YMCA Day Camp Guidelines
Participant Requirements
- Stay with the group at all times – For safety and proper staff-to-child ratios, children cannot leave the group.
- Participate in structured activities and transitions independently – We cannot provide one-on-one or small group support. Ratios are 12–15 children per staff member.
- Be toilet trained and use the bathroom without assistance – Staff cannot assist with bathroom needs or changing clothes.
- Engage in outdoor activities for extended periods – Most programming is outdoors, even in light rain. In severe weather (lightning/thunder), we will move indoors. Campers should be prepared for hiking, bugs, and varying temperatures.
Day camp is all about fun and friendship. If you’d like your children to be in the same group, please indicate this on the registration form. They will remain together for the entire week.
Locations
- Essentia Wellness Center (EWC) – 4289 Ugstad Road, Hermantown
- North Star Academy (NS) – 3301 Technology Drive, Duluth
Summer 2026 Registration opens on February 2, 2026.
Registration Fee:
Register online at lakesuperiorymca.org/register or contact 218-722-4745 x140/x103. Families must complete all registration forms and payments before their child can begin attending any program.
Be sure to have your child's current medical information, health history, and vaccination records available when registering. As a Minnesota state-certified program, we require vaccination records during registration to meet state-level certification requirements. If your child is exempt for immunizations, families must fill out an exemption form and be notarized. To access this form, please call the Out-Of-School Time Director at 218-722-4745 x124 or at kcorbett@lakesuperiorymca.org.
A $52 deport is required at time of enrollment and is non-refundable after May 25. To view program fees, please visit lakesuperiorymca.org/register or contact 218-722-4745 x140/x103. Families pay two weeks in advance for the upcoming week.
If payment is not made by the deadline, your child will be unenrolled, and you will lose your spot for that week. Cancellations and changes must be made at least 17 days prior to the start of the camp week. No refunds will be given for missed days.
| SUMMER 2026 Out-of-School Time Program Weekly Dates: | Last Date to make schedule changes: | Payment Due Date: |
| June 15 - June 19 No program on June 19 at North Star ONLY, Holiday | May 29 | June 1 |
| June 22 - 26 | June 5 | June 8 |
| June 29 – July 2 No program on July 3, Holiday | June 12 | June 15 |
| July 6 - 10 | June 19 | June 22 |
| July 13 - 17 | June 26 | June 29 |
| July 20 - 24 | July 3 | July 6 |
| July 27 - 31 | July 10 | July 13 |
| August 3 - 7 | July 17 | July 20 |
| August 10 - 14 | July 24 | July 27 |
| August 17 - 21 | July 31 | August 3 |
| August 24 - 28 | August 7 | August 10 |
Drop off and pick up will be curbside from 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Caregivers must sign their child in and out daily. At this time, we are not offering early drop-off or late pick-up. Late pick-ups will result in a late pick-up fee of $1 per minute per child.
Most campers bring a backpack or bag to camp that contains the following items:
- Closed-toe shoes that attach to the foot (please no sandals or shoes with heels)
- Water bottle(s)
- A hat
- Change of clothes
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Healthy lunch, extra snacks & drinks (no sugary drinks or soda permitted at camp) LUNCH AND SNACK IS NOT PROVIDED AT EITHER DAY CAMP
- Campers should wear OLD CLOTHES to camp.
- A towel
- On swim days, a swimsuit and extra towel
- Rain gear
- A book
Essentia Wellness Center at the Hermantown YMCA
Week 1: STEM Camp
Week 2: Adventure Camp
Week 3: Sports Camp
Week 4: Cooking Camp
Week 5: All About Animals
Week 6: Art Camp
Week 7: Adventure Camp II
Week 8: Sports Camp II
Week 9: Cooking Camp II
Week 10: All About Animals II
Week 11: Art Camp II
North Star
Week 1: Art Camp
Week 2: STEM Camp
Week 3: Adventure Camp
Week 4: Sports Camp
Week 5: Cooking Camp
Week 6: All About Animals
Week 7: Art Camp II
Week 8: Adventure Camp II
Week 9: Sports Camp II
Week 10: Cooking Camp II
Week 11: All About Animals II
CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CCAP)
The Lake Superior YMCA will send you an invoice at the beginning of every month for the outstanding balance. Please be advised that the county payments are often behind on their periods of service payouts and the bill may not reflect all periods of service that we have received payment on from the county.
All CCAP families must fill out a “CCAP Families Payment Agreement” that will be provided upon receipt of CCAP paperwork. It is the caregiver/guardian responsibility to:
● Know what you have been awarded from the county.
● Know your co-pay amount.
● All communication with the county is the responsibility of the caregiver(caregiver/guardian).
● The county is not allowed to share information with us beyond your awarded amount of coverage.
● Pay balance in full.
Please notify your case worker directly that you are utilizing the Out-of-School Time program for care and what specific school site your child(ren) will be attending. Out-of-School Time has a child care provider number with St. Louis County. Families must do this at the beginning of the school year, and when the summer program begins if switching to a different school location. We can assist you with your provider number as needed.
Child Care Assistance is not accepted for Day Camp Odyssey as Camp Miller is not a certified center.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
We believe every child should experience Out-of-School Time programming. Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we are able to offer financial assistance to families in need. Families must apply for Child Care County Assistance prior to applying for financial assistance. Financial Assistance is awarded to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
Families are responsible for all child care payments until financial assistance has been awarded. Financial assistance is awarded at a discounted rate based on qualifications and applies only to future enrollments, not past-due balances. Families should wait to receive their financial assistance award notification before registering their child for the program.
Financial assistance applications are available by contacting kcorbett@lakesuperiorymca.org or 218-722-4725 x 124.
Get ready for a summer adventure like no other! Kids from the Duluth area will hop on the bus to YMCA Camp Miller in Sturgeon Lake for a full day of outdoor fun—then return home with stories to tell. From swimming and nature exploration to games and friendships, this program brings the magic of resident camp to your camper in one unforgettable day.
- Ages 7-13
- Only 5-day plan available (no partial week pricing)
- Member Pricing: $327/week
- Community Pricing: $365/week
- Available weeks:
- June 15-19
- June 22-26
- Drop-off Locations
- Essentia Wellness Center at Hermantown YMCA
- North Star Academy
- Drop-off time: 7-8 am
- Van transportation leaves at 8 am from drop-off sites
- Van transportation leaves Camp Miller at 4 pm to return, back to pick-up site approximately 4:45pm.
- Pickup time: ends at 6 pm.
- Lunch provided at Camp Miller
- Child Care Assistance is not accepted for Day Camp Odyssey as Camp Miller is not a certified center.
Regular email about the program will be shared with enrolled families. Welcome emails will be shared one week in advance from your child's week at day camp.
Please follow us on the Facebook page for updates and pictures: https://www.facebook.com/communityservicesbranch
For questions, please contact:
- Day Camp Director: lbucar@lakesuperiorymca.org or 218-722-4745 x111