Camp Rising Sun
Summer 2025
YMCA traditional Summer Day Camps are packed with activities, games and fun. Campers spend the day swimming, creating crafts and art, playing sports like kickball, pickup basketball, and soccer and playing games like gaga ball and capture the flag. Campers spend time inside and outside during the day depending on the weather and activity. Read more about a typical day at YMCA Day Camp.
Camp Rising Sun is for rising kindergarten through rising 8th grade and is located at the Taylor Family YMCA at 101 YMCA Drive in Cary, NC. Our camp shares the building with YMCA members and other programs. All campers are encouraged to try everything, to do their best and are led by a team of YMCA youth staff and counselors.
At Camp Rising Sun, we spend 90% of our time outside enjoying nature, outdoor activities and sunshine! Campers have the opportunity to go swimming every day. Rising Kindergarteners enjoy the splash pad and campers in riding grades 1 - 8 enjoy the pool. Shaded areas and water stations are available throughout our camp space to keep campers cool and hydrated. Read answers to our Frequently Asked Questions about Camp Rising Sun.
At Camp Rising Sun, we give kids a week full of opportunities to try new things. From dancing and celebrating the day at opening assembly, to discovering new interests and hobbies as part of their camp huddles, campers explore crafts, experience new outdoor activities and get the chance to connect with new friends.
We can’t wait to see your children this summer!
OTHER CAMPS OFFERED BY THE TAYLOR FAMILY YMCA
| Theme | Day | Date | Time | Prices | Ages | |
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The Great Outdoors
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Step outside and discover what happens when adventure meets fresh air and open skies. |
Mon - Fri
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Jun 16 - Jun 20 | 7:00 am - 6:00 pm | M:$245 PP:$307 | 5 - 14 |
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Step outside and discover what happens when adventure meets fresh air and open skies. |
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Rising Sun Is Out of This World
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Blast off into an intergalactic week of cosmic crafts and space games. |
Mon - Fri
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Jun 23 - Jun 27 | 7:00 am - 6:00 pm | M:$245 PP:$307 | 5 - 14 |
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Blast off into an intergalactic week of cosmic crafts and space games. |
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Party in the USA
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Celebrate all things red, white and blue with classic American games and music. |
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu
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Jun 30 - Jul 3 | 7:00 am - 6:00 pm | M:$196 PP:$246 | 5 - 14 |
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Celebrate all things red, white and blue with classic American games and music. |
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Lights, Camera, Action
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Step into the spotlight with a week full of creativity, rehearsals and the ultimate Rising Sun talent show. |
Mon - Fri
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Jul 7 - Jul 11 | 7:00 am - 6:00 pm | M:$245 PP:$307 | 5 - 14 |
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Step into the spotlight with a week full of creativity, rehearsals and the ultimate Rising Sun talent show. |
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Pirates of the Rising Sun
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Set sail on a swashbuckling adventure with treasure hunts, pirate challenges and sea-worthy stories. |
Mon - Fri
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Jul 14 - Jul 18 | 7:00 am - 6:00 pm | M:$245 PP:$307 | 5 - 14 |
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Set sail on a swashbuckling adventure with treasure hunts, pirate challenges and sea-worthy stories. |
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Jurrasic Adventure
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Travel back in time to the land of dinosaurs with fossil digs, dino games and prehistoric discoveries. |
Mon - Fri
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Jul 21 - Jul 25 | 7:00 am - 6:00 pm | M:$245 PP:$307 | 5 - 14 |
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Travel back in time to the land of dinosaurs with fossil digs, dino games and prehistoric discoveries. |
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Holiday Hoopla
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Experience a year's worth of holidays in one week with festive games, crafts and celebrations from all seasons. |
Mon - Fri
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Jul 28 - Aug 1 | 7:00 am - 6:00 pm | M:$245 PP:$307 | 5 - 14 |
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Experience a year's worth of holidays in one week with festive games, crafts and celebrations from all seasons. |
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Once Upon a Time
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Enter a magical realm of dragons, castles and heroic quests where fairy tales come to life. |
Mon - Fri
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Aug 4 - Aug 8 | 7:00 am - 6:00 pm | M:$245 PP:$307 | 5 - 14 |
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Enter a magical realm of dragons, castles and heroic quests where fairy tales come to life. |
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Ocean Odessey
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Dive into an underwater world of marine mysteries and ocean-themed games. |
Mon - Fri
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Aug 11 - Aug 15 | 7:00 am - 6:00 pm | M:$245 PP:$307 | 5 - 14 |
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Dive into an underwater world of marine mysteries and ocean-themed games. |
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Rising Sun Rewind
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Relive the best moments of the summer in one epic week of throwbacks, camper favorites and unforgettable fun. |
Mon - Fri
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Aug 18 - Aug 22 | 7:00 am - 6:00 pm | M:$245 PP:$307 | 5 - 14 |
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Relive the best moments of the summer in one epic week of throwbacks, camper favorites and unforgettable fun. |
Camp Rising Sun Details
Rides In (drop off) will take place in the front loop by the flag pole. Please stay in your car.
