For more than 110 years, the YMCA of Greenwich has served as a cornerstone of the Greenwich community—responding to evolving needs and ensuring that children, families, and working caregivers have the support they need to learn, grow, and thrive.
This summer, the YMCA is expanding its summer camp offerings through a new collaboration with Scouting America Greenwich, allowing YMCA programs to operate at the historic Camp Seton beginning summer 2026.
This expansion is a direct response to critical community needs: increasing demand for affordable, full-day summer childcare; limited outdoor programming options for older youth and teens; and the temporary absence of traditional Scouting America summer camps at Camp Seton this year. Rather than leaving a gap in services, the YMCA and Scouting America Greenwich are working together to ensure this treasured local resource continues to serve children and families.
“This collaboration between two great youth-serving organizations, Greenwich Council, Scouting America and the YMCA of Greenwich, reflects a shared commitment to providing meaningful opportunities for local children and families,” said Ray Garrison, Chief Executive Officer of Scouting America, Greenwich Council. “While we are taking this summer off from our traditional program, we will continue to offer year-round experiences at Camp Seton and look forward to welcoming campers back next summer. Together, this collaboration helps ensure that kids in our community continue to have access to high-quality, enriching summer camp experiences.”
“At the YMCA, our mission calls us to continually respond to the evolving needs of our community, especially when it comes to supporting children and families,” said Matthew Skaarup, Chief Executive Officer at the YMCA of Greenwich. “Expanding our summer camp opportunities allows us to create more spaces where young people can learn, grow, and thrive. We are deeply grateful to the leadership of Scouting America, Greenwich Council, for their partnership.”
Meeting a Critical Need for Working Families
Affordable, full-day summer childcare has been identified as a growing challenge in Greenwich, particularly for working families who rely on consistent care while school is out. YMCA of Greenwich summer camps are designed to provide safe, structured, full-day programming close to home, helping families balance work responsibilities while ensuring
children are engaged in meaningful experiences.
As demand for YMCA summer camps has increased year after year, the organization has outgrown its downtown facility on East Putnam Avenue alone. Expanding into Camp Seton allows the YMCA to serve more families, offer expanded outdoor experiences, and respond responsibly to the community’s needs, without requiring long commutes or costly private alternatives.
A Commitment to Accessibility, Camperships, and Community Partnership
Ensuring access is not an afterthought, it is central to the YMCA’s mission. This summer, the YMCA of Greenwich is reserving approximately 50% of its camp capacity for families receiving financial assistance, including working families who may not typically qualify for traditional aid but still need extra support.
In partnership with the Greenwich Department of Human Services, the YMCA participates in the town’s annual Campership Program, which enables children ages 5–14 from low-income families to attend summer camp. Camps support positive self-image, healthy social and emotional development, and meaningful peer connections.
In response to increased community need this year—particularly with Scouting America not offering camps—the YMCA increased its campership commitment from 65 weeks to 100 weeks, representing a 54% increase in support compared to last summer.
“At the Y, access matters,” Skaarup added. “Increasing our campership commitment in partnership with the Department of Human Services is a reflection of our promise to show up for families and remove barriers so every child can benefit from summer camp, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.”
Water Safety as a Core Part of the YMCA Mission
Water safety is a cornerstone of YMCA programming and a critical public health priority. Preventable drownings remain a serious risk for children, and the YMCA is committed to equipping every camper with essential skills to stay safe in and around the water.
Most YMCA summer camps include regular swim instruction or water-based activities, where children build confidence, learn foundational water safety skills, and develop comfort in aquatic environments. These experiences are intentionally integrated into camp programming to support lifelong safety.
Youth Development at the Heart of Camp
Youth development is one of the YMCA’s three foundational pillars, and summer camp plays a vital role in helping young people build confidence, independence, and leadership skills.
Recognizing a gap in summer programming for tweens and teens, the YMCA has expanded offerings specifically for older youth – groups that are often underserved in traditional camp models.
Leader in Training (LIT) and Counselor in Training (CIT) Programs
The YMCA’s Leader in Training (6th–7th grade) and Counselor in Training (8th–10th grade) programs are intentionally structured leadership development experiences, not simply “campers with extra responsibility.”
Participants spend part of each day in guided training that focuses on:
• Leadership and communication skills
• Working effectively with peers and supervisors
• Camper supervision and safety protocols
• Conflict resolution and teamwork
• Professional behavior and workplace expectations
CIT participants take on increased responsibility supporting counselors and younger campers while receiving mentorship from YMCA staff. These programs prepare teens for future employment both within the YMCA and beyond, building transferable skills that support long-term success.
Expanded Camp Offerings for All Ages
The YMCA of Greenwich now offers its most comprehensive summer camp lineup to date, serving children from 6 months through 10th grade, with expanded programming for youth and teens – an age group often underserved during the summer months.
In addition to traditional day camps, the YMCA has developed one-week specialty camp offerings for tweens and teens. These programs are designed to foster real interests, build practical skills, and provide positive structure during the summer when school is out and routines are disrupted. Families can enroll week-by-week, offering flexibility while ensuring youth remain engaged in meaningful, supervised experiences.
Specialty camps at Camp Seton focus on outdoor skill-building and adventure, including archery, climbing, hiking, outdoor survival skills, and environmental exploration, making full use of the camp’s wooded landscape and open space.
At the YMCA’s downtown campus, specialty camps include aquatics-based programs held in the Y’s pools, where youth and teens strengthen swim skills, improve technique, and build confidence in the water – reinforcing the YMCA’s commitment to water safety.
The YMCA has also expanded specialty camps focused on real-world skill development through partnerships such as Code Ninjas, offering programs in entrepreneurship, coding, video and content creation, animation, and 3D printing. These project-based camps help youth and teens develop creativity, problem-solving skills, and confidence while exploring future academic and career interests.
Registration Now Open
Summer camp registration opened in early January and has already seen the highest demand the YMCA of Greenwich has experienced in recent years, reflecting both the growing need for summer childcare and strong community interest in expanded camp offerings.
Families are encouraged to explore programs, learn about financial assistance, and secure their spot at: greenwichymca.org/childcare/summer-camp
For assistance with camp selection or financial aid applications, families may contact [email protected]. To apply for financial aid, families can visit greenwichymca.org/join/financial-aid.
The YMCA of Greenwich is one of the largest community-based organizations in Greenwich. Founded in 1916, the YMCA of Greenwich offers programs and services that promote and sustain healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility to nurture the potential of everyone in our community. Our YMCA is a membership organization open to all people. The YMCA welcomes people of all genders, ages, races, ethnicities, religions, abilities and financial circumstances. With our “Y For All Membership” program, your rates are based on total household income and circumstance. To learn more about the YMCA of Greenwich, visit: www.greenwichymca.org.