Summer Day Camp Programs
Quick Links #
2009 Day Camp Kici Yapi summer registration
2009 Youth Summer Programs Catalog, Prior Lake/Shakopee/Day Camp Kici Yapi
YMCA Camp Kici Yapi is a wonderful place for your child to experience fun outdoor adventures this summer! YMCA Camp Kici Yapi provides a week packed full of exciting and structured activities for the new and returning camper. Located in Prior Lake, YMCA Day Camp Kici Yapi is spread out along 80 acres of beautiful, wooded land. Campers age 4 through 14 participate in small, age-appropriate groups as they build self-esteem, learn new skills, and practice the YMCA's core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Each year, every child leaves with special beads to mark their accomplishments and treasured experiences.
Traditional camp activities include swimming in the heated swimming pool, lakefront canoeing, kayaking and row-boating, archery, games, environmental education, cookouts, arts and crafts, hiking, and more.
Our 50-foot climbing tower (for ages 8 and above) and challenge course add further excitement! Campers love our giant slide!
YMCA Camp Kici Yapi specialty programs include Horse Camp, Arts and Crafts Camp, Climbing Camp, Outdoor Living Skills Camp, Extreme Camp, Fishing Camp and Leaders-in-Training Camp (grades 7-8). Come explore YMCA Camp Kici Yapi – great fun, great people, great experiences, and great memories!
See you there this summer!
Camp Kici Yapi
13220 Pike Lake Trail NE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
Southdale YMCA 952-835-2567
Camp Kici Yapi (Summer Only) 952-445-4700
Camp Hours: 9:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Wee Backpackers
For campers 4 & 5 years old, including campers entering Kindergarten in fall
Start your preschooler's love affair with the great outdoors by enrolling him or her in Wee Backpackers! From the moment campers arrive each day, counselors guide them through traditional camp experiences such as hiking, bouldering wall, row-boating, swimming, archery, and arts and crafts. They will have opportunities to savor the wonderful flavors of outdoor cookouts, explore platform tree houses, sing songs, tell stories, meet new friends, and more. All activities are geared to show your preschool camper the wonders of camp. Wee Backpackers is carried out under the watchful eye of counselors trained to meet the needs of young campers.
Day Camp
One- and two-week sessions for campers entering grades 1 to 6 in fall
Imagine yourself as a bold explorer hiking through wooded trails, studying the wonders of nature, canoeing along lake shores, and conquering the challenge course under the leadership of well-trained staff. Exciting activities include archery, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, fort building, climbing tower (ages 8 and above), camp crafts, bouldering wall and group games! Share your adventures with your family during family night!
Specialty Camps#
Develop a greater passion for the things you love, or try out something new at one of our specialty camps!
Arts and Crafts Camp
For campers entering grades 1 to 2 in fall
For campers entering grades 3 to 6 in fall
Let your imagination soar as you discover your artistic side in our Arts and Crafts Camp! Express yourself through a variety of projects that may include: sketching, story telling with cartoons or puppets, watercolors or paints, nature collages, weaving a potholder or placemat, papier maché, picture frames, candle holders, necklaces and bracelets, mural painting, and much more! Create your very own masterpieces that you can take home to enjoy!
Anglers Fishing Camp
For campers entering grades 3 to 6 in fall
Don't let this camp be “the one that got away!” We will travel to Prior Lake's Sand Point Beach to fish off the wooden