From 7 - 9 a.m., we will have a staff member in that loop opening car doors, greeting you and checking campers in. For the safety of your child, we cannot allow children to be dropped off prior to Rides In opening at 7 a.m. while our staff are setting up for camp.
Rides Out (pick up) is from 4:30 – 6 p.m. and will be run in the same loop. Please use the second entrance to the Taylor Y (if you are coming off of Cary Parkway onto YMCA Drive) and take an immediate left to head towards the front of the building loop. The person picking up must have their pick-up card (provided on your child’s first day of camp) and an ID as a safety precaution. After camp closes at 6 p.m., a late fee applies. The fee is $5 for the first 10 minutes and $1 for every minute thereafter. If you are stuck in traffic or recognize you will be late, please call the Camp Office at 919-653-2155.
If you are dropping off or picking up outside of our Rides In and Rides Out times (between 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.), please park in the loop, stay in your car and call 919-653-2155. A staff member will come to you!
Our camp operates Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Taylor Family YMCA, 101 YMCA Dr. Cary, NC 27523.
Our camp day is packed with awesome activities! The day includes Rides In, morning snack and attendance, morning assembly, swimming, open programming periods, lunch time, huddle times, camp times and Rides Out.
At Camp Rising Sun, we do a style of programming that offers choice to campers called Open Programming. Campers will do morning attendance/meetings, lunch and snack times, huddle times and camp times in their huddle groups. Outside of times with their huddles, our camp has three activity or Open Programming periods throughout the day. During one of the Open Programming periods,
your camper will have the option to go swimming with their age group or choose from a variety of activities to go to. They have the option to pick from choices like arts and crafts, archery, different themed-activities based on the week’s theme and a rotation of a variety of sports like soccer, basketball, lacrosse and more. Your camper can stay at the same activity the whole 45-minute time slot or go to multiple activities and try different things.
Open Programming makes it possible for us to offer RANK activities, which are activities where campers have the opportunity to develop skills and level up in various activities. Examples of areas where your camper can RANK up are arts and crafts, performing arts, archery, soccer and basketball. When your camper ranks up they will receive a certificate and a bead for their bead necklace.
Campers have the option to swim every day at Camp Rising Sun! Rising Kindergarteners play in the splash pad and campers in rising grades 1 - 8 swim at the outdoor pool.
Ranks
Open Programming makes it possible for us to offer rank activities, which are activities where campers have the opportunity to develop skills and level up in various areas of interest. Examples of areas where your camper can rank up are arts and crafts, performing arts, archery, soccer and basketball. When your camper ranks up, they will receive a certificate and a bead for their bead necklace.
Wednesday is our Spirit Day at camp! If your camper would like to participate, they can wear as much of their camp color as they can!
- Camp K (rising Kindergarten) is purple
- Camp 1 (rising grades (rising grades 1 & 2) is red
- Camp 2 (rising grades 3 - 5) is blue
- Camp 3 (rising grades 6 - 8) is green
- CILTs (rising grades 9 &10) are black
Camp Rising Sun offers three 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 that summer.
2025 Family Nights
Thursday, June 26, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 10 - Talent Show, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 24, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
A few weeks before Camp starts, you will receive an email with a recorded Family Orientation video for
you to watch together with your camper that goes over everything you will need to know about Camp, in addition to our FAQ page.
Meet our amazing camp staff this year!
Julie Barnes-Delgado
Julie Barnes-Delgado, Camp Director
Julie has worked at the Y for over 12 years and is no stranger to Camp Rising Sun. She runs the Taylor Family Y’s Teen Programs during the school year, and this is her 4th year as a camp director. Julie holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from UNC - Chapel Hill. When not at the Y, Julie loves hiking with her husband and her dog, reading, practicing yoga and hand embroidery and spending time outside!
Danielle Crutchfield
Danielle Crutchfield, Assistant Camp Director
Danielle grew up as a camper at the YMCA and is excited for her first year as a director at Camp Rising Sun! Danielle runs school programs at the Y during the school year and has worked at the Y for 7 years. She is an North Carolina State University graduate with a degree in Sport Management, and she loves all NCSU sports, running, cooking Italian food and going to the beach and pool.
