Classic Day Camp

Day Camp
Fun and friendships - Creating Courage - Day Camp focuses on character building by instilling principles - honesty, caring, respect and responsibility!

• 10 fun-filled week-long sessions
• Fun and affordable alternative to indoor day care
• Character building
• Archery, climbing, art, swimming, Gaga, nature and so much more!
• Safety - our #1 concern

 Day Trekkers (1st - 4th grade) will participate in a sampling of camp activities that are structured to meet each camper's ability level.

Day Adventurers (5th - 8th grade) will choose many of their day's activities. Campers will finish the week by celebrating our theme day Fridays. Every session is a unique experience! 

Bring:  water bottle, lunch,bathing suit, towel, rain poncho, closed toe shoes (place name on anything you'd like back).

Ages:  6-13 Grades: 1st-8th
Fee: $196 (Session 1,2,10), $158 (Session 3-July 4th week)  $202 (Session 4-9)

Classic Day Camp - for the convenience of our parents, you may utilize our before & after camp care options offered at the Kalamazoo and Portage YMCA sites and the Battle Creek YMCA. Bussing is available from the Maple Street and Portage Centre Street YMCA's, the Battle Creek Family Y Center, and Riverside Elementary School in Battle Creek or you may bring your camper directly to the Sherman Lake YMCA.

Budding Artist Camp

Calling all creative campers, this is the camp for you!   Many different artistic mediums will be explored, both historically and of course hands on. Each day will be a new opportunity to expand your artistic horizon where ever that may be. All skill levels are welcomed and encouraged to join in this great week of building more then just art projects...building friendships that will last your child's entire life. At least half of each day will be spent focusing on art; the other half will be spent doing their favorite classic camp activities. Campers do not need any extra supplies, however the first day they can talk with their counselor about bringing in art projects or sketch books they've been working on at home, for extra help or discussion.

Bring: Lunch, day pack, water bottle, towel, swimsuit, and dress for the weather.

Age: 9-13; Fee: $280

Grades: 4th-8th

Climbers Camp

Designed to give our Day Campers a challenging experience before moving on to Resident Camp Thrills & Chills camp. Campers will work on climbing, team building, experiential games, and leadership skills on the climbing wall, tower, low ropes, and many more exciting activities. An over-night tent camp-out is planned for Tuesday night. We will provide campers with dinner on Tuesday, breakfast and lunch on Wednesday at camp. Campers should bring a sleeping bag, pillow and extra towel for their overnight experience. This camp is a great next step for veteran Sherman Lake day campers or new campers with a love of heights!! Our experienced instructors ensure an exciting, safe and memorable experience for every participant.

Bring: Lunch, day pack, water bottle, towel, swimsuit, and dress for the weather. Sleeping bag and pillow for Tuesday overnight camp out.  (Additional overnight packing list sent home on Monday).

Ages: 10-13 Grades: 5th-8th
Fee: $295

Dance Camp

Dance camp is a week of fun and learning! While at camp, kids will have the opportunity to enjoy everything classic day campers do, but they will also get to spend half of their day dancing. They will learn ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and even have the opportunity to make up their own dance, using their own choreography! The week comes to an exciting conclusion on Thursday for Family night, when campers get to perform two works, their choreographed piece and also the piece created for them by their dance camp instructor, in a camp-wide performance. It's camp, it's exercise, it's dancing, and most of all, it's fun!

Bring: Clothes to move around in and jazz shoes. Lunch, day pack, water bottle, towel, swimsuit, and dress for the weather.

Age: 6-13;  Fee: $270 Dance: 1st-8th

Omega Gamer's

Combining the best of our Gamers camps, this camp focuses on strategy games, role-playing and relationship building.   Campers will spend part of each day engaged in some of the best camp activities that Sherman Lake has to offer.  This is the camp for any camper who loves to play board games and use their imagination.  Parents can join in on the fun, Thursday Night for Family Night.     

Ages: 10-13 Fee: $285 Grades: 5th-8th

Gilmore Piano Camp

DATE:  July 12-16

The Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and Sherman Lake YMCA invites young piano students to boost their musical skills in a natural environment. Campers will enjoy the adventure of exploring keyboard music with Gilmore instructors and artists. The Gilmore provides semi-private instruction to students on acoustic pianos and group instruction in the Gilmore electronic keyboard lab. Students have opportunities to hear professional artists, solo and ensemble playing and create original music. Daily exposure to elements of drama, art, nature, movement and outdoor activities allow students to experience a unique connection between music and their surroundings. Campers will host their own performance for parents and friends. All students will need to audition for placement in classes and lesson. Students will be encouraged to practice daily at camp and at home. Enrollment is limited to 40 campers. Call 269-342-1166, or visit http://www.thegilmore.com/ for more information.

