Summer Camp transportation options.
Before and After Care provides your camper with supervised activities prior to and following the end of the program day.
Register for Day Camp Gathering Pines
Summer 2026
Thank you for a great summer!
Summer 2026 camp offerings listed below. Please check back for 2027 camp offerings.
Summer Camp Hours
Camp Hours: 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Camp Drop Off: 9 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Camp Pick Up: 3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Children are ready for camp if they are fully toilet trained, able to stay safely with their camp group, and can participate in activities without additional 1:1 support. If your child has complex medical or behavioral needs, please submit the Accommodation Request Form before registering.
Friend Requests: We do our best to honor one friend request per camper when submitted at registration. Both campers must be enrolled in the same program and be within two years of age. Requests are not guaranteed.
Early Childhood
Little Seeds Day Camp (Full Day)
At Little Seeds, preschoolers thrive in outdoor play, nurturing their independence, social skills, and a love for nature. Our camp ensures a low staff-to-child ratio, with counselors expertly trained to meet the unique needs of young campers.
Wee Backpackers
WeeBee Backpackers allow Kindergarteners to thrive in outdoor play, nurturing their independence, social skills, and a love for nature.
Four Day WeeBee Backpacker Sampler Camp
The WeeBee Backpackers Sampler is a “try-it-out” week where our youngest campers can taste all the fun of camp, without signing up for all five days..
Choose Your Adventure
(Grades 1–8)
Campers in grades 1-8 will have the opportunity to choose between one of five core adventures (Aquatics, Horses, Nature & Science, Arts & Imagination or Outdoor Sports.) This ensures each camper gets the most out of their camp experience. It will also allow us to focus on delivering high-quality, focused experiences that cater to the interests and wellness of each camper.
Nature & Science
Nature & Science camps give campers the opportunity to play outdoors while developing curiosity for the natural world and a lifelong relationship with nature.
GROSSOLOGY Emphasis | Grades 1-8
Camper’s dive into the slimy, smelly, and surprisingly fascinating side of nature & science as they explore bacteria, goo, bugs, decomposition, and more! Hands-on experiments and outdoor exploration turn “gross” into “cool” while building curiosity about how the natural world works.
SPACE Emphasis | Grades 1-8
Blast off into an out-of-this-world week of rockets, planets, stars, and galaxies! Campers launch rockets, create moon craters, and explore real space science as they imagine life as astronauts, engineers, and cosmic explorers.
SURVIVAL Emphasis | Grades 1-8
Adventure awaits as campers learn real-world outdoor skills like shelter building, water filtration, navigation, first aid and basic wilderness safety. Through hands-on challenges and team activities, they discover how science helps us survive and thrive in the great outdoors.
Arts & Imagination
Arts & Imagination camps spark creativity through diverse artistic experiences that ignite imagination, foster creative world-building, and instill confidence, while nurturing a lifelong appreciation for art and self-expression.
Campers will participate in daily art activities that explore various mediums. When engaging in imaginative play, campers will explore the hero’s journey as they build worlds develop characters, and embark on adventures, challenges and quests.
Outdoor Sports
Outdoor sports camps give campers the opportunity to try new outdoor activities that inspire lifelong recreation.
Campers will experience at least 10 different age-appropriate outdoor sports! Examples may include climbing, archery, geocaching, swimming, boating and more!
Horse
Horse camps cultivate a profound bond between campers and horses, nurturing confidence, responsibility, and a lifelong passion for equestrian pursuits. Horse campers will have the opportunity to learn a LOT, but Horse Camp is NOT an equivalent to low ratio and comprehensive, Horseback Riding Lessons. Please also note that horse experiences are also adapted during high heat and inclement weather. Learn more here.
Aquatics
Aquatic camps inspire a lifelong love for water activities while promoting safety, skill development, and environmental stewardship.
Campers will experience LOTS of swimming and aquatic fun that includes boating, kayaking and more!
Four Day Sampler Camp
Try it all! The Day Camp Sampler offers a mix of classic camp activities so campers can explore, play, and find their favorites throughout the shortened week.
Camp Extravaganza
Camp Extravaganza allows campers to experience many of camps’ greatest activities, all in one week! It also features activities that are exclusive to these extravaganza sessions. Camp Extravaganza is ONLY offered during the 4th of July holiday and at the end of summer!
Leadership Development
Leaders-In-Training
The Leaders in Training (LIT) program cultivates confident, responsible, and skilled leaders, empowering them to support and inspire younger campers.
The first week will consist of fun outdoor activities, leadership lessons and playing games with younger campers. LITs will spend their second week assisting a camp counselor in leading a week of day camp.
Junior Counselor
Junior Counselors are key volunteers that assist camp program staff in leading groups and providing fun and safe experiences. Junior Counselors will learn valuable leadership and job skills while being part of a positive and supportive team.
Previous experience in a LIT program or leadership experience working with children is preferred. Junior Counselors will need to attend the required JC orientation on Thursday, June 4th, 2026, and then volunteer for at least three weeks throughout the summer.
Ages 14+
If you have questions, you can reach out to us via Gathering.Pines@ymcamn.org or 651-309-4414.
Please check back for 2027 information and application.
Contact Us
Whether you have a question or are ready to plan, we have the answers and are prepared to assist.
Financial Assistance
The YMCA offers need-based financial assistance to help people access the programs that are important to them.
Special Accommodations
We are committed to improving access to our programs and spaces for all.