Overnight Camp is full of traditional outdoor activities like campfires, hikes, skits and songs, cabin cheers and the chance to sleep under the stars. Campers disconnect from technology and distractions of outside life, offering an unforgettable positive experience. Here at camp, our number one priority is providing a safe, positive camper experience. We believe that campers are most successful when given the opportunity to push themselves out of their comfort zones and discover in themselves resiliency, responsibility and confidence.
YMCA Camp Campbell provides developmental experiences in fun ways to help young people thrive.
We are located at 16275 Highway 9, Boulder Creek, CA 95006, about 45 minutes away from San Jose.
We’re located in Boulder Creek, CA and it’s typically sunny with day temperatures between 80°F and 100°F. The mornings and evenings are usually cool. We recommend campers pack layers when attending camp.
Campers can receive mail two ways. Please make sure to include the camper first and last name, session dates and cabin name when sending your camper mail. Campers receive mail daily.
Physical mail can be sent to your camper at 16275 Highway 9, Boulder Creek, CA, 95006.
Campers can also receive mail via email. Email can be sent to your camper at redwoods@ymcasv.org, please ensure you put the camper first and last name, session dates and cabin name.
Please do not send food. Campers are not allowed to keep it.
Please remember to put your child’s first and last name, and session number on the mail. Send it to 16275 Highway 9, Boulder Creek, CA 95006.
You may also email your camper at redwoods@ymcasv.org. Please be sure to put the child’s first and last name, cabin number and session number in the subject of the email. Emails will be distributed daily, but campers are unable to email back.
Yes, campers may request a cabin mate on their supplemental registration forms. Cabin mate requests must be mutual. We will try our best to accommodate requests, but we cannot guarantee cabin assignments. Cabin assignments are based primarily on age, and our priority is to promote group cohesion and foster friendships. We strive to eliminate cliques, which can form when a disproportionate number of campers in one cabin know each other prior to arriving. If you have a unique circumstance, contact our camp director.
Campers may be dropped off at Camp on their Sunday check in day between 1:30–2:30 pm. Be sure to pick-up your child on Friday between 11 am – 12 noon. An authorized and responsible adult must sign each child in and out of camp.
If your camper is taking the bus please see the parent guide for more details.
We use a service called Zenfolio to store photos taken at camp. Photos are taken and uploaded every few days. Each Summer Camp session will have a unique gallery and password to access it. The link and password for each session will be included in the check-in letter.
Although we appreciate your gratitude, please do not tip your child’s camp counselor. Instead, consider making a donation to our camp scholarship fund in the camp counselor’s honor. Our scholarship fund makes camp possible for children and teens from low-income families. Another option for a tip: write a letter of reference that the camp counselor can use for upcoming college or job applications.
No, we do not allow parents to visit during the camp week because it disrupts your child’s adjustment to camp. We encourage you to communicate to campers via letters or emails sent to redwoods@ymcasv.org.
For the most part, we do not allow calls home. Calls to home make a camper’s adjustment to camp more difficult. Parents may call camp to speak with camp staff about your child’s well-being. We encourage you to communicate with your child via letters or emails sent to redwoods@ymcasv.org.
Laundry services are not available for campers. Additionally please be sure to label all clothing and belongings so that we can return any misplaced items to its proper owner.
We sell souvenirs, such as hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, flashlights, water bottles, and toiletries. We do not sell food, candy, and drinks. The camp store is open during check in.
Camp does have a lost and found, during camp campers should ask their camp counselor for help identifying lost items. During check out please check our lost and found for your missing items. We strongly encourage families to label all personal belongings, bedding etc. before coming to camp to make it easier to return lost and found items.
Campers report that our food is great. We serve three well-balanced meals daily, including an extensive salad bar during lunch and dinner. Vegetarian, gluten free and/or dairy free alternatives are also available. Our chef and kitchen staff strives to provide a nutritious menu that appeal to children and teens.
We strive to accommodate food allergies. However, prior to registering for camp, be sure to contact us at redwoods@ymcasv.org or 831-338-2128 to discuss your specific requirements. If we determine that we can accommodate your and/or your child’s food allergies, our staff and camp chef will work with you develop an appropriate plan.
Yes. At Camp Campbell, we take your child’s safety very seriously. The Health Cottage is centrally located and open 24 hours/day while campers are on site. The Health Cottage staff is always available to administer first aid and medication for campers. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to call or email the Health Cottage.
