SCHOOL BREAK CAMPS
When school is out, fun is in at the Y! 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 South Bay FAMILY YMCA
Your family can count on South Bay 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
- January 5-9, 2026
- March 23-27, 2026
- March 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 — (619) 421-9622
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
2026 School Break DAY CAMPS
CAMP INFORMATION
Adventure | AGES 8-13
DATES: January 5-9, 2026 | March 23-27, 2026 | March 30-April 3, 2025
A week of non-stop action, creativity and hands-on fun! Adventure Camp is the ultimate all-in-one experience for curious, active and creative kids. Each day brings a new adventure as campers dive into a dynamic mix of activities — from mastering archery and playing team sports to experimenting in the kitchen and creating awesome art projects. This camp is perfect for kids who love to try new things, make friends and stay on the move.
Big Messy Art | AGES 7-12
DATES: March 23-27, 2026 | March 30-April 3, 2025
Campers, get ready to unleash your creativity and dive into a world of color, texture and fun. From splatter painting and clay sculpting to hands-on, larger-than-life art projects, this camp is all about getting messy and making masterpieces. Join us for a week of laughter, creativity and the most wonderfully messy art experiences ever!
CIT Fieldwork | AGES 16-17
DATES: January 5-9, 2026 | March 23-27, 2026 | March 30-April 3, 2025
CIT Fieldwork is geared toward teens beginning the transition to becoming camp counselors. They will take on additional responsibilities and meet expectations aligned with those of our staff. Teens will earn school-required volunteer service hours by participating in this program. It’s the perfect opportunity to complete this requirement and make a difference in our camp community!
Club 6/7 | AGES 6-7
DATES: January 5-9, 2026 | March 23-27, 2026 | March 30-April 3, 2025
Join our Y day camp for a week of fun with all the onsite activities we have to offer. Campers build self-confidence, make new friends and create lasting memories through sports and games, arts and crafts, science experiments and more. Activities are based on the weekly theme and camper interests. Day campers are divided into small groups by age and take part in activities tailored to their group’s needs and interests.
Disney Cooking | AGES 6-9
DATES: January 5-9, 2026
Welcome to the most magical kitchen on earth! In Disney Delights Cooking Camp, young chefs will step into the world of their favorite Disney characters and cook up enchanting recipes inspired by beloved movies. Each day, campers will explore new flavors, learn fun kitchen skills (safely and age-appropriately!) and bring fairy tales to life — one bite at a time.
Fabulous Four | AGE 4
DATES: January 5-9, 2026 | March 23-27, 2026 | March 30-April 3, 2025
Fab Fours is a perfect fit for our youngest 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. With their own dedicated space and scheduled break times, this is the perfect space to introduce kids to a camp environment.
High Fives | AGE 5
DATES: January 5-9, 2026 | March 23-27, 2026 | March 30-April 3, 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.
Itty Bitty Aquatics | AGES 5-8
DATES: March 23-27, 2026 | March 30-April 3, 2025
Campers will have a 30-minute swim lesson each day with Y swim instructors, get comfortable in the water, learn how to float and tread water. Campers will end the day with a 45-minute free swim to play and have fun with the entire camp. Campers will also participate in traditional camp activities like arts & crafts, songs and games. Swimmers may be required to wear life jackets during free swim.
Itty Bitty Sports | AGES 5-8
DATES: March 23-27, 2026 | March 30-April 3, 2025
The perfect camp for your little athlete, Itty Bitty Sports Camp introduces campers to toned-down, peewee versions of many popular sports, such as baseball (via tee ball using foam or whiffle balls), soccer, track & field and more. We will also take campers through drills for each sport to work on their basic skills and simulate games for our little athletes.
K-Pop Quest – Demon Beat | AGES 5-8
DATES: January 5-9, 2026
Get ready to dance, defend and dazzle! In this action-packed, music-filled adventure, campers become part of a supercharged K-Pop squad with a secret mission: protect the world from silly, sneaky “demons” using the power of rhythm, teamwork and sparkle! Each day, our mini idol-heroes will design amazing crafts, create magical “power moves” and go on fun missions to capture mischief-making monsters (think glitter, giggles and goofy games — not scary stuff!). With catchy beats and creative quests, this camp is the perfect mix of creativity and play.
LIT Fieldwork | AGES 13-15
DATES: January 5-9, 2026 | March 23-27, 2026 | March 30-April 3, 2025
LIT Fieldwork is an opportunity for teens who have successfully completed our training course to use their leadership skills in the field of camp and enjoy the rewards of working with the YMCA’s incredible staff. Teens will experience various camp programs, 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 child care career. Teens will be placed into age-appropriate camps prior to the start of the fieldwork week. Join our team in making a difference in the lives of many young campers this summer while earning school-required or volunteer service hours.
