GREAT SUMMERS START AT THE Y
The YMCA of San Francisco is committed to providing quality youth programming and exceptional summer camp experiences to our Bay Area families. At Y day camp, kids can develop skills, self-confidence, new friendships and a sense of belonging – all while having tons of fun.
Health & Safety
Thank you for choosing the YMCA of San Francisco to keep your child(ren) safe and healthy this summer.
COVID INFORMATION - CLICK TO EXPAND
The YMCA of San Francisco prioritizes the health and safety of our youth and staff. Our youth programs abide by all public health guidelines as set by the city, county, and state. Since March 2020, we have been safely running in-person programming and will continue to put the health and safety of youth and staff at the forefront of all our programs. Detailed COVID restrictions and procedures will be distributed to families in the weeks prior the beginning of camp to ensure the most accurate information is being distributed. Any changes to our COVID policies will be communicated in as timely a manner as possible.
Explore Camps
Our traditional camps are age-specific and offers youth greater challenges with every year. Activities include structured and unstructured games, sports, arts and crafts, team building activities, and songs.
GRADES: Incoming Kindergartners-1st
GRADES: Incoming 2nd-3rd
GRADES: Incoming 4th-6th
Buchanan STEAM Summer Camp Sessions
Buchanan STEAM Summer Camp is your traditional summer camp complete with fun activities, friends, and field trips and now we've added STEAM activities for all age groups all summer long. We have camps for youth entering kindergarten through 6th grade. Buchanan YMCA's traditional summer camp is a fun place for your child to learn in a safe and supportive environment.
ONLINE REGISTRATION OPENS ON FEBRUARY 1, 2024 AT 7:00 AM.
GRADES: Incoming Kindergarteners-6th
AGES: 5-12
Please note there is no camp on Wednesday, 06/19, and Thursday, 07/04, due the the Juneteenth and 4th of July holidays.
CLICK ON THE + FOR CAMP DESCRIPTIONS
Sessions
SESSION 1: 06/10/24-06/14/24WE COULD BE HEROESWe’re starting summer camp with a superhero theme! But OH NO, your heroes need your help! Campers will think like superheroes to build and experiment with activities to save their heroes. Let’s have a HEROic time!
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SESSION 2: 06/17/24-06/21/24*BLAST OFF!Whoosh! We’re blasting off into week 2 with an outer space theme! Campers will build a spaceship with Legos and do a science experiment to launch their own little rockets! This week will be out of this world!
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SESSION 3: 06/24/2024-06/28/2024A PUZZLING WEEKDon’t feel puzzled; it’s only week 3! Campers will work together with their fellow campers to solve puzzles and mysteries. Bring your detective skills!
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SESSION 4: 07/01/2024-07/05/2024*KODABLE (CODING WEEK)Learn about and play in the world of Kodable, an online programming game that teaches kids about coding with other fun features, along with some fuzzy characters! NOTE: Kodable works best on a laptop or an iPad. We will have some available at camp!
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SESSION 5: 07/08/24-07/12/24LET'S-A GO WITH SUPER MARIOMama mia, it’s Super Mario week, and there’s a big and fun Mario-themed project for this week! Come find out what it is! Here we go!
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SESSION 6: 07/15/24-07/19/24LET'S GO ON A SAFARILions and tigers and bears, oh my, it’s animal week! We’ll be looking at different kinds of animals and doing some fun building activities for this week. Let’s have a ROARing time!
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SESSION 7: 07/22/24-07/26/24GOTTA CATCH 'EM ALL, POKEMONCome see Pikachu, Charmander, and more at Pokemon Week! Build a habitat for a random Pokemon, and even go out to find Pokemon in a fun math game! Gotta catch ‘em all! |
*No camp on 06/19 in observance of Juneteenth and 07/04 for Independence Day
Buchanan YMCA - Camp Deposits and Fees
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SESSIONS: 1, 3, 5, 6, & 7 |
SESSIONS: 2 & 4 |
Summer Fun For Everyone
This summer, children can learn, grow and thrive through the exhilarating fun of sports, day and specialty camps at the Y. Amid of all the fun, they’ll explore nature, find new talents, try new activities, gain independence, and make lasting friendships
Sample Camp Activity Schedule
Below are sample schedules for our camps. Please keep in mind that these times and activities are examples of a typical camp day and specific details may vary or change due to unforeseen circumstances.
Most camp programs will have at least one off-site field trip per week. Please consult with the branch staff to confirm schedules in the late Spring.
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | |
| 8:00-8:30 am | Family Group Opening |
Family Group Opening |
Family Group Opening |
Family Group Opening |
| 8:30-9:30 am | Recreation | Art | STEAM | Outdoor Ed |
| 9:30-10:30 am | Outdoor Ed | Recreation | Art | STEAM |
| 10:30-11:30 am | STEAM | Outdoor Ed | Recreation | Art |
| 11:30-12:30 pm | Art | STEAM | Outdoor Ed | Recreation |
| 12:30-1:00 pm | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch |
| 1:00-1:30 pm | Free Time | Free Time | Free Time | Free Time |
| 1:30-3:30 pm | Reading or Additional Activity Block |
Reading or Additional Activity Block |
Reading or Additional Activity Block |
Reading or Additional Activity Block |
| 3:30-4:00 pm | Staff Choice Activity |
Staff Choice Activity |
Staff Choice Activity |
Staff Choice Activity |
| 4:00-4:30 pm | Snack | Snack | Snack | Snack |
| 4:30-5:00 pm | Family Group Closing |
Family Group Closing |
Family Group Closing |
Family Group Closing |
Payment Schedule and Refunds
Please note, all deposits are non-refundable.
