Scholarships
Our goal is to help all families who qualify for assistance
We believe everyone should experience outdoor adventure. To make it more accessible, we consider your annual income and the number of people in your household to find a scholarship that meets your needs.
Applying is easy and confidential.
Check if you may qualify before submitting your application.
The initial application considers your annual income and the number of adults and dependents in your household. Scholarships are awarded for aligning with your circumstances. This initial application applies to all YMCA programming, including Camps. You will receive an email notification from the YMCA Customer Service Center indicating your initial scholarship amount.
Step 1: Create an Account
Create a Y account for you/your family. Add all family members interested in Y programs.
If you have a Y account, go to Step 2.
Step 2: Gather Your Information
Gather your income documents to upload with your scholarship application. Your 1040 form for the previous year is best if you file taxes. We cannot process your application without proper income documentation.
Please let us know if your family receives assistance through the county or another agency.
Step 3: Apply
Applications are processed in the order received. We’ll review your information, and within ten (10) business days, you should receive an email from us with a decision. We will let you know if we need additional information.
We recognize that Teen Wilderness trips and Family Camps stretch the financial resources of many families. The Menogyn, Widji, du Nord, and Northern Lights administrative teams and community boards raise funds annually to ensure these powerful experiences are accessible to all interested campers. We encourage enthusiastic campers to register and apply for a scholarship.
The majority of families who submit a secondary application receive some assistance.
Campers and Families who opt to withdraw because their scholarship award does not meet their financial needs can receive a complete refund of any tuition paid, including their deposit.
Step 2A: Reply to Email
If the initial scholarship award does not meet your family's needs, we encourage you to initiate the second part of our Scholarship process by replying to the award notification email requesting an exception.
Please indicate Camp Menogyn, Camp Widjiwagan, Camp du Nord, or Camp Northern Lights as your program of interest in this reply.
Step 2B: Follow-up Response
You will receive a follow-up email requesting a narrative explaining your need for additional assistance. You will be asked to answer the following questions:
- Are there any additional circumstances we should be aware of and consider? Please include unusual expenses or debts that affect your monthly budget and any financial changes that may have happened over the last two years.
- Please have your camper share why they want to attend camp this summer, if applicable.
Each location will review these requests anonymously and consider additional scholarship awards.
Please Note: This review can take up to 14 business days. You will be notified of the outcome via email.
Volunteer Credit
WIDJIWAGAN ONLY
As an additional option to reduce some of the cost of Camp, Camp Widjiwagan recognizes volunteer work with trip credit. This volunteer opportunity is limited to advanced campers (Explorer, Advanced Explorer, Voyageur, and Mountaineer trips) and financial aid applicants on a first-come-first-serve basis.
For each 8-hour chunk of volunteer hours an eligible camper submits, they will receive the equivalent of 'one day of camp' of the total cost of their session. The maximum amount a camper can earn is the cost of three days for a total of 24 hours of volunteering. Eight service hours is equivalent to one day, and not more than three days will be accepted. We do not accept partial days.
All kids should experience camp
Thanks to the generous support of donors during our Annual Campaign, we are able to offer scholarships to participants who need a little extra help.
Here to Help
Have a question or need assistance?
Our customer service team is always happy to help.