Registration for YMCA Summer Day Camp opens on January 13, 2025
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Girl on high ropes
YMCA OF GREATER TORONTO | CAMPS & OUTDOOR CENTRES

Toronto Island Y Day Camp

Every day is a new adventure at Y Day Camp

About Toronto Island Y Day Camp

Day Camp utilizes many areas of Toronto Islands green space and waterfront to deliver outdoor adventure programs. 

Junior campers (6-8 year olds) take the Wards Island Ferry and walk to the home base at Snake Island where they participate in a variety of outdoor activities on the large grassy fields with access to waterfront and biking paths. This is a fully outdoor location. Private washrooms and changing trailers will be provided for changing before swimming in the Y owned pool. 

Senior & Leadership campers (9-15 year olds) take the Centre Island Ferry and walk to the home base near St Andrew’s by the Lake Church where they participate in a variety of activities on the large grassy fields, with access to waterfront and biking paths. This is a fully outdoor location. Public washrooms and changeroom tents will be used before swimming at the Centre Island Beach. 

Please ensure you come dressed for the weather as our programs operate outside rain or shine! 

Campers meet their counsellors at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at the bottom of Bay Street before taking the ferry to the Island.
Camp operates Monday - Friday from 9am - 4pm.
Bussing is available from bus stops throughout the city for $100 round trip per week.

Locations

Our Toronto Island Day Camp has 2 different locations which are split up based off of age and interest. If you hover over the red pins on the map you can see where our Junior, Senior and Leadership camps are. Please note each of these locations operate as an individual camp.










































Use ctrl + scroll to zoom the map











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Map data ©2023 Google
Map data ©2023 Google

Preparing for camp at Toronto Island Y Day Camp

Whether your child is an experienced camper or it is their first camp experience, it is always helpful to know what they can expect at your camp location this summer!

Campers smiling and using binoculars

Review our Summer Day Camp Guide and FAQ for all your answers!

Campers smiling and using binoculars

Learn how value beads play an important role at Y Day Camp

Campers smiling and using binoculars

Although no two days are the same, see a sample schedule of a camp day

Campers smiling and using binoculars

Check out all camp programs available at this location

Bussing Info

Bussing is available for $100/week round trip.
For a detailed schedule including times and pick-up and drop-off locations, please review the bus schedule for Toronto Island.

Swimming Information
Junior Campers will swim 2 times a week in either the YMCA owned and operated pool or at Wards Beach.

Senior Campers will swim 2 times a week at Centre Island Beach. 

Please note all beach swims are dependent on safe water conditions deemed by City of Toronto lifeguards. If the water is not safe to swim in, campers will participate in water games and activities. 

In addition, all swimming blocks will be guarded by trained YMCA lifeguards. 
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Information

Drop off and pick up for junior, senior and leadership campers will be on the grassy knowles to the west of the ferry terminal. You will see staff in blue shirts ready to greet you.

Please look for the red, yellow, blue and green YMCA Flags. Line up at the flag based on your last name and a staff member will sign your camper in!

Red: A - F

Yellow: G - L

Blue: M - R

Green: S - Z

There is paid parking available walking distance away from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. Learn more here.

Friend Request Process

In order to be placed in the same group as a friend, campers must be in the same age group and registered in the same program. For us to efficiently track the requests, you will need to complete this form for each individual week you are making a request for.

Please ensure your request is sent at least 2 weeks before the start of the program. We do our best to accommodate all requests, however we can not guarantee. If requests are submitted with less than 2 weeks before the start of the program we can not accommodate the request. Please note, one family will submit the request for both campers. Please only submit the request for your camper and one friend.

Thank you!

Submit Friend Request

Walk Home Alone Process
Camper safety is important to the YMCA of Greater Toronto. Campers under age 10 must be signed out at the Y Day Camp location or bus stop, by an individual 16 years of age or older and listed as a main contact or authorized pick up during the registration process. This person will be required to show government issued ID.


Lost and Found

Although we try to keep campers' items in their backpacks, occasionally things are forgotten. Any items lost at camp are collected daily and kept in the camp office. If your camper loses an item, contact the Camp Director immediately and they will try to find it. All lost items will only be stored on-site for one week, after which they will be donated to a local charity. Unfortunately, the Y cannot take responsibility for lost items. Please check your camper's possessions daily to ensure they arrive home with them.

Contacting Us After Hours

Day Camp staff work between the hours of 8am - 6pm, Monday to Friday. Following Ontario Bill 27 and in keeping with our values, the YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of employees. A Right to Disconnect policy has been initiated effective of June 2, 2022. The policy is intended to support work/life balance and staff wellbeing by ensuring that employees have the right to disconnect from their work outside of their scheduled hours regardless of whether they are in a centre/office or working remotely.

