Youth and Family Programs
Summer Camp
Good Fun In Good Hands!
At YDay Camp, kids grow in many ways. They grow in confidence. They develop new skills, and they learn what it means to be a good friend. YMCA Day Camp offers children ages 1 –14 fun and learning they’ll never forget! Plus expeditions for teenagers, sports and special interest camps are also offered throughout the summer! There is no better place this summer for your child to have fun and be safe, and for you to have peace of mind, than with the YMCA.
Download your summer guide here: YMCA 2008 Summer Guide.
For day-camps and specialty camps (for 1-3 and 4-8 yr olds) offered in the various regions of the county, click on the link below for more details:
Special Interest, Sports & Teen Programs
Special Interest Camps for more details on:
- Sail Away
- Wilderness Awareness
- Surf Camp
- Green Garden
- Green Building
- Family Camp
Summer Sports Programs
Click here for more details:
Teen Expeditions Summer Expeditions
The YMCA offers summer expeditions for teens to the high mountains (Camp Edison) and Channel Islands.
Teen Leadership Development: A leadership development program (offered throughout the summer for 3 to 5 days per session) is an ideal program for teens seeking to learn how to work with large groups and counsel children in day-camp activities. Click here for more details:
What Your child Will Do at YDay Camps
Anything from swimming and team games to crafts and studying the environment. Most importantly, your child will be in a safe, friendly environment where the YMCA’s core values of trust, respect, responsibiity, fairness, caring and citizenship are an integral part of the curriculum.
Depend On Us
We choose our staff based on their experience and sensitivity to children’s needs. They will inspire your child and create opportunities for them to learn and explore the world around them.
Register Early
Camps are located throughout San Luis Obispo County. However, space is limited, so sign up soon! You do not have to be a YMCA member to register. A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit for each week of camp must be paid at registration. Full payment is due prior to the start of camp. A late fee will be charged if payment is late.
All Are Welcome at the YMCA
Financial Assistance
Every child should have the opportunity to attend camp. The YMCA’s Financial Assistance program, supported in part through contributions to the Annual Support Campaign, provides funds for those in need within our available resources. For more information...
Inclusive Recreation
The YMCA offers a program that is geared specifically for children from K- 8th grade with special needs. This program is in collaboration with Tri Counties Regional Center. It pairs the children with dedicated, trained YMCA staff who promote social skills and provide developmentally appropriate activities. YMCA Inclusive Recreation program successfully places children in a variety of YMCA programs, on a case by case basis. Click here for a registration form. To learn more, contact:
Alicia Seibel
Inclusive Recreation Coordinator
aseibel@sloymca.org
at (805) 543-8235
Note: The forms on this page are in PDF format. If you have trouble opening them, please make sure you have Acrobat Reader 5.0 installed on your computer. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, you can download it here.
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Special Interest Summer Programs
Wilderness Awareness
This amazing camp is a collaboration between the YMCA and the Central Coast Village Center, utilizing an intensive mentoring model with unparalleled mentor to student ratios. We will lead you on great adventures where you will see, hear, and fell more than ever before. You will learn how to recognize hazards, identify and differentiate between edible and poisonous plants in the wild, build primitive shelter, make fire with sticks and so much more! We will help dispel myths about wild places and share our passion for the natural world and we will have a rockin’ good time doing it.
Ages: 5-12yrs
Location:
Session #1 & 2 - Montana De Oro
Session #3- North County, TBA
Dates:
Session #1 Camp Wild Child, ages 5-9; June 16-20th
Session #2 Wandering Coyotes, ages 9-12; June 16-20th
Session #3 Wandering Coyotes, ages 9-12, June 30-July 3rd
Time: 9am-3pm
Cost:
Session 1 & 2 $250.00
Session 3 $200.00
Registration Form: Click here
Contact:
For more information please contact The Central Coast Village Center, 541-9900 or info@centralcoastvillagecenter.org
www.theccvc.org
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Sail Away Camp
Morro Bay is a small boat sailing paradise! On summer morning when the tide is high, the shallow waters nears Baywood Park are wide and smooth-ideal for learning to sail. Beginners will first learn to row stable 8-foot boats designed for kids. After a few days of sailing with an instructor while learning to tie knots and rig sails, each student will progress to “solo” sailing on the bay in the same boat he or she first became comfortable rowing. Instruction includes basics of boating, safety, technique, and terminology. Individual on-the-water helps enables students to advance at their own pace. Instruction in kayaks and canoes is also available. Favorable tides govern dates and times. A student may enroll in a second camp to gain further instruction.
