Meet Your Unit Director!

What's up, I'm Jesus! 

Many of you know me, and I can't wait to see many of your smiling faces again this summer!

If you are new to our camp, welcome! Our Senior campers can take ownership of their camp experience through choice in their daily activities, including arts programming, sports, outdoor adventure, instructional swim lessons, and recreational swimming. They will develop skills in archery, utilize all elements of the high and low ropes course and the zipline circuit, and enjoy canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding on the Ashland Reservoir.

See you soon!

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SENIOR UNIT

Entering grades 6-9

Traditional Camps - one-week sessions all weeks

  • Adventure: Entering Grades 6 & 7
  • Adventure Plus: Entering Grades 8 & 9
  • Leader-in-Training: Grades 7 & 8
  • Counselor-in-Training: Grades 9 & 10

 

Specialty Camps for Seniors - one-week sessions some weeks:

One-week sessions: Week 6

Campers will be guided through the Hollywood process to create, direct, film, act, and more. You won’t just make an incredible movie, you’ll have the skills to make your own movies with friends. Flix emailed within a month after program completion. We will partner with IncrediFlix to offer this program.

One-week sessions: Week 6

We provide LEGOS®, you provide your imagination. Work in groups to create a LEGO® set with LEGO® characters for a stop-motion movie you’ll storyboard, shoot, and add voice-overs. Flix emailed within a month after program completion. We will partner with IncrediFlix to offer this program.

One-week sessions: Week 3

We will partner with IncrediFlix so campers can create a Minecraft, Roblox, or mash-up MOVIE! Work in groups to create a stop-motion movie full of games or challenges for your character to overcome. Campers will create sets, make Minecraft blocks, film, add cool effects, and do voice-overs! Flix emailed within a month after program completion.

One-week sessions: Week 3

Campers will get to direct, act, and add special effects while working in groups to create a movie that will surprise their friends and family. Flix emailed within a month after program completion. We will partner with Incrediflix to offer this program.

One-week sessions: Weeks 4, 5, & 7

We’re partnering with Owl Eyes Wilderness Survival to teach campers basic wilderness survival skills. They’ll learn how to build a shelter, tie knots, build and start a fire with one match or flint and steel, purify water, as well as map and compass techniques, proper knot uses, and more.

One-week sessions: Weeks 5 & 7

Your camper will learn new skills and enjoy teamwork, creativity, as they practice STEM in the kitchen! We’ll use fresh produce from our onsite garden to prepare delicious recipes. Campers will learn kitchen safety and how to use equipment. Parents with campers who have allergies are strongly encouraged to reach out to Karley, Director of Nutrition Education, at: kdoray@metrowestymca.org before registration.

One-week sessions: Week 4

Magician Pat Farenga will teach campers close-up magic using sleight of hand, theatrical skills, and other techniques. Whether it’s a card trick, mind reading, or making something disappear, your camper will learn how to keep everyone entertained. At the end of the week, campers will showcase their magical skills for their fellow campers in a performance. All magic props will be supplied or constructed at each class.

One-week sessions: Week 5

Building on the skills learned in Beginners, this class explores more complex magic sleights and techniques,

some of which require memorization and simple math. It also includes how to perform tricks for large audiences, basic stagecraft, and working as a team/assistant to make the magic happen. All magic props will be supplied or constructed at each class. Videos of famous magic performances will be shown and discussed as models of techniques and showmanship.

One-week sessions: Week 5

This workshop will focus on hand-building and sculpture techniques. Students will learn various ways to build structurally sound vessels and small to medium-sized sculptures. Students will be able to paint their projects but will have to wait until they are glazed and fired in a kiln to pick up their projects. *Wheel throwing won’t be taught.

Campers who attend these camps will board a bus and go to the Hopkinton Center for the Arts during their specialty session.

One-week sessions: Week 8

This fun camp will feature scenes and songs from the most popular Disney Musicals. Students and the instructors will collaborate on creating a Disney Magical Revue to perform! YMCA Camp Staff will create a video of the weeks production for private sharing with the families registered.

Campers who attend these camps will board a bus and go to the Hopkinton Center for the Arts during their specialty session.

One-week sessions: Week 3

In the spirit of “America’s Got Talent”, students will explore, hone and select their talent (singing, playing an instrument, magic tricks, etc) to create a memorable talent show!

Campers who attend these camps will board a bus and go to the Hopkinton Center for the Arts during their specialty session.

One-week sessions: Weeks 1-8

Campers will learn the values of teamwork, fair play, respect, and hard work while being exposed to various sports. Our YMCA staff will instruct campers in soccer, basketball, pickleball, street hockey, gaga ball, badminton, disc golf, lacrosse, wiffle ball, and cricket! The focus is on fun, skills, drills, and playing time, where campers will be introduced to athletic training concepts in a fun way. They will also participate in traditional camp activities such as high and low ropes, archery, and swimming.

One-week sessions: Weeks 3-8

Must be age seven by camp start to participate.

After a morning of traditional camp activities, campers will board the bus to Willow Brook Farm in Holliston to experience riding and ranch life. On M/W/F, campers will learn to ride on one of Willow Brook’s 30 horses in small group riding lessons with a trained instructor. Additionally, they’ll learn to lead, care for, tack, bathe, groom, and ride bareback. On Tu/Thu, campers will learn to handle, feed, and care for goats, sheep, alpacas, donkeys, miniature horses, and more!

Willow Brook will supply a required ASTM riding helmet and riding boots for all campers. Campers must wear long pants/leggings for riding, socks, and closed-toed shoes/sneakers.

Entering grades: 6-9

One-week sessions: Weeks 5 & 7

This program features day-trip excursions to local hot spots, including College Rock for natural rock-face bouldering and top-roping and Broad Meadow Brook for wildlife exploration. This specialty camp features three to four days (weather-dependent) spent off-site, with a day or two on campus to utilize the ropes course and archery range.

Entering grades 7 & 8

Hopkinton Summer Day Camp

Can only register for ONE 2-week session

 

The Leaders in Training program welcomes youth entering 7th and 8th grades who are interested in developing leadership skills. The program emphasizes volunteerism and service learning, and has a staff-to-camper ratio of 1:10.

Leaders in Training (LITs) learn how to contribute to their camp community and gain skills to become active leaders. They participate in team-building activities and develop the talents necessary to work with their peers, community, and younger children.

Entering grades 9 & 10

Hopkinton Summer Day Camp

Mandatory training week 1 or 2

Commit to four additional weeks

Counselors in Training (CITs) is for teens who want to be a part of a working team and leadership community. CITs will be trained and supported to engage with younger campers, act as role models, and lead others. CITs must participate in a mandatory training week, either week 1 or week 2. Afterward, CITs will assist counselors in camp groups and lead activities throughout the day. As a workplace readiness program, it does not include traditional camp activities outside of daily swim time.