2025 Summer Camp
The quintessential summer camp experience – Children enjoy swimming, field games, arts & crafts, songs and more – plus fun weekly themes and in-house experiences.
With locations across Chester County, our offerings suit a variety of ages, abilities and interests. The YMCA of Greater Brandywine offers Traditional Day Camp, Specialty Day Camp, offered in half or full-day options, Bumblebee Adaptive Day Camp, designed for children with developmental delays and disabilities and Teen Camp.
Eight YMCA Summer Camps Across Chester County
Camp Coatesville
Camp Jennersville
Camp Kennett
Camp Lionville
Camp Octorara
Camp OLY
Camp UMLY
Camp West Chester
NEW in 2025: Pickleball Center Camps!
AM and PM Pickleball Camps during Weeks 2 - 9
Athletes will partake in performance designed programming focusing on skill and athletic development. This program is designed to gradually increase athletic performance by building upon the current foundation through pickleball instruction as well as athletic conditioning in a small group training setting. Weekly sessions will consist of five (5) pickleball and conditioning days per week. Pickleball Camp sessions will be held at the Pickleball Center at Downingtown.
Learn How to Save!
Learn How to Save!
Summer is coming and it’s time to start thinking about sun, fun and camp. If you appreciate saving a few dollars, here are a few tips to help you save on YMCA Summer Camp.
With eight locations across Chester County, PA YMCA camps offer a summer of fun, adventure and friendships for kids ages 3-15.
Our campuses offer acres of amenities and leverage all of our robust indoor and outdoor spaces to keep each day fun and exciting – rain or shine! Some fun activities include daily swimming, gaga pit, slingshots, archery, inflatables, arts and crafts, canoeing and more*.
*Camp activities vary depending on camp location.
Big news! Camps Coatesville, Kennett, UMLY and West Chester have earned ACA-Accredited® Camp status from the American Camp Association, with Camps Jennersville, Lionville, Octorara, and OLY currently preparing for an accreditation visit.
Three Reasons Why
YMCA Provides the BEST SUMMER EVER!
Parents LOVE!
Summer camp at the Y provides parents with flexibility and convenience while simultaneously providing value and safety for campers.
We're Expanding
Specialty Day Camps will now be available at all eight YMCA locations, in half or full-day options. View all 2025 camps now!
Campers LOVE!
Campers enjoy the opportunity to make friends, swim daily and experience in-house excitement brought to camp each week!
Contact Us
During the camp season, if you need to make changes or update your summer camp registration, please complete our registration change form.
Complete the sibling discount request form if you have two or more children enrolling in the same week(s) of camp.
For billing and registration questions, contact your Camp Director or reach out to our
.
Why YMCA Camp?
YMCA Summer camps provide children with positive and fun experiences that build confidence, new friendships and a feeling of community that will last beyond the summer!
Have Questions?
Get all your YMCA summer camp questions answered.
Find out about what to bring to summer camp, what pick-up and drop-off procedures are like and more.
Advice for Parents
Whether you're looking to help your children make new friends, find a summer job or find ways that YMCA of Greater Brandywine summer camps match up, we've got a blog post for that.
Keep an EYE Out
Check out our upcoming summer camp open houses below, special savings on YGBW summer camps like early bird pricing and enter to win a free week of summer camp! Make sure you register for emails so you don't miss out on the deals!
Our Commitment to Youth
Last summer, we helped hundreds of children afford a fulfilling summer. Ask about our financial assistance program or learn more.
A Few Frequently Asked Summer Camp Questions
Drop off (which begins at 8:45 AM) and pick up may vary slightly from branch to branch, but we do rolling drop off and pick up at all our branches. Rolling car line means the parent/guardian does not need to leave the car! Our staff come to you.
A sign-in/out area will be available when you arrive at the site.
Your child will only be released to the parent/guardian or another authorized adult you have indicated on Epact. This list can be updated on Epact at any time
- Please follow the drop-off and pick up procedure for your camp locations.
- You must sign your full name and time on the attendance roster when dropping off and picking up your child(ren).
- Photo identification will be checked daily.
Campers will need to bring in a camp bag or backpack daily:
Please label all personal items.
- Weather appropriate attire
- Camp-appropriate footwear (typically closed-toe supportive sneakers or sandals)
- Hat
- Rain Jacket
- Sunglasses
- Backpack
- Water Bottle(s)
- Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
- Pool Towel
- Bathing suit and pool shoes
- Plastic bag for wet clothing
- Change of clothes (shirt, pants, underwear, socks)
- Lunch/Snacks [we are a peanut-free campus]
- Any needed hygienic supplies
- Any equipment advised by camp directors for specialty camps
Campers are not permitted to bring electronic devices, cell phones, PSPs, Nintendo DS's, sports equipment, money, weapons or toys from home and should not wear clothing with inappropriate logos.
Supervisors and site directors have degrees in education or related fields and have the required number of years of experience working with children according to DHS qualifications. Our college-aged counselors have experience with children and many are taking classes in child care, physical education art, or related fields.
Staff are required to wear a name tag or staff shirt and project a professional image. Conditions of employment include, but are not limited to, the following:
- First Aid/CPR
- Background Checks/Screening Process
- Training in Safety and emergency procedures
- Program-specific certifications
- 2 written references
- Proof of education, college course, and/or experience.
All staff are required to have 40+ hours prior to the start of camp. In addition, they receive on the job training, and are required to attend staff meetings on a regular basis. Topics include, but are not limited to: Child care knowledge, group work skills, behavior management, emergency procedures, and program content.
Two main tools that will help with summer camp registration are:
- Camp Finder - Browse all summer camps here starting Saturday, January 11, 2025 and easily filter to your closest YMCA camp location.
- Use our handy camp planners --> Planning made easy!
For any Camp billing and registration questions, please email