Kindercamp at the Taylor Family Y
Kindercamp is a half-day summer day camp for our littlest campers. These half-day programs are a great introduction to the structure and rhythm of day camp. Days are filled with songs, games, water play, circle time and crafts.
Kindercamp Sessions
There will be 10 weeks of Kindercamp this summer. July 3 is a holiday, and camp will be closed. Five-day and three-day weeks are offered.
This creative week invites campers to explore colors, textures, and materials through process-based art and sensory play. The focus is on experimenting and expressing — not perfection — helping little ones build confidence, fine motor skills, and joy through hands-on creativity.
This creative week invites campers to explore colors, textures, and materials through process-based art and sensory play. The focus is on experimenting and expressing — not perfection — helping little ones build confidence, fine motor skills, and joy through hands-on creativity.
Campers get ready for a playful week of movement, music, and make-believe! Campers will dance with ribbons, try silly balancing games, explore pretend performances, and create colorful crafts inspired by the circus. Through imaginative play and group activities, children build confidence, coordination, and joy while having fun together under the big top.
Campers get ready for a playful week of movement, music, and make-believe! Campers will dance with ribbons, try silly balancing games, explore pretend performances, and create colorful crafts inspired by the circus. Through imaginative play and group activities, children build confidence, coordination, and joy while having fun together under the big top.
Sun, sand and smiles! Campers will enjoy beach-inspired fun with water play, music, dancing and seaside crafts. They will explore colors, textures, and movement inspired by summer, the beach and water.
Sun, sand and smiles! Campers will enjoy beach-inspired fun with water play, music, dancing and seaside crafts. They will explore colors, textures, and movement inspired by summer, the beach and water.
Wild fun for future Zoologists! Campers will roar, hop, swim and wiggle through a week of animal-themed games, songs and crafts. They’ll explore different animals and habitats through movement, pretend play and hands-on fun designed just for curious little minds.
Wild fun for future Zoologists! Campers will roar, hop, swim and wiggle through a week of animal-themed games, songs and crafts. They’ll explore different animals and habitats through movement, pretend play and hands-on fun designed just for curious little minds.
Stomp, roar and explore! Your young paleontologists will travel back in time for dinosaur-themed fun filled with movement games, crafts, and imaginative play. From big stomps to tiny fossils, this week is all about curiosity, creativity, and playful discovery.
Stomp, roar and explore! Your young paleontologists will travel back in time for dinosaur-themed fun filled with movement games, crafts, and imaginative play. From big stomps to tiny fossils, this week is all about curiosity, creativity, and playful discovery.
Mix, stir and smile! Campers explore pretend cooking, simple food-themed crafts, and sensory play. This week encourages creativity, sharing and independence as little chefs cook up big fun!
Mix, stir and smile! Campers explore pretend cooking, simple food-themed crafts, and sensory play. This week encourages creativity, sharing and independence as little chefs cook up big fun!
Build it big! Campers stack, build, and create with blocks, boxes and imagination. Through hands-on play and movement activities, little builders develop coordination, problem-solving and teamwork.
Build it big! Campers stack, build, and create with blocks, boxes and imagination. Through hands-on play and movement activities, little builders develop coordination, problem-solving and teamwork.
Campers explore nature through outdoor play, sensory activities and simple discoveries. From leaves and bugs to sunshine and flowers, this week encourages curiosity, wonder and a love of the outdoors.
Campers explore nature through outdoor play, sensory activities and simple discoveries. From leaves and bugs to sunshine and flowers, this week encourages curiosity, wonder and a love of the outdoors.
Campers discover their inner hero through kind actions, teamwork, and playful adventures. With dress-up fun, movement games, and creative play, this week celebrates kindness, bravery, and helping others in age-appropriate ways.
Campers discover their inner hero through kind actions, teamwork, and playful adventures. With dress-up fun, movement games, and creative play, this week celebrates kindness, bravery, and helping others in age-appropriate ways.
Registration
All YMCA Day Camps require a $20 deposit per session. If you do not have a YMCA account, you can create one at the time of registration.
YMCA Day Camp Experience
From preparation to programming, these are the essentials that shape each camp day.
Counselors & Staff
YMCA Day Camp operates with a 10:1 camper-to-staff ratio. We hire high schoolers, college students and teachers to lead activities, drive buses and facilitate summer camp. Each staff member undergoes extensive training - from CPR and First Aid to leading assemblies. Many staff are former campers and return summer after summer.
Swimming at Day Camp
Almost all YMCA Day Camps offer free swim times or water play (for younger campers). Each camper is assessed for their swim ability on the first swim day of the session. Campers are issued swim bands that identify their swim levels. Swim bands also help lifeguards and counselors identify which areas of the pool are appropriate for each camper.
Weather Management
From outdoor games to water play, day camp is designed to keep kids moving, learning and connecting. But when the heat index rises, so does our responsibility to make smart, timely adjustments that protect campers and staff.
Huddles
Huddles are small groups of campers of similar age and grade who are grouped together at day camp. Typically, huddles move together throughout the day to difference activities. Each huddle is accompanied by two or more counselors.
Character Traits
Respect, Responsibility, Caring, Honesty, and Faith are the character traits the YMCA uses to reinforce positive behavior. Campers can earn beads by demonstrating these traits. Each camper (ages 5 and older) receives a necklace on the first day camp for their beads.
Kindercamp FAQs
Rides In
Rides In (drop off) will take place at the Taylor Family YMCA Pool House. From 8:30 - 9 a.m., we will have a staff member in that loop opening car doors, greeting you and checking campers in. For drop off at Rides In, please use the second entrance to the Taylor Y (if you are coming off of Cary Parkway onto YMCA Drive) and head towards pool house loop.
Rides Out
Rides Out (pick up) is from 12:30 – 1 p.m. and will be run in front of the YMCA main facility at the flagpole loop. For pick up at Rides Out, please use the second entrance to the Taylor Y (if you are coming off of Cary Parkway onto YMCA Drive) and then take an immediate left through the parking lot to the stop sign at which you will turn right into the loop at the flag pole. The person picking up the camper must have their pick-up card (provided on your child’s first day of camp) and an ID as a safety precaution.
If you are dropping off or picking up outside of our Rides In and Rides Out times (between 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.), please park and call 919-338-6737 to determine the best place to meet a staff person to drop off or pick up a camper.
Campers cool down with swim time in our Toddler Pool for 45 minutes daily.
Campers are asked to bring a change of clothes, a swimsuit, a towel, lunch, two snacks, and a refillable water bottle. Most campers pack everything in a backpack.
8:30 - 9 a.m. Rides In
9 - 9:20 a.m. Huddle Time
TRANSITION TO POOL - 10 MINS
9:30 - 10:10 a.m. Swim Time
TRANSITION TO PICNIC TABLES - 5 MINS
10:15 - 10:30 a.m. Snack
TRANSITION TO LOCKER ROOM
10:30 - 10:50 a.m. Locker Room Changing
10:50 - 11:20 a.m. Craft
11:20 - 11:45 a.m. Lunch
11:45 a.m. - Noon Story Time
Noon - 12:30 p.m. Stations (Sensory Bins, Dress Up, Centers)
12:30 - 1 p.m. Rides Out
Wacky Wednesdays
Wear your Huddle color - purple, green or blue.
Campers may also earn a counselor's special sticker or stamp and enjoy Guest Readers on Wednesdays.
Other Day Camps
Offered by the Taylor Family YMCA