Ages: 8-13 yrs
Location:
Baywood Pier (corner of 2nd Street and El Morro Ave in Los Osos)
Dates:
Camp 1: Tuesday July 29th-Friday August 1st
Camp 2: Tuesday August 12th-Friday August 15th
Time: 9am-1pm
Cost: $160.00
Registration Form: Click here
Contact:
For more information please contact Katie Allison at 543-8235 x 106, Kallison@sloymca.org
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Pismo Beach Surf Camp
OneWay Boardshop and the San Luis Obispo YMCA are proud to offer their first summer surf camp at Pismo Beach. The weekly camp sessions will be offered from July 7-Aug.1 2008. These instructional surf camps will be available in full day sessions, from 9am-3pm, and also half day sessions, 12pm-3pm. Students will learn the fundamentals of water safety, surfing technique and terminology. Surfboards and wetsuits will be provided. Students will receive an individual assessment, a surf camp t-shirt, and a certificate of completion at the end of the weekly course (and pizza!!!). Get
stoked with OneWay Boardshop and the YMCA!
Ages: 6-adult
Drop-off & Pick-Up Location: Pismo Beach, 
The Beach House,
340 Pomeroy Ave, Pismo Beach
Dates:
Camp 1: Monday July 7th-Thursday July 10th
Camp 2: Monday July 14th-Thursday July 17th
Camp 3: Monday July 21st-Thursday July 24th
Camp 4: Monday July 28th-Thursday July 31st
Time:
Half Day 12:00pm-3:00pm
Full Day 9:00am-3:00pm
Cost:
Half Day $200.00
Full Day $250.00
Registration Form: Click here
Contact:
For more information please contact Katie Allison at 543-8235 x 106, Kallison@sloymca.org
or Derrick Conahan, 548-8929
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Green Gardens Camp
The Botanical Gardens and the San Luis Obispo YMCA are proud to offer their first summer camp at the Gardens. How does your green garden grow? Well, with proper tools in mind you will learn techniques and plant selections that show you how to grow gardens that are suitable for our dry, Mediterranean climate region of California. A tour of our water wise garden and a garden design “play shop” will bring together the elements, such as water, sun, soil, and plant life that you will need to have your own green garden at home.
Ages: 5-12 yr olds
Location:
San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens,
El Chorro Regional Park across from Cuesta College
Dates: Tuesday June 17th-Thursday June 19th
Time:
Session 1: 10:00am-12:00pm, 5-8 year olds
Session 2: 2:00pm-4:00pm, 9-12 year olds
Cost: $70.00, Minimum # of participants: 10, Maximum: 20
Registration Form: Click here
Contact:
For more information please contact-
Katie Allison at 543-8235 x 106, Kallison@sloymca.org
or Teresa Lees at 541-1400 x.304, tlees@slobg.org
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Green Buildings Camp
The Botanical Gardens and the San Luis Obispo YMCA are proud to offer their first summer camp at the Gardens. Green, sustainable, solar buildings are within your reach. Come see our straw bale construction center and learn about the secrets of passive solar design. Perhaps, you, too, will become a Solar Architect after taking this specialty camp.
Ages: 5-12 year olds
Location:
San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens,
El Chorro Regional Park across from Cuesta College
Dates: Tuesday July 8th-Thursday July 10th
Time:
Session 1: 10:00am-12:00pm, 5-8 year olds
Session 2: 2:00pm-4:00pm, 9-12 year olds
Cost: $70.00, Minimum # of participants: 10, Maximum: 20
Registration Form: Click here
Contact:
For more information please contact-
Katie Allison at 543-8235 x 106, Kallison@sloymca.org or Teresa Lees at 541-1400 x.304, tlees@slobg.org
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Oak Family Camp
This family camp, held 1/2 days during the first week of August, involves the whole family creating summer camp memories together, in the botanical gardens. Parents, Grandparents and Children garden together, do daily crafts and build a garden project together. This year families will learn about the species of oak trees that grow in California and be involved in installing the Oak Woodland garden surrounding the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden Education Center. We will construct a straw bale bench underneath the canopy of Coast Live Oaks and create original works of art on tiles just to name a couple of the fun-filled projects. Daily snacks are also provided.
