What to expect at YMCA Licensed Summer Club vs. Summer Day Camp

03 January 2025 - by Dawn Yan

With updates from Tia Chung on January 3, 2025

After Winter Break, your children are probably already counting down to summer break. It might feel far away now, but July and August will be here before you know it. Between shuttling them to extracurriculars, weekend activities, and arranging play dates, who has the time to research summer options right now?

Parents often ask educators two big questions: “What’s the difference between YMCA Licensed Summer Club and Summer Day Camp?” and “Which one is the best fit for my child?”

We don’t believe there’s a “right” or “wrong” choice—just what works best for your family. To make it easier, we’ve put together a side-by-side comparison chart below. Take a look!

YMCA Licensed Summer Club vs. YMCA Summer Day Camp

	YMCA Licensed Summer Club	YMCA Summer Day Camp
Age Group	Designed for children ages 4 to 12	Designed for children ages 4 to 15
Location(s)	At child care locations throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)	At over 40 GTA locations including Health and Fitness centres, conservation areas, community centres, and YMCA outdoor centres
Programming	Following our acclaimed curriculum, YMCA Licensed Summer Club programming is licensed and regulated. Brought to life by our dedicated Registered Early Childhood Educators, Summer Club caters to the current interests of children which means that no two programs will run the same; weekly programming may include: Group Games/Activities Indoor/Outdoor Sports Arts and Crafts Field Trips Special visitors and event days	YMCA Summer Day Camp is run by our highly trained staff and offers 30+ fun and engaging indoor and outdoor camp program options including: Arts & Culinary Arts Outdoor Leadership Programs Media Arts & Science Sports Programs Swimming Lessons Variety – perfect camp program sampler See the full list of programs. At least twice a week, campers will also have an opportunity to go swimming or have water play either on-site or at a local pool! All programs include a focus on character development; aligned to YMCA values and positively reinforced through our unique Values Bead Program.
Other Perks	Conveniently located in neighbourhood schools & community centres Summer Club is perfect for children who feel more comfortable in a familiar environment, or one that’s closer to home. Small Group Ratios to ensure that each child’s needs are met Extended Care is included in Summer Club Fees Helps equip and prepare children transition from preschool to kindergarten in the fall; children continue to boost independence and enhance social skills while forming new friendships.	Bussing is available with 60+ pick-up/drop-off locations to ensure your child gets to and from camp safely. Day Camp busses are supervised by trained bus marshals Extended Care is available (for an additional fee) All programs focus on skills development including outdoor program skills (i.e.: Archery, Fire Building, Slack Lining, Mountain Biking) with daily camp touches: Opening circle Songs and games End of day value bead ceremonies Every Friday each site will participate in Woo Days. Woo Days bring the entire camp together for exciting activities and creative themes like Minute to Win It challenges. Campers compete in teams or program groups, earning points through rotations and competitions to claim victory. Each Woo Day offers a unique experience, blending camp-wide fun with engaging challenges! All Camp staff have a vulnerable criminal reference check on file, have completed Principals of Healthy Childhood Development training, and are Standard First Aid and CPR “C” certified

To put it simply, Summer Club is perfect for:

Children who are still building their confidence and independence
Children who thrive in smaller group environments throughout the entire day
Children who want to explore a variety of interests both indoors and outdoors
Parents who want to continue their child in Licensed Child Care over the summer

Meanwhile, Summer Day Camp is perfect for:

Children/Youth who are more independent or are ready to gain independence
Children who thrive in group settings; both small and large and/or outdoor settings
Children/Youth who want to explore a specific interest/hobby and develop new skills
Children/Youth who want to attend summer programming with friends outside of their child care program area/centre

Ready to register your child for YMCA Licensed Summer Club or Summer Day Camp? At the Y, we believe in delivering quality, regulated programming for children all year long. Whether it be at a Club or Camp, our Registered Early Childhood Educators and Camp Staff will ensure that your child is cared for. Learn more about how to register, program locations, fees, and how to build a custom Y Guide for your child.