Sending your child to overnight camp at Camp Speers YMCA is a gift that will fill them with a lifetime of memories! Our safe, child-centered community helps campers discover who they are and what they can become. As campers swim, climb, play sports, be creative, learn social skills, and just have fun they develop confidence and independence.  

Summer 2023 Health & Safety!

We are busy planning Summer 2023! This summer, we will be following all CDC, local, state, and government guidance. We will continue to keep lines of communication open and transparent as summer approaches. One thing we know for sure: Kids will need camp more than ever.

Read our Summer Safety Information

Traditional Camp

(grades 2-11):

1 Week Program: June 25 – June 30 | July 30 – August 4 | August 6 – August 11 | August 13 – August 18
2 Week Program: July 2 – 14 | July 16 – July 28 
Holdover Weekends: June 30 – July 2 | August 4 – August 6

Half of each day is spent in camper-choice coaching periods, which provide the opportunity to progress in a specific camp area (shooting sports, water sports, wood shop, biking, climbing, art, drama, etc.). The other half of the day is filled with fun on the waterfront and cabin rotations where campers can try a variety of camp activities. Traditional overnight campers will cook out, sleep out under the stars, and attend all-camp evening activities and campfires. You can expect 9-11 other campers and 2 camp staff in your child’s cabin.

Specialty Programs

Art Attack – NEW! (grades 6-9):

1 Week Program: July 9 – July 14

If you love spending time at camp and in the art room, this program is a perfect fit! This group will spend extra time in the art room learning mediums like water colors, pastels, paints, clay, jewelry, and of course tie dying! You will also spend time doing traditional camp activities.

Aqua Adventure – NEW! (grades 3-5):

1 Week Program: July 16 – July 21

This program is designed for campers in grades 3-5 who just can’t get enough water time! Campers will have extra time on the Speers waterfront, travel off camp to visit a local waterfall, take a canoe trip down the Delaware, and challenge themselves with whitewater rafting. This group will also have time for water balloon fights, slip and sliding, beach luaus, and the other traditional camp activities.

Aqua Adventure – NEW! (grades 6-8):

1 Week Program: July 23 – July 28

This program is designed for campers in grades 6-8 who just can’t get enough water time! Campers will have extra time on the Speers waterfront, travel off camp to visit a local waterfall, take a canoe trip down the Delaware, and challenge themselves with whitewater rafting. This group will also have time for water balloon fights, slip and sliding, beach luaus, and the other traditional camp activities.

Midnight Madness (grades 5-8):

1 Week Program: July 2-7 | August 6 – 11

Do you prefer staying up late and sleeping in? Then this is the perfect program for you! Midnight Madness campers will explore the evening with night hikes, late night snacks around the campfire, glow in the dark archery and capture the flag, and of course playful night havoc. This cabin will have a later wakeup call and sleep-in breakfast daily so they can prepare for more evening adventures.

Outdoors & S’mores (grades 1-3):

1 Week Program: July 30 – August 4

If you did Try-It Camp last summer and want a little more, here’s your chance! Outdoors & S’mores is a program designed to try camp for a week but still stay in cabins with bathrooms and showers right inside. Campers will get more opportunities to swim and boat on the lake, rock climb, perfect their sports’ skills, and cook out over a fire.

**It is not required that campers attend Try-It Camp before registering for this program.**

Rock & Roll (grades 7-10):

2 Week Program: July 2 – July 14

Rock climbing and kayaking are the main focus of this program. You will spend time high off the ground while practicing your climbing skills to prepare for an out of camp climbing trip. When you’re not climbing around, spend time on the lake practicing your skills which will lead up to a boating adventure on the Delaware River.

LGBTQIA+ (grades 7-11):

1 Week Program: June 25 – June 30

This program is offered for campers who identify as LGBTQIA+, their allies, or kids whose parents identify with this community. This session is designed to create a safe, fun, inclusive environment for all campers. LGBTQIA+ program campers enjoy camp activities together while focusing on the YMCA four core values, confidence, and building a lifelong network of friends.**We apologize that in our initial registration form there are only two gender options. We are working with our registration system developers to have more gender-inclusive options. Please bear with us as we work to make our system as inclusive as we are.**

Top Chef (grades 3-6):

1 Week Program: June 25 – June 30

It’s time to bring the heat to the camp kitchen! In this program, campers try new recipes as they whip up snacks, fun appetizers, tasty main courses, and yummy desserts. Campers will have an opportunity to learn about the camp kitchen as well as various outdoor cooking methods. Work with your fellow campers to create your own Top Chef cookbook to take home and continue your love of cooking.