Little Astronauts | AGES 5-8
DATES: March 23-27, 2026 | March 30-April 3, 2025
Your little gardeners will love embarking on a whimsical journey into the world of gardening and nature appreciation. Our program is crafted to foster a love for the outdoors and cultivate an understanding of the wonders of the natural world through hands-on gardening, creative crafts and nature-themed storytelling and learning. This camp is all about fostering a love for the environment and building confidence as young gardeners. With expert guidance, plenty of outdoor play and lots of dirt to dig in, your child will leave with a new appreciation for the earth — and a few flowers, plants or veggies to take home!
Little Gardeners | AGES 5-8
DATES: March 23-27, 2026 | March 30-April 3, 2025
Blast off into a week of fun and discovery at Little Astronauts Camp! This camp is an out-of-this-world adventure filled with space-themed activities. Campers will explore planets, build their own rocket ships and learn about the stars through creative crafts, games and hands-on experiments. It’s the perfect opportunity for young space enthusiasts to spark their curiosity and imagination while having a stellar time!
Little Scientists | AGES 5-8
DATES: January 5-9, 2026
Unleash your inner scientist as we get messy. Campers will experiment with explosions, gooey projects and so much more! Campers will also have fun as they participate in camp games, songs and crafts. Please send your camper to camp in clothes that can get messy.
Outrageous Science | AGES 7-12
DATES: March 23-27, 2026 | March 30-April 3, 2025
As if normal science wasn’t enough?! We are upping the experiments to an outrageous level! Campers are introduced to the nature of physics, will explore reactions and take up the role of mad scientist for this week of camp.
Pixar Pals | AGES 5-8
DATES: March 23-27, 2026 | March 30-April 3, 2025
Jump into the colorful worlds of Pixar in Pixar Pals Camp! Young campers will explore friendship, imagination and storytelling through games, crafts, movement and creative play inspired by favorite Pixar characters and themes. Each day brings new adventures as kids create art, act out stories and work together celebrating kindness, teamwork and big imaginations in a fun, age-appropriate setting.
Traditional Extreme | AGES 4-13
DATES: November 11, 2025 | December 22-23, 2025 | January 2, 2026
Welcome to Traditional Extreme Camp! Experience the best of traditional activities and extreme adventures. Play games, make new friends and have a blast at our exciting and creative camp!
Sanrio | AGES 7-12
DATES: March 23-27, 2026 | March 30-April 3, 2025
Welcome to Sanrio Camp: A Magical Adventure! Step into the whimsical world of Hello Kitty, My Melody and all their friends! At Sanrio Camp, kids will unleash their creativity with themed art projects, enjoy interactive activities like scavenger hunts and dance parties and meet their favorite characters. It’s a celebration of friendship, imagination and joy that your child won’t want to miss!
Snack Lab | AGES 7-12
DATES: March 23-27, 2026 | March 30-April 3, 2025
Welcome to Snack Lab, where campers become food scientists and snack inventors! Kids will experiment with flavors, textures and ingredients to create tasty, creative snacks while learning kitchen safety and basic food science. From sweet to savory, campers will test ideas, refine recipes and discover what makes the perfect snack — mixing curiosity, creativity and delicious fun.
Sports Galore | AGES 7-12
DATES: January 5-9, 2026
Why pick one sport when you can play them all? Each day will focus on a different sport such as soccer, basketball, football, dodgeball and more. Sports galore camp is designed to teach campers recreational sports and the value of exercise. Focus will be placed on team play and skill development.
Splash | AGES 8-13
DATES: March 23-27, 2026 | March 30-April 3, 2025
This wet, wild and fun camp is sure to keep your little fishies busy! Campers will enjoy a fun-filled, jam-packed swimming lesson with outstanding YMCA-certified lifeguards, followed by an extended swim time full of splishing, splashing and sploshing! Campers will also participate in fun water activities on-site at the Y. When the children are not in the pool, they are having a blast participating in other camp activities such as arts & crafts, games, songs, sports and more.
About Us
Our Branch
South Bay Family YMCA
Address: 1201 Paseo Magda, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Phone: (619) 421-9622
Camp Locations and Hours of Operation
Veterans Elementary School
Address: 1550 Magdalena Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91913
South Bay Teen Center
Address: 820 Paseo Ranchero, Chula Vista, CA 91910
School Break Day Camps
Camp Hours:
- Full-day: 7:30am–5:00pm
- Drop-off: 7:30–9:00am
- Pick-up: 3:30–5:00pm
Directors and Supervisors
Kyle Millard | Camp Director
jmillard@ymcasd.org
Erilyn Merino | Camp Coordinator
emerino@ymcasd.org
About Our Staff
South Bay 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 at SBDayCamp@ymcasd.org with any questions, comments or concerns!
