YMCA Camp Y-Owasco

For 90 years, YMCA Camp Y-Owasco of the Auburn YMCA-WEIU has been providing safe, fun-filled summer adventures on the east shore of beautiful Owasco Lake in the central New York Finger Lakes region. We feature traditional day camp programs for ages 6-15, traditional resident camp ( sleepaway camp ) programs for ages 8-15, and leadership programs for ages 15-17 all within a short 45-minute drive from Syracuse. Please explore our website and see how we provide outstanding camp programming with physical and emotional safety in a positive, natural environment that's perfect for making friends, learning a thing or two, and having the best summer yet! At YMCA Camp Y-Owasco, we believe that the future of our world is determined by the experiences that children have today. We help kids grow into well-rounded individuals by helping them build friendships and leadership, interacting with positive role models, participate in a close-knit community, and experience safe and healthy opportunities to learn new skills and grow as people. YMCA Camp Y-Owasco sets itself apart from other camps with the ability to build a strong, close-knit camp family community that larger camps aren't able to build due to their size. We pride ourselves on our excellently, well-trained staff, strong traditions, and welcoming camp culture. Day Camp: For ages 6-15. Our excellent day camp program provides choices for outdoor adventure as well as the arts in a fun, structured, supervised environment. This traditional day camp program includes free bus transportation to camp, free before and after camp care, and swim lessons. One- and Two-week sessions are offered. Resident Camp: For ages 8-16. At resident ("sleep-away") camp, campers live onsite at beautiful Camp Y-Owasco for a week: Sunday to Saturday. They sleep in cabins with other campers and 2 counselors, eat in our dining hall, shower in our bathhouse, and spend virtually all the rest of the time having amazing fun and making friends. All activities--including bedtime--are supervised and facilitated by qualified staff Teen Leadership Programs: Camp Y-Owasco offers two leadership programs for teenagers who want to learn leadership skills or become a Camp Y-Owasco Counselor. First, is the Leaders-In-Training (LIT) Program, for youth going into 10th grade, which teaches hands-on leadership and outdoor living skills while culminating in an off-site multi-day/night canoe trip. Second is the Counselor-In-Training (CIT) Program, for youth going into 11th grade, which teaches teens additional leadership skills and trains them how to be effective Y-Owasco camp counselors. Construction Camp: A RESIDENT CAMP (sleep-away) program for youth in grades 6 and up. Construction Campers spend 3 hours per day working closely with an experienced foreman to build something new for camp: maybe it's a cabin, maybe they renovate one of our existing buildings, or maybe they build a completely new program area! Campers leave a permanent mark on Camp Y-Owasco and come home with real, practical skills and experience to build something nice for mom for Mother's Day or maybe even help them land a full-time job down the road! Activities: There are TONS of things to do at Camp Y-Owasco! We offer several program areas to build skills and experience adventure in a multitude of "program areas." We offer all-camp games like Zombies v. Ninjas and all-camp events like talent shows and dances. With everything from athletics to the arts, there's never a dull moment at Y-Owasco, where it truly is adventure every day.