Camp Expedition
At Camp Expedition, campers spend the days outside exploring nature, hiking, making crafts and making friends. Campers learn about the environment through hands-on activities, guest speakers and field trips three days a week to local state and county parks.
Camp Expedition Sessions
There will be eight weeks of Camp Expedition this summer. July 3 is a holiday, and camp will be closed.
This high-energy week brings campers together through teamwork, character building, and vibrant activities. Each day, a YMCA character trait and color are highlighted with games, crafts, and challenges. The week ends with a Color Run, a fun race where campers celebrate community and spirit with a burst of bright colors.
It’s America’s birthday—and camp is throwing the party! Campers celebrate with red, white and blue games, challenges, crafts, and celebrations as camp honors 250 years of history, community, and summer fun the YMCA way.
It’s a week full of games, laughter, and classic carnival fun. Campers step right up to creative activities, silly challenges, and festive surprises that bring the magic of the midway to life.
Camp hits rewind and campers learn what made yesterday so awesome! Campers step into different time periods, learning how people lived, played, created, and imagined the world. With themed crafts, outdoor adventures, dress-up days, and classic games, every era becomes a brand-new adventure.
Campers explore the excitement of various holidays, including the 4th of July, Christmas, Halloween, and more, through games, crafts, and festive challenges. Each day immerses kids in a new celebration, sparking imagination and cultural curiosity. The week wraps up with a special YMCA Birthday Party, where all campers come together for a joyful celebration of the Y.
Campers dance at a beach party, play wet and wild water games, do seaside inspired crafts, and splash around with new friends. Summer might be hot, but at the YMCA, it's nothing but fun in the summer sun!
Campers are the stars during this week filled with excitement and imagination. Through arts and crafts, active games, and tons of other fun activities, campers will experience what it’s like to live the Hollywood life.
Campers will step into their own superhero stories through teamwork challenges, creative missions, and character-building fun. This week celebrates courage, kindness, and the unique strengths of every hero.
Registration
All YMCA Day Camps require a $20 deposit per session. If you do not have a YMCA account, you can create one at the time of registration.
YMCA Day Camp Experience
From preparation to programming, these are the essentials that shape each camp day.
Counselors & Staff
YMCA Day Camp operates with a 10:1 camper-to-staff ratio. We hire high schoolers, college students and teachers to lead activities, drive buses and facilitate summer camp. Each staff member undergoes extensive training - from CPR and First Aid to leading assemblies. Many staff are former campers and return summer after summer.
Swimming at Day Camp
Almost all YMCA Day Camps offer free swim times or water play (for younger campers). Each camper is assessed for their swim ability on the first swim day of the session. Campers are issued swim bands that identify their swim levels. Swim bands also help lifeguards and counselors identify which areas of the pool are appropriate for each camper.
Weather Management
From outdoor games to water play, day camp is designed to keep kids moving, learning and connecting. But when the heat index rises, so does our responsibility to make smart, timely adjustments that protect campers and staff.
Huddles
Huddles are small groups of campers of similar age and grade who are grouped together at day camp. Typically, huddles move together throughout the day to difference activities. Each huddle is accompanied by two or more counselors.
Character Traits
Respect, Responsibility, Caring, Honesty, and Faith are the character traits the YMCA uses to reinforce positive behavior. Campers can earn beads by demonstrating these traits. Each camper (ages 5 and older) receives a necklace on the first day camp for their beads.
Camp Expedition FAQs
There will be signs and staff that will point you in the right direction for Rides In and Rides Out.
Rides In will be from 8:30 a.m. - 9:15 p.m. Rides Out will be from 3 - 3:30 p.m.
When you arrive for drop off, if your camper has medicine, please have it and the medication form in a gallon Ziploc bag with your camper's name on it.
If you need to drop off late or pick up early, please call or text our camp phone 984-309-9856.
If you do not have your pink pick up card yet, we will hand them out during Rides Out. Please have your ID ready to present upon arrival.
Expedition will be held at Mills Park Middle School this year, with the exception of our last week, Aug. 10-14, which will be held at the Northwest Cary YMCA on the Crosspointe Church side of our facility.
Camp Expedition offers three themed family nights each summer!
Family Nights are an opportunity for the whole family to come and check out camp and participate in our fun activities. Campers love to show their families around where they spend their day and introduce them to their camp counselors.
You can come to Family Night even if your camper is not registered that week or if you are registered for a future week and haven’t attended yet this summer.
Mark you calendar for our 2026 Family Night Dates below.
July 9, 6:45 - 8 p.m.
July 30, 6:45 - 8 p.m.
Camp Expedition swims on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:20 - 10:45 p.m.!
Children should bring a bathing suit and towel for swimming. All campers will have a chance to swim test on Mondays only for their yellow band. Campers who choose not to test or don't pass their swim test are required to wear a life vest provided by the Y.
Campers are asked to bring a change of clothes, a swimsuit, a towel, lunch, two snacks, and a refillable water bottle. Most campers pack everything in a backpack.
Camp Expedition is all about exploring different places.
Monday and Tuesday camp is held on site at Mills Park Middle School with a variety of exciting summer camp programming planned for your camper.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday campers travel offsite through field trips to different locations. We will explore state parks to go hiking, trail walking and fishing. We visit places such as farms, museums and aquariums. Every day is a new adventure! We leave by 9:30 a.m. on field trip days and arrive back between 2 - 2:30 p.m.
Other Day Camps Offered by the Northwest Cary Y
Located at Mills Park Middle School
