YMCA Camps In the town I grew up in, YMCA camps are really very popular. You see, parents around town did not have a lot of money to send their kids out of town to expensive wilderness summer camps, but at the same time they wanted to give their children an opportunity to get fit and enjoy the summer the way all kids like to – by running around, swimming, playing sports, and generally goofing off. YMCA summer camp gave us the opportunity to do just that. The first year I ever went to YMCA camp, I was entering fifth grade and dreading the experience. I did not want to have to be away from home every day. I really liked to read, and wanted to spend my summer curled up with a book. Nevertheless, my parents wanted me to get in shape, so they sent me away to the day camp. YMCA camps had not been much of a tradition in my family. My older sister had really liked going to girl scout camp herself, and my big brother had been a boy scout. The reason I went to YMCA camp was because it was close and convenient, and did not require me to sleep away. I would spend the day there and then my parents would pick me up. Although I would have preferred a more academic camp at that age, I ended up liking YMCA camps pretty well. I took to the water like a duck, and was immediately made a part of the swim team. A lot of the other kids had more experience than I did, but it did not take me all that long to catch up with them, and even surpass their level of skill. By the end of the summer, I was one of the best swimmers in the whole place. After that, I went to YMCA camps almost every single year. I really liked to swim, and thy let me spend my time there in the pool. In addition, I got to do some arts and crafts. I even got to read for an hour here and there, which has always been by far my favorite activity. The camp kept me out of my mom's hair, and gave me a chance to exercise – something that I really would not have done if had not been in that camp. Now that I am raising my own kids, I think I might send them back to the same camp I used to go to. Summary YMCA camps are just as popular as they used to be. Most people remember spending time over the summer and after school at these great locations enjoying sports and friends. Swimming is a lot of fun and most YMCA camps have classes to teach or just free style swimming for those who know how. Related Articles Summer Day Camps Day Camps And Kids Teen Summer Camps Related Sites