Today’s Adventures, Tomorrow’s Memories
Start your engines for another action-packed summer of Greater Austin YMCA day camps! We’re cooking up our summer themes and field trips, gearing up for our swim days, and working with our partners across our school districts and communities to welcome our bright-eyed and ready-for-fun campers.
All kids deserve a great summer and YMCA Day Camps are the perfect summer destination! YMCA camps offer children a safe, exciting and memorable day camp experience. Kids have the opportunity to build self-confidence, independence and creativity, and parents have peace of mind knowing your kids are in a safe and enriching place. At YMCA day camps, kids make friends while learning the values of diversity and cooperation.
Camp Offerings
Kinder Camp
- For ages 4-5
- Weekly themes and activities to spark creativity and nurture physical, emotional, and academic development. A fun way to get a jumpstart to kindergarten!
Theme Camp
- For ages 5-12
- Weekly themes, field trips, free swims at our local Ys, plus a variety of activities to explore science, cooking, crafting, creative expression, physical activities, and more!
Explorer Camp
- For ages 9-13
- Adventures for older children! Weekly themes focused on STEAM projects, sports, creativity and the arts. With two offsite field trips, a free swim at the Y, and an onsite field trip.
Camp Moody
- For ages 8-13
- Weekly themes focused on outdoor activities: archery, challenge course, atlatl, slingshots, fishing, hiking, team-building, swimming, & outdoor education.
Mini-Camps
- For ages 3-14
- Half-day week-long camps run through Greater Austin YMCA branches with various areas of focus (sports, art, dance, cooking, and more!) Check out the Mini Camps page below.
Camp Info
- Days: Mon. thru Fri (except May 29th, June 19th, and July 4th-5th)
- Dates:
- Kinder Camps: May 28th – July 31st
- Theme Camps: May 28th – August 9th (exact weeks vary by location and align with district calendars)
- Explorer Camps: June 3rd – August 9th
- Camp Moody: June 10th – August 2nd, 2024
- Specialty Camps: Various – please refer to the Mini Camp webpage here.
- Hours:
- Kinder Camps: 7:30am-6:00pm
- Theme Camps: Hays and Manor camps run from 7:00am – 6:30pm, all other camps run from 7:30am – 6:00pm.
- Explorer Camps: 7:30am – 6:00pm
- Camp Moody: 7:30am – 5:30pm
- Specialty Camps: Various half-day camps – please refer to the Mini Camps webpage here.
2024 Camp Brochure: Coming Soon (our 2023 summer camp brochure is here for reference).
If you need care for a child under 4 years, please see our Early Education webpage.
For questions contact EACY@www.austinymca.org or call 512.236.9622.
Registration, Fees, & Payment Guidelines
Our camps are priced under $300 a week, and we offer financial assistance to qualifying families. Camp season begins the day after Memorial day and ends a full week before school starts (exact camp dates vary by district calendar).
Registration Fee: $30 per child; Registration fees are Non-Refundable/Non-Transferable and are due at the time of registration. (Waived until March 31st)
Deposits: $15 per child / per week, due at the time of registration to hold your child’s spot at camp. 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. |
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Kinder Camp | Theme Camp | Explorer Camp | Camp Moody |
---|---|---|---|
$260/week/child | $280/week/child | $295/week/child | $340/week/child |
4-day week: $210* | 4-day week: $230* | 4-day week: $240* | 4-day week: $270* |
3-day week: $160 | 3-day week: $170** | 3-day week: $180 |
All fees are based on per-week registration per-child.
* 4-day weeks for Kinder, Theme, and Explorer are holiday weeks during the weeks of Memorial Day (May 27th) and Juneteenth (June 19th). The 4-day week for YMCA Camp Moody will be July 4th week. All other camp weeks will be 5-day weeks with the rate listed in the top column.
** 3-day weeks will occur July 1st-3rd for Kinder, Theme, and Explorer Camps. There will be no camp on July 4th and 5th for Kinder, Theme, and Explorer Camps. Kinder Camp will have a 3-day week July 29th-31st.
Camp Moody will have camp on June 19th and July 5th.
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.
Summer Camp Locations
We have locations throughout the Central Texas region, in Manor, Hays, Round Rock and across Austin.
We work with our school district partners, local churches, and Greater Austin YMCA branches to secure Summer Camp locations across Travis County and Hays.
See a Google Map of all confirmed camp locations here.
Extend-A-Care YMCA Camps
Kinder Camp this year is in partnership with our EAC Y Early Education team and will be held at KIPP Paseo and KIPP Ridge.
- Theme Camps:
- Austin ISD: Andrews Elementary, Becker Elementary, Brentwood Elementary, Dawson Elementary, Joslin Elementary, Menchaca Elementary, Ridgetop Elementary, and Sunset Valley Elementary;
- Charter: KIPP Paseo Theme
- Hays CISD: Buda Elementary, Elm Grove Elementary, Negley Elementary, and Science Hall Elementary;
- Manor ISD: Pioneer Crossing Elementary and Manor Rise Academy;
- Round Rock ISD: Laurel Mountain Elementary and Spicewood Elementary;
- Explorer Camps:
Nestled along Onion Creek, Camp Moody is the perfect location for campers seeking adventure! See Google Map directions here.