Dates: August 4th-August 8th
Location:
San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens,
El Chorro Regional Park across from Cuesta College
Time: 9:00am to Noon daily
Cost: $140 per family of 4 ($120 for members of the Garden)
Contact:
For more information please contact-
Teresa Lees at 541-1400 x.304, tlees@slobg.org
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Spring/Summer Teen Expeditions

Channel Islands
Spend a week on Santa Cruz Island
in Channel Island National Park; kayaking along the coast and exploring caves, snorkel in and about the kelp beds full of fish and other sea life, swim in the surf, explore the beaches, hike on the trails, explore various structures on the island that are remains of what was once a very large “Rancho” of California’s historical Spanish past, learn orienteering, meet new friends and more!
Dates: June 15th-20th
Ages: 12-18yrs
Location: Channel Islands National Park Group Campground
Time: Depart SLO Amtrak June 15th at 6:00am,
Return SLO YMCA June 20th at 10:00pm
Cost: $550.00 due in Full by June 6th, Min # participants: 6
Includes transportation, food, lodging (tent camping), kayak rentals, and additional admissions and fees.
Registration Form: Click here
Contact:
For more information please contact Katie Allison at 543-8235 x 106, Kallison@sloymca.org
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Camp Edison
Take a high-mountain vacation with horse back riding at Shaver Lake Stables, fishing at Shaver Lake, swimming, hiking, canoeing, and enjoying water slides and paddle boats.
Dates: June 29 - July 3rd (New Dates!)
Ages: 12-18yrs
Location: Camp Edison, Shaver Lake, CA
Time: Depart SLO YMCA July 13th at 9:00am,
Return SLO YMCA July 19th at 5:00pm
Cost: $550.00 due by July 4th,
Min # participants: 6
Fees include horse back riding at Shaver Lake Stables, fishing at Shaver Lake, swimming, hiking, water front activities (canoeing, water slide, paddle boats, etc), transportation, lodging (tent camping), meals and more!
Registration Form: Click here
Contact:
For more information please contact Katie Allison at 543-8235 x 106, Kallison@sloymca.org
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Camp Surf
Tent camping on the beach, surfing, boogie boarding, low and high ropes courses, beach volleyball, crafts, swimming, climbing wall, basketball, group games and large group campfires.
Dates: July 20 - July 26
Ages: 12 - 18 yrs
Location: Camp Surf, San Diego, CA
Time: Depart SLO YMCA July 20 at 9:00 am,
Return SLO YMCA July 26 at 5:00 pm
Cost: $575.00 due by July 11,
Min # participants: 6
Fees include all listed activities, transportation and meals.
Registration Form: Click here
Contact:
For more information please contact Katie Allison at 543-8235 x 106, Kallison@sloymca.org
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Camp Sierra - New Dates
Take a to the mountains, for swimming, hiking, group games, horse back riding, mountain biking, crafts and low ropes course.
Dates: August 10-15
Ages: 8-18yrs
Location: Camp Sierra, Big Springs near Shaver Lake, CA
Time: Depart SLO YMCA July 13th at 9:00am,
Return SLO YMCA July 19th at 5:00pm
Cost: $550.00 due by August 4th,
Min # participants: 6
Fees include low ropes course, swimming, hiking, group games, horse back riding, mountain biking, crafts, transportation, lodging (tent camping), meals and more!
Registration Form: Click here
Contact:
For more information please contact Katie Allison at 543-8235 x 106, Kallison@sloymca.org
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Leadership Development
Want to see what it feels like to be a day camp leader? Come experience Y Camp from a leadership position. Selection as a LIT and CIT is based on your application and positive recommendation from personal references.
The focus of the Leader in Training program is to develop general leadership skills and interpersonal interaction with an introduction to problem solving, communication, camp mission/goals, and camp work projects. The focus of the Counselor In Training expands the learning program to develop camp counseling skills and leadership skills in working with groups.
Leader in Training
(9th & 10th Grades) working with K-4 yr olds
Counselor In Training
(11th-12th Grades, & Returning 10th Graders) working with 5-8.