Bring: Current music projects. Lunch, day pack, water bottle, towel, swimsuit, and dress for the weather

Ages: 8-11 years of age Fee: $365 Grades:3rd-8th

For further information please see: www.thegilmore.org

Ensemble Theatre

Explore improvisational theatre while meeting new people in Ensemble Theatre Camp!  Campers will focus on "ensemble theatre technique" and "Story theatre form" during the week, and share their work in an "informance" for families at 5pm Thursday, Family night.  Campers will learn how to create pictures with their bodies, shared narration, improvisation, and simple theatrical design.  Classical literature will be the point of departure for this ensemble theatrical journey led by Robin Nott, theatre teacher of Gull Lake High School.  Come create imaginary worlds at Ensemble Theatre Camp!

Bring:  See list of things to bring in the parent packet AND Engery and Imagination!

Age: 11-13  Fee:  $275  Grades: 6th-8th

Horse Camp

Thanks to an expansion of our Mawby Equestrian Center we are now able to offer day campers a horse experience at Sherman Lake. This camp is best for the first time rider who would like to learn as much as possible about horses. Campers will be evaluated on their riding ability at the first session. Campers will work directly with their horse for one hour per day learning specific riding skills and grooming techniques. The rest of the session will be spent learning about horses, playing games, and horsemanship. The other half of the day will be spent participating in a variety of camp activities such as archery, climbing, swimming, arts and crafts, games, and more. Space is limited to the number of horses available. This camp will fill quickly, so sign up today!

Bring: Participants must bring long pants or jeans and hard soled, sturdy shoes (boots are preferred). Campers may not ride without the appropriate footwear.  Participants may also bring their own helmet (optional) if it is ASTM or SEI approved. An extra change of shorts for those hot, summer days, lunch, day pack, water bottle, towel, swimsuit, and dress for the weather.

Age: 6-13; Fee: $390 ($328 - session 3, no camp July 4th)  Grades: 1st-8th

Introduction to Sports

Introduction to Sports- Campers spend over half of each day learning and practicing a variety of sports and outdoor games.  Introduction to Sports is an instructional level camp introducing your camper to the wide world of sports.  The focus will be enjoyment of the new sport and staying physically active outside, with both drills and game play.  Session 5 is for our younger campers ages 6 to 9 and Session 6 is for our older campers ages 10 to 13.  Each week will include basketball, flag football, soccer, frisbee, and much, much more. 

Fee: $275 Ages: 6-13 Grades: 1st-8th

KinderCamp

A half day program designed to introduce the joy of Sherman Lake Y Camp to our younger friends. Climb, swim, art projects, meet new friends, and great age appropriate games. Follow the signs to the Barn where we meet from 9-11:30am.  A counselor ratio of 1:6 kids ensures each child will receive the attention needed to make their time at Sherman Lake the best possible. Campers must be driven to Sherman Lake YMCA and picked up after Kindercamp. Sorry, there is no bus transportation from Kalamazoo or Battle Creek for this special camp.

Bring: Water bottle, backpack, towel, swimsuit, and dress for the weather.

Age: 4 & 5 yr olds;  Fee: $98

Splash Camp

Do you love the water? Then this is the camp for you. Come sail, playak, canoe, and swim in beautiful Sherman Lake. You will spend at least half of each day involved in water activities, creating your own action packed day. The other half of the day will be spent doing awesome camp activities such as archery, arts & crafts, climbing, games, and most importantly, making new friends. Campers must be able to swim 60 feet without touching the bottom and to tread water for 5 minutes. Campers will have the opportunity for a "taste" of the resident camp experience. An over-night tent camp-out is planned for Tuesday night. We will provide campers with dinner on Tuesday, breakfast and lunch on Wednesday at camp. Campers should bring a sleeping bag, pillow and extra towel for their overnight experience.

Bring: Lunch, day pack, water bottle, towel, swimsuit and dress for the weather. Bring a sleeping bag and pillow for the Wednesday overnight camp-out.

Age: 10-13;  Fee: $295  Grades:5th-8th

Weird Science Camp

If you have a natural curiosity about mixing concoctions, come spend time creating experiments in the laboratory that is camp! Campers will experience science in this most unique and beautiful environment. This hands-on science camp is for the mad scientist camper in all of us! No wild hair, nor white coat necessary, but it would be pretty cool. A portion of each day will be spent doing great classic camp activities. There is no extra equipment needed.

Bring: Lunch, day pack, water bottle, towel, swimsuit, and dress for the weather.

Age: 9-13; Fee: $280  Grades: 4th-8th

Zoo Camp

Now is your chance to experience the great outdoors and learn more about the animals that share this planet with us. Campers will spend three days here at Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center where they will explore our Nature Center, make animal crafts, and participate in activities of camp. On Tuesday and Thursday campers will go to the Binder Park Zoo for live animal presentations by Zoo employees, a ride around the zoo on the Z.O. & O. Railroad, an opportunity to help feed the animals and see the Wild Africa exhibit. At the end of the week the Zoo Mobile will come out to camp for an amazing show of creepy, crawly critters. This is the perfect partnership for our campers who want to experience the thrill of YMCA camping and the fun and learning of Binder Park Zoo. Walk, ride, crawl, slither, or hop to join us for this camp.

Bring: Lunch, day pack, water bottle, towel, swimsuit and dress for the weather. Spending money for the gift shop (optional).

Age: 9-13;  Fee: $280 Grades: 4th-8th