Healthy Kids • YMCA Camps and Outdoor Education • YMCA Child Care
What to expect at YMCA Summer Club vs. Summer Day Camp
17 April 2019 - by Dawn Yan
With March Break long gone, your kids are likely counting down the days until school’s out again. While Summer may feel like it’s still eons away for some of us, the truth is, July and August will be here in the blink of an eye. Between driving your kids to and from their extracurriculars, to planning weekends away at the cottage and arranging play dates, many of us just don’t have the time to thoroughly research Summer Programs for our kids this time of the year. In fact, after reading about four different program descriptions, everything starts to sound vaguely similar.
At the Y, two of the most commonly asked questions we receive from parents are: “What’s the difference between YMCA Summer Club and Summer Day Camp?” and “Which program is right for my child?” Our response? While there isn't necessarily a “right” or “wrong” program to enroll your kid(s) in, our goal is to help parents find the best fit for their child this summer.
In order to help you understand our programs better, we’ve put together this side by side comparison chart (below) to help you visualize the differences:
Still confused? To put it simply, Summer Club is perfect for:
Meanwhile, Summer Day Camp is perfect for:
Ready to register your child for YMCA 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 in good hands. To learn more about how to register, program locations, fees, and how to build a custom eGuide for your child, please visit our website.
At the Y, two of the most commonly asked questions we receive from parents are: “What’s the difference between YMCA Summer Club and Summer Day Camp?” and “Which program is right for my child?” Our response? While there isn't necessarily a “right” or “wrong” program to enroll your kid(s) in, our goal is to help parents find the best fit for their child this summer.
In order to help you understand our programs better, we’ve put together this side by side comparison chart (below) to help you visualize the differences:
YMCA Summer Club vs. YMCA Summer Day Camp
| Age Group | Designed for Children ages 4-9* | Designed for Children ages 4-16 |
| Location(s) | 90+ Locations throughout the GTA | 55 Locations throughout the GTA |
| Programming | Following our acclaimed YMCA Playing to Learn™ curriculum and A Place to Connect™ curriculum, YMCA 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; 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 60+ fun and engaging programs including*: • Arts Programs • Outdoor Programs • Leadership Programs • Media Arts Programs • Science & Academic Programs • Sports Programs • Swimming Lessons At least twice a week, campers will also have an opportunity to go swimming 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/prepare kids who are starting school in the fall - kids learn to identify their own belongings, feed themselves, and are introduced to more social environments | • Bussing is available with over 200+ 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 (ie: Archery, Fire Building, Slack Lining, Mountain Biking) • 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 |
Still confused? To put it simply, Summer Club is perfect for:
- Young children (ages 4-9) who are still building up their confidence and independence
- Children who thrive in smaller group environments
- Children who want to explore a variety of interests
- Parents who want to enroll their child in Licensed Child Care over the summer
Meanwhile, Summer Day Camp is perfect for:
- Kids/Youth who are more independent or are ready to gain independence
- Children who thrive in large group and/or outdoor settings
- Kids/Youth who want to explore a specific interest/hobby and develop new skills
Ready to register your child for YMCA 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 in good hands. To learn more about how to register, program locations, fees, and how to build a custom eGuide for your child, please visit our website.
