SCHOOL BREAK CAMPS
When school is out, fun is in at the Y! This fall, we’ve got you covered with single-day and week-long day camp sessions at locations around the county. MEMBERS SAVE UP TO 15% ON DAY CAMPS!
WELCOME TO DAY CAMP
AT DAN MCKINNEY FAMILY YMCA
Your family can count on Dan McKinney Family YMCA to ensure your child is having fun in a safe, nurturing environment. The Y offers single day, weekly and specialty camps to meet the needs of parents and match the interests of our campers.
Since 1882, our camps have inspired kids with countless opportunities to laugh, lead and make lasting friendships.
FIND YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE!
School Break Camp Sessions
- November 10, 2025
- November 11, 2025
- November 24-26, 2025
- December 22-26, 2025
- December 29-30, 2025 & January 2, 2026
- January 19, 2026
- February 13, 2026
- February 18, 2026
- Macrh 30-April 3, 2026
REGISTER TODAY
- Register Online — We have invested in new technology, and signing up online is the best way to secure your top picks. Make sure your new account is ready to register.
- Register in Person — Directions Here
- Register by Phone — (858) 453-3483
MEMBERS SAVE
To receive the Y member rate for any program, your membership must be active throughout the duration of the registered program session(s), otherwise the non-member fee will be applied. Learn more about the benefits of becoming a Y member, and join us today!
Y COMMUNITY PLUS MEMBERSHIP
- Up to 15% off day camp and up to 10% off overnight camp. This rate also applies to active members who have not yet upgraded to one of our new membership plans.
Y COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP
- Up to 10% off day and overnight camps.
TIPS FOR A SMOOTH SIGN-UP
Please note that you must create a My Y account in order to register. If you are new to the Y, you can set up your account now. If you already have an account, please log in prior to registering to make sure your profile is complete with payment method, valid email address, child’s birth date and full name, etc.
CAMP INFORMATION
Traditional Extreme | Ages 5-12
DATES: November 10, 2025 | November 11, 2025
Our camps are an exciting way to spend a school break! We include lots of action-packed activities that keep your children engaged and happy, like arts & crafts, sports and games, science experiments and more! Set in the YMCA style of different activities each and every day, your camper will have a great time while parents have peace of mind knowing their camper is safe.
Gymnastics | Ages 5-12
DATES: November 24-26, 2025
A camp you’ll flip over! Watch your child grow in confidence as they learn new skills on the floor, bars, beam and vault. Campers will be put in smaller groups of up to 10 kids based on age and ability to practice their gymnastics skills throughout the week. Each day, our gymnasts will spend two-and-a-half hours of gymnastics time in addition to do other camp activities such as arts and crafts, and sports and games.
High Fives | Age 5
DATES: November 24-26, 2025
High Fives is a perfect fit for our younger campers. With staff supervision at low ratios, campers will spend their action-packed days doing arts and crafts, science projects, playing games and learning new skills.
Little Bakers | Ages 5-7
DATES: November 24-26, 2025
In this camp, children will discover that baking can be imaginative, hands-on and oh-so-sweet. Little bakers will develop age-appropriate baking skills, learn the basics of measuring and mixing, and whip up tasty treats from cookies to muffins to brownies. Each camper will take home a handmade apron and their very own camp cookbook to recreate their baked goodies at home!
LIT Fieldwork | Ages 12-15
DATES: November 24-26, 2025
LITs will be placed into various age-appropriate camps where they will assist in the daily operations of camp and receive valuable on-the-job experience that will help build a strong foundation for either a recreational or childcare career. *Must have previously completed LIT Training or Renewal in Summer 2025 to register for Fieldwork.
Radical Reptiles | Ages 7-12
DATES: November 24-26, 2025
Meet the cold-blooded creatures of the animal world as we are visited by snakes, frogs, tortoises, turtles, lizards, bugs and other creepy crawlies. Campers’ hands-on experience will be enhanced by art projects, games, and activities that investigate the live of reptiles. If you like reptiles and other creepy crawlies, this is certainly the camp for you!
