Day & Semi-Residential Camps
Let your child experience the wonder of YMCA Camp Kern for themselves! Our Day and Semi-Residential Camps offer weeklong day camps, hybrid and semi-residential programs, and half-week overnight camps. From First Camp and Taste of Kern to Sunrise camp, we ensure that our younger campers are shown the fun of camp adventure and given time to connect with our specially trained staff in a caring atmosphere. These camps are great for those who want to dip their toes into the camp experience before experiencing a full week away from home.
For campers aged 5-9 (must have completed kindergarten)
Day Camp: Monday - Friday
Sunrise Camp is full of silliness, fun, and creativity. Children join with other campers in their age group as they play, learn, and grow in a classic week of camp activities.
Sunrise Camp provides positive outcomes through play and with an emphasis on emotional growth. Our quality staff will guide them through outdoor activities, swimming, sports, arts & crafts, games and other summer adventures. We know how important it is to get kids back out in nature and interacting with their friends. Sunrise Camp will allow campers to practice leadership skills, critical thinking, team dynamics, and assist in developing lifelong friendships.
In addition, campers gain an understanding of the YMCA's character-development values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. All Sunrise Camp counselors are extensively trained in team development, character-building and skills facilitation. This program runs Monday-Friday with morning drop-offs (between 8-9AM) and evening pickup times (between 5-6PM). Campers must have completed Kindergarten to attend.
2025 Dates
Session 1: June 2-6
Session 5: June 30-July 4
Session 6: July 7-11
Session 7: July 14-18
Availability
- Session 1 (Co-ed)
- Session 5 (Co-ed)
- Session 6 (Co-ed)
- Session 7 (Co-ed)
$300
For campers aged 5-7 (must have completed kindergarten)
Semi-Residential Camp: Monday-Wednesday day camp, Thursday overnight, Friday evening final pickup
This is the perfect opportunity for first-time campers to get acquainted with the magic of camp life under the careful and constant supervision of specially chosen counselors. Campers will spend Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday participating in Day Camp activities such as Arts & Crafts, Nature Center, Sports, Swimming and Adventure Games. On Thursday, campers will pack their bags and prepare themselves for some of the most fun they will ever have as they move into one of our air-conditioned cabins for the night. Campers will continue enjoying activities such as canoeing, campfires, indoor climbing wall and nature hikes. First Camp follows a modified schedule: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday campers spend the day at camp (morning drop-off between 8-9AM and evening pick-up between 5-6PM) and return home each evening. On Thursday, the campers are dropped off in the morning and spend one night at camp. Campers in the First Camp program will now be staying in the Sugarwoods cabins for their overnight. These cabins are air-conditioned and have a bathroom in each cabin. Check out is on Friday evening. Campers must have completed Kindergarten to attend.
2025 Dates:
Session 2: June 9-13 (Boys' spots sold out, waitlist available)
Session 3: June 16-20
Session 4: June 23-27
Session 8: July 21-25
Session 9: July 28-August 1
Availability
- Session 2 (Co-ed)
- Session 3 (Co-ed)
- Session 4 (Co-ed)
- Session 8 (Co-ed)
- Session 9 (Co-ed)
$450
Half-Week Residential/Overnight Camp: Sunday- Wednesday
Designed for our campers who aren't quite ready to spend an entire week away from home, our Taste of Kern experience offers the same kind of fun as Traditional Camp in a shorter format. Taste of Kern campers will check in on Sunday and stay at camp until Wednesday evening. In a change from previous years, campers attending Taste of Kern will now stay overnight at camp for the whole Taste of Kern program (Sun-Wed). Campers in the Taste of Kern program will now be staying in the Sugarwoods cabins. These cabins are air-conditioned and have a bathroom in each cabin.
Spend Sunday-Wednesday enjoying canoeing, arts & crafts, rock climbing, and nature hikes. Taste of Kern has been designed to help develop early social skills and help campers get more comfortable in new situations. We believe that Taste of Kern is the perfect opportunity for young campers to adjust to camp life!
2025 Dates:
Session 2: June 8-11
Session 3: June 15-18
Session 4: June 22-25
Session 8: July 20-23
Session 9: July 27-30
Availability
- Session 2 (Co-ed)
- Session 3 (Co-ed)
- Session 4 (Co-ed)
- Session 8 (Co-ed)
- Session 9 (Co-ed)
$500
New for 2025!
