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Wapsie Day Camp
YMCA Camp Wapsie Day Camp programs are for ages 1st-8th grade. We offer nine – one-week sessions, each with a different theme. Day camp provides a positive social experience for similar age groups. Campers return home in the evening for all-important family time and evening activities. Lunch is provided every day, and they do visit the camp store.
Wednesday, Day Camp takes a trip to Pinicon Ridge park in Central City, where they will do age-appropriate activities and visit the elk pen, playground & park trails.
Thursday, Day Camp participants have the opportunity to stay the night to experience an evening at camp, which is included in the price. This is an excellent time for participants to experience that overnight at Camp Wapsie. They will eat dinner with other campers and enjoy an all-Camp Program to end the Theme Day. This is also an excellent chance for those who want to try overnight camp.
Our Camp experience is rich in tradition and often referred to as the Camp Wapsie “Magic .” We instill the core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility into all that we do. Campers gain independence, self-confidence, lifelong friendships, positive memories, and a second home they can come back to.
Please see our 2025 Family Handbook for information on programming, preparation tools, and other policies before registering.
Day Trekkers
Day Trekkers (entering 5th-8th Grade)
Day Trekkers is a day camp program at Camp Wapsie where our counselors work with Trekkers to create more of their schedule, to accommodate their group’s interests which can include climbing the tower, canoeing, specialized activities, or choosing to join all camp games.
Wednesday – After the Troopers are dropped off at Pinicon Ridge, the Trekkers will launch into an action-packed adventure at Camp Wapsie! They’ll dive into a full day of thrilling activities designed for their age group and interests. This day will allow for some collaboration with the counselors and campers to come up with a day where the campers get to explore what Wapsie has to offer.
Thursday – includes an overnight stay at Wapsie. Participants have the chance to sleep under the “Wapsie Stars.” They will have different options for sleeping arrangements (weather permitting), from tents in the Athletic field, open-air cabins in our tree nursery, or sleeping under the stars at Wapsie Star Gazer.
The overnight stay is optional for participants. If you do not wish for your child to stay the night, you will need to pick your child up by either 4 pm or 6pm Thursday at Camp Wapsie and return them to Camp Friday morning between 8-9 am.
*Busing is not available on Thursday evening and Friday morning. Standard drop-off times will resume Friday afternoon.
Camper Arrival and Departure/ Busing Options
A bus is available for campers to be picked up and dropped off at the Helen G. Nassif YMCA (downtown), Marion YMCA, or you can drop off at YMCA Camp Wapsie.
Site Morning Bus Pick Up Afternoon Bus Drop Off
HGN YMCA 7:30 am 5:00 pm
Marion YMCA 8:00 am 4:30 pm
Camp Wapsie 8:45 am 4:00 pm
2025 COST and PRE-REGISTRATION
At Wapsie and the Y, we understand families have differing abilities to pay. To better accommodate many income levels, Camp Wapsie has tiered pricing levels. Choose the Tier you can best afford.
Tier A: $397.00 – Reflects most accurately the true price of camp
Tier B: $372.00 – Partially subsidized
Tier C: $347.00 – More subsidized
PAYMENT
At the time of registration, you will be required to pay a $100.00 non-refundable deposit per session.
Final payment for each session is due 30 days prior to the session start. Fees are set up on automatic withdrawal. If you have any questions about this, please contact the office.
CANCELLATIONS AND CHANGES
Cancellations: Cancellations and changes must be made in writing or by email to [email protected]. Cancellations anytime forfeit the $100 deposit. Cancellations less than 10 days prior to the session start date forfeit half the camp fees. No Shows will be charged the full fee. There is no refund for behavior-related problems. Campers who leave or cancel on the advice of medical personnel will receive a prorated refund. A physician’s note is required.
Changes: To request a program or week change, you must email camp at [email protected]. Please include the child’s name, birthdate, what week they are changing from, and what week you are requesting to change to. If there is availability for camp to accommodate your request, we will move the participant and send a confirmation email to you. There is a $25 processing fee.
For questions, call 319-435-2577 or email [email protected].
