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Kids & Teens

Summer Day Camp FAQs

YMCA provides many childcare and fitness services for Kids & Teens

"I'm a single mom and if I didn't have the Open Doors program I don't know what I'd do about child care costs. Thanks to the Y, my kids have learned to play with other kids better, learned sharing, good manners and even how to work out problems better. The Y really instills great, wholesome Christian values and is teaching kids to be good people. And the staff encourages kids to use their time in Y-Care wisely, so when you do get home, you can have real quality family time."
—Sharon T., nurse, working mother of 3, Open Doors participant

Summer Day Camp

Summer day camp is attended by more than 2,100 youth throughout the Mid-South area. Day camp activities include swimming and water safety, recreational and sporting activities, crafts, field trips and more. Day camps are available in Memphis, Shelby County and Fayette County in Tennessee; in Crittenden County, Arkansas; and in DeSoto County, Mississippi.

Contact your neighborhood YMCA branch for Summer Day Camp rates, sessions and registration:

Registration fee and first week's payment due at time of registration.

Before & After School Care

The YMCA partners with many area schools to offer an educational enrichment program for kids before and after school. In 2008–2009, more than 1,300 children benefited from our Before and After School Care.

Designed with the child and family in mind, the YMCA educational enrichment program includes homework time with adult supervision, group games, inside and outside playtime and nutritious snacks. This program is held at the school or children are picked up and transported to a nearby YMCA facility.

Check with your neighborhood YMCA to see if your child's school is a partner with the YMCA in this program and find out how to enroll. Fee assistance is available for those who qualify.

VIEW >> 2010-2011 B/A School Child Care Parent Handbook.

Holiday Camp

Holiday camps—offered on days that schools are not in session due to breaks, holidays or teacher in-service days—are available at several YMCA branches. The camps include in-branch activities as well as occasional field trips. Please contact your branch for rates and available dates.

Childcare

Most branches offer Child Watch and similar programs that provide free childcare while members exercise. Before you drop your child off, be sure you are familiar with our Child Watch policies. Please contact your branch about availability.

Youth Sports

The YMCA youth sports philosophy is "Everyone Is A Winner." Our main goal is to help children develop self-confidence and self-esteem in a positive environment. The objective is to learn skills and make new friends in a "we're having fun" atmosphere.

The YMCA not only believes strongly in the youth sports philosophy, we stand behind it through our policies in our programs. Caring, respect, honesty and responsibility are four values emphasized in all of our programs. The values the children learn are what the YMCA wants to reward. Children learning how to work together as a team, learning how to act when the team wins and loses, learning sports skills, making friends, learning to respect each other and believe in each other are the values we strive to achieve.

Youth Sports Philosophy:

Everyone plays.
Safety first.
Fair play.
Positive competition.
Family involvement.
Sport for all.
Sport for fun.

The true meaning of fair play

YMCA sports are based on the concept that fair play is the very essence of competition. Everybody should have an equal opportunity to compete and a fair chance to win. This fundamental virtue is a special inherent attribute of sport.

Fair play implies respect for oneself, one's opponent and others involved in conducting the competition. Players, coaches, officials and spectators share a responsibility for fair play. Fair play sets the game above the prize.

The YMCA believes that its sports programs provide an excellent means of developing a predisposition to play fairly. As this virtue develops, it can influence behavior in everyday life.

The YMCA also believes that its sports programs can help people to grow personally, clarify values, improve relationships, appreciate diversity, develop leadership skills and have fun.

Find out more about youth sports opportunities at your branch:

Group Exercise Classes for Kids

Kids learn that exercise is fun, and they get moving in a safe, instructor-led, class environment.

Support the YMCA so we can continue to build strong kids.