Day Camp: Monday-Friday
NEW for 2025! We merged our Sunrise Day Camp and Traditional Camp programs to create a new day camp experience, offered for one week only and open to a wider age range.
Join us for an exciting Monday through Friday day camp program at YMCA Camp Kern, where your child can immerse themselves in the adventure and magic of camp life! Set against the backdrop of 485 stunning acres of nature, our Traditional Day Camp provides the perfect opportunity for kids to disconnect from technology and connect with the great outdoors.
Each day is packed with engaging activities designed to foster friendships, build skills, and boost confidence. From group games and team challenges to hands-on nature exploration and camper-selected activities, your child will enjoy a balanced mix of structured fun and free play. Daily drop-off will be between 8-9AM and pickup will be between 5-6PM.
2025 Dates:
Session 10: August 4-8
Availability
- Session 10 (Co-ed)
$300
Day Camp Awesomeness!
Day Camp: Monday - Friday
Boots & Bits is an exciting day camp designed to help young ranchers build independence and horsemanship through hands on horse experience. Campers will learn the basics of horse care and horseback riding by participating in daily lessons on horse safety, grooming, tacking, leading horses, and riding. Boots & Bits Campers will also get the opportunity to try out camp activities such as swimming, rock climbing walls, and more. This program runs Monday - Friday with morning drop-off between 8-9am and evening pick-up between 5-6pm each day. Campers must have completed Kindergarten to attend.
This camp program will be listed under the "Horse Day Camps" category on the Camper Application.
2025 Dates:
Session 1: June 2-6
Session 2: June 9-13
Session 3: June 16-20
Session 4: June 23-27
Session 5: June 30-July 4
Session 6: July 7-11
Session 7: July 14-18
Session 8: July 21-25
Session 9: July 28-August 1
Availability
- Session 1 (Co-ed)
- Session 2 (Co-ed)
- Session 3 (Co-ed)
- Session 4 (Co-ed)
- Session 5 (Co-ed)
- Session 6 (Co-ed)
- Session 7 (Co-ed)
- Session 8 (Co-ed)
- Session 9 (Co-ed)
$575
Day Camp: Monday - Friday
Introducing one of camp's newest program areas: the Circle K Corral! The Corral is home to our farm animal petting zoo in an Ole' Western town setting.
In this new day camp centered around daily life at the Corral, Lil' Farmers will spending their days assisting in daily farm chores, collecting eggs, and feeding & caring for our animals (goats, rabbits, ducks, mini horses & cows, lambs and chickens) while learning about managing farm herds and tending to their own community garden: growing tomatoes, pumpkins and herbs!
They will also learn how to identify animal tracks, bugs, birds and wildlife while exploring all over camp's ranch. Additional activities including making natural arts & crafts projects, participating in pony rides, going on hay rides, and learning the very basics of roping the most well-behaved plastic steer on the planet. Just like our older campers, Lil' Farmers will also participate in typical camp activities like fishing, swimming, hiking, campfires, archery and conquering our wee climbing wall.
This program runs Monday - Friday with morning drop-off between 8-9am and evening pick-up between 5-6pm each day. Campers must have completed Kindergarten to attend. This camp program will be listed under the "Horse Day Camps" category on the Camper Application.
2025 Dates:
Session 1: June 2-6
Session 2: June 9-13
Session 3: June 16-20
Session 4: June 23-27
Session 6: July 7-11
Session 7: July 14-18
Session 8: July 21-25
Session 9: July 28-August 1
Availability
- Session 1 (Co-ed)
- Session 2 (Co-ed)
- Session 3 (Co-ed)
- Session 4 (Co-ed)
- Session 6 (Co-ed)
- Session 7 (Co-ed)
- Session 8 (Co-ed)
- Session 9 (Co-ed)
$299
2025 Summer Camp Session Dates
Session 1: June 1-6
Session 2: June 8-13
Session 3: June 15-20
Session 4: June 22-27
Session 5: June 29-July 4
Session 6: July 6-11
Session 7: July 13-18
Session 8: July 20-25
Session 9: July 27-August 1
Session 10: August 4-8 (Traditional Day Camp Only)
If you have any questions about our day and semi-residential programs, please contact Jesús Castaño, Summer Camp Director, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (513) 932-3756 (ext. 1528).