Home » Camps » Explorer Camp

Explorer Camp

Ages 9 – 13

Starting May 20th, if you refer a friend to sign up for Explorer Camp, you both will receive a $60 credit on your EZChildTrack account! To receive the credit, please have your friend enter your name in the referral question during the application process.

Excitement Starts Here!

Do your kids love adventure, both outdoors in urban and natural environments as well as indoor with the power of their own imagination? We have created the Explorer Camp just for them! This camp spans a variety of locations along with fun and interactive activities. This summer camp is structured to make sure your children get everything out of it. There will be team activities that will build new friendships and experiments that will open the curiosities of nature. We are so excited for your kids to join us at Explorer Camp.

Designed for our older school-aged kids, Explorer Camp offers greater opportunity for specific skill development. Most of the day will focus on the weekly topic while also offering a healthy dose of swimming, sports, arts and crafts, and field trips. An extra emphasis will be placed on team building and leadership skills this summer. Youth are grouped based on their age and all activities are tailored to the appropriate skill level.

Send your kids to a camp where they build friends while learning life-lasting skills. All kids will have the opportunity to explore their favorite interests and learn new and cool interesting facts. Explorer Camp is created for kids who are looking for the best summer ever!

Questions? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 512-236-9622 or EACY@AustinYMCA.org.

Your Content Goes Here

Explorer Camp Information

Dates:

  • June 3rd – August 9th

Locations:

Price per week:

  • Full 5-day week: $295/child
  • 4-day holiday week: $240/child
    • Occurring the weeks of Memorial Day (May 27th) & Juneteenth (June 19th).
  • 3-day weeks: $180/child
    • July 1st-3rd (No camp on July 4th – 5th)

(financial assistance available)

Ages: 9 – 13 years

Hours: 7:30am – 6:00pm

Themes:

Weeks and Theme Descriptions

There is something to explore for everyone! Weekly themes range from STEM & STEAM to Sports to Creative Arts. We’re working with community partners such as the new Austin Community College Make It Center and 4-H CAPITAL to plan amazing field trip experiences and to design engaging STEM projects.

Additional Information

2024 Camp Registration is now open! Registration will be through EZChildTrack.

Weekly Fees:

  • Full 5-day week: $295/child
  • 4-day holiday week: $240/child
    • Occurring the weeks of Memorial Day (May 27th) & Juneteenth (June 19th).
  • 3-day weeks: $180/child
    • July 1st-3rd (No camp on July 4th – 5th)

Registration Fee: $30 per child; Registration fees are Non-Refundable/Non-Transferable. (Waived if you enroll before March 31st).

Camp Deposit: A Camp Deposit of $15.00, per week, per child is required for all camp sessions. Camp deposits are Non-refundable / Non-Transferable.

(Example: If you are registering for three camp sessions, a $45.00 deposit will be required to hold your spot for those sessions of camp.) The $15.00 deposit is applied to the weekly camp fee. However, in the case that you cancel those weeks of camp, all deposits of $15.00/week are non-refundable / non-transferable.

Fees Schedule: Summer Camp 2024 Fee Schedule

Camp Payments:

All payment due dates will land on a Thursday, beginning May 16, 2024 (except for session 7, which will be due on July 1st). Please refer to the fee schedule. If you are registering for multiple sessions, you must agree to keep a payment methods on file. If enrolled in autopay, drafts will occur (13) thirteen days (every Tuesday) prior to the start of each session. All camps must be paid in advance or on the due date. Only paid participants are allowed to attend camp. Checks and EFT not accepted after the payment due date. Your enrollment will be canceled by the Monday before each session if your balance is unpaid. If canceled due to non-payment, the camp spot, deposits, and registration fee are forfeited and a $25 cancellation fee will incur. Re-registration is not guaranteed for any cancellations due to non-payment.

Membership Discount:

As an Extend-A-Care YMCA Summer Camp customer, you are eligible for a $70/month Family Membership to your nearest YMCA Branch. That’s $25-35 savings!

