DAY CAMP INFORMATION
SUMMER CAMP START & END TIMES
Day Camp runs Monday through Friday, beginning at 9:00 am and ending at 4:30 pm.
TRANSPORTATION
Day Campers may be dropped off directly at Sherman Lake YMCA Camp or ride on a bus from from one of our transportation sites at a cost of $40 per session.
Below are our 2026 transportation sites - we do not expect any changes at this time, but our partners have not confirmed yet!
Check In: An authorized adult must sign in their camper(s) daily. After check-in, campers will immediately get on the bus until it’s time to depart. We recommend packing a non-electronic book or activity for your child for the bus.
Check Out: An authorized adult from your campers account must sign campers out daily, along with a photo ID.
| Location | Check In Time | Bus Departs | Bus Arrives | Check Out Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Kalamazoo YMCA - Portage 2900 W. Centre Ave. Portage, MI 49024 |
7:40am-7:55am | 8:00am | 5:00pm | 5:00pm-5:15pm | SLY staff will be at the side door of the building. When entering the parking lot, use the lot to the far left (East) and walk to the door on the lower level. |
| Kalamazoo Free Methodist Church 931 W. Maple Street Kalamazoo, MI 49008 |
7:40am-7:55am | 8:00am | 5:00pm | 5:00pm-5:15pm | SLY camp staff will be in the parking lot behind the church. Turn onto Hudson Ave to access the lot. For emergency restroom needs and weather, we will utilize the YMCA across the street. |
| Westlake Elementary 1184 S. 24th Street Bttle Creek, MI 49015 |
7:40am-7:55am | 8:00am | 5:00pm | 5:00pm-5:15pm | SLY camp staff will be available at the front of the building. For emergency restroom needs and weather, we will utilize the school. |
| Battle Creek Family YMCA - Multi Sports Complex *Quick Stop* 86 Cherry Street Battle Creek, MI 49017 |
8:10am-8:15am | 8:15am | 4:45pm | 4:45pm-4:50pm | The Westlake bus will briefly stop at the Battle Creek Y's Multi Sports Complex parking lot to pickup and drop off campers. Families are asked to be prompt as no SLY staff stay at this location. |
| Sherman Lake YMCA 6225 North 39th St. Augusta, MI 49012 |
8:30am-9:00am | N/A | N/A | 4:30pm-4:50pm | When you arrive on camp, you will be directed to the Day Camp Drop Off circle driveway (second circle). |
LATE PICK UP FEES
Please arrange your schedule so that you can pick up your child at the designated time. Failure to pick up your camper on time may result in an additional fee.
LUNCH OPTIONS
Sack lunches are available for day campers for $30 per week and may be chosen as an option during the registration process. Bagged lunches (see the example menu in that link!) will be delivered in the morning to campers and will include a sandwich, drink, fruit, and dessert. Meals must be ordered for the full week. No refunds or cancellations can be given for missed meals.
Special dietary needs and allergies can not be accommodated.
2027 WEEKLY THEMES
Themes are lightly integrated within the week with some activities and dress up days. Campers do not have to participate fully in the theme to enjoy the week!
Session 1 - Superheroes - Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Sherman Lake YMCA Camp! Join the team as we fly into our first week of summer fun!
Session 2 - Fantasy - Get ready for a quest of epic proportions! Prepare for encounters with dragons, goblins, fairies, gnomes, and other fantastical creatures.
Session 3 - Time Warp - Travel through time and experience summer camp across the ages! At Sherman Lake, you can see futuristic robots and prehistoric beasts all in the same week!
Session 4 - Game On! - Celebrate all kinds of games this week! Sports, video games, board games, and more! There’s no better place than summer camp to go out and play!
Session 5 - Wild Wild Space - The American Frontier meets The Final Frontier! Grab your lasso and cowboy hat, and prepare to blast off on an out-of-this-world summer camp adventure that combines Wild West and Outer Space theming. Zeep Zorp! (Yeehaw!)
Session 6 - Big Blue World - This week is focused on the oceans! Ocean animals and ocean myths, even specific characters related to the ocean.
Session 7 - Mysteries & The Unknown - This is a week for avid mystery solvers! Secret agents, disguises, and a whodunnit mystery will all be discovered this week!
Session 8 - Animal Planet - The world is home to so many more creatures than just us! Let’s learn and share about our favorite animals and explore the camp from their view.
Session 9 - Color Games - This Sherman Lake tradition explores the simple theme of colors! Groups will be assigned colors to wear throughout the week, culminating in a white-out on Friday, so the colors pop when we hold our special color extravaganza activity featuring loads and loads of colorful powder!
Session 10 - Carnival - We’re sending off the summer with the long-standing tradition of the week 10 Carnival! We will have carnival attractions and snacks at our Friday game to end the summer with a party!
Session 11 - Best of Summer - The theme for the final week of summer will be…. A surprise! Our counselor team will vote on their favorites throughout the season, and we will combine all of the top votes to send off camp by celebrating the best of the summer! Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday will all likely feature completely unrelated costume themes, as well as the all-camp game on Friday, being a repeat of our staff’s favorite from earlier in the season. Prepare for a fun conglomerate of themes and ideas for this special week.
SAFETY
Safety is our #1 priority. Camp staff are carefully screened during a character-based hiring process and are selected for their skills and concern for the well-being of children. Professional program staff work directly with counselors to provide guidance and support. Staff are certified in first aid and CPR and have been screened through the highest standards of child safety practices, including background checks. The Sherman Lake YMCA is accredited by the American Camp Association and Praesidium.
ACA accreditation provides public evidence of a camp’s commitment to the well-being of campers and staff. Praesidium Accreditation® publicly demonstrates to consumers that Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center has achieved the highest industry standards in abuse prevention. Our Executive Director of Camping and Member Services Director are certified as Praesidium Guardians to ensure all abuse prevention strategies are implemented within our organization.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
It is our belief that no child shall be turned away due to an inability to pay. Each year, we raise funds to help parents send their kids to camp. If the camp fees are just not possible for you right now, we urge you to apply for a camp scholarship. Please feel free to call our camp office at 269.731.3030 or click here for more information.