Kindercamp
Kindercamp at Camp Chapel Forest (Perry Harrison Elementary) is a half-day traditional 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 eight weeks of Kindercamp this summer. Campers can be registered for the full 5-day week or a 3-day Mon./Wed./Fri. week. July 3 is a holiday, and camp will be closed.
Calling all aliens, astronauts, time travelers, and wizards! Your camper will blast out of this world and into summer at the YMCA! Campers will fuel up their spaceships, time-traveling cars, and brooms this week. Campers bring their magic, stars, and amazing costumes to a week so fun, it’s out of this world!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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
Coming soon!
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.
Other Day Camps
Offered by the Chatham Park YMCA
