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Summer Day Camps

All Are Welcome
We would like every child to have the opportunity to experience summer camp! The YMCA accepts Ohio Assistance Vouchers and is part of the Kentucky Child Care Assistance Program. For families who do not qualify for state assistance, the YMCA offers camp scholarships for qualifying families. Applications for scholarships can be found at the welcome center desk.

The YMCA opens the door to everyone, regardless of ability to pay. It is through the generosity of donors that your YMCA can improve the quality of life for all in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Your Child’s Safety: Our Top Priority!
Your neighborhood YMCA has been providing outstanding day camps and specialty programs for boys and girls, ages 2-15, for generations. Located in neighborhoods across Greater Cincinnati and the Northern Kentucky, provide the perfect settings to appreciate nature, build skills, create memories, and establish friendships that will last a lifetime.

When we welcome campers each day, we watch over them as if they are our own children. We are proud of the steps we take to ensure your child’s safety. Our counselors and staff members are certified in First Aid, CPR, AED, Oxygen, along with recognizing and preventing child abuse. Certified lifeguards are always on duty at YMCA pools; programs are supervised by individuals certified in each activity including archery, hiking, team building, and more. So, once your child arrives, you can rest assured your child is in good hands – ours.

American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation means that the camp you are considering for your child cares enough to undergo a thorough (over 300 standards) review of its operation – from staff training to emergency management. The ACA collaborates with experts from The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Red Cross, and other youth service agencies to assure that current practices at the camp reflect the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation. The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati and the ACA have formed a partnership that promotes summers of growth and fun in an environment committed to safety.

Encouraging Healthy Lifestyles
YMCA summer camp programs, in alignment with the Ys focus on healthy living, emphasizes health and wellness and are designed to combat childhood obesity and lay the foundation for a healthy lifestyle. Campers engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day, whether it be sports, team games, or swimming. The programs also utilize the Coordinate Approach to Child Health (CATCH) curriculum which not only has ideas for games that keep all kids active, but it also provides lesson plans to educate children about healthy lifestyles, such as better nutrition, drinking more water, watching less TV, not smoking, and getting more sleep. 

 

Registration Kick-Off
Summer day camp is just around the corner! Registration kick-off is Saturday, March 2, 2013. Don’t let your child miss out on this life changing summer experience. Any family that comes to the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati and registers on March 2, will have their registration fee waived and will be entered into a drawing to win one FREE week of camp.

 

How to Register

• Pick up and fill out the registration packet

• Submit immunization records at time of registration

• Pay a $25 child registration fee ($50 maximum per family) and a $10 per week deposit

• Pick up the parent packet for details about your child's camp

Summer at YMCA Camp Ernst
Steeped in tradition and built on the YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility, Camp Ernst hosts overnight campers who enjoy top notch counselors, making new friends, and doing a wide variety of activities including zip-line, banana boat, 100 foot waterslide, giant swing, horseback riding, the BLOB, and much more! Come see for yourself at our Open House Sundays: March 3, April 7, and May 5, from 1-4 p.m. Visit the website www.myYcamp.org or call (859) 586-6181 to learn more!

 

Exercise your Brain
Did you know that the average student loses the equivalent of one to two months of previously learned content during the summer months? At the YMCA, we make learning fun while giving children the opportunity to engage in creative problem solving and team building. Research shows summer learning benefits student achievement for up to two years after they receive it. All sites will include time for summer reading activities and programs integrating the arts with math and language standards.

 

Field Trips
Each week is highlighted by field trips or a special event to provide additional opportunity for education and fun. The dates and locations will differ from camp to camp and may include the zoo, a museum, roller skating, or exploring someplace amazing!