See the YMCA Camp Moody Summer Day Camp webpage here.
Enrollment is open now! Enroll via EZChildTrack
Mini Camps
Mini Camps are specialized half-day camps that happen at Greater Austin YMCAs across Travis and Hays counties. More info here.
2024 Summer Camp Themes
The EAC Y caters weekly camp themes to each camp with an engaging and fun age-appropriate appropriate curriculum. Games, arts & crafts, STEM projects, songs, Social-Emotional Learning activities, and other activities will be based on the weekly theme.
We’re Hiring!
Be a changemaker and help create fun, positive core memories for youth this summer! Working with kids at our camps, guiding them to learn & develop new skills, and laughing together as you teach them new silly games or songs is fulfilling for both you and the kids you’d serve. So come work with us to inspire young minds and make memorable experiences!
Benefits include:
- Free Nationwide Gym Membership for your household
- Retirement Planning Options
- Learning and development workshops and training
- Career advancement opportunities
- Referral Bonus Opportunities
- Cell Phone Plan discounts for AT&T and T-Mobile/Sprint users
- Staff Discounts on Programs & Services
- Flexible schedules and much more!
Summer Camp Frequently Asked Questions
Social Emotional Learning
Extend-A-Care YMCA staff members include Social Emotional Learning as a piece of your child’s daily schedule.
- Group meeting time guides campers toward self & social awareness
- Activities provide opportunities to make friends and learn from positive role models
- Program spaces include quiet areas where young people can find calming tools and focus to reset when needed
- Cooperation, kindness, and respect are built into every experience
STEAM and Creativity
We believe creativity, curiosity, and play are essential to engaged learning. Across all ages, our campers have the opportunity to engage in a variety of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) activities in a space that promotes creativity, invention, problem solving, and self-expression.
Young people build their technology skills through educational activities, interactive games, engaging materials, and constructive projects related to the weekly curriculum theme.
Hands On Learning
Each week campers participate in hands-on, enriching developmentally-appropriate curriculum projects and experiences that include:
- Arts and crafts
- STEM Education
- STEAM
- Physical exercise
- Creative expression
- Group games and activities
These projects are created by EAC YMCA’s curriculum specialists and are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
Enhanced Themed Areas
Our summer camp professionals spend countless hours creating enhanced areas that correspond to our summer themes. These thematic areas offer children a place to enrich their creative thinking, and promote an inviting and fun space for them to enjoy throughout their summer days.
Swimming
Beginner, intermediate, and experienced swimmers welcome! Children will participate in swim trips at our local YMCA pools weekly, if weather permits.
EAC YMCA also provides children with four swim lessons with dedicated YMCA swim instructors during Sharks ‘N Minnows theme week!
Field Trips
Every student will experience several field trips over the summer to fun-filled places and sometimes experts bring exciting activities and exhibits right to our site!
Healthy Snack
EAC YMCA ensures children have access to a healthy, balanced snack each morning and afternoon.
Snacks include a variety of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and small amounts of added sugar and saturated fat. All USDA approved.
Building Relationships
EAC YMCA offers a program where children can engage with peers and establish meaningful friendships.
Our staff are caring, trained professionals who support your child’s development through encouragement, listening and modeling kindness and respect.
Book Nook
Mounting evidence suggests that afterschool programs can play a vital role in improving literacy outcomes for children.
EAC YMCA Offers:
- A print rich environment that integrates curriculum projects with books and comprehension tools.
- Incorporating a multicultural and leveled library into the program that speaks to the real interests of our children with cozy, attractive reading areas.
Preventing Summer Reading Loss
*Studies show that some youth suffer significantly from a loss of academic skills over the summertime. EAC YMCA focuses on enhancing the academic opportunities of EAC YMCA Summer Camp through our various learning stations and helps reduce many pressing concerns such as closing the opportunity gap.
Specialty Camps
Each summer, students are introduced to unique and age-appropriate skills and themes through specialized instructors, partnerships with other community organizations, and in depth onsite experiences. Because of this specialized focus, our camp offerings may change from summer to summer and across locations. Students will experience a variety of themes such as:
- Sports (basketball, soccer, kickball, softball, and more)
- STEM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math on specific careers and topics)
- STEAM (all of the above plus ARTS!)
- Outdoor Education and Nature
These specialty sports not only give our campers the opportunity to learn a new sport, but also the opportunity to gain confidence, friendships, teamwork skills and participate in leadership roles.
“YMCA day camp has been a great fit for our summer needs. The staff are kind and courteous. Our daughter has made friends and really enjoys the field trips.”
– Jessie G., Extend-A-Care YMCA parent