7-11                                                    July 5-9

June 14-18                                                 July 12-16

June 21-25                                                 July 19-23

July 26-30

Early-bird rates are $161 member, $176 non-member. After April 30, $171 member, $186 non-member.

Extra Edition Advance Horsemanship Camp
This is a great experience for any 5th or 6th grader as well as a ‘next step’ for those 4th grade campers that have enjoyed Horse Ranch Day Camp. Campers will spend their morning enhancing their riding skills and expanding their horse knowledge. The afternoons will be a new adventure; spent participating in challenging activities, as well as enjoying the outdoors at state and county parks.

Sessions and dates:

1 June 14-18

2 July 12-16

3 Aug. 9-13

Early-bird rates are $161 member, $176 non-member. After April 30,  $171 member, $186 non-member.

Fishing Camp
Your 4-6 grader will have the chance to catch that ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ fish to photograph and then release. Youth will learn about fishing techniques as we pursue Bass, Northern Pike, Pan Fish and Walleyes on lakes surrounding the Mankato area.

Sessions: June 7-11 and July 26-30.

Early-bird rates are $161 member, $176 non-member. After April 30, $171 member, $186 non-member.

Camp Patterson
A five-day resident camp for grades 2 - 6. Canoeing, swimming, fishing, hiking, crafts, archery, theater, music, games and campfire programs foster fun and learning -- all while developing confidence, skills and new friends. Parents will be mailed instructions and gear list prior to camp. Campers depart from the Y at 8 a.m. Monday and return 4 p.m. Friday.

Session 1: June 28-July 2; Session 2: Aug 2-6

Early-bird rates are $242 member, $257 non-member.
After April 30, $252 member, $267 non-member.

Teen Adventure Camps

Grades 6 – 8, Monday–Friday, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

June 21–25. Outdoor Living A well-rounded camping experience incorporating skills involving maps, compasses, orienteering, shelter- and fire-building, knot-tying, campfire cooking and more. Includes an overnight stay Friday.
Early-bird rates are $129 member, $144 non-member. After April 30, $139 member, $154 non-member.

July 19–23. Bike and Hike
An outdoor physical challenge involving bike safety, repair, maintenance and trip planning. Bikes and helmets are required for participationm, and bike storage is available.
Early-bird rates are $92 member, $107 non-member. After April 30 rates are $102 member, $117 non-member.

Aug. 16–20. Media Camp
Newspaper writing, radio announcing, journaling, fiction and non-fiction writing, photography and interviewing skills are explored. Campers will meet professionals in various communications fields.
Early-bird rates are $92 member, $107 non-member. After April 30,$102 member, $117 non-member.

Candy Sale & Scholarship Program
The YMCA has a candy sale program to help children earn their way to camp. All Day and Resident Campers who are planning on applying for financial assistance are asked to participate in the Candy Sale. To participate in the Candy Sale, you must register by marking ‘Yes’ on your camp registration form and attend the Mandatory Sales Meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, at the YMCA. An adult must attend this meeting with the camper. Candy will be distributed at this meeting.