The Des Moines Y Camp is focuses on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. We have a variety of youth programs available.

Summer Camp is the foundation on which Y Camp is built. Overnight Camp, Day Camp, Family Camp and our amazing Partner Camps all work to bring the impact and value of camp to all who enter the Valley. If you’re looking for the ultimate camp experience, Summer Camp is …

At the Des Moines Y Camp a week of Overnight Camp is more than a week away from home: It’s an opportunity to grow. For us, Overnight Camp is architecture. Instead of designing and constructing a beautiful new home or a skyscraper to tower above the city, we are building confident, caring, independent young people.

Y Camp is Nationally Accredited by the American Camp Association on over 350 standards of safety and program excellence. Y Camp understands the first priority for all campers and staff is safety because without that, no one gains the benefits of everything else camp has to offer.

The Des Moines Y Camp is the sum of a century of friendships, lessons, personal growth and life-changing experiences. People are our passion. Connect with us, ask questions and take time to learn more about the Des Moines Y Camp.

Founded in 1919 by Howard Crawford and George Weber, Y Camp began on a small piece of land nestled along the banks of the Des Moines River. Originally a boy’s camp, Crawford, the first Camp Director, began a journey that would lead the Des Moines Y Camp to become one of the premier summer camps in the Midwest and country.

The Des Moines Y Camp offers 24 cabins to groups and retreats for their stay. They are separated into five villages: Pioneer, Riverview, Campfire, Arrowhead and Hillside Village. Cabins located in Pioneer, Riverview, Campfire and Hillside Village are available year-round and equipped with restrooms while Arrowhead Village is used from Spring to ...

What a better way to spend spring break than at Y Camp! Y Camp proudly provides quality day camp programs for the communities of Boone and Ames. We strive to ensure the safest atmosphere while teaching your camper the four Y values; …

Our objective is to best capture the spirit of a week here at Y Camp. Due to the varying nature of the Camp day, as well as the sheer number of campers we serve during the week, we cannot guarantee every child’s appearance in photos outside of their cabin photo and the all camp photo.

Eric joined the Y Camp staff team in 2004. Originally from Guttenberg, Iowa, Eric now lives in Boone with his wife, Marie, and has five kids: Storm, Virginia, Nikki, Madison and Jacob. He’s an outdoorsman at heart and camp is the perfect place for him.