Des Moines Y Camp

Overview

For over 100 years, the Des Moines Y Camp has been filled with songs, laughter, adventures and friendship. Summer Camp is the foundation on which Y Camp is built. Overnight Camp, Day Camp, Family Camp and our amazing Partner Camps all work to bring the impact and value of camp to all who enter the Valley. If you’re looking for the ultimate camp experience, Summer Camp is the place to start. Find your next adventure at the Des Moines Y Camp!

At the Des Moines Y Camp a week of Overnight Camp is more than a week away from home: It’s an opportunity to grow. For us, Overnight Camp is architecture. Instead of designing and constructing a beautiful new home or a skyscraper to tower above the city, we are building confident, caring, independent young people.

We start with a foundation centered on our core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. From that base we support every camper with positive role models in the form of Y Camp Leaders. Each Leader is well-trained and motivated to ensure that every child builds positive relationships with cabin mates and fellow campers. The week is framed with opportunities to try new things like horseback riding, archery, canoeing, zip lining, rock wall climbing, crafts and more. Campers are strengthened by the sense of confidence gained by learning new skills and making choices throughout their time at camp, all of which allow them to learn more about themselves. Finally, every camper will come home decorated from head to toe with tie-dye shirts, friendship bracelets, dirty shoes and beautiful new smile. As they leave, they’re reminded to take camp with them and “do all the good you can.

The Des Moines Y Camp strives to make camp affordable for all. Through the generous donations of Y members, community members and local businesses we are able to offer Financial Assistance to individuals and families at all income levels to make our programs accessible to all.