Welcome to Day Camp at Dan McKinney Family YMCA

We are truly dedicated to making an impact in every camper’s summer. We jam pack our programming with relationship building activities which contributes to camper’s increased confidence, problem solving skills, and interest in new hobbies and activities. Additionally, the Y is focused on being a role model for respect, responsibility, caring, and honesty. We are proud of our program and never stop evolving it to be better and better each summer.

Summer Day Camp Schedules

*Prorated week due to Fourth of July holiday.

Camp Matrix

View Camp Matrix Here

Weekly Calendars

View Beach and Bay YMCA Camp Calendars

Camp Guide

View Camp Guide for Dan McKinney Family YMCA

Camp Locations and Hours of Operation

Dan McKinney Family YMCA
Address: 8355 Cliffridge Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037 
Day Camp Hours: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Extended Day Camp Hours: 7:00am - 9:00am | 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Beach and Bay Family YMCA
Address: 4606 Ingraham Street San Diego, CA 92109 
Phone: (858) 273-9622 

About Us

Our Branch

Dan McKinney Family YMCA
Address: 8355 Cliffridge Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037 
Phone: (858) 453-3483 

Beach and Bay Family YMCA
Address: 4606 Ingraham Street San Diego, CA 92109 
Phone: (858) 273-9622 

Directors and Supervisors

Lindsey Preovolos
Camp Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (858) 453-3483 ext. 12820 

Mike Roberts
Beach and Bay YMCA Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (858) 273-9622 

About Our Staff

The Dan McKinney Family YMCA is confident that our staff team is the very best. Combined with a fun-loving spirit and well-trained skill set, our staff team looks forward to making your child’s summer camp experience memorable. The YMCA’s management team hand selects staff using an extensive selection process. Group interviews are used to determine potential staff members past experience with youth, ability to lead and personality fit. Individual interviews are conducted to determine critical thinking abilities, supervision aptitude and problem solving skills. At the completion of this process, every staff member receives an updated background check, cross-referenced with registered sex offender list and multiple reference checks. Each camp leader receives 30 hours of training and unit leaders undergo 60 hours of training.

How to Register for Day Camp

• Find a Day Camp Program and Register Online
• By phone: (858) 453-3483
• In person at the Registration Desk at the Dan McKinney Family YMCA

At time of registration, you may choose to:

• Pay in full (includes a $25 non-refundable deposit)
• Put down a $25 non-refundable deposit at time of registration. Balances will be due the Monday prior to the first day of camp.
• An additional $25 will be applied to all registrations starting the Tuesday before the camp begins.

Medical Release Form - Required

In order to register, all campers must have a current Medical Release form updated and submitted to the YMCA after January 2018. Medical Release forms can be found at the YMCA Registration Desk or can be downloaded here: English | Español

Vendor Waivers

Some specialty camps, particularly those that travel to an off-site location, require an additional vendor waiver. Day Camp programs requiring these forms should have a link available to download the waiver as a PDF on the specific Day Camp page — it may also be included within the list of external waivers below. If it is not present, please contact us and request a copy of the waiver be sent to you.

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.

Apply for a Program Scholarship

More Policies

For more information about YMCA Day Camp policies, expectations and helpful information, visit our Day Camp Policy page.

Day Camp Categories

Traditional Day Camps

These ultra-spirited, fun-filled camps are full of BIG themes, BIG ideas and BIG FUN! Each week will have a different theme that will guide our activities and trips for the week. Set in the YMCA style of different crazy activities each and every day, your camper will be traveling on special adventures throughout San Diego: visiting theme parks, taking swim lessons, going to local parks and beaches, or simply having a great time at one of our extraordinary facilities. Go BIG, go traditional!

Find Traditional Day Camps at Dan McKinney Family YMCA

Find Traditional Day Camps at Beach and Bay Family YMCA

Specialty Day Camps

Our phenomenal specialty day camps combine the traditional fun of YMCA day camps with the more specialized skills and learning of our outside specialty camp providers or YMCA experts. Each specialty day camp has a wide range of subjects to campers to enjoy - from sports-related day camps concentrating on skills and techniques, to creative camps like ceramics that focus on expanding artistic skills and confidence.

Find Specialty Day Camps at Dan McKinney Family YMCA

Find Specialty Day Camps at Beach and Bay Family YMCA

Sports Day Camps

Recreational games and skill building with focus on sportsmanship and a different sport each day. Enjoy basketball, soccer, baseball, flag football, a trip to our pool and many other active games.

Find Sports Day Camps at Dan McKinney Family YMCA

Find Sports Day Camps at Beach and Bay Family YMCA

Leader in Training and Counselor in Training Camps

Our Leader in Training (LIT) and Counselor in Training (CIT) programs are an excellent opportunity for teens to learn hands-on job experience and responsibilities, while still operating under the supervision of our camp staff team. Additionally, all hours completed within LIT Placement can be recorded as community service hours!

