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FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT®
FOR HEALTHY LIVING
FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
YMCA OF THE CEDAR RAPIDS METRO AREA

Camp Wapsie

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YMCA Camp Wapsie

Founded in 1918, YMCA Camp Wapsie is the Camp of the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City areas. Wapsie’s coed summer camp programs serve boys and girls ages 6-18 in our summer resident and day camp program. We serve campers of all ages through our year-round retreats and group programming, youth and family programs.

Camp Wapsie is the place to help young people build the character values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.  With our deep tradition in camping, we strive to instill these underlying principles into each camper during their time at camp. Here at YMCA Camp Wapsie, we are: For Youth Development, For Healthy Living, and For Social Development.

YMCA Camp Wapsie is an Accredited camp of the ACA, (American Camp Association). ACA camps participate in a voluntary and rigorous review of 300 unique national standards, designed to ensure a well-supervised, positive environment with controlled boundaries and organized programs. So kids can safely grow and thrive. Learn more by visiting the ACA website.

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Annual Support
Become a Fundraiser
Annual Support

Each year, the YMCA raises money for its Annual Support Campaign.  This campaign is dedicated to providing scholarships of all kinds to members and program participants.  You can designate your online contribution to go directly towards providing scholarships for Camp Wapsie campers.

Donate
Become a Fundraiser

You can now create your own fundraising team page and recruit people for your team!  Share your team’s fundraising page online using social media, email and more!  Join an existing team, or create your own to raise money for camper scholarships.

Fundraise
COVID-19 Camp Update

Hello Wapsie community,

While we are all dealing with the recent and evolving changes from the coronavirus pandemic, I want you to know that we are working and planning to run summer camp and camp programs as soon as we are able and given the clear to do so. We understand the importance of keeping people healthy and reducing the spread of the virus. To help minimize the spread of the Coronavirus, to take care of our staff and participants in this challenging time, YMCA Camp Wapsie and the Cedar Rapids YMCA have temporarily closed to the public as mandated by the state government. Our full time staff continue to work to keep up with facility needs and planning for reopening once this has passed. We are updating plans and evaluating aspects of our summer program to determine additional steps we will take to promote increased safety and risk of spreading this or other illness. Right now, we plan to open for programming mid-May and will keep people posted with updates as warranted. We want to be able to provide the quality camp programs our families need and plan to do so once we can based on recommendations from public health authorities.

In the meantime, we encourage you to keep following the CDC guidelines for your health and well-being. We also encourage you to stay active and socially connected. The Y is for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. While we cannot physically get together, we can stay connected through online platforms and phone calls. The Y is currently offering work out classes online for members through our this website and Facebook. As a family, you can embrace the opportunity to take a walk and enjoy the outdoors. We are also partnering with other camps to share a number of fun, active, and learning activities though our Facebook page. We encourage you to check these out and share with others.

Several people have reached out to ask if there is anything we need here at camp. Right now, we mostly need your patience as we all work through this together. Once group size restriction is lifted, there will be a number of volunteer opportunities for people interested in helping prepare camp. Stay tuned for more details!

Until we can get back together at camp, we wish you well and to stay healthy!

Sincerely in Camping,

Paul Denowski

Executive Director

YMCA Camp Wapsie

Camp Wapsie
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Summer Camps Info

319.435.2577
camp@crmetroymca.org

Upcoming Camp Calendar

Date Event
Feb. 1st, 2020 Summer Camp Registration Open to the Public
Apr. 26th, 2020 Volunteer Day
May 15th – 17th, 2020 Mother – Daughter Weekend
May 23rd – 25th, 2020 Memorial Day Family Camp
June 7th, 2020 Summer Camp Begins
Sept. 5th – 7th, 2020 Labor Day Family Camp
Oct. 24th – 25th, 2020 Halloween Camp
Dec. 28th – 30th, 2020 Winter Camp

Camp grows stronger with people who care!

Volunteer Opportunities:

  • Share a talent like marketing, plumbing, carpentry, organizing, statistics, etc.
  • Share your time, help with leaf raking, painting, landscaping, and more.
  • Help raise funds for scholarships and special projects.
  • Serve on our Advisory Committee or a project committee.
  • Serve as a Candy Sale host or Camp Nurse.
  • Help out with special events (Open house, Easter Egg Hunt, etc.)

Alumni

Collecting history, connecting with Alumni

Part of Wapsie’s rich history was lost in an office fire at camp in the 1980’s.  We are reaching out to our community to see who might have contacts for camp alumni.  We are also looking for pictures or artifacts that we can copy or include on our history display.  If you have items or names to share please reach out to camp at camp@crmetroymca.org or call 319.435.2577.

Camp Is For All
Wapsie Inclusion Statement

Camp Wapsie is an inclusive community. We work to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, cultural background, faith, gender identity, income, origin, race, or sexual orientation has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential with dignity. Our diverse camper community reflects our larger community’s demographics. Campers and staff can look forward to interacting and living within this diverse and supportive environment.

Location

Situated on 172 acres of scenic woodlands and wetlands with an oxbow lake off the Wapsipinicon River in northern Linn County, Iowa, YMCA Camp Wapsie is owned and operated by the YMCA of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Area. The warm and relaxed atmosphere of Camp Wapsie with its natural beauty provides an ideal setting to experience the outdoors and enhance the self-esteem of all people.

2174 Wapsie Y Rd – Coggon, IA  52218
319.435.2577
camp@crmetroymca.org

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Vision

Utilize the natural camp environment to provide fun, safe, unique camping and retreat experiences that promote the YMCA core values of: Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.

Goals

  • Enhance participants’ self-esteem.
  • Provide positive influences and role models.
  • Provide trained leadership, a variety of educational and recreational activities, and specialized programs to give participants the tools for success.
  • Expose participants to the natural world.
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