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Summer 2025

Summer 2025 Registration Coming Soon

Our 2024 camp offerings are listed below, 2025 camps subject to change.

Traditional Options

Traditional Day Camp

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!

Wee Backpackers

The Wee Backpacker program aims to continue fostering a love and appreciation for the outdoors. 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.

Little Seeds Day Camp

‘Planting Seeds’ of interest and appreciation for the great outdoors in our youngest campers at Little Seeds Summer Camp! Little Seeds maintains a low staff-to-child ratio under the watchful eye of leadership staff and counselors trained to meet the needs of young campers. Little Seeds offers children the opportunity to engage in nature-based programming while experiencing new things and making new friends!

Summer Extravaganza

Summer Extravaganza is the last chance to enjoy the great outdoors at camp before summer ends! All available activities are jam-packed into a single session.

This experience includes all camp games, scavenger hunts, outdoor sports, and more.

Arts and Imagination

Arts and Crafts

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!

Dragons, Fairies and Friends

Participants let their imaginations soar in this magical fairytale-themed activity. Adventures will include themed arts and crafts, a mystical quest, and a royal celebration!

Superheros

BAM! POW! KAZAM! Kids think, dress, and act like superheroes! Activities include super games, super crafts, and super fun. Where else can kids spend the day exploring their superpowers as their alter-ego superheroes, meet other superheroes and save the world?

Theater

Kids free their imaginations and develop improvisational skills! Participants explore the theater world through games, acting exercises, script rehearsals, and even performing for an audience.

Nature and Science

Critters and Crawlers

Participants become “Eco-Explorers” as they investigate the natural surroundings at camp. We will take nature treks to explore our camp environment and search for signs of local wildlife. Activities include bug safaris, nature hunts, and more!

Farm and Garden

Participants discover how plants, animals, soil, and people work together to produce the food we eat daily. Each farm and garden camp will feature a field trip or special visitor.

Fish, Frogs, and Forts

Filled with exploration and environmental education, we'll focus on fort building and discovery of insects, fish and frogs. Campers get an introductory experience to fishing, and will learn basic fishing skills while practicing the catch-and-release method. Kids will have the opportunity to try fishing from shore 2-3 times a week. Bait and fishing equipment is provided at camp, but you may bring your own.

Outdoor Living Skills

Participants discover the finer points of preparing for a big outdoor adventure while learning various practical camping skills, including building a fire, making camp shelters, knot tying, campfire cooking, and more! Features a Survivor Challenge at the end of the week, to put all of your new skills to the test!

Wild About Nature / Nature Explorer

Enjoy the great outdoors as we explore the wonders of nature! Featuring an exciting partnership with Wargo Nature Center, participants will hike along our many paths to discover the area's natural landscapes and ecosystems. Kids learn from real life naturalists to identify various trees, plants, and animals.

Outdoor Action

Archery

Participants learn the fundamentals of archery, examine equipment close-up, and learn the science behind target shooting. Instructors teach proper grip, stance, and aim alignment. YMCA of the North provides equipment. Field trip experience included.

Climbing / Challenge

Learn about basic climbing, belay techniques, knot tying, and safety. Challenge participants to test their strengths, strategy, and skill on our climbing wall and team building elements.

Extreme Adventure

With overnight

This camp provides the opportunity to advance your skills and challenge yourself in climbing, archery, paddle sports, outdoor survival and more. This increase in difficulty and ability will be put to use during the overnight with a paddle excursion.

Outdoor Adventure

Begin your outdoor journey here! This action packed camp provides a sample of outdoor activities and opportunities to develop skills such as climbing, archery, paddle sports, fishing and more.

Water Action

Canoe / Kayak

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.

Fishing

Kids get hooked on fishing as they learn basic fishing skills. Local lakes and rivers provide the scene for fishing fun using the catch-and-release method. Campers can bring their pole and tackle or use equipment provided by YMCA of the North.

Water Adventure

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

Teen and Leadership

Teen Archery

Fine-tune your archery skills and learn new ones as camp leaders highlight games and friendly competitions throughout the week. This camp features a field trip, and YMCA of the North provides equipment.

Teen Artist

Campers will discover their artistic side and let their imaginations soar. There will be opportunities to create a variety of projects that may include: sketching, watercolors or paints, nature collages, picture frames, necklaces and bracelets, and much more. This camp also features a field trip.

Teen Canoe / Kayak

With overnight

Embark on a canoeing/kayaking excursion full of adventure. Develop your paddling skills on nearby lakes, and experience the challenge of navigating the water during a unique overnight paddle excursion.

Teen Challenge

With overnight

Are you up for a challenge? Head out on bold, challenging adventures of climbing, canoeing, fat tire biking, and more as you test your strength, strategy, and skill through a week of your favorite activities.

Your skills will be put to the test with an overnight experience included! Overnights on Thursday of your child’s week of camp. Other traditional camp activities will be enjoyed throughout the week.

Teen Climbing

Test your strength, strategy, and skill as you focus on a challenging daily climb. Learn and develop climbing skills, belay techniques, knot tying, and safety.

Includes other camp activities during the week. Spend one day at Camp Manitou’s high teams challenge course. Other traditional camp activities will be enjoyed throughout the week.

Teen Fishing

Lakes provide the scene for fishing fun using the catch-and-release method. Campers can bring their pole and tackle or use equipment provided by YMCA of the North.

This camp enjoys a week full of fishing across the Chain of Lakes and features a memorable trip guided by the Wargo Nature Center and a fishing trip to Chisago Lake.

Teen Quest

Teen Quest is an exciting day camp program geared toward teens that want real outdoor fun! As a group quest, you will decide and plan out some of the camp activities and events throughout the week. This program develops valuable life skills such as open communication, team building, cooperation, and conflict resolution.

Teen Water Adventure

Campers spend the whole week enjoying an incredible array of water activities that may include boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, log rolling, paddleboarding, and other fun water adventures.

Leaders-In-Training

With overnight

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.

Junior Counselor

Do you love working with kids in an outdoor camp setting? Here's your chance to take a leadership role! Junior Counselors are assigned to a group and 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.

Contact Mackenzie Erpenbach for more information: mackenzie.erpenbach@ymcamn.org or 612-465-0554.

A day camp lead staff member will reach out Mid-April through Mid-May to set up an interview and talk over details and information about the program. We ask for a minimum of a 3-week commitment. Hope to see you this summer!

Campers attending specialty camps will enjoy other traditional camp activities throughout the week.

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Whether you have a question or are ready to plan, we have the answers and are prepared to assist.

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