YMCA Camp Sloper Day Camp Programs
Since 1949, YMCA Camp Sloper has provided Day Camp for Southington and the surrounding towns each and every summer (even through pandemics!). As was the wish of Cornelia Sloper Neil, our goal will always be to provide age appropriate programming for youth in our communities that helps build healthy spirits, minds, and bodies. We offer programs from Pre-K all the way to sophomores in high school with both Traditional Camps as well as Specialty Camps that highlight specific interests.
Our day camp runs four, 2-week long sessions for all age groups, minus our 1-week Pre-K program. In addition, we have two bookend weeks (Preview Week & Finale Week) that are 1-week traditional camp only sessions. We service on average over 800 campers a day throughout the summer hosting all campers on two different coasts: the East Coast (K-4th) and the West Coast (5th-9th). Ages groups are separated to reflect appropriate developmental stages. Below you can find a breakdown of each age group (Unit). Need more than the 9am-3pm? We offer Extended Care (at an additional cost) that makes the day 6:30am-5:30pm.
With over 143 acres of camp grounds, YMCA Camp Sloper is able to offer a plethora of traditional and non traditional camp activities. Some traditional activities include boating, hiking, arts & crafts, climbing tower, and archery; while some non-traditional activities include Ninja Warrior course, Gladiator Dodgeball, crystal mine, the Rope Swing, and the Sloper Express.
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Typical Day Camp Schedule (K-9th)
9:00am - Camper/Bus Arrival
9:15am - Morning Announcements
9:30am - Period 1 (Rotating, Unit, or Swim period)
10:30am - Period 2 (Rotating, Unit, or Swim period)
11:30am - Lunch (camp does not provide lunch)
12:00pm - Period 3 (Rotating, Unit, Swim period)
1:00pm - L.O.G.S. (Lots of Great Stuff, full camp assembly)
1:30pm - Period 4 (East Coast) / Free Activity (West Coast)
2:30pm - Afternoon Meeting
3:00pm - Dismissal
The youngest program at camp, the Wanderers program is a Pre-K, half day program designed to give a taste of different camp activities to help our newest campers to acclimate with day camp.
One Week sessions offered all summer long
The Sloperian program is a great introduction to our full day program. This is a Kindergarten only full day program that gives campers a taste of all the traditional camp activities like Arts & Crafts, Boating, the Superslide, Crystal Mine, the Sloper Express, and much more!
The Sloperian program is offered every session all summer long.
Navigators is a 1st grade only full day traditional camp program. Similar to the Sloperian program, Navigators will get to do all the traditional camp activities as well as having a designated swim period and Unit period.
The Navigator program is offered every session all summer long.
Explorers is our Traditional Camp Unit for 2nd graders. The vast East Coast expands for the first time for Explorers as they get to try new activities like the Climbing Tower, Deep End swimming, and Archery! All Explorers will get rotating activities, a swim period, and a Unit period.
Explorers is offered all sessions all summer long.
The veteran East Coast campers' Traditional Camp Unit is the Pioneers. A 3rd-4th grade traditional camp that provides the ideal daily schedule and access to all East Coast activities. As role models for all East Coasters, the Pioneers round out the East Coast traditional camps.
Pioneers is offered all sessions all summer long.
Specialty East brings a variety of different camp options to the table for 2nd-4th graders. Between Art shows, Sports tournaments, Adventure quests, and more we're sure you'll find a love of camp in these non-traditional camps. Specialty camps do not have daily swim periods, but will get to enjoy various traditional camp activities throughout the sessions.
Specialty East Camps are offered Session 1-4 only, and change bi-weekly. For all Specialty East offerings, check out our Day Camp Brochure.
The Ranger Unit is a Traditional Camp for campers going into 5th-6th grade. This West Coast Unit gets to experience a whole new world of activities that East Coast campers do not get to do like High Ropes, the Waterpark, and Paddle Boarding. Rangers have a swim period, Unit period, and rotating activities each day.
Rangers is offered all sessions all summer long.
Trailblazers complete the Traditional Camp journey for our 7th-9th graders. As the most veteran campers at camp, all activities are available as well as a chance to take field trips. Trailblazers have a designated swim period, Unit period, and rotating periods.
Trailblazers is offered all sessions all summer long.
New Specialty Camps await you in the Specialty West Unit, upgraded to fit the interests of out older campers with challenging activities and programs to test the brave and bold. Try camps like Rock Climbing, Showstoppers, Movie Making, and Ninja Warrior. Specialty West Camps do not have a designated swim period, but rotate to traditional camp activities occasionally.
Specialty West Camps are offered Session 1-4 only, and change bi-weekly. To see all Specialty West Camp options, check out our Day Camp Brochure.
CIT Program
The C.I.T. program is designed for any and all teens that are entering 10th grade and are looking to gain experience in the child care world.
This is a four week program that is offered twice throughout the summer. Each four week session consists of two weeks of training and development and two weeks of hands on experience in actual camper groups.
Extended Care
Extended Care is offered during the day camp season at YMCA Camp Sloper and at YMCA Camp Quinnipiac. Both sites offer two different time of day extensions: AM Care (morning care) and PM Care (after care). Extended Care is an additional cost, based on which options you choose.
AM Care starts at 6:30am for both sites. At YMCA Camp Sloper, campers will participate in various camp activities throughout the morning in age appropriate groups until 9:00am when they will join their day camp groups. AM Care at YMCA Camp Quinnipiac starts at 6:30am and is run out of CHAPMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL in Cheshire. Campers will then be bused to YMCA Camp Sloper to join their day camp groups at 9:00am.
PM Care starts at 3:00pm and us also an extension of day camp. PM Care ends at 5:30pm at Sloper and for Camp Quinnipiac PM Care ends at 6:00pm. Campers who choose PM Care at YMCA Camp Quinnipiac will be bused from YMCA Camp Sloper at the normal departure times for day camp, roughly 3:15pm.
Preview & Finale Week
Preview Week and Finale Week are our 'bookend' sessions that are only 1-week long. In addition to being only 1-week long, we only offer Traditional Camps: Wanderers, Sloperians, Navigators, Explorers, Pioneers, Rangers, & Trailblazers.
Preview Week kicks off our summer day camp program and is usually the week after school ends. Preview week is a 1-week full camp experience where campers will get to do all of the traditional camp activities and have normal day camp schedules. Preview Week has a reduced rate, see the "Dates and Rates" page for pricing.
Finale Week concludes the day camp season and is usually the week before school starts back up in late August. Finale Week is a 1-week full camp experience that keeps the dedicated campers in the camp mindset. All activities are open still including swimming. Finale Week has a reduced rate, see the "Dates and Rates" page for pricing.