Youth Camps

Yes, financial aid is available to those who qualify. Please find our Open Doors information and application here. NOTE: If you are receiving financial assistance for your membership dues, you cannot receive assistance for any programming.

Application Deadline for Summer Camps:  May 31, 2025.

Summer camp leaders are selected for their willingness to work with children and experience a pre-camp orientation period prior to the first week of camp. Character references and background checks are conducted on all camp staff. The overall day camp program is supervised by the YMCA youth director. Summer camp staff are First Aid and CPR certified. The YMCA will maintain at maximum a staff to camper ratio of 1:15.

Campers will meet at the YMCA. Most mornings will be spent at Camp Pawnee doing outdoor activities, including games, archery, canoeing, and hiking. In the afternoon, campers will ride the bus back to the YMCA where they will play more games, swim, and sometimes do bouncehouses. Each week, campers will have the opportunity to go on an out-of-town field trip.

All campers must be signed in by a parent, or designated adult. Check-in time is between 7:30-8:15am. Check-in location is the Shelled Space in the Fieldhouse – on the second floor next to the golf simulators. Pick-up for campers will begin around 4:00. If campers are not participating in after-care, they must be picked up by 4:30. Pick-up location for campers not registered for aftercare is in the party room at the YMCA – by the youth locker rooms. If your child needs extended care outside of camp hours, you can register them for after-care for one or all days of the week. The cost is $3/day or $10/week. If children are picked up at or after 4:40pm, they will be enrolled in after-care for the day and your account will be charged. After-care ends at 6:00pm. Pick-up location for campers registered in aftercare is the Shelled Space in the Fieldhouse.   

The Columbus Family YMCA’s mission is “To put Christian Principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.” Because of this mission, we are a faith-based day camp and will reinforce Christian values and teaching during daily chapel time and opening and closing each day. We seek to be examples of God’s love toward our campers and camp families. We are open to all campers regardless of religious affiliation.

Every camper who wants to swim will take a swim test on their first day of camp! Their results will determine how deep of water they can swim in. If your child does not want to swim, we will have camp staff leading other games and activities. Chipmunk campers will not have time in their day to swim at the Y.

• BRING:
  • Wear clothes that can get dirty
  • Tennis shoes that can get dirty or sandals with a back strap (no flip-flops, tennis shoes are preferred)
  • Labeled daypack to hold items
  • Water bottle
  • Sunscreen and bug spray
  • Hat
  • Non-perishable lunch with no peanuts or tree nuts (Thursday/Friday only)
  • Swimsuit and towel
  • Book, journal, or personal activity for quiet time
  • Rain jacket
• DON’T BRING
  • Electronics, including cell phones and smart watches
  • Weapons
  • Valuable items or money
  • Clothes or shoes that cannot get dirty
  • Peanut or tree nut products

We encourage campers to have independent experiences while at camp. If you have an emergency and need to communicate with your camper, please call the YMCA at 402-564-9477 and they will contact camp staff to relay a message.

Camp staff are trained in emergency protocols for severe thunderstorms, tornado warnings, and other possible emergencies.