Summer Day Camps

Safety comes first at the Y. Our goal is to ensure your child is provided with a high-quality camp experience:

• Our staff is certified in CPR and First Aid and must pass a background check and drug screen.
• We offer a 1:12 leader-to-camper ratio, which means more meaningful interaction with your child.
• Pre-summer staff training on child safety, healthy discipline, positive reinforcement, character development, games, songs, and child abuse prevention ensures the best possible experience for your camper!

At the Y, we sweat, run, jump, swim, paint and much more. Sneakers are preferred but closed-toed shoes are acceptable. Flip flops and sandals are not appropriate YMCA activity shoes. Shirts must cover the entire torso, and shorts must be of an appropriate length. For designated swim times, female campers must wear a one-piece swimsuit and male campers must wear swim trunks. For additional comfort and sun protection, swim shirts are strongly recommended for all campers.

At camp, we focus on the development of social-emotional skills which include empathy, relationship building, emotion management, personal development, and responsibility. Children are taught lessons throughout the day that help them make good choices, feel confident, and get along with others. We are building 21st-century leaders.

Children must have completed kindergarten (rising first grade) and can be up to age 12* to be accepted into the YMCA of Greensboro’s summer day camp program. Rising first graders must have turned 5 years old by August 31, 2025. The Hayes-Taylor YMCA location requires a copy of current immunization records to accompany all registrations.

• Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself.
• Follow directions quickly.
• Respect yourself, respect others and your YMCA.
• Be safe, be kind, be honest.
• Always, always, always try your best.

Weekly Activities at a Glance

Assembly

Assembly is when all groups are together to get excited for a new day or week at the Y!  Youth sing, chant, and dance. This is also the time to introduce our Character Development Focus.  

Character Development (Social and Emotional Learning)

Character development is at the core of the YMCA. Youth will explore and develop their personal character through caring honesty, respect, responsibility, empathy, emotion management, personal development and relationship building.

Swimming

Swimming is a favorite part of the day! Youth have the opportunity to cool off in the YMCA pool. Don’t worry if your child is not a strong swimmer. The YMCA provides life vests require swim tests to ensure all youth have a safe and fun experience.

STEM

Weekly youth will engage in 21st Century Skills. They will explore Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. These activities promote teamwork, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Art

Drawing, painting creating and more. But art goes beyond the paint at the YMCA. Youth have opportunities to engage in fine arts such as drama, singing and dance!  

Field Trips

During the time in the program, youth will attend on-site or off-site field trips. During on-site trips, a special presentation is conducted for the youth. Youth enjoy presentations such as magic shows, animal presentations or science shows. Youth also attend off-site trips where they have time away from the YMCA building and explore areas such as parks and museums.   

Siesta (Rest)

During this time campers read, play word or quiet games, listen to books read by their youth leader, color or simply rest. During a busy camp day siesta is a great time to rejuvenate for the next part of our fun camp day.

Department of Health and Human Services Weather Watch Link

Breakfast and lunch are provided at the Hayes-Taylor YMCA. If your child attends the Reidsville YMCA, your child will receive breakfast and lunch. Please send your child with an afternoon snack.

Free Summer Feeding Program

The Hayes-Taylor YMCA offers free meals through Federal feeding programs. The Y will provide a menu to all families for the meals served at this location.

Meal Accommodations

We cannot make accommodations for eating preferences that do not pose a health risk. If a vegetarian request is made (with a doctor’s approval), the meal options become very limited and the summer feeding vendor may not be able to provide a large variety of meal alternatives. 

Meal accommodations require medical or allergy documentation from your child’s doctor. You have the option to opt out of participating in the free summer feeding program with your branch director or during program registration. See the meal accommodation form in the appendix.

If the caregiver opts out of the feeding program, they are responsible for providing healthy meals for their child. If an opt-in/out request is made during the summer, the request cannot be rescinded at another point in the summer.

Parents/guardians will not be contacted to bring children meals for items they choose not to eat. The Y will not provide meals that include pork or nuts.

All meals meet the USDA standards for healthy meals for children. Your child can bring their own lunch or snacks. Meals cannot be heated.

We ask that all meals contain dairy, grain, protein, fruit, and vegetables to ensure a well-rounded and healthy lunch.

Please provide a water bottle each day that is labeled with the child's name.

We do not call home if a child does not like a particular meal or snack that is provided by the YMCA. Families are welcome to send their child a snack or meal each day.

Youth in a YMCA program are not allowed to use the YMCA vending machines.

Prohibited Foods

YMCA youth programs are nut-free.

Please refrain from sending fried foods, cookies, cakes, Swiss rolls, cinnamon buns, fried potato chips, candy, soda of any kind to YMCA programs. Our goal at the YMCA is to practice and encourage healthy eating. Fun treats are provided in moderation.

Please see HEPA (Healthy Eating and Physical Activity) Standards in the Appendix Section.