Facilities
The Des Moines Y Camp offers a number of available spaces for your group to utilize during your time with us. We offer meeting spaces that can serve up to 350 people and sleeping spaces with amenities to ensure comfort for guests. From January to December, these facilities can be reserved. Please call our office or email us to learn more about pricing and date availability.
Meeting Facilities
Pioneer Center
The largest and most modern facility available, the Pioneer Center has the ability to serve groups big and small. With an auditorium that can be divided into halves or opened up to full size, Pioneer can seat up to 350 people and makes a terrific option for a conference or large event. It has a fully functional kitchenette available for serving or preparing meals, two full-sized classrooms for breakout sessions and a large, open atrium to welcome guests to camp. Located near the entrance to camp, the Pioneer Center greets all who enter the Valley.
Chase Lodge
Originally built in the 1930’s, Chase Lodge remains one of the most beautiful camp facilities on-site. With its grand stone fireplace, pine walls and deck that stretches out over the Des Moines River, Chase Lodge is a fantastic facility for the group looking for an intimate, rustic camp experience. It has the ability to seat up to 200 people in its main hall, is equipped with a fully functional kitchen, restrooms and a breakout room. Furthermore, it’s located close to many of the sleeping facilities and is centrally located on camp. Stepping into Chase Lodge is walking into Y Camp’s history and heritage.
Sleeping Facilities
Cabins
The Des Moines Y Camp offers 24 cabins to groups and retreats for their stay. They are separated into five villages: Pioneer, Riverview, Campfire, Arrowhead and Hillside Village. Cabins located in Pioneer, Riverview, Campfire and Hillside Village are available year-round and equipped with restrooms while Arrowhead Village is used from Spring to Fall and utilize the camp shower house for bathrooms. All cabins offer bunked beds for guests and sleep between 12 and 16 individuals.
Cowan Lodge
Made up of the Good Health Center and Skowhaven, this facility is perfect for the small group or leadership team of a retreat. Skowhaven is built with three bedrooms, each of which has two bunked beds, a shower and restroom for residents. Additionally, it comes with a small kitchenette space and living room furnished with sofas and a dining table. The Good Health Center, used as a medical facility during the summer, has three hospital-style rooms all opening to a living room space. It is built with one large shower and restroom for residents to use.
Johnson Cabin and Howry Dahl House
Two beautiful locations built on the northernmost end of Y Camp property- Howry Acres, these facilities are designed for the family or small gathering stay.
*Johnson Cabin is unavailable until January 2024* (subject to change)
Johnson Cabin sits proudly atop the Des Moines River Valley and from the back deck or gazebo guests can take in the beauty of camp. Rented per night, the facility is used as a private getaway and is reserved separately from groups or retreats. A $50 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of booking and a $75/night fee is charged on the first day of the rental. If you and your family are looking for an opportunity to disconnect and reinvest in nature and one another, this is an ideal opportunity. Please email ycamp@dmymca.org to learn about availability.
Howry Dahl House is a beautiful facility reserved for donors, alumni, and full-time YMCA staff. With three bedrooms, living room, dining room and kitchen, it’s great for a group of former staff or a donor family to enjoy. Please email ycamp@dmymca.org to learn about rates and availability. We kindly ask for rentals not to exceed one week and no more than one reservation per month/person.
Additional Facilities
Cownie Dining Hall
Y Camp offers hot, fresh-made meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner to any group that would like to take the stress of feeding participants off their plate. Food is served family style by Y Camp’s full-time cook in the Cownie Dining Hall. With the ability to fit up to 300 guests, it is a traditional camp facility complete with a grand stone fire place and pine board walls.
Dahl Lodge
Originally built as Heritage Lodge, it has been converted into a three-season meeting facility. Dahl Lodge is great as a breakout space, an activity space or a meeting point located yards from the Cownie Dining Hall. Equipped with its own stone fireplace and 360 degree view of main camp, it’s a great option to diversify your group’s event at Y Camp.
