YMCA Day Camp Guidelines

View Parent Handbook


Participant Requirements

To ensure a safe and positive experience, campers must:
  • Stay with the group at all times – For safety and proper staff-to-child ratios, children cannot leave the group.
  • Participate in structured activities and transitions independently – We cannot provide one-on-one or small group support. Ratios are 12–15 children per staff member.
  • Be toilet trained and use the bathroom without assistance – Staff cannot assist with bathroom needs or changing clothes.
  • Engage in outdoor activities for extended periods – Most programming is outdoors, even in light rain. In severe weather (lightning/thunder), we will move indoors. Campers should be prepared for hiking, bugs, and varying temperatures.
If these requirements cannot be met, the child may be removed from the program, and families will still be responsible for the weekly fee.
 
Keeping Friends Together
Day camp is all about fun and friendship. If you’d like your children to be in the same group, please indicate this on the registration form. They will remain together for the entire week.

Special Needs & Support

Children with special needs are welcome! If your child has an IEP or requires accommodations, please contact the Camp Director before starting. For additional support, call Family Support Services at 218-726-2012.

Locations

  • Essentia Wellness Center (EWC) – 4289 Ugstad Road, Hermantown
  • North Star Academy (NS) – 3301 Technology Drive, Duluth
North Star campers will bus to the downtown YMCA for swimming once a week. EWC campers swim on-site. Swim schedules vary annually.

 

 

Most campers bring a backpack or bag to camp that contains the following items:

  • Closed-toe shoes that attach to the foot (please no sandals or shoes with heels)
  • Water bottle(s)
  • A hat
  • Change of clothes
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug spray
  • Healthy lunch, extra snacks & drinks (no sugary drinks or soda permitted at camp) LUNCH AND SNACK IS NO LONGER PROVIDED AT EITHER DAY CAMP
  • Campers should wear OLD CLOTHES to camp.
  • A towel
  • On swim days, a swimsuit and extra towel
  • A nylon/parachute material hammock
  • Rain gear
  • A book

Drop off and pick up will be curbside-only from 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Only Duluth YMCA employees and registered campers will be permitted into the buildings.  Caregivers must sign their child in and out daily. At this time, we are not offering early drop-off or late pick-up. Late pick-ups will result in a late pick-up fee of $1 per minute per child. 

We believe every child should experience Day Camp.  Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we are able to offer financial assistance to families in need. Families must apply for Child Care County Assistance prior to applying for financial assistance. 

Financial Assistance is awarded to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Families are responsible for all child care payments until financial assistance has been awarded. Financial assistance is awarded at a discounted rate based on qualifications and applies only to future enrollments, not past-due balances. Families should wait to receive their financial assistance award notification before registering their child for the program.

Financial assistance applications are available by contacting kcorbett@duluthymca.org or 218-722-4725 x 124.

Remaining balances are due Monday, two weeks prior to the week of attendance. Payments can be made by automatic bank draft or credit card.

If payment is not made by the deadline, your child will be unenrolled, and you will lose your spot for that week. Cancellations and changes must be made at least 17 days prior to the start of the camp week. No refunds will be given for missed days.

Day Camp Dates:

Payment Due Date:

June 16-June 21

June 2

June 23-June 28                   

June 9

June 30- July 3

June 16

July 7-July 11

June 23

July 14- July 18

June 30

July 21- July 25    

July 7

July 28-August 1

August 14

August 4- August 8

July 28

August 11- August 15

August 4

August 18- August 22

August 11

Registration and schedule changes must be made by calling the registration office at 218-722-4745 ext. 140 or ext. 103, or emailing ar@duluthymca.org. Families must contact us at least 17 days prior to the camp week to drop or change day camp dates. After this deadline, weeks cannot be cancelled for a refund, but an existing registration can be transferred to a later week. A $10 change fee will apply for transfers made within two weeks of the camp week. Please note that accommodations cannot be guaranteed.

No refunds will be issued after the deadline for summer programming. Refunds will only be issued if proper notification is given and contract commitments are met.

For assistance with any changes or cancellations, please contact the Billing and Registration department.

Summer 2025 Day Camp Dates:

Last Date to Cancel (-$52 deposit per week):

June 16 - June 20

Friday, May 30

June 23 - 27              

Friday, June 6

June 30 - July 3
No program on July 4

Friday, June 13

July 7 - 11

Friday, June 20

July 14 - 18

Friday, June 27

July 21 - 25

Friday, July 4

July 28 - August 1

Friday, July 11

August 4 - 8

Friday, July 18

August 11 - 15

Friday, July 25

August 18-22

Friday, August 1