Registration Information
Available Sessions
| Date(s) | Minimum Deposit | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
06/15/26 - 06/19/26
Week 1 Alien Invasion
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 06/09/2026 |
|
|
06/22/26 - 06/26/26
Week 2 Gold Rush Show Down
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 06/16/2026 |
|
|
06/29/26 - 07/03/26
Week 3 Stars, Stripes and Super Powers
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 06/23/2026 |
|
|
07/06/26 - 07/10/26
Week 4 Wapsie Mystery Mayhem
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 06/30/2026 |
|
|
07/13/26 - 07/17/26
Week 5 Mighty Giants and Tiny Legends
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 07/07/2026 |
|
|
07/20/26 - 07/24/26
Week 6 Tournament of Colors
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 07/14/2026 |
|
|
07/27/26 - 07/31/26
Week 7 Battle of the Bands
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 07/21/2026 |
|
|
08/03/26 - 08/07/26
Week 8 Wapsie Survival Challenge
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 07/28/2026 |
|
|
08/10/26 - 08/14/26
Week 9 Big Ten
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 08/04/2026 |
Day Troopers
Day Troopers (entering 1st-4th Grade)
Day Troopers is a day camp program at Camp Wapsie where our staff works closely with the Troopers to help ensure they meet new friends and enjoy their camp experience. This program is structured and has age-appropriate activities alongside the counselors. Campers participate in many of the traditional overnight camp activities: canoeing, archery, swimming and more.
Wednesday – Troopers will be dropped off at Pinicon Ridge Park in Central City. They will enjoy activities the park has to offer such as the Observation Tower, visiting the Alexander Wildlife Area, playground, hiking on some of the nature trails, and enjoying a picnic lunch at the park.
Thursday brings a special treat with an overnight adventure at Camp Wapsie! Participants will get the unforgettable chance to sleep under the magical “Wapsie Stars.” Troopers will camp out somewhere on the main camp such as the tennis courts or in tents, with boys on one side and girls on the other, and their counselors right in the middle to help campers throughout the night if needed. If the weather doesn’t allow for a campout, then Troopers will sleep in the Indoor Chapel or the main lodge.
The overnight stay is optional for participants. If you do not wish for your child to stay the night, you will need to pick your child up by either 4 pm or 6pm Thursday at Camp Wapsie and return them to Camp Friday morning between 8-9 am.
*Busing is not available on Thursday evening and Friday morning. Standard drop-off times will resume Friday afternoon.
Camper Arrival and Departure/ Busing Options
A bus is available for campers to be picked up and dropped off at the Helen G. Nassif YMCA (downtown), Marion YMCA, or you can drop off at YMCA Camp Wapsie.
Site Morning Bus Pick Up Afternoon Bus Drop Off
HGN YMCA 7:30 am 5:00 pm
Marion YMCA 8:00 am 4:30 pm
Camp Wapsie 8:45 am 4:00 pm
2025 COST and 2026 PRE-REGISTRATION
At Wapsie and the Y, we understand families have differing abilities to pay. To better accommodate many income levels, Camp Wapsie has tiered pricing levels. Choose the Tier you can best afford.
Tier A: $397.00 – Reflects most accurately the true price of camp
Tier B: $372.00 – Partially subsidized
Tier C: $347.00 – More subsidized
PAYMENT
At the time of registration, you will be required to pay a $100.00 non-refundable deposit per session.
Final payment for each session is due 30 days prior to the session start. Fees are set up on automatic withdrawal. If you have any questions about this, please contact the office.
CANCELLATIONS AND CHANGES
Cancellations: Cancellations and changes must be made in writing or by email to [email protected]. Cancellations anytime forfeit the $100 deposit. Cancellations less than 10 days prior to the session start date forfeit half the camp fees. No Shows will be charged the full fee. There is no refund for behavior-related problems. Campers who leave or cancel on the advice of medical personnel will receive a prorated refund. A physician’s note is required.
Changes: To request a program or week change, you must email camp at [email protected]. Please include the child’s name, birthdate, what week they are changing from, and what week you are requesting to change to. If there is availability for camp to accommodate your request, we will move the participant and send a confirmation email to you. There is a $25 processing fee.
For questions, call 319-435-2577 or email [email protected].
Registration Information
Available Sessions
| Date(s) | Minimum Deposit | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
06/15/26 - 06/19/26
Week 1 Alien Invasion
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 06/09/2026 |
|
|
06/22/26 - 06/26/26
Week 2 Gold Rush Show Down
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 06/16/2026 |
|
|
06/29/26 - 07/03/26
Week 3 Stars, Stripes and Super Powers
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 06/23/2026 |
|
|
07/06/26 - 07/10/26
Week 4 Wapsie Mystery Mayhem
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 06/30/2026 |
|
|
07/13/26 - 07/17/26
Week 5 Mighty Giants and Tiny Legends
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 07/07/2026 |
|
|
07/20/26 - 07/24/26
Week 6 Tournament of Colors
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 07/14/2026 |
|
|
07/27/26 - 07/31/26
Week 7 Battle of the Bands
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 07/21/2026 |
|
|
08/03/26 - 08/07/26
Week 8 Wapsie Survival Challenge
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 07/28/2026 |
|
|
08/10/26 - 08/14/26
Week 9 Big Ten
|
$ 100.00 |
Register Closes 08/04/2026 |