YMCA - McBurney

The McBurney YMCA in Chelsea offers a range of summer camps that are designed to give kids a full, active camp day with convenient hours for families. Most camps run 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with optional extended hours from 8–9 a.m. and 5–6 p.m., and are offered in two-week sessions from late June through August.

For school-age kids, the core option is the traditional summer camp (ages 6–11), which focuses on a classic “all-around” camp experience: group games, sports, arts and crafts, science projects, theme days, and plenty of time to move, play, and be silly with friends. Older kids can opt into teen camp (ages 12–15), which keeps the same full-day structure but with age-appropriate activities and more independence. Younger children have the option of Kinder Camp (ages 4–5), a gentler introduction to camp life with smaller groups and more structured support, and there are also specialty options like Zookeepers Camp (ages 5–7) and Swim Camp (ages 7–11) for kids who love animals or want to focus on swimming skills and water fun.

Across all programs, the emphasis is on a safe, supervised, and active day where campers rotate through different types of activities, develop social skills, and stay busy from drop-off to pickup. It’s a good fit for Manhattan families looking for a one-stop summer solution with both general and specialty camp options, plus built-in extended care to cover the full workday.

June 29 and runs in two-week sessions through August 21, 2026.

Camp closed Friday, July 3rd in observance of the July 4th Independence Day Holiday.

125 West 14th Street

New York, NY 10011

Varies by exact camp program selection:

‍KinderCamp‍

$970 per 2 week session for members, $1,063 per 2 week session for non-members

‍ZooKeepers Camp‍

$1,085 per 2 week session for members, $1,200 per 2 week session for non-members

‍Day Camp‍

$886 per 2 week session for members, $976 per 2 week session for non-members

‍Swim Camp‍

$1,014 per 2 week session for members, $1,113 per 2 week session for non-members

‍Teen Camp‍

$886 per 2 week session for members, $976 per 2 week session for non-members

‍10% Early Bird Discount if you pay off your entire balance by April 18, 2026
10% Sibling Discount  for all siblings of the first child registered at full price

Register online here.

212-912-2322

McBurneyYCamp@ymcanyc.org

McBurneyYMCA@ymcanyc.org

What Parents Like‍

• Parents sum it up as “a very traditional ‘camp’ experience"—archery, swimming, art, crazy competitions, etc. and say their children come home “exhausted, covered in dirt and happy every day.” (1)
• Parents note that the pricing and range of options (indoor day camp, lake camp, adventure camp) make the YMCA a reasonable, accessible choice when other camps are much more expensive. (2)
• Multiple summer camp counselors describe YMCA camp jobs as one of their favorite jobs, highlighting constant activities, trips, hiking, swimming, and “the kids are amazing.” (3)

‍What Parents Think Could be Improved‍

• In the same Reddit thread mentioned above, a parent who used a downtown YMCA indoor camp described it as “fine, nothing special”—safe but not particularly exciting or enriching compared to other options. (2)
• Especially in big-city YMCA branches, the quality of camps can depend heavily on staffing levels, training, and space constraints. (4)

‍Our Take

‍At their best, YMCA camps offer a classic, affordable camp experience: lots of movement, simple games, swimming, traditional camp activities, and kids who come home dirty and happy. On the flip side, quality varies by branch—some day camps feel more like basic childcare in a gym than the outdoor, activity-rich camp parents envision. Programming and counselor quality can make a big difference, so talking to other neighborhood parents will probably help.