YMCA Camp Watia is a wonderful place for kids to enjoy the outdoors, learn new skills, make friends, and have fun. To help you prepare for your child’s camp adventure, we’ve compiled some of the most common questions and answers about YMCA Camp Watia. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at any time.
Location
Dates and rates
Campers who stay for consecutive weeks will enjoy a day that includes fun activities, some extra rest, and laundry! There's a $75 fee for each Super Stayover Weekend.
YMCA Camp Watia was developed with affordability in mind to ensure that overnight summer camp could be a reality for all youth in Western North Carolina. Although we do not offer a member discount, financial assistance based on eligibility is made possible by generous donations. Please call 828-251-5910 for more information.
We serve campers ages 7-16, leaders in training (LITs) who are rising juniors, and counselors in training (CITs) who are age 17 or rising seniors.
Yes, we serve all genders, ages 7-17. Campers sleep in cabins with other campers of the same gender and similar age/grade. Cabins are grouped in a village by gender.
Financial information
The deposit is $100 per week per camper, and is applied to your total payment. Your camper’s session is not reserved until the deposit is received.
Deposits are nonrefundable. They may be transferred to another YMCA Camp Watia session within the same calendar year.
Yes. It is a deposit, not an additional registration fee.
There are no refunds of any camp payments due to late arrivals, homesickness, or a child’s removal for disciplinary reasons.
Final payment is due May 18.
Yes. Financial assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis to families who can demonstrate need. We also offer monthly installment plans. Learn more here.
Financial support
Yes, we accept all major credit cards, cash, and checks. Call 828-251-5910 for more information. There is a $25 charge for all checks returned to YMCA Camp Watia.
No. Snacks are available every evening, with a variety of choices, at no additional charge.
The camp store will be open during Sunday check-in and Friday checkout. Store items include T-shirts, hats, water bottles, drawstring bags, etc. No food items are available in the camp store. Feel free to come by and put together a care package for your camper; we're happy to deliver them daily.
Camp and cabin information
Yes. Campers are supervised by our camp staff throughout the day and night. Each cabin sleeps up to 14 campers and 2 counselors.
Each cabin has a toilet and sink. Additional toilets and sinks, as well as showers with private changing stalls, are located in gender-specific shower houses inside each cabin village.
Campers can be in a cabin with a friend as long as they are the same gender and in the same age group. You can request up to two cabin-mates on the registration form. We will try our best to accommodate cabin assignment requests, but cannot guarantee them.
When campers arrive on Sunday and go to their cabins, they can select a bunk. Cabin counselors reserve the right to change bunk assignments as needed.
Yes. All YMCA employees must pass criminal background checks.
The counselor-to-camper ratio is 1:7.
Yes. We have a camp nurse or doctor on-site to administer medication and provide first aid. In addition, all YMCA Camp Watia staff are certified in CPR and first aid. An AED, oxygen inhaler, and EpiPen® are kept on hand for emergencies.
Check in times: Drive through process
A-G: 1:30pm-2:15pm
H-N: 2:15pm-2:45pm
O-Z: 2:45pm-3:30pm
Check out time:
5:15-6pm with a 6pm parent show featuring a few campfire songs and time to chat with counselors about the week.
Have more questions?
We’re here to help! Email us at [email protected] or call the camp office at 828-209-9600.