If you have urgent concerns after hours, you can reach out to our Contact Centre until 8pm by phone, 1-877-303-2267 or email, register@ymcagta.org.

Overnight Program Information

Campers will take a chartered bus from the ferry terminal at 9:00 am to YMCA Cedar Glen Outdoor Centre on Thursday morning. While at Cedar Glen, campers will participate in leadership activities such as rock climbing, high and low ropes, swimming and a camp fire. Upon arrival campers will be provided with lunch, dinner in the dining hall and an evening snack.
Campers sleep in the Cedar Glen Grove Cabins which accommodate 8 per room, with a nearby washroom. On Friday, campers will be provided with a hot breakfast and lunch before departure. Campers will return to the ferry terminal for pick-up or bus departure at 4:00pm.

Meals included:
Thursday: Packed lunch, dinner and snacks
Friday: Hot breakfast, lunch and snacks

For more information on the overnight accommodations at Cedar Glen, please visit their website.

If your child has a dietary restriction please complete this form at least 1 week prior to your start of camp.

Download our packing list.


In our overnight programs at YMCA Day Camps, we will have girls, boys and all-gender cabins. We will allow children to pick the cabin that they feel most comfortable in.

The Y understands that the term "boy" includes cisgender and transgender boys, and "girl" includes cisgender and transgender girls. We understand that gender is a spectrum. The purpose of having all-gender cabins is to ensure all campers regardless of gender identity, including but not limited to Two-Spirit, gender-queer, transgender, cisgender, and non-binary youth, can be in a space that they feel comfortable as themselves in, and can connect with others. 

If there is anything you would like to communicate before the overnight, please reach out to the Camp Director.

Leadership Program
Counsellor in Training is a 3-week youth leadership program that focuses on developing the skills required to become a day camp Counsellor.

Youth complete the High Five Healthy Child Development and Standard First Aid & CPR C certifications, as well as learn the skill of resume writing and interview techniques in our employment readiness workshop by the end of the program. During the first week, youth will spend time enjoying camp activities, getting to know their group members, their trainer and learning about the expectations of the program.

Week 2 includes a week long overnight at YMCA Cedar Glen Outdoor Centre. Youth will take a chartered bus from the ferry terminal at 9:00am on Monday morning and depart Cedar Glen on Friday to return to the ferry terminal for pick-up or bus departure at 4:00pm.During the second week, participants will have the opportunity to try rock climbing, high rope and low rope courses as well as swim in Cedar Glen’s outdoor pool. Youth will spend this week focusing on how to deliver programs to camp age groups as well as how to create a program plan. Youth will be staying in the Grove Cabin accommodations which sleep 8. All meals are provided in the Cedar Glen dining hall.

Week 3, youth will be paired with a day camp counsellor to demonstrate what they have learned and assist with delivering camp programs to younger campers. At the end of this week, youth will be given a performance appraisal by their trainer and receive 25 volunteer hours. Please note bussing is available from bus stops throughout the city for $100 round trip per week upon request.

For more information on the overnight accommodation at Cedar Glen, please visit their website.

If your child has a dietary restriction please complete this form at least 1 week prior to your start of camp.

Download our packing list.


In our overnight programs at YMCA Day Camps, we will have girls, boys and all-gender cabins. We will allow youth to pick the cabin that they feel most comfortable in.

The Y understands that the term "boy" includes cisgender and transgender boys, and "girl" includes cisgender and transgender girls. We understand that gender is a spectrum. The purpose of having all-gender cabins is to ensure all campers regardless of gender identity, including but not limited to Two-Spirit, gender-queer, transgender, cisgender, and non-binary youth, can be in a space that they feel comfortable as themselves in, and can connect with others. 

If there is anything you would like to communicate before the overnight, please reach out to the Camp Director.

Inclement Weather
Camp programs continue to run, rain or shine! 

Please note Toronto Island Junior and Toronto Island Senior are fully outdoor locations. We have a number of outdoor tents for shelter and shade, however all programming takes place outdoors. 

Please take the time to review the daily weather forecast each morning and prepare your camper for the day (e.g., rain boots, rain jacket, warm sweater, etc.). Camp staff also review the daily weather report and make decisions to ensure our campers are safe. 

In the event of a thunderstorm, we will adapt programs to ensure campers are safe. Please note that water-based activities, including but not limited to boating, swimming and water play, will not occur during or immediately after a thunderstorm. 

In the event of an extreme heat alert, alterations to programs will be made to ensure campers are safe. Activities will be moved into shaded areas, and more water-based activities will be played.
As always, campers will be reminded to reapply sunscreen and drink water frequently throughout the day.