Richmond District 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 for an additional fee.
Multiple Camp Options Available
We offer multiple weeks of summer camp to keep your child engaged throughout summer.
Camp Location
Y Camp at Argonne Playground Park – Clubhouse
463 18th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94121
Drop-off is on the 19th Avenue side of the park.
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 12, 2026
Hours
Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm
Grades
Entering Fall of 2026, TK through 10th
Deposits
A deposit is due each week you register your child(ren)
ALL DEPOSITS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE
Ages 4.5-13 | GRADES ENTERING: TK to 8th
Traditional Summer Camps
Ages 4.5-5
TK-Kindergarten
Discoverers
Our Discoverers camp serves campers entering Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten. This program introduces our youngest campers to a structured camp day filled with intentional relationship-building activities, arts and crafts, songs, games, and camp fun of all kinds! On Wednesdays, campers will set off on an exciting field trip in the bay area to explore museums, theme parks, and more!
Ages 6-7
Incoming 1st-2nd
Adventurers
Our Adventurers camp serves campers entering Grades 1-2. This program engages campers with high-energy activities including city explorations, active games, and engaging art projects! Each week of camp includes one full-day field trip and one swimming day at the Presidio Community YMCA pool.
Ages 8-10
Incoming 3rd-5th
Explorers
Our Explorers camp serves campers entering Grades 3-5. This program features more active exploration as campers travel around the city on foot and by public transit. Programming is designed to help campers go outside their comfort zone and take on new challenges, while making new friends along the way. Each week of camp includes one full-day field trip and one swimming day at the Presidio Community YMCA pool.
Ages 11-13
Incoming 6th-8th
Movin’ On Up
Our Movin’ On Up camp serves campers entering Grade 6-8. This program features opportunities for campers to build new skills, learn about their communities, and practice being leaders for positive change. Each week of camp includes one full-day field trip.
Ages 4.5-13 | GRADES ENTERTING: tk to 8th
traditional camps
- A non-refundable deposit is due at registration per weekly session.
- No camp on 6/19 and 7/3.
- Field trips are subject to change.
REGISTER
Online registration opens early February 2026, please check back with us soon!
Weekly Theme: Heroes in Training – Find your superpowers and form the next justice league as you put your artistic, athletic, and teamwork skills to the test!
Weekly Theme: Aerotech Academy – Learn about the science of flight and explore what it takes to become an aviation professional. Find out where a life in flight can take you, whether by airplane, helicopter, or spacecraft.
*No camps will be held on Friday, 6/19/26, Juneteenth.
Weekly Theme: Big Top Bonanza – Explore the wacky world of the Circus! Make circus themed crafts, put on your best clown act, and try your hand at juggling.
Weekly Theme: Future Leaders Lab – Find out what your future might hold! Will you be a doctor? An artist? A carpenter? Learn about college and trade programs and career pathways, and build up your leadership skills.
Weekly Theme: Mission to the Stars – Blast off to outer space for a week of cosmic exploration. Learn about the planets, create galactic artwork, and do STEAM projects all about the science of space.
Weekly Theme: Transit Trekkers – Build confidence with San Francisco’s public transit systems as you set off to explore the city. Take daily MUNI and BART field trips and see just how far a clipper card can take you!
*No camps will be held on Friday, 7/3/26, 4th of July holiday.
Weekly Theme: Nature Detectives – Uncover the mysteries of the natural world. Explore San Francisco’s green space, look for bugs, and learn how to be a master observer by using your senses to explore your surroundings.
Weekly Theme: Backcountry Basics – Learn how to survive in the great outdoors! Try your hand at building a campfire, constructing a shelter, and navigating the wilderness by compass and map.
Weekly Theme: San Francisco Safari – Grab your binoculars and get ready to go wild! Learn about wildlife, both local and exotic, and create animal-themed crafts as you set off on a camp safari.
Weekly Theme: Power Up! Fitness Boot Camp – Get your body moving in this week-long fitness camp. Practice exercises that get your blood pumping and learn how to safely complete both bodyweight and dumbbell workouts.
Weekly Theme: Wands & Wonder – Get ready to cast a spell of fun! Learn tricks to wow your friends, create mystical artwork, and do science experiments that feel like magic.
Weekly Theme: Innovators Lab – Learn about what it takes to be a scientist or engineer. Design and conduct experiments, explore basic robotics, and tinker with technology to find out what makes it work.
Weekly Theme: Mermaids & Mariners – All aboard for a week of nautical adventures! Complete under-the-sea themed crafts, go on a pirate’s treasure hunt, and explore San Francisco’s coastline.
Weekly Theme: Iron Chef – Put your cooking skills to the test in this competition-style cooking camp. Start the week learning the basics, and then face off against your fellow campers to see who has what it takes to be Y Camp’s Iron Chef champion.
Weekly Theme: Rockstar Academy – Become a rockstar as you listen to, dance to, and create music of all kinds! Build your own instruments, perform for fellow campers, and show off your moves in a camp dance party.
