Select a camp for additional information:
Specialty Camps are designed for campers wanting a slightly different experience. Specialty Camps are held in the morning and campers spend their afternoons with their cabin groups in program rotations.
Camp “Dismantled”

Ages 12-14
Not your typical week of camp! Watch a movie, go night zipping, go rock climbing by headlight, sleep-in a couple of days, have breakfast in bed, and play some awesome non-traditional camp games. Camper will experience camp program areas as well as having a blast doing brand-new stuff.

• Week 7 | July 20 - 26
• $402 Member / $439 Program Participant


Who Done It? Camp

Ages 9-12
Love mysteries? Y Camp has one for you. The Chrome Gnome has been stolen from the Camp Director's office and someone at the camp is to blame. Interrogate staff, dust for prints, use scientific data and become a real detective. Campers will talk and learn from a real detective. and have a great time as they look for the culprit. Perfect for the curious camper.

• Week 7 | July 20 - 26
• $402 Member / $439 Program Participant

 

Big Swing Camp

Ages 11-16
Love to golf or interested in learning more about the sport? Y Camp will have you swinging for the greens in no time. Work with Y Camp staff in perfecting your swing and play at local courses throughout the week to show off your new skills.

• Week 6 | July 13 - 19
• $503 Member / $540 Program Participant

 

Rope and Rock Camp

Ages 11-16
Campers will become proficient in the extreme sport of climbing. They experience every aspect of Y Camp's 35' climbing wall, including climbing, high ropes, bouldering and zip line. Campers will learn the ins and outs of ropes, knots, belaying and the rules of safety.

• Week 2 | June 15 - 21
• Week 6 | July 13 - 19
• $402 Member / $439 Program Participant

 

Guitar Idol
Ages 11-13
Ever wanted to play guitar without using a video game. This specialty camp will give you the tools to do so. Bring you own guitar, or play one of the camp's. By the end of the week you'll know basic chords and be playing a camp song.

• Week 8 | July 27 - August 2
• $402 Member / $439 Program Participant

 
Nature Camp
Ages 9-11
If you love the outdoors, this is your chance to learn, observe and study nature in a new and exciting way. By spending time with a professional naturalist, campers will build outdoor survival shelters; learn about raptors by observing camps red-tailed hawk, screech owl and barred owl; study the geology of central Iowa; collect water specimens and much more.

• Week 3 June 23 - 28
• $402 Member / $439 Program Participant

 
Outdoor Adventure Camp

Enjoy "roughing it?" Activities such as sleeping under the stars, cooking over an open fire and learning practical camping skills are just a sample of what campers will experience. Campers will be prepared for future camping, rock climbing, hiking and backpacking ventures.

Pathfinders (Ages 11-12)
Pathfinders spend a majority of their time camping in outposts around Y Camp, with one night camping outside of Y Camp.

• Week 3 | July 22 - 28
• $402 Member / $439 Program Participant

Voyagers (Ages 13+)
Voyagers spend a couple of nights at outposts around Y Camp, and spend multiple nights camping off of the Y Camp site.

• Week 6 | July 13-19
• $402 Member / $439 Program Participant


Young Naturalist Workshop

Ages 10-12
This camp is for 5th and 6th graders who have a natural curiosity about the outdoors. This week-long workshop exposes campers to professionals already in the field of environmental education and conservation

• Week 2 | June 15-21
• $402 Member / $439 Program Participant


Art-Rageous

Ages 9-16
Campers will receive professional instruction from teachers and artists in various artistic mediums.

• Week 6 | July 13 - 19
• $402 Member / $439 Program Participant


Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Ages 10-12
Girls will have fun just being girls. Give each other facials, visit a mall in Des Moines, design their own Y Camp t-shirt, hold late-night cabin dance parties, and have all kinds of girlish fun. All the things a girl would love to do, plus Y Camp programs.

• Week 6 | July 13 - 19
• $402 Member / $439 Program Participant

NEW* Boys Will Be Boys

Ages 9-12
Playing in the mud, climbing rocks and trees, skipping stones, going fishing, and going exploring in the woods are just some of the cool things that will happen this week. Boys will be free to live in the full spirit of being a boy while enjoying awesome Y Camp programs.

• Week 7 | July 20 - 26
• $402 Member / $439 Program Participant

Family Camp

For one week of the summer, families are invited to come to camp and take part in activities offered to campers all summer long. Join Family Camp this summer and enjoy Y Camp on Broadway.

• Week 9 | August 3-9