Our Traditional Camps thrill campers and spark a sense of wonder with classic outdoor games, inspired arts and crafts, and inventive STEM activities all day long. Water days and/or pool time ensure campers can beat the heat or build their aquatics skills. And every Friday, campers and their families can look forward to an exciting celebration of kids’ achievements that week!
YMCA Loudoun County Traditional Camps
WEEK 1: TREASURE ISLAND
Avast ye, hearties, and steel yerselves for adventure on the high seas! Young Scallywag will search high and low looking for clues to discover where the treasure chest full of pirate gold is hidden. Then, these pirates and brigadiers will create their own treasure maps, hunt for pirate booty, and build their own ship. Campers even create a sea shanty to sing together at the end of the week.
WEEK 2: SUPERHEROES
BOOM! POW! Kids imaginations are more powerful than a locomotive, and can leap tall buildings in a single bound! In this camp, storytelling and creative play save the day as campers create their own super-alter ego (both heroes and villains welcome) complete with unique powers and compelling backstories. After building cities or secret lairs to protect, campers will assemble their own super squad to work together to take on larger challenges.
WEEK 3: Y-SPIRIT WEEK
We have spirit! Yes we do! We have spirit! How ‘bout you? Spirit week is an iconic camp experience, where teams compete in friendly games, challenges, activities, and songs to prove who has the most camp spirit. Campers will build their teamwork skills while pushing themselves to earn points that take their team to victory! The week ends with a huge celebration that lifts up all campers’ spirits as they come up with ways to one-up the counselors.
WEEK 4: SEA TO SHINING SEA
Discover the land we call home! We will celebrate everything red, white and blue, from hometown heroes to exploring the American frontier. The United States boasts a rich tapestry of peoples, cultures and regions that makes it unique and spectacular! Not only will kids explore different aspects of our country from coast to coast, they’ll also meet up virtually with campers from other YMCAs who’ll share what life is like in their corner of the nation.
WEEK 5: ITS A THINGAMAJIG
Got a kid who’s excited about science, technology, engineering and math? Unleash their inner innovator so they can conduct hands-on experiments, make mechanisms and create concoctions to better understand the world around us. The Y’s annual Thingamajig challenges children to build their S.T.E.A.M. skills as they invent solutions to everyday problems using only what can be re-purposed around them. Junior and Senior campers can even attend and compete in the 29th Annual YMCA Thingamajig Invention Convention.
WEEK 6: WORLD TRAVELER
Around the world in 5 days! Campers are immersed in different cultures and customs as they explore games and crafts from other countries, and meet new friends around the globe in a virtual cultural exchange.
WEEK 7: LUNAR MISSION
TO INFINITY AND BEYOND! Explore the solar system and beyond learn about the universe around us and enjoy some fictional fun too! Future astronauts and astronomers blast off on a mission to star systems unknown as they learn the constellations and find planets with the naked eye. Kids think through what life on other planets might look like, and different ways the human race can explore the universe.
WEEK 8: JUNGLE SAFARI
Put on your safari hat and grab your binoculars because it’s about to get wild in here! For budding zoologists and naturalists, this camp lets kids take a walk on the wild side while learning about different animals’ habitats eco-systems, and conservation efforts.
WEEK 9: UNDER THE SEA
Sabastian new what he meant when he said…”Look at the world around you… right here on the ocean floor!” Kids can dive in to their love of sea animals and plants, while learning about how they can help protect the oceans.
WEEK 10: SUMMER CELEBRATION
Celebrate summer with these exciting kickoff and closing activities! Days of fun field games, playing in the pool, and camp activities culminate in a big party to celebrate summer!