Kids love resident camps because they offer fun activities, friendships, and adventures while building self-esteem and learning new skills. YMCA camps emphasize participation, fair play, team spirit and leadership skills. Kids from all backgrounds and abilities participate in traditional sports, personal and team challenges and activities based on values such as caring, responsibility, respect, honesty and inclusiveness.

A leadership-in-training program for youth cultivates leadership, camping and program planning skills that will be helpful throughout their life.

The YMCA in Canada operates 24 resident summer camps which serve more than 15,000 campers each summer.