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Best Summer Ever!
Outrageous fun and tremendous growth—that’s what awaits you at Y Camp. At the Y, we believe children discover themselves through interactions with others and the freedom to explore. Y Camp immerses children in a community where making friends is natural, exploring new interests is encouraged, and discovering inner strength is guaranteed. Camp provides a space where children begin to gain independence and test their wings in a safe, nurturing environment.
Every child deserves the Y Camp experience and no child is turned away for financial reasons!
Find out if you qualify for financial assistance here.
Younger Campers (Entering Grades 1-3)
Day Camp
Grades: Entering 1 - 3
Come and join YMCA Camp Jones Gulch for the day. Participate in all of our regular camp activities such as archery, canoeing, corral rides and more! Day Camp is offered Monday - Thursday from 9:30am - 4:30pm for campers who wish to go home each night.
Mini Camp
Grades: Entering 1 - 3
Mini Camp offers a short sleep-away experience for younger and first-time campers who want to connect to nature and try many of the fun activities of resident camp in the beautiful redwoods. Drop off is on Sunday and pickup is on Wednesday. With the focus on having FUN and meeting new friends, we’ll keep your campers busy and give them the opportunity to try new things and meet new people.
Resident and Specialty Camps (Entering Grades 3-10)
Traditional Resident Camp
Grades: Entering 3 - 10
This program is packed full of fun activities with plenty of time for making new friendships. With attentive and well-trained staff, campers will enjoy participating in all camp has to offer including swimming, archery, canoeing, climbing the rock wall, shooting down the zip line, arts & crafts, guided hikes, campfires, sports, campouts, and so much more. Weeks are themed so campers can immerse themselves in their love of pirates, myths & legends, and more.
Residential Coastal Camp
Grades: Entering grades 3 - 10
Join us for this new addition to our residential camping menu! During this week, we will be staying in the beautiful marshlands of the Marin Headlands at our sister camp, YMCA Point Bonita. Activities include archery, fort tag, visits to the lighthouse, the beach, the Marine Mammal Center, and a field trip to kayak in the Bay.
Horse Camp
Grades: Entering grades 4 - 11
Learn how to ride or improve your current riding skills. This week focuses on Western Riding and includes group riding lessons, basic horse-care and grooming. Riders will help take care of the horses, go out on trail rides, and participate in general camp activities such as canoeing, zip-lining, and climbing the rock wall. Beginners welcome! There are different sessions for different age groups. See Calendar and Registration form for specifics.
Teen Campers (Entering Grades 7-11)
Teen Adventure Camps
Join us for a week of adventure in one of our many adventure programs designed specifically for teens. The teens become a community as they learn both how to be more independent and how to contribute to a group on trips that push beyond the borders of Camp Jones Gulch. These programs allow teens to explore the natural environment, test their boundaries, and have fun! These sessions fill up quickly so register soon to reserve a space in this popular program. Sessions include:
- Big Sur Explorers
- Surf Camp
- White Water Rafting
- Y-Bike Touring
- Lake Tahoe Expedition
- Yosemite Rock Climbing
- Super Camp
Teen Leadership Programs (Ages 15-17)
Leader-in-Training (LIT)
Age: 15 (as of June 1, 2018)
The Leader-In-Training (LIT) program is designed to help transition 15 year old campers into responsible leaders at camp and in their communities at home. LIT’s will participate in some traditional camp activities, but will also learn leadership theory, participate in team-building activities, and complete at least one large camp project.
Counselor-in-Training (LIT)
Age: 16 (as of June 1, 2018)
Our Counselor-In-Training (CIT) program is for those 16 year old campers who wish to be on camp staff some day. CIT’s participate in a mini-staff training and spend the second week working directly with our counselors in a cabin with younger campers. This is a competitive program and all registrants must go through an interview process before being accepted into the program. Once registered, the Leadership Coordinator will contact you to set up the interview.
Wrangler-in-Training
Age: 16 (as of June 1, 2018)
Our Wrangler-In-Training (WIT) program is similar to our CIT program. WIT’s will participate in a leadership training and horse-care training their first week, and spend the second week working directly with counselors in a cabin of our horse campers. A great program for any future Wranglers!