Weekly Theme: Soundwave Studio – Write lyrics, play instruments, and record tracks as you learn about music mixing and production. Not a musician? Don’t worry – this session will have something for everyone!
Weekly Theme: Inventor’s Workshop – Tinker and build in this STEAM-themed inventor’s week. Create LEGO masterpieces, cardboard constructions, and popsicle stick architecture.
Weekly Theme: Multi-Sport Madness – Visit local parks to practice all your favorite sports! From Baseball to Soccer, you’ll compete against your fellow campers (and maybe even your counselors) in this sports extravaganza.
*This is a 3 day mini-camp week: there will be no camp on Thursday, August 13 or Friday, August 14.
Weekly Theme: Around the World – Join us on a journey through cultures. Cook foods from different countries, explore art from across the world, and bring in your own traditions to share with your fellow campers.
Weekly Theme: Cultures & Traditions – Join us on a journey through cultures. Cook foods from different countries, explore art from across the world, and bring in your own traditions to share with your fellow campers.
Ages 6-16 | GRADES ENTERING: 1st – 11th
Specialty Summer Camps
Ages 6-10
1st-5th
Specialty Camp (Available Weeks 1, 2, 8, 9)
Specialty camps provide opportunities for youth to focus on specific interests that they are excited to explore deeper. Campers will spend about 70% of their day focused on specialty activities, and the other 30% on walking field trips and general camp fun. Each week will include one full-day field trip and one swimming day at the Presidio Community YMCA pool.
Ages 6-10
1st-5th
Y Rangers (Available Weeks 3, 6)
Become a park ranger for a week as you explore and experience the natural spaces in and around the Bay Area! Campers will do a field trip every day (5 field trips total!) to step into an immersive experience on National Park Lands with the guidance of Y Ranger Naturalists who will share information on the flora, fauna, and history of the beautiful bay area ecosystems. Along the way, campers will learn how to become stewards of the land by participating in service learning projects.
Ages 13-16
9th-11th
Leaders In Training (Available Weeks 1-10)
Develop your leadership skills by working alongside YMCA staff to become a role model for younger campers. You’ll start the summer with a two-week mandatory training session where you’ll explore your leadership style, learn child development techniques, and prepare to lead lessons and activities. Then in your field work weeks, you’ll be assigned to a camp group where you’ll develop bonds with campers and help facilitate camp programming, all with guidance and feedback from experienced YMCA staff.
GRADES ENTERING: 1st – 11th
Specialty camps
- A non-refundable deposit is due at registration per weekly session.
- No camp on 6/19 and 7/3.
- Field trips are subject to change.
- Specialty Camp (Available Weeks 1, 2, 8, 9)
- Y Rangers (Available Weeks 3, 6)
- Leaders In Training (Available Weeks 1-10)
REGISTER
Online registration opens early February 2026, please check back with us soon!
Specialty Camp (Grades 1-2)
Weekly Theme: Cooking Camp (Grades 1-2) – Learn cooking basics as you work on teams to complete kitchen projects each day. Practice skills like chopping, mixing, and measuring all while creating delicious snacks to enjoy.
Leaders In Training
Mandatory 2-week training: 6/8/26-6/18/26
Specialty (Grades 3-5)
Weekly Theme: Art Camp – Explore different mediums as you make masterpieces to bring home. Draw with pastels, sculpt with clay, and paint with watercolors in this celebration of artistic expression.
*No camps will be held on Friday, 6/19/26, Juneteenth holiday.
Leaders In Training
Mandatory 2-week training: 6/8/26-6/18/26
Y Rangers
This session will feature two age groups registration options – one for ages 6-7 and one for ages 8-10.
Leaders In Training
Week 3 – Field Work
Leaders In Training
Week 4 – Field Work
*No camps will be held on Friday, 7/3/26, 4th of July holiday.
Leaders In Training
Week 5 – Field Work
Y Rangers
This session will feature two age groups registration options – one for ages 6-7 and one for ages 8-10.
Leaders In Training
Week 6 – Field Work
Leaders In Training
Week 7 – Field Work
Specialty (Grades 1-2)
Weekly Theme: Art Camp – Let your creative side take the wheel as you fill your days with arts and crafts of every kind! Make scultures, drawings, and paintings as you learn different techniques to hone your skills.
*No camps will be held on Friday, 6/19/26, Juneteenth holiday.
Leaders In Training
Week 8 – Field Work
Cooking Camp (Grades 3-5)
Weekly Theme: Cooking Camp – Develop your kitchen skills as you complete cooking projects to sample! Learn about how to combine different flavors and ingredients, and build comfort with cooking techniques.
Y Rangers
Week 10 – Field Work
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.
Email 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.–5:00 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?
For program-related questions, contact Milo Briskin, Camp Director, at [email protected] or call (415) 666-9620.
Need Help with your account?
Contact Member Services at [email protected] or call our support hotline at (415) 772-5500.