Phone: 831-338-2128 ext. 1408
Email: health.cottage@ymcasv.org
We do our best to accommodate every child’s needs while at camp. We frequently have campers with more involved medical conditions attend and have a great time. Please contact the Health Supervisor to discuss your child’s needs via phone or email.
Phone: 831-338-2128 ext. 1408
Email: health.cottage@ymcasv.org
No. The Health Cottage has over the counter medication that we will administer if needed. Please check off medication on the health form that you authorize us to administer. Without authorization, we will not administer any medication.
Yes. If your child takes OTC medication regularly, such as Tylenol or Zyrtec, then we request that you give it to the staff to hand in to the Health Cottage.
Rescue inhalers are turned in to the Health Cottage so that we can document and acknowledge that your child may need one. They are returned to the camper so that they may use the inhaler at any time if needed.
We have several Epi-pens located throughout camp. We hold Epi-pens in the Health Cottage so they don’t get lost. If campers are going off-site for a hike or other activity, we will pass their Epi-pens to trained counselors that will be with them.
YMCA Camp Campbell’s Summer Camp does not serve nuts. The majority of our food comes from a nut-free facility. However, nuts are used in our kitchen during weekend programs and weddings. Please include an Epi-pen with your child’s medication if they are at risk for anaphylaxis.
Each village has a two-way radio that can be used to contact the Health Cottage at any time. There is always a healthcare personnel on radio and inside of the Health Cottage that are available to handle medical situations.
Our first priority is each child’s health; if we feel that they can be well and enjoy camp without a risk of being contagious then we will do our best to keep them at camp and treat them here. However, this is a case by case determination. A phone call to the parents will be made to keep them informed of their child’s condition.
Yes. Medication is administered during meals and before sleep (8:45pm). Meal times are 8-9am, 12:30-1:30pm, and 6-7pm. Medication will be administered at other times as needed. We recommend only requesting bedtime medication administration if it is time-sensitive or a sleep aid (e.g. allergy medication can be given at dinnertime as opposed to bedtime). This allows for minimal interruption of bedtime routines.
Yes. We have a refrigerator in the Health Cottage that is intended for this purpose. Please send ice packs and/or a cooler with the medication for transportation to and from camp.
If your child has a fever, they will be not be able to attend camp that day. They may return after 24 hours symptom-free. We will recheck their temperature when they come back to camp to ensure that they no longer have a fever.
If your child has lice, they will need a doctor’s note stating that the lice has been treated and they are cleared before returning to camp.
Dominican Hospital is in Santa Cruz, CA, which is approximately 15 miles from Camp. Health services and ambulance are approximately 3 miles away.
Follow this YMCA Camp Campbell Packing List
Please refrain from sending your child to camp with cell phones, food or candy, knives/firearms, weapons, fireworks, personal sports equipment, pets or animals, aerosol sprays, hair dryers, curling irons, money, alcohol/drugs, cigarettes.
Please label all of your child’s belongings. Lost and found will be displayed on the last day of camp. We will hold lost and found for only two weeks at camp after the session ends.
Yes, we recommend that you bring a pillow and pillowcase, blankets, sheets, and a sleeping bag. Sleeping bags are essential as all campers can choose to participate in an outside overnight experience.
No, camp is a place to develop friendships and enjoy camp activities. It’s not about playing with electronic gadgets. Additionally, in our natural outdoor environment, it is difficult to keep electronic equipment safe. For those reasons, be sure to leave your cell phone, iPods/MP3 players, pagers, and stereos at home.
No, cell phones disrupt the camp experience. Camp is about making new friends and enjoying personal, one-on-one interactions with staff and fellow campers. As such, be sure to leave cell phones at home. Possession of a cell phone during camp may lead to dismissal without a refund.
The schedule for overnight campers consists of four activity periods. On the first day of camp, and with the help of camp counselors, each camper rank orders the 10 activities in which they want to participate. We create each camper’s weekly activity schedule based on his or her preferred activities.
No, not every camper will participate in swim lessons; however, every camper will have the opportunity to select this option. A camper may choose to participate in swim lessons by rating that activity in his/her top 3 choices. Interested campers are placed in the level that matches their swimming ability. Trained swim instructors lead every class.
We strive to make it a special day for every camper who has a birthday at camp.