Try-It (grades 1-3):

3 Day, 2 Night Program: June 25 – June 27 | June 28 – 30 | July 23 – July 25 | July 26 – July 28

This is for the camper who wants a short trial of everything camp has to offer! Begin your lifelong love of overnight camp by staying in our duplex cabins and dabbling in rock climbing, swimming, paddling, tie-dying, arts and crafts, and sports – then gather ‘round the campfire with other younger campers to enjoy a s’more snack. (This is a 3-day, 2-night experience. Campers will live in cabins with bathrooms and showers.)

Equestrian and Farm Programs

Cowgirls Roundup (grades 4-10):

1 Week Program: June 25 – June 30
2 Week Program: July 16 – July 28

Join other girls for a traditional overnight camp experience with an equestrian focus. This program provides the best of both worlds. Campers are grouped according to skill level and will spend part of each day at the equestrian center learning stable management skills as well as improving their riding skills. Campers will also have the opportunity to bring in and feed horses in the morning and enjoy an evening trail ride. When not at the barn, campers will be able to try their hand at traditional activities such stand-up paddle boarding, climbing tower, archery, arts and crafts. No experience necessary for this program, just a love of horses.

Riders Roundup (grades 4-10):

1 Week Program: July 30 – August 4
2 Week Program: July 2 – July 14

A traditional overnight camp experience with an equestrian focus. This program provides the best of both worlds. Campers are grouped according to skill level and will spend part of each day at the equestrian center learning stable management skills as well as improving their riding skills. Campers will also have the opportunity to bring in and feed horses in the morning and enjoy an evening trail ride. When not at the barn, campers will be able to try their hand at traditional activities such stand-up paddle boarding, climbing tower, archery, arts and crafts. No experience necessary for this program, just a love of horses. This program is available for all genders, though campers will spend time at the Equestrian Center together, they will live in single gender housing.

Junior Equestrian (grades 3-5):

1 Week Program: August 6 – August 11

A traditional overnight camp experience with an equestrian focus for our youngest riders. This program provides the best of both worlds. Campers are grouped according to skill level and will spend part of each day at the equestrian center learning stable management skills as well as improving their riding skills. When not at the barn, campers will be able to try their hand at traditional activities such as stand-up paddle boarding, climbing tower, archery, arts and crafts. No experience necessary for this program, just a love of horses.

Farm Camp (grades 2-6):

1 Week Program: July 16 – July 21 | July 30 – August 4

These free-range campers will learn about life on the farm as they spend their day tending our farm animals like horses, goats, and chickens, harvesting vegetables and collecting chicken eggs to cook yummy, new meals, and learning to care for the land around them. When not frolicking around the farm, these campers will enjoy other fun camp experiences like crafts, swimming, boating, and sports.

Leadership Programs

Leader In Training (grades 9-10):

July 30 – August 11

Leader In Training (LIT) program serves as the foundation of leadership training. Our focuses are on improving communication skills, building relationships, and learning to be a camp role model. Campers participate in traditional camp activities during the first week. In week two, LITs hike and backpack through the wilderness of the Adirondack Mountains and visit the Lake Placid Olympic Center. Campers must be in good physical condition and have broken in hiking boots, however no prior backpacking experience is necessary. Bring your own pack or use one from camp.

Counselor In Training (grades 11-12): 

July 2 – July 28

Counselors In Training spend two weeks learning the ins and outs of what it’s like to be a camp counselor, then put their skills into practice by interning with Traditional, Dragonfly, or Day Campers. They will gain hands-on experience that will set them apart when they eventually apply to join our staff team. The 4-week program includes team building, learning leadership skills, a service project, a backpacking and canoe trip, and shadowing cabin counselors. This program is perfect for campers who have demonstrated the YMCA’s four core values and are ready to take the next step in their camp journey. We recommend the completion of the LIT program first to be prepared for the CIT program.

**Both registration and a CIT Application is required for acceptance into the CIT Program. Once your registration is submitted, you can upload your completed application on your “View My Registration” page. The application can be downloaded from our website or the Upload section on your “View My Registration” page.

*****Backpacking and canoe trip is weather and virus dependent***

Overnight Camp Planning Grids!

Click the button below to view our Overnight Camp Planning Grid! These grids are designed to help make your summer planning easy. White boxes signify available camp weeks/sessions for our camp options.

** Overnight Camp session non-refundable deposits are $200 per session. Day Camp session non-refundable deposits are $50 per session.