Early Childhood Camp is for children who have turned 3. Campers have the same fun as the big kids participating in age-appropriate activities. Early Childhood Camp engages our youngest campers with hands-on, engaging, sensory experiences that support each child’s need to explore the world around them all while, preparing them for the upcoming school year. Thematic activities are planned for each session and incorporate play-based learning, music and movement, gross motor development, language and literacy, socialization, and MOST importantly FUN! Our experienced staff members focus on building supportive, nurturing relationships with every camper. Early Childhood campers enjoy campsite-based collaborations with child-friendly organizations and go on excursions within walking distance in their communities. Our camp activities focus on the YMCA’s four core values of respect, caring, honesty, and responsibility. Children must be toilet trained prior to camp. Campers also enjoy our cool, air-conditioned classrooms and peanut/tree nut-sensitive facility. Offered sessions 1, 2, 3, 4.

Cost per two week session: 
Member: $879* 
Community: $959 

 Register Now

*To get the member rate, you need a Y membership from a NYC branch. Unfortunately, Ridgewood Y is not offering memberships.

Financial Assistance is available.
 

A fun summer is a springboard for an amazing school year! Kinder Camp is designed for children entering kindergarten in September 2024. Structured Day Camp activities support the transition to kindergarten by building social and emotional skills in a fun and nurturing environment, including a focus on classroom structure, transitional activities, and group play. Staff members experienced in engaging with this age group understand the importance of rich adult-child interactions and focus on building supportive, nurturing relationships with every camper. Campers participate in physical fitness, interactive science, literacy activities, and theme-based arts and crafts. Our camp activities focus on the YMCA’s four core values of respect, caring, honesty, and responsibility. Children must be fully toilet trained. Offered sessions 1,2,3,4.

 Cost per two week session:
Member: $879*
Community: $959
 

 Register Now

*To get the member rate, you need a Y membership from a NYC branch. Unfortunately, Ridgewood Y is not offering memberships.

Financial Assistance is available.

There is an energy and magic to summer camp that cannot be replicated! Friends, experiences, and memories to last a lifetime! At the YMCA Summer Day Camp, each day is a fun new adventure. Campers participate in traditional camp activities that get them active in physical fitness, get them creative in arts and crafts, get them to experiment in exciting science activities, and get them silly in theme day activities. Camp offers a unique experience that includes time for children to build social and emotional skills in a fun and inclusive environment. This environment creates an atmosphere of family and community that includes a focus on classroom structure, transitional activities, group play, and team building. Our camp activities focus on the YMCA’s four core values of respect, caring, honesty, and responsibility. Offered sessions 1,2,3,4.

Cost per two week session:
Member: $800*
Community: $879
 

 Register Now

*To get the member rate, you need a Y membership from a NYC branch. Unfortunately, Ridgewood Y is not offering memberships.

Financial Assistance is available.

Our Counselor-in-Training Program is designed to foster the personal growth of young adults. Participants acquire and apply effective leadership skills, encompassing communication, teamwork, goal setting, decision-making, conflict resolution, problem-solving, stress management, and interpersonal relations. These essential skills prove valuable in various life domains, including school, home, the workplace, and at Camp. CIT's primarily develop these skills through daily Leadership Training Workshops and Group Projects. They dedicate half of their day to learning from trained staff, honing leadership skills, and collaborating on group projects. The other half involves shadowing a Senior Camp Counselor, gaining insights into the role of a camp counselor. Additionally, CIT's embark on one weekly field trip.. Offered sessions 1,2,3,4.

 Cost per two week session: 
Member: $700* 
Community: $763 
 

 Register Now

*To get the member rate, you need a Y membership from a NYC branch. Unfortunately, Ridgewood Y is not offering memberships.

Financial Assistance is available.

 Step 1:

Register (Submit a deposit for each session you would like your child to attend)

Step 2:

Complete the Camper Information Form and Camper Medical Form. 

Other important information you should know:

Take advantage of our discounts

• Member rates if you are a YMCA member
• 10% Early Bird Discount if you pay off your entire balance by April 20, 2024
• 10% Sibling Discount for all siblings of the first child registered at full price Note: Early Bird and Sibling Discounts cannot be combined. Please connect with the branch’s membership desk to apply the early bird or sibling discount.

Note on payments:

• Two forms of payment are accepted: credit cards and cash
• The YMCA accepts all major credit cards, and you will need to sign up for automatic billing to ensure payments are made on time with no late fees incurred
• Online payment is currently not able to process 3rd party payments, early bird discounts, sibling discounts, and financial assistance. How to complete online payments.

Registration is a 2-step process:

Once you’ve registered and submitted payment online, you’ll receive an email with the Camper Information Form and Camper Medical Form that must be completed and submitted to the Camp Director before the start of camp.

