Cortland YMCA Summer Day Camp Program

Join the YMCA for our summer day camp for youth entering kindergarten through 6th grade (must be toilet trained.) We run all 9 weeks of summer.

Registration will open in February.

Camp activities include swimming, weekly walking field trips, arts and crafts, gym games and active play, and more! There are also field trips during select weeks.

Camp Hours: 9:00am-4:00pm

Early Drop Off: 7:00am-9:00am

Late Pick Up: 4:00pm-6:00pm

Add early OR late pickup for each week.

Family Member registration starts February 1st!

Youth member registration starts February 5th!

Non-member registration starts February 8th!

Important Camp Information:

Camp Times and Dates
If your camper is enrolled in AM camp care, you can drop your camper off between the hours of 7:00am-9:00am. Please note that AM camp care does not start before 7:00am.
Camp runs from 9:00am-4:00pm.
PM camp care runs from 4:00pm-6:00pm. Please note, there will be a late fee if your camper is not picked up by 6:00pm
Where to drop off
Camp will be held downstairs at the Cortland YMCA. Once you enter the building, tell the desk staff you’re here for camp and they can direct you to our camp’s location. Please make sure you check in with a counselor AND sign your camper in for camp.
Where to pick up
You’ll likely find us downstairs or on the playground. Please make sure you check in with a counselor and sign your camper out every day.
What to send to camp
Camp success comes from being prepared! Please make sure your camper has:
  • A refillable water bottle
  • Lunch and snacks (we will have a peanut free table)
  • Swim suit
  • Towel
  • Backpack
  • Change of clothes (accidents happen!)
  • Sunscreen (and apply it before arrive at camp)
DO NOT SEND YOUR CAMPER TO CAMP WITH ELETRONIC GAMES OR ANYTHING THAT THEY WILL BE SAD ABOUT IF THEY LOSE.
Late/Absent
If your camper will be arriving after 10:00am or will be absent, please give the YMCA a call at (607)756-2893. If you need to reach us during this day, this is the best line to reach us at. Camp days are hectic and email doesn’t often get checked.
Camp Handbooks
Will get emailed out one week before each session.
A few reminders
If you have applied for DSS, please let us know. We need your child’s NY Health Certificate, their Vaccination records and to complete their child profile. You can call your pediatrician’s office and they can send you a digital copy of the Health Certificate and the Vaccination records. You can drop these off at the Y or email them directly to [email protected]. If you need help with your child profile, you can stop by the Y or give us a call and we can complete it over the phone for you. We need these forms in order for your camper to start camp on Monday, and our health director needs to check them by Wednesday before camp starts.

Summer 2025 prices:

A one-time non refundable deposit of $25 per camper is due at time of sign up (regardless of scholarship/DSS status unless otherwise pre-approved.)

Camp rates:
Family Members: $250/week ($200 week 1)
Youth Members: $300/week ($240 week 1)
Non Members: $350/week ($280 week 1)

Before Care:
Family Members: $30/week ($24 week 1)
Youth Members: $45/week ($36 week 1)
Non Members: $60/week ($48 week 1)

After Care:
Family Members: $30/week ($24 week 1)
Youth Members: $45/week ($36 week 1)
Non Members: $60/week ($48 week 1)

Financial Aid Is Available

For us, welcoming everyone means that we do our best to make membership and programs affordable for every family and individual, no matter what their financial situation is. Thanks to community support, we’re able to offer discounted summer camp rates to families that qualify. Learn more here or stop by the front desk to pick up the required paperwork.

2025 Summer Camp Weekly Themes

Week 1: June 30th-July 3rd: Music Makers *No camp July 4th rates are prorated for this week
Sound check at the Y! We’ll make our own instruments, learn how sound travels and have a few musical guests.

Week 2: July 7th-11th: Outrageous Oceans
Travel under the sea with a fun filled week full of fish, mermaids, and all things sea.

Week 3: July 14th-18th: Super Science (STEM)
Calling all scientists! Explore states of matter, gravity and more as we perform all kinds of science experiments!

Week 4: July 21st-25th: Diggin up Dinos
We’re turning the clocks back (way back!) to the time of the dinosaur age! We’ll make our own fossils, dino eggs, and dig for bones. We might add a volcano for good measure!

Week 5: July 28th-August 1st: Space Odyssey
Come learn all about space with us, from making out own comet to visiting a planetarium!

Week 6: August 4th-August 8th: Creative Colors
Complete with our own color war, we’ll learn about mixing colors, do some fun color experiments and other fun activities.

Week 7: August 11th-15th: Amazing Animals
We’ll learn about animals and how amazing they can be, have a special furry guest and take a trip to the zoo!

Week 8: August 18th-22nd: Around the World
Join us as we learn about countries from all over the world! We’ll cook new recipes, try out new traditions and dive into new cultures!

Week 9: August 25th-29th: End of Summer Carnival
The best way to say goodbye to summer is with a carnival. Complete with carnival games and cotton candy, we’ll make sure summer 2025 was one for the books!