Junior Lifeguards
Age: 16 - 17 (as of July 13, 2018)
This camp is designed to provide campers the knowledge and skills necessary to be a lifeguard and professional rescuer. Campers may obtain certifications in American Safety & Health Institute's (ASHI) courses: CPR Pro for the Professional Rescuer, Basic First Aid, and Emergency Oxygen Administration. Participants can work toward gaining more experience in and around water, or take the exam to gain an actual lifeguard certification. Participants must know how to swim in order to take this course.
Junior Counselor
Age: 17 (as of June 1, 2018)
Junior Counselor is the final step for Teen Leaders and is a volunteer position for 17 year olds. Junior Counselors will go through a 1-week training course alongside camp staff, and then volunteer in cabin during a 2-week session over the course of the summer. To apply, please go to our fill out a YMCA of San Francisco Volunteer Application. Send applications along with a cover letter introducing yourself and stating why you want to volunteer for camp. Send the completed application and cover letter to Jessi Prevost, jprevost@ymcasf.org. No registration form is necessary to be a volunteer. All applicants will go through an interview process to determine acceptance into this competitive program.
BOLD & GOLD (Boys & Girls Outdoor Leadership Development)
Grades: Entering 7 - 12 (Max age: 17)
Through outdoor adventures and wilderness experiences, the BOLD & GOLD program inspires courage and multi-cultural leadership in diverse groups of boys and girls ages 11-18 years old. The challenge, glory, and beauty of the wilderness come together on our exciting adventures, which range from six to ten day expeditions. Campers explore the backcountry of a beautiful national or state park, all while carrying everything they need on their back, learning backpacking skills, and staying at campsites with primitive facilities. Sessions include:
BOLD & GOLD - Boys/Girls Outdoor Leadership Development:
- Introduction to Backpacking
- Point Reyes Backpacking
- Desolation Wilderness of Lake Tahoe
- Yosemite Backpacking
- Big Basin, Skyline-to-Sea Backpacking
Camp Store and Transportation
Camp Store
The camp store is available for campers to purchase sweatshirts, T-shirts, stuffed animals, trinkets and other souvenirs. The campers are not permitted to use cash at the store; instead, parents may purchase points that can be used from their Camp Store account, usually 20-35 points per one-week session.
Camp Store points do not have any cash value and are non-refundable if unused at the end of the session. All campers will be given the opportunity to use all Camp Store points prior to leaving the site.
There is no camp store available during sessions 2 & 6.
Teen Adventure & BOLD & GOLD Camps have no access to the store, as they will be off-site for most of their session.
Points may be purchased as part of the registration process for camp sessions. If more points are required, you can purchase them using the link below.
Transportation to/from Camp
The YMCA charters buses to provide transportation to camp. You must register for the bus at a cost of $45 one way. Camp Staff will be on board each bus to supervise campers. Before each trip, a counselor will explain the safety rules, such as staying seated, and keeping noise down. Please keep campers in a designated, safe area in the parking lot until they have been properly checked in. If your child misses the bus, it is your responsibility to get your child to camp. The winding mountain roads can cause motion sickness in some campers. Please try to avoid large heavy meals and consider using a motion sickness medication prior to the trip.
There is no transportation for sessions 2 & 6, and no drop off on August 10. BOLD & GOLD trips often have different pick-up and drop-off locations. Those programs will have information emailed to the families specific to each trip and should purchase transportation only when advised by the trip leader.
Pickup locations include:
To/From San Francisco/Peninsula |
To/From Richmond/Berkeley |
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Stonestown Family YMCA Sunday Departure: 1:15pm |
E M Downer Family YMCA Sunday Departure: 12:45pm |
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Peninsula Family YMCA Sunday Departure: 2:15pm |
Downtown Berkeley YMCA Sunday Departure: 1:30pm |
REGISTER FOR San Francisco / Peninsula
REGISTER FOR Richmond / East Bay
Questions?