CIT participants are at least 15 years of age and are entering 10th-12th grades.
Dates: Offered weeks #1-10 of K-4 and 5-8 Camps
Plus participants are asked to attend two day-long training sessions:
Summer Camp Meeting - Saturday May 17th and a second meeting prior to the participant's camp start date.
Locations:
- South County K-4 and 5-8,
- San Luis Obispo K-4 and 5-8,
- Centennial Park K-4 and 5-8, Paso Robles
Time: Varies on the camps schedule
Cost:
- 5 day, $100.00
- 4day (July 4th week only), $80.00
- 3 day, $70.00
Registration Form: Click here
Contact:
For more information please contact Katie Allison at 543-8235 x 106, Kallison@sloymca.org
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Youth & Government
Y&G Informational Web page
Ages: 10th – 12th grades
Location: Countywide
Dates: September – February
Cost: $890
The ultimate experience in citizenship
and civic duty! High school students
have the opportunity to write bills,
become attorneys, and serve on the
State Assembly and more as they
participate in this statewide mock
California legislature & court program.
Over 2000 teens from across the state
participate in this awesome program
that culminates with the youth heading
to Sacramento to take over the capitol
for 5 exciting days. This is one program
your high school student will want to
have on his/her college application!
Includes weekly meetings and 3
statewide conferences.
2007-08 Information
For more information call: Katie
Allison 543-8235 x 106 or
kallison@sloymca.org
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Indian Guides & Princesses
(formerly known as Adventure Guides)
Informational Web Page 
Grades: K-4th, for fathers & their
sons or daughters
Location: Countywide
Dates: September – June
Time: varies
Cost: $70
Free Kick-off Barbeque in September
at Port San Luis Beach in Avila.
Are you a dad looking for ways to spend
fun, quality time with your child? Check
out the YMCA Indian Guides & Princesses
program! Y Indian Guides and Princesses
programs foster companionship, and
understanding and set a foundation
for a positive, lifelong relationship
between parent and child. They help children
build a sense of self-esteem and personal
worth as well as provide the framework
for family quality time. This amazing
program’s activities include camping,
hiking, bike riding, snow trips and more.
For more information call: Katie Allison
543-8235 x 106 or
kallison@sloymca.org
2007 Registration Forms
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Special Events
Click here for a list of current events.
Mary Gibbs Memorial 5k Fun Run/Walk 
Date: June 7, 2008
Location: SLO Facility
Times: Check-in 8am, race start 9am
Click here for more details.
Fitness can be fun! Bring your family
and friends to the SLO YMCA for an
enjoyable 5K walk or run. There will be
food, raffle prizes and an opportunity to
connect with your community. For
registration and more information call:
Nate Asher at 543-8235 or
nasher@sloymca.org
Halloween at the YMCA 
Date: October 25, 2008
Time: 5-7pm
Location: SLO Facility
Cost: Free!
A spooktacular family event, riddled with
costume contests, pumpkin decorating,
haunted house, cotton candy, musical
cakewalk, mummy wrapping and family
entertainment.
For more information call: Amy
Buchanan at 543-8235 or
abuchanan@sloymca.org
2nd Annual YMCA Turkey Trot
5K Walk/Run
Date: November 8, 2008
Time: Check-in 8 am, Run start 9:00 am
Location: SLO Facility
Click here for more details.
The Turkey Trot is a great 5k race or
walk, in beautiful San Luis Obispo.
One aid station will be present on the course. For registration and more information call:
Nate Asher at 543-8235 or
nasher@sloymca.org Happy Holidays at the YMCA 
Date: December 12, 2008
Time: 5:30-7:00 pm
Location: SLO Facility
Cost: Free
This family fun night is an event
filled with holiday arts and crafts,
bounce house and Santa
For more information call: Nate Asher
at 543-8235 or nasher@sloymca.org
FREE YMCA Fun Nights 
Dates: Select Fridays throughout the year
Location: San Luis Obispo YMCA Facility
Cost: Free
Ages: All ages invited!
Days: One Friday of each month
Time: 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
The YMCA offers free fun nights for
members and the community monthly.
Come visit us to enjoy an evening of crafts,
the bounce house and treats. See our
website for monthly details:
www.sloymca.org/events.htm,
or call 543-8235.
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