chinatown YMCA
Summer Camp Programs
Great Summers Start at the Y
Online registration opens early February 2026, please check back with us soon!
Forge new friendships, create lasting memories
The YMCA of Greater 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.
Trained Youth Development Staff
Our youth development leaders are trained in CPR and First Aid.
Health & Safety
The Y abides by all public health guidelines set by the city, county, and state.
Free Extended Care
We offer morning and afternoon extended care at no extra cost.
Multiple Camp Options Available
We offer multiple weeks of summer camp to keep your child engaged throughout summer.
GENERAL CAMP INFORMATION
Program Information
Campers are organized into small age-appropriate groups. Each camp session is led by well-trained youth development staff. Our daily activities are developed with your camper’s age and skills in mind, tailored to keep your camper engaged and having fun. This summer, your camper can expect their week to be full of excursions, arts and crafts, camp songs, building friendships, and so much more!
Dates
June 8, 2026 through August 7, 2026
No camps will be held on Friday, 6/19/26, Juneteenth (Session/Week 2), and Friday, 7/3/26, 4th of July holiday (Session/Week 4)
Hours
Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Grades
Entering Fall of 2026, Kindergarten through 8th
Deposits
A deposit is due each week you register your child(ren)
ALL DEPOSITS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE
Summer camps for grades entering kindergarten to 8th
Ages 5-6
Pioneers
Entering Kindergarten and 1st Grade
Pioneers will discover basic skills and abilities to develop motor and creative thinking skills with activities based around early childhood development principles.
ages 6-8
Adventurers
Entering 2nd and 3rd Grade
Adventurers will continue to build on developing individual skills with a focus on working with others through playing games, singing songs, and structured activities.
ages 8-10
Explorers
Entering 4th and 5th Grade
Explorers are on the cusp of accomplishing great things through experimentation and self-discovery. They will learn about their world through project based activities and team work.
ages 10-13
Movin’ On
Entering Middle School
This Day Camp is just for your middle schooler. We know that at this age, middle schoolers thrive on strong peer networks and need a fun summer program tailored towards their interests. We will challenge your minds and abilities to be creative and to think critically while playing team building games, cooking special projects, and exploring age-relevant fieldtrips.
AGES 5–13
summer camp sessions
Traditional Camps
Our Traditional Camps are designed for youth entering Kindergarten through eighth grade. This camp will introduce campers to a fun day filled with intentional relationship-building activities, arts and crafts, songs and games, and so much more! This camp will offer your child a wide range of activities this summer. Each week includes an exciting field trip.
*A non-refundable deposit is due at registration per weekly session.
*No camp on 06/18 and 07/3.
*Field trips are subject to change.
REGISTER
Online registration opens early February 2026, please check back with us soon!
Weekly Theme: Cartoon Week – Get ready for a week full of creativity, color, and imagination! Cartoon Week Camp is a fun-filled program designed for young artists explore the exciting world of cartoons and animation.
Field Trip: Field trip subject to change
Weekly Theme: Cultural Exchange Week – Celebrate diversity and discover the world! Campers will learn about cultures from around the world through stories, music, art, and games. Campers will explore food, clothing, languages, and celebrations from different countries.
Field Trip: Field trip subject to change
*No camps will be held on Friday, 6/19/26, Juneteenth holiday
Weekly Theme: Animal Planet – Welcome to Animal Planet Camp, where young explorers discover the amazing world of animals from around the globe! Campers will explore animals from jungles, oceans, deserts, and polar regions.
Field Trip: Field trip subject to change
Weekly Theme: Galactic Adventure – Blast off into an exciting adventure! Campers will explore the solar system, planets, stars, and galaxies. We will build rockets, space stations, and space crafts.
Field Trip: Field trip subject to change
*No camps will be held on Friday, 7/3/26, 4th of July holiday
Weekly Theme: Tinker Week – Welcome to Tinker Week Camp, where curiosity meets creativity! We will explore tinkering, building, and simple engineering concepts. Campers will create projects using recycled materials, tools, and craft supplies.
Field Trip: Field trip subject to change
Weekly Theme: The Great Outdoors – Step outside and explore nature at The Great Outdoors Camp! Campers will discover plants, animals, and local ecosystems. We will learn basic outdoor skills and teamwork challenges while creating nature-inspired art and crafts.
Field Trip: Field trip subject to change
Weekly Theme: The Bay Area – Explore the sights, culture, and creativity of our Bay Area. Campers will learn about famous Bay Area landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Alcatraz, and local ecosystems.
Field Trip: Field trip subject to change
Weekly Theme: Farm to Table Week – Get ready to grow, cook, and taste! Campers. Campers will explore gardening, farming, and sustainable food practices. We will learn where food comes from and how it grows.
Field Trip: Field trip subject to change
Weekly Theme: Under the Sea – Dive into an ocean of fun and discovery at Under the Sea Camp! Campers will learn about ocean animals, coral reefs, and sea habitats while creating under-the-sea art and crafts inspired by marine life.