Find LIT and CIT Day Camps at Dan McKinney Family YMCA

Teen Day Camps

Summer camps arent just for kids! The YMCA offers fun and challenging camp activities specifically tailored to preteens and teens. Teens will have fun as they learn, grow and thrive under the guidance of caring, well-trained staff members.

Find Teen Day Camps at Dan McKinney Family YMCA

Find Teen Day Camps at Beach and Bay Family YMCA

Aquatics Day Camps

Does your camper love the water? Whether they are a fantastic swimmer or just learning, we offer fun-filled and exciting aquatic camps for every ability.

Find Aquatic Day Camps at Dan McKinney Family YMCA

Find Aquatic Day Camps at Beach and Bay Family YMCA

Special Needs Day Camps

If your Dan McKinney Family YMCA camper has special needs, please let us know when registering. Our Mainstreaming in Camp program provides the opportunity for children with disabilities or special needs to participate in camp in the same manner as other children of comparable age. “MinC” 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. MinC campers will participate in activities with our traditional camps as well as experience camp at a pace that works for them. Our increased ratio allows us to provide the staff needed for positive inclusion and/or one-on-one support. Additionally, the YMCA is proud to offer low-ratio day camps for children with special needs, providing a day camp experience in a safe, fun and nurturing environment. All camp counselors for this program have additional experience working with special needs campers.

Find All YMCA Special Needs Day Camps

Extended Day Camp Hours

Our day camps run from 9:00am - 4:00pm, however, extended hours are included in the camp and may be used as needed. Noadditional registration is necessary. Campers may be dropped off as early as 7:00am and picked up as late as 6:00pm. Late afternoon snack will be provided.

What to Expect and Prepare For

Sign In and Sign Out Procedures

In order to ensure the safety of your camper, it is mandatory that each camper be signed in and out daily with a legal signature and time by an authorized adult.

Authorization To Pick Up Camper

Only adults who are authorized in writing by the parent will be allowed to pick up your camper. All adults picking up campers from Camp are required to identify themselves with a photo ID.

Late Arrivals

It is imperative that your camper arrives to camp on time. If campers are late, it will be the responsibility of the parent to ensure that the camper is signed in and arrives safely with his or her designated camp.

Late Pick-Ups

Children not picked up at the end of the camp day at any of our sites will be placed in our Late Parent Program. A $15 late fee will be charged for any of the first 15 minutes after the end of camp. An additional $1 per minute fee will be charged after the first 15 minutes. For example, camp pick-up ends at 6:00pm, and a child is picked up at 6:25pm. There would be a $25 charge.

Lunches and Snacks

Campers should eat a nutritious breakfast before being dropped off for camp and bring a healthy non-perishable lunch each day. Sorry, but we do not provide meals for campers. Please note, we do not have the capacity to heat or refrigerate lunch items.

Clothing

Campers are required to wear closed toe shoes and socks daily. Belongings are the responsibility of the camper. A backpack is helpful in keeping your camper’s belongings in a safe place. Please clearly mark your camper’s belongings with his/her name.

Camper T-Shirts: Campers will receive a camper T-shirt from their camp leaders.

What Not to Bring to Camp

The following are not allowed at camp:

• Personal toys
• Electronics
• Animals
• Weapons
• Drugs
• Alcohol
• Candy and soda (healthy eating is encouraged)

Sun Protection

Parents should apply sunscreen before campers arrive to Day Camp in the morning. We apply sunscreen multiple times throughout the day. If you do not want sunscreen applied to your camper, or would like a special type of sunscreen applied, please send a note to your child’s Camp Unit Leader each Monday and provide them with the special sunscreen.

Swimming

Please see your camper’s camp calendar for specific swim days. Campers who wish to swim must bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and warm change of clothes. All campers are required to take a swim test before swimming in the YMCA pool or beach on a daily basis. The swim test consists of jumping in deep water, returning to the surface, treading water for 60 seconds and swimming 25 yards (the length of the pool) on the surface with rudimentary side breathing. If a camper is unable to pass this test or if a camper chooses not to take the swim test and cannot stand comfortably in the water (water no higher than the armpits), s/he will wear a life jacket in the pool and will stay in the closely supervised shallow end of the pool. In order to keep your camper safe, all campers take the swim test every day. During beach visits, campers are required to take a swim test daily, if campers pass the test, they are allowed to go in waist deep, if they do not pass, they are allowed to go in ankle-deep.

For your camper’s safety, all campers visiting the beach will be given brightly colored rash guards to wear throughout their visit.

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, Lindsey Preovolos at [email protected], with any questions, comments or concerns!