| Session: | Camp Instance: | Deposit Due: | Payment Draft Due Date: |
Drop Date for Non-Payment: |
Last Day for Refund Less Deposit: |
No Refund: |
| 1 | 06/10/24-06/14/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 05/27/2024 | 05/31/2024 | 05/24/2024 | 05/25/2024 |
| 2 | 06/17/24-06/21/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 06/03/2024 | 06/07/2024 | 05/31/2024 | 06/01/2024 |
| 3 | 06/24/24-06/28/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 06/10/2024 | 06/14/2024 | 06/07/2024 | 06/08/2024 |
| 4 | 07/01/24-07/05/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 06/17/2024 | 06/21/2024 | 06/14/2024 | 06/15/2024 |
| 5 | 07/08/24-07/12/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 06/24/2024 | 06/28/2024 | 06/21/2024 | 06/22/2024 |
| 6 | 07/15/24-07/19/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 07/01/2024 | 07/05/2024 | 06/28/2024 | 06/29/2024 |
| 7 | 07/22/24-07/26/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 07/08/2024 | 07/12/2024 | 07/05/2024 | 07/06/2024 |
| 8 | 07/29/24-08/02/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 07/15/2024 | 07/19/2024 | 07/12/2024 | 07/13/2024 |
| 9 | 08/05/24-08/09/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 07/22/2024 | 07/26/2024 | 07/19/2024 | 07/20/2024 |
| 10 | 08/12/24-08/16/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 07/29/2024 | 08/02/2024 | 07/26/2024 | 07/27/2024 |
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance is available for families who qualify. Please fill out the attached form here, and send to branchFA@ymcasf.org along with two types of income verification. Families can expect to have award amounts in about 15 business days.
FAQs
The session/camp week I want to register my child(ren) for is full. I've joined a waitlist, what can I expect?
We will notify families via email if a space becomes available. You will have 48 hours to accept or decline the waitlisted spot. If we do not hear back from you, we will move on to the next child on the list. For confidentiality reasons and standard operating procedures, we do not reveal where a child’s spot is on the waitlist.
My child has special needs, who should I contact for support or more information?
YMCA leaders are encouraging, patient, and can help facilitate successful camp experiences for children with mild to moderate disabilities. For specific questions regarding your child, please contact the branch-specific site contact.
What are the YMCA's cancellation and refund policies?
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All deposits are non-refundable
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Cancellations that come in 10 days or more before the program begins or earlier are subject to a refund of payment but do not include the deposit.
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Cancellation requests that come in 9 days or less than the program start date will have no refund. Please check below for dates.
| Camp Instance: | Deposit Due: | Payment Draft Due Date: |
Drop Date for Non-Payment: |
Last Day for Refund Less Deposit: |
No Refund: |
| 06/10/24-06/14/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 05/27/2024 | 05/31/2024 | 05/24/2024 | 05/25/2024 |
| 06/17/24-06/21/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 06/03/2024 | 06/07/2024 | 05/31/2024 | 06/01/2024 |
| 06/24/24-06/28/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 06/10/2024 | 06/14/2024 | 06/07/2024 | 06/08/2024 |
| 07/01/24-07/05/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 06/17/2024 | 06/21/2024 | 06/14/2024 | 06/15/2024 |
| 07/08/24-07/12/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 06/24/2024 | 06/28/2024 | 06/21/2024 | 06/22/2024 |
| 07/15/24-07/19/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 07/01/2024 | 07/05/2024 | 06/28/2024 | 06/29/2024 |
| 07/22/24-07/26/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 07/08/2024 | 07/12/2024 | 07/05/2024 | 07/06/2024 |
| 07/29/24-08/02/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 07/15/2024 | 07/19/2024 | 07/12/2024 | 07/13/2024 |
| 08/05/24-08/09/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 07/22/2024 | 07/26/2024 | 07/19/2024 | 07/20/2024 |
| 08/12/24-08/16/24 | Deposit is taken at registration | 07/29/2024 | 08/02/2024 | 07/26/2024 | 07/27/2024 |
I have a high schooler interested in being a Leadership In Training/Counselor In Training - do you have any options for them?
The Richmond District YMCA and Stonestown Family YMCAs are all offering LIT/CIT programs this summer. Visit their webpage for more information by clicking below:
- Richmond District YMCA
- Stonestown Family YMCA
What meals and snacks do I need to pack for my camper? What other items should I pack for my camper?
You can expect to hear from your camp team roughly a week before the camp week begins, which will include details like a packing list, meals and snack policies, etc.
Camp Questions?
FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING CAMP PROGRAMMING, PLEASE CONTACT US.
Misa Nguyen
Senior Director of Youth & Teen Programs
Misa has dedicated her professional career to youth development. She is constantly inspired and renewed by the youth she serves.
Need Help With Your Account?
Contact Member Services at memberservices@ymcasf.org or call our support hotline at (415) 772-5500.
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