The New York YMCA Camp is a globally diverse community built upon the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, where each child enjoys safe adventures, new friendships and joyful experiences.

Cabins and Divisions

Campers are secure in our bully-free camp from day one. Friendships are immediately fostered through team-building and cabin activities. By supporting each camper within a cabin, our counselors help campers form the relationships for which our camp is known. Children create life-long friendships at our camp.

Campers live with five to seven other children in a clean, rustic cabin with their counselor. Our campers and staff come from the five boroughs of New York City and around the world. In 2009 fully 26 countries were represented in our camp.

Our cabin counselors are carefully selected and trained to create a mutual respect that quickly forms the basis of each cabin’s identity. Each cabin is grouped in a small, same-aged cluster called a Division which forms the foundation of a child’s camp experience.

Meals

Every cabin has its own table in either the McAlister or Talcott Village dining hall. Divisions have shared responsibility for setting tables and simple clean-up at the end of the meal. Meals are served buffet style. Every breakfast features fresh fruit, berries, yogurt and cereal in addition to a hot entre. Lunch and dinner include a full salad bar and sandwiches in addition to the hot balanced meal. Vegetarian options are always available at meals.

Camp's food service is in the forefront of the YMCA's Activate America initiatives. We support a healthy lifestyle in the foods we serve. We offer fresh fruits in our breakfast bar to include fresh strawberries, blueberries (when in season), cantaloupe, and honeydew along with canned fruits. In addition, we offer fresh vegetables on our salad bars for lunch and dinner and a vegetarian option to create a well balanced diet.

Over the past two years we have been reducing the fat and sugar in our menu while providing meals that campers will enjoy. Our spaghetti and ziti are now made with whole wheat. All oil is zero trans fat oil. Our juices at summer camp are a full 100% fruit juice. Fresh fruit such as grapes has replaced snacks such as cookies. We use lean meat in our menu items like ground turkey and turkey hot dogs. Our pizza is made with a part skim mozzarella cheese, which reduces the fat.

We can accommodate dietary needs to include vegetarians and children with food-borne allergies. If you have any questions please contact Steve Sumnick, our Food Service Director at ssumnick@ymcanyc.org.