Your child’s full application packet, including medical form, is due to finalize registration. The Camper Medical Form must be completed, stamped by a doctor and dated within 12 months of your child’s last day of camp. Note: if your child has a current medical (including immunizations), you may submit this instead of completing a new form. If the 12-month mark comes up during camp, an updated form must be submitted.

If you wish to sign up for camp in person, come to our YMCA branch and we will be happy to assist you.

Learn more about summer camp and visit with camp staff at our Open Houses. Check with your local branch for the specific time of their open house.

• Saturday, February 10
• Saturday, March 9
• Saturday, April 20 – Early Bird Deadline and Healthy Kids Day
• Saturday, May 11

Fees

*To get the member rate, you need a Y membership from a NYC branch. At this time, Ridgewood Y is not offering memberships. 

Discounts

Take advantage of our discounts

• 10% Early Bird Discount if you pay off your entire balance by April 20, 2024.
• 10% Sibling Discount for all siblings of the first child registered at full price.
• Note: Early Bird and Sibling Discounts cannot be combined

Financial Assistance

The YMCA of Greater New York awards financial aid to campers based on the family’s annual income. Download an application and bring it to your branch to explore scholarship options.

Credit Policy

Good news! All YMCA deposits and fees are fully refundable for any health or medical related reason if your request is received in advance of your camper's camp session start date. Requests for credits or refunds after your camper’s camp session begins will be granted at the Camp Director’s discretion.

According to the NYC Department of Health, all participants must have a completed medical form on file prior to the start of summer camp. Please submit your child’s complete medical information form. It’s also a good idea to keep extra copies of the medical form for your records. If your child does not have complete medical forms along with immunization records, they may not attend camp.

During the registration process, it is extremely important that families notify the camp if the child has any medical conditions such as, but not limited to, allergies, asthma, diabetes or other conditions.

Additionally, campers must submit all necessary consent forms, including but not limited to: 

Camper Information Form

Medical Form

Prior to your child attending camp, we require all families to attend our orientation. You will receive more information on this in your welcome email from the camp director.

Y campers stretch themselves physically and creatively. They play games, read, create books, and write poetry. They participate in science experiments, solve puzzles, craft art, and perform music and shows. Parents say their children come home tired, smiling, and frequently humming a new camp cheer.

Weekly schedules for each age group are provided to families at the beginning of each session. They can be obtained from the camp office. Families are encouraged to review the weekly schedule with their child. Weekly activities that are planned and scheduled are age-appropriate, recreational, challenging, and fun. If there are any questions about the activities or events, please speak to the Camp Director.

Each camper will receive two t-shirts and a camp bag. Camp t-shirts must be worn every day. Additional camp t-shirts may be purchased with the camp director.

The YMCA is a peanut- and nut-free environment.

During the registration process, it is extremely important that families notify the camp if the child has any medical conditions such as, but not limited to, allergies, asthma, diabetes, or other conditions.

Y Camp is Fun

• Camp is Part of the Y’s DNA: We’ve been running camps for decades and we’ve adapted to our current context to keep camp fun and safe for all.
• Cut the Screen Time: From sports to crafts to games to adventures, we’ll make sure your kids get to play and participate in all types of exciting activities, including dedicated outdoor time every day (weather permitting).
• New Friends: In the course of a week, kids will make new friends and connect with campers and staff members.

Y Camp is Enriching

• Educational Camps: Our creative and enriching camps — from traditional day camp to specialty camps like STEAM — help kids reach their fullest potential physically, mentally, and emotionally.
• Cultivate Social-Emotional Learning: Camp is a safe space to try new things, build new skills, and develop trusting relationships.
• Y Core Values: Our camp program focuses on the Y core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

Y Camp is the Highest Quality

• Experienced Staff: We’re seasoned youth development professionals who have a passion for education and for nurturing, cultivating, and developing campers' full potential.
• Camp Spirit: We love camp, yes we do, we love camp, how about you? Each camp has a fun and exciting energy that can only be found at the YMCA. From daily cheers to wacky spirit days, from camp songs sung throughout the day to weekly challenges, we create an experience that promotes individuality amongst campers and lifelong memories.
• Healthy Environments: We’ve provided care for essential workers and Y families throughout the pandemic, so we’re experienced in ensuring all our programming strictly adheres to current health and safety regulations.

Interested in going to a Sleepaway Camp? Check out our YMCA partners in the NY region. Scholarships (for up to 95% off) to these camps are available thanks to funding from the YMCA of Greater New York and our generous partners.  For more information, or to start your registration process, contact sleepawaycamp@ymcanyc.org 

Camp partners: Frost Valley YMCA | YMCA Camp Mohawk | Fairview Lakes YMCA Camps