Sports Galore | Ages 7-12
DATES: November 24-26, 2025
Why pick one sport when you can play them all? Each day will focus on a different sport such as soccer, basketball, football, Dodge ball and more. Sports galore camp is designed to teach children recreational sports and the value of exercise. Focus will be placed on team play and skill development.
About Us
Our Branch
Dan McKinney Family YMCA
Address: 8355 Cliffridge Ave., La Jolla, CA, 92037
Phone: (858) 453-3483
Camp Locations and Hours of Operation
SCHOOL BREAK CAMPS
Dan McKinney Family YMCA
Address: 8355 Cliffridge Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
Camp Hours:
Full day: 8:00am–4:00pm
Drop-off: 8:00–9:00am
Pick-up: 3:15–4:00pm
Extended Care: 4:00–5:30pm
No additional cost(s) or registration required for extended pick-up/drop-off.
Directors and Supervisors
Hannah Lewis
Camp Director
Email: hlewis@ymcasd.org
Phone: (858) 453-3483 ext. 1832
Reese Kirkpatrick
Camp Coordinator
Email: rkirkpatrick@ymcasd.org
Phone: (858) 453-3483 ext. 2662
About Our Staff
Dan McKinney Family YMCA takes pride in hiring the best people to fill our camp staff. Each camp leader was hand-selected through an extensive hiring process to ensure the safest environment for everyone. Staff training includes CPR and First Aid certification, transportation safety, behavior management and bully prevention, child protection and abuse prevention, field trip and off-site safety procedures, risk management/prevention and more.
PAYING FOR CAMP
- Pay in full (includes a $60 non-refundable deposit).
- Place a $60 non-refundable deposit at the time of registration. Deposit discounts may apply based on membership type.
- Note: any day camps less than three days will have no deposit and will require to be paid in full at time of registration.
- For Summer sessions, balances will be due three weeks prior to the first day of camp.
- For school break camps, balance dues will be one week before the camp date.
- An active membership is required at the time of the program start date to receive the member pricing discount.
- Financial assistance is available through the Y’s ACCESS scholarship program or through third party payment support.
Deposits are non-refundable but can be immediately applied as a deposit for another camp if space is available or applied to an already existing camp balance within the same season. See our Refund/Voucher/Transfer Policies for more information.
Here's what our parents tell us:
"My child came home so happy and didn’t want to leave at the end of the day. He said it was the best camp EVER and loved all his camp counselors!"
REQUIRED FORMS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTS
Day Camp Parent Manual
Check out our Day Camp Parent Manual for easy reference on what to expect and how to best prepare your camper for day camp. Additional information can be found on the YMCA of San Diego County Day Camp page.
UPDATED SAFETY GUIDELINES:
Your family’s safety is our top priority. We have implemented safety protocols that follow state and local guidelines. It’s our priority to help your children enjoy a safe and fun program that builds lasting friendships.
Medical Release Form - Required
Vendor Waivers
ADAPTIVE CAMP
Our Adaptive Camp Program is a designed to support youth with behavioral and developmental needs as it adapts the camp experience to your child’s needs and abilities, allowing opportunities for all campers to learn new skills, form new friendships and create lifetime memories. Campers will participate in activities with our traditional and specialty camps based on their interests at a pace that works for them. Our smaller camper-to-staff ratio for Adaptive Camp supports positive inclusion and/or one-on-one support as needed. Space is limited.
PLEASE NOTE: Contact the Camp Director and/or Coordinator to initiate an enrollment request and help us prepare a great experience for your camper. We begin accepting enrollment requests on March 4, 2024 and strive to provide at least one week of camp to all interested families.
Camp Scholarships
Financial assistance is available to families who qualify. Applications are available at the service desk and online. Assistance is based on verified income and completed applications.
More Policies
For more information about YMCA Day Camp policies, expectations and helpful information, visit our Day Camp Policy page.
Giving Back
For every session of camp, the Y provides program scholarships for families seeking financial assistance. This is made possible through the generosity of our community. If you wish to help a child go to camp, please see our Camp Director for information.
Feedback
We love to hear from our campers and parents! Camp leadership teams use your feedback to make positive changes to our program. Please feel free to contact Camp Director Hannah Lewis at hlewis@ymcasd.org, with any questions, comments or concerns.