NSF Fees:

A $25.00 fee is charged for all non-sufficient funds and declined charges. Children will not be allowed to attend camp unless payment for the camp session and fees have been received and posted to your account by the EAC YMCA Customer Service team. If two consecutive payment returns occur due to insufficient funds, a different form of payment will be required for future payments.

Financial Assistance Policy:

EAC YMCA programs and activities are designed to benefit persons of all backgrounds, and fees are based on the cost of providing each program. While participants are expected to pay their fair share, EAC YMCA will assist families that want to participate but cannot afford the fee. Financial Assistance will be awarded to working families that meet our income guidelines and/or can demonstrate a need for fee assistance. Since demand for assistance is great and funds are limited, we encourage parents to apply early. You can complete our prescreen questions while completing your online summer application.

Explorer Camp Special: Starting May 20th, if you refer a friend to sign up for Explorer Camp, you both will receive a $60 credit on your EZChildTrack account! To receive the credit, please have your friend enter your name in the referral question during the application process.

Explorer Camp Weeks and Theme Descriptions

The EAC Y caters weekly camp themes to each camp with engaging and fun age appropriate curriculum. Games, arts & crafts, STEM projects, songs, team building activities, Social-Emotional Learning activities, field trips, and other activities will be based on the weekly theme.

2024 Explorer Camp weekly themes & descriptions coming soon!

Fees:

Registration fees and camp deposit(s) are non-refundable, non-transferable when you submit a cancellation request.

Cancellation and transfer requests submitted  less than 13 calendar days prior to the start of camp will incur a cancellation fee of $25 and/or a transfer fee of $10.

ONLINE CANCELLATION FORM

Deadlines:

Cancellation or transfer requests will not be accepted on or after the Monday before the start of the camp session. No refunds will be given. You will be held responsible for the full amount of camp fees, regardless of whether or not your child attends camp.

Cancellation and transfer requests must be submitted to the EAC  YMCA Customer Service team at least 11 calendar days prior to the start of camp.

Make sure to use our online cancellation form or transfer request form. These requests can take 3-5 days to complete.

Transfers:

Transfers subject to availability. If the camp you need to transfer to is full, you may be placed on the waitlist.

Emergency Registration:

An emergency registration is defined as any registration occurring Thursday or Friday before the desired camp session. The emergency registration will only be accepted up until 10am on Friday with an additional $50.00 Emergency Registration fee. You must contact the EAC YMCA customer service to request an Emergency Registration. Registration will depends on whether the camp has space.

Refund and/or credits are NOT issued under the following circumstances:

  • Your child is absent,
  • Your child is suspended from EAC Y,
  • If there is a unexpected camp closure announced by the school district that does not exceed 1 day of camp,
  • If there is an unexpected camp closure due to weather, an emergency or natural disaster that does not exceed 1 day of camp.

Partial credits and/or pro-rations WILL be applied under the following circumstances:

  • Unexpected camp closures announced by the school district, and/or due to weather, an emergency or natural disaster exceeding 1 day of camp;
  • Temporary camp closures due to COVID;
  • Your child is required to sit-out of the program to quarantine. If your child is asked to quarantine once the camp session has started, refunds are only applied to future summer camp sessions affected by the quarantine dates and current week refunds are not offered.

Email Extend-A-Care YMCA or call 512-236-9622 for general questions and help with your registration, camp billing, financial assistance, and Y online account.

Debbie Rios-Lombraña Accounts Director

Emma Jaramillo Senior Manager of Operations

Andie Connors-Pool Director of People for the EAC Y

Aneesa Royce Senior Program Director

Shana Chung Senior Program Director

Carley White Senior Program Director

Jay Mills Program Executive Director

April Walker Senior Director of Learning and Innovation

Sarah Rinner Associate Vice President, Out of School Time & Operations

Jason Gindele VP Youth Development • Operations

Four children (3 boys and 1 girl) in yellow camp t-shirts stand in order of height next to a white and brown longhorn at a farm with a fence separating them from the animal.The kids are smiling at the camera with one boy doing a thumbs up and one boy doing the rock n' roll salute.

Other Camps: