Each session of specialty camp is tailored to develop a particular skill in campers or give a particular set of experiences that campers can take with them far beyond the Y camp valley.

Ages 9-12
The explorers at heart will get a new appreciation of the outdoors and confidence in outdoor living skills. No cabins, cook your own meals, sleep under the stars, build your own survival shelters, and have a true wilderness adventure. Campers will learn survival skills and put them to use under the watchful and instructional care of Y Camp Leaders. Take your skills against the wild for this awesome week long experience.

• Week 7, July 22 - 28

$478 Member / $521 Program Participant

Ages 9-12
Boys will be free to live in the full spirit of being a boy. Playing in the mud, climbing rocks and trees, skipping stones, going fishing, and exploring in the woods to help boys connect with their own boyhood are just some of the cool things a camper will experience.

• Week 5, July 8 - 14 (ages 9-10)
• Week 6. July 15 - 21 (ages 11-12)

$478 Member / $521 Program Participant

Ages 10-12
Gain hands on experience to help satisfy and spark curiosity about the environment.  In spending time with professional naturalists campers will become naturalists themselves.  For 5th and 6th graders who want to learn more about nature and to spark all their senses in the out of doors.

• Week 2, June 17 - 23

$478 Member / $521 Program Participant

Ages 9-16
Budding artists will express themselves artistically and learn new forms of art and an appreciation of new artistic mediums. Campers will receive professional instruction from teachers and artists during their week of camp.

• Week 5, July 8-14

$478 Member / $521 Program Participant

Ages 10-12
Girls will have fun just being girls!  Girls will gain confidence in who they are as young women and get to express this.  Girls will do things girls love to do as well as build fantastic friendships and discover activities they may have never tried before.  Give each other facials, visit a mall in Des Moines, design your own Y Camp T-shirt, hold late-night cabin dance parties and have all kinds of girlish fun plus great Y Camp programs.

• Week 5, July 8-14

$478 Member / $521 Program Participant

Ages 12-14
Camp "Dismantled" is 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. Campers will experience Y Camp programs and will have a blast trying fun new activities.

• Week 6, July 15-21

$478 Member / $521 Program Participant

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 17-23
• Week 5, July 8-14

$478 Member / $521 Program Participant

Ages 9-16
Campers that love nature will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the environment.  Loving the outdoors is just the beginning as campers explore creeks, learn about raptors by observing the camp’s red-tailed hawk, and barred owl, study geology, and much more all while spending time with a professional naturalist.

• Week 9 August 5-11

$478 Member / $521 Program Participant

Ages 11-16
Helping children build confidence and feel the joy of accomplishing a new skill.   Campers learn basic guitar skills giving them an appreciation of guitar and the foundation of an instrument that they can play for the rest of their lives.  Bring your own guitar, or play one of Y camp’s. By the end of the week you’ll know basic chords and be playing a camp song.

• Week 7, July 22-28

$478 Member / $521 Program Participant

Aspiring thespians will learn aspects of performance and confidence in their abilities on stage. With a mix of acting and camp experiences campers will get the opportunity to perform their own production for campers and display their budding stage skills.

• Week 7, July 22-28

$478 Member / $521 Program Participant

Family bonds will be strengthened through this week away from the distractions of busy family lives.  A full week surrounded by family and friends this relaxing week is perfect for all busy families to connect and enjoy time as a family. Join us for Family Camp 2012 – The Groovy 70’s!

•Week 8, July 29 - August 4