Summer Camps at the YMCA

Get ready for a summer spent adventuring, exploring and connecting with friends amidst the backdrop of the Pacific Northwest at YMCA BC’s Camp Elphinstone! Featuring overnight camp opportunities for children ages 5-17, this is the quintessential summer camp experience!

YMCA Camp Elphinstone has been providing unique activities and experiences for children and families since 1907, and is an idyllic spot for your child to unwind and experience nature after a busy school year. Year after year, campers return to experience camps for themselves, and years later, send their children (and even grandchildren!) to for an unforgettable experience at Camp Elphinstone.

Overnight summer camps are a great setting for all children and youth to build their independence and confidence. Campers are grouped by age into McNabb (ages 5-7), Chapman (ages 7-11), and Dakota (ages 12-15), as well as Out-trip programs for ages 12-15 and Leadership Development Camps for ages 15-17. Each day, campers try new activities under the instruction of supportive and professional staff and bond with their peers as they work together to solve problems and overcome challenges. Activities at YMCA Camp Elphinstone include kayaking and canoeing the rocky shoreline of Howe Sound, participating in archery, ropes courses, climbing wall, and team-building games amidst the stunning temperate rainforest that surrounds Camp Elphinstone. Activities are divided into “Cabin Activities,” which include team-building games and challenges where campers will bond as a group and work toward a goal, and “Skill Blocks” where campers will choose one water-based activity and one land-based activity to develop their skills in over the course of their time at YMCA Camp Elphinstone. Day trips are also included for campers to visit exciting local areas and attractions. What does a typical day at camp look like?

A Day at Camp:

7:00 AM (for the early risers!): Optional morning activity
8:00 AM: Breakfast
8:45 AM: Cabin Clean-Up
9:15 AM: Camp Activities
12:00 PM: Lunch
1:00P PM: Rest & Digest
2:00 PM: Skill Blocks
5:00 PM: Dinner
6:00 PM: Cabin Choice
7:00 PM: Evening Programming
8:00 PM: Flagpole
8:15 PM: Evening Snack
8:30 PM: Get ready for bed
9:15 PM: Lights out

Overnight camps run for either one week or two weeks at a time, so you can choose which option works best for your family. YMCA BC is a charity organization committed to ensuring that all families have access to summer camp options that work best for them. In addition to being committed to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) by creating inclusive spaces and programming for everyone at camp, they also provide financial assistance for campers.

Financial Assistance: We all know that raising kids isn’t exactly easy on the bank account, especially during this challenging time. As a charity, the YMCA is committed to fostering a sense of belonging and connection and wants to ensure that financial constraints don’t limit a child’s ability to participate in camp. That’s why the YMCA Financial Assistance (YFA) program is available to those who are interested in sending their child to camp but can’t afford to do so. Learn more here.

YMCA BC also offers other great programming at Camp Elphinstone, including: Summer Day Camps, Family Camps and Outdoor Education experiences throughout the year. Spaces at the popular overnight camps go fast; secure your spot today by registering here.