Discover the joys of camp
Ready for an adventure? Stop by our open house and experience the magic of YMCA Camp Watia! On Sun., May 18 from 2-4 p.m., you can walk the grounds, meet our awesome staff, and get a taste of what overnight camp is all about. We'll have guided tours of the camp, fun activities for kids, and a Q&A session with our camp team.
Join us and see what makes Camp Watia so special — we’d love to show you around! No RSVP needed.
A camper’s first overnight camp experience can be filled with a wide variety of emotions. Both you and your child might feel anxious at the thought of being away from home for the first time or be filled with excitement not knowing what the week will hold.
At YMCA Camp Watia we thrive on making sure that your child has an incredible experience. Our goals are to:
- Teach your camper lifelong skills
- Challenge them in a positive and supportive environment
- Help them expand their comfort zones
- Create long-lasting friendships and unforgettable memories
We’re here to help make this the best summer ever for both parents and campers.
Information for parents and campers
More details on how to make the most of your Camp Watia experience.
Watia quick facts
- Founded in 2016
- Cabins have 10-14 campers and at least 2 staff
- No more than a 1:7 staff-to-camper ratio
- Sessions begin on Sunday and end on Friday
- We serve campers 7-16 years old for traditional camp
- Rising 11th graders can do our two-week Leaders in Training program (LIT)
- Rising 12th graders can do our three-week Counselors in Training program (CIT)
- Cabin counselors are high school graduates or older
- We have staff from all over the world
- We average 110 campers per session with a maximum capacity of 126
- Our camp mascot is Gnomeo the golden gnome
We want our campers and parents to have an enjoyable and smooth experience with YMCA Camp Watia. If you have more questions, please see our FAQ, email us or call 828-209-9600.