Field Trip: Field trip subject to change
How to register
To register online, you will need to access your online account to get started. If you do not have an online account, you can create one through our Community Portal by clicking on ‘Create Account’ in the lower right corner of the login window. Due to registration requirements, select branches do not offer online registration and must be done in person.
You do not need a YMCA Facility Membership to register; however, YGSF members with active Facility Memberships can receive a discount of up to 20% on select youth development programs. If you’d like to join the Y, please click here to select the membership plan that best suits your needs.
Families without Facility Memberships can register as Community Members; this account is free of charge.
Once you have logged into your account, you will be able to select the camp sessions you’d like to register for. A deposit is due for each weekly session for each child. Please note that deposits are non-refundable. Your paid deposit will hold your camper’s slot for the weekly session selected, and the remaining balance (less the paid deposit) will be due 9 business days prior to the camper’s start date. Payment due dates are available for review below.
THIRD-PARTY BILLING
We accept 3rd Party Billing, such as Children’s Council, Marin Childcare Council or 4Cs. All inquiring families must submit a Certificate/Contract of child services provided by your caseworker to [email protected] before a request for enrollment can be submitted. Please note that you may be responsible for a portion of camp dues. Please contact your caseworker to notify them of the camp(s) you’d like to register for.
Financial assistance is available to families who qualify, made possible by donors of the YMCA of Greater San Francisco. Please see below for more information.
Weekly Payment Due Dates
Deposits are taken at registration are non-refundable.
Download the billing schedule here.
| Session | Last Day for Refund (Less Deposit) | Payment Draft Due Date | No Refund | Drop Date for Non-Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1 – 6/8/26-6/12/26 | 5/22/2026 | 5/25/2026 | 5/25/2026 | 5/29/2026 |
| Session 2 – 6/15/26-6/18/26 | 5/29/2026 | 6/1/2026 | 6/1/2026 | 6/5/2026 |
| Session 3 – 6/22/26-6/26/26 | 6/5/2026 | 6/8/2026 | 6/8/2026 | 6/12/2026 |
| Session 4 – 6/29/26-7/2/26 | 6/12/2026 | 6/15/2026 | 6/15/2026 | 6/19/2026 |
| Session 5 – 7/6/26-7/10/26 | 6/19/2026 | 6/22/2026 | 6/22/2026 | 6/26/2026 |
| Session 6 – 7/13/26-7/17/26 | 6/26/2026 | 6/29/2026 | 6/29/2026 | 7/3/2026 |
| Session 7 – 7/20/26-7/24/26 | 7/3/2026 | 7/6/2026 | 7/6/2026 | 7/10/2026 |
| Session 8 – 7/27/26-7/31/26 | 7/10/2026 | 7/13/2026 | 7/13/2026 | 7/18/2026 |
| Session 9 – 8/3/26-8/7/26 | 7/17/2026 | 7/20/2026 | 7/20/2026 | 7/25/2026 |
| Session 10 – 8/10/26-8/14/26 | 7/24/2026 | 7/27/2026 | 7/27/2026 | 8/1/2026 |
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance is available to families who qualify.
To apply, please fill out our Financial Assistance Application and email your completed form to [email protected] along with two types of income verification. Please refer to the application form for acceptable forms of income verification.
Families who qualified for Financial Assistance during the calendar year do not need to re-apply. If you have not been awarded Financial Assistance within the calendar year, then you will need to re-apply.
Applicants can expect to hear back from an associate in approximately 15 business days with award details.
E-mail your completed and attached income verification forms by clicking below:
Daily Activity Schedule
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.
| TIME | ACTIVITY |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. | Extended Care & Drop Off |
| 9:00 a.m.-9:15 a.m. | Campfire Songs & Gathering |
| 9:15 a.m.-10:00 a.m. | Morning Snack |
| 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. | Outdoor Group Game |
| 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | Theme-Based Activity |
| 12:00 p.m.-12:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 12:30 p.m.-1:00 p.m. | Travel Time / Local Field Trip |
| 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. | Local Field Trip |
| 3:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | Travel Time/Back to Camp Site |
| 3:30 p.m.-3:45 p.m. | Afternoon Snack |
| 3:45 p.m.-4:00 p.m. | Campfire Songs & Gathering |
| 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. | Extended Care & Pick Up |
Please note, this schedule is subject to change.
Summer Camp FAQs
We will notify families by 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.
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.
- All deposits are non-refundable
- Cancellations that come in 10 business days or more before the program begins or earlier are subject to a refund of payment but do not include the deposit.
- Cancellation requests made 9 days or less than the program start date will have no refund.
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, snack policies, etc.
Camp Questions?
Contact Monica Yuzon, Camp Director, by email at [email protected] or call (415) 576-9622 ext. 3566 for program related questions.
Need Help with your account?
Contact Member Services at [email protected] or call our support hotline at (415) 772-5500.