Register for Day Camp Christmas Tree

The Wee Backpacker program aims to foster a love and appreciation for the outdoors for our younger campers. Campers sing songs, tell stories, and play games while beginning to experience the variety of activities camp has to offer. Wee Backpackers maintains a low staff-to-child ratio.

Traditional camp is about exploration and discovery. Campers will explore by hiking, studying the wonder of nature, building connections through teamwork, and conquering many challenges under the leadership of well-trained staff. It exposes participants to various activities, including archery, fort building, tie-dye, gaga ball, swimming, nature studies, paddling, arts and crafts, cookouts, group games, and more. Campers will participate in some, but not all, of these activities, depending on their age and camp locations. Each camper will leave camp with a wide range of memories and experiences!

Summer Extravaganza is a chance to enjoy the great outdoors, playing all the best games and enjoying some of your favorite camp activities! All available programs are jam-packed into fun session!

Participants discover their artistic side and let their imaginations soar. Projects may include sketching, painting, collage, beadwork, and more. Participants create masterpieces to take home and enjoy!

Participants will get to use every corner of their imagination. Each day, campers will get to explore a new imaginative adventure. Examples may include pirate day, superhero day, princess/prince day, and more! Counselors may lead campers through scavenger hunts, themed arts and crafts, and encourage imaginative play!

Participants discover the finer points of preparing for outdoor adventures while learning various practical camping skills, including building a fire, making camp shelters, knot tying, campfire cooking, and more! Outdoor Living Skills camp does not include an overnight experience.

Enjoy the great outdoors as we explore the wonders of nature! Participants will venture on nature hikes to discover camp's natural landscapes and ecosystems. Campers can learn to identify various trees, plants, and animals in this fun nature focused camp.

Archers & Anglers camp is your chance to learn the fundamentals of both archery and fishing. Learn more about archery equipment, proper stance and aim, and the science behind target shooting. Dive deeper into fishing skills, catch-and-release fishing, and put what you learn into practice.

Campers may bring their own pole & tackle or use equipment provided by the YMCA of the North. The YMCA is not responsible for lost or broken items.

Learn about basic climbing skills and safety with low and high ropes challenges. Under the supervision of specially trained climbing staff, campers will get to test their strengths, strategy, and skills on our high ropes courses and elements!

Outdoor Adventure camp participants will get to try out different challenging camp activities. These activities might include advancing skills in climbing, archery, paddling, outdoor survival, and more! Outdoor Adventure is your chance to sample many different outdoor adventures at our camps.

Participants become “Eco-Explorers” as they get connected with our local bodies of water. We will take trips to sail on Lake Minnetonka, engage in a STEAM activity, and learn about its waterways while also spending time fishing, paddleboarding, and learning about the ecology of our own Dutch Lake.

Each day young sailors learn the basics of sailing and safety with YMCA instructors. Participants will be taught techniques and terminology for operating our fleet of sailboats as they practice their skills.

Participants spend the whole week enjoying an incredible array of water activities, including boating, canoeing, kayaking, or swimming, along with other fun water games and adventures.

Discover your leadership qualities by learning to lead campers in activities and assist in planning the week for your group! The second week allows you to put those new skills to the test while you shadow a counselor and assist staff in camp activities.

Do you love working with kids in an outdoor camp setting? Here's your chance to take a leadership role as a volunteer at camp! Junior Counselors are assigned to a group and/or program area where they assist Counselors in leading and carrying out various Day Camp programs.

Ages 14–15

Previous experience in a LIT program or leadership experience working with children is preferred. Candidates will be selected through an application and interview process while gaining career readiness experience.

The application process does not start until March. Please contact Max Ostenso to apply or for additional information: maxwell.ostenso@ymcamn.org or 763-230-6549. We kindly ask that the applicant reaches out directly to apply as it is a part of the career readiness aspect of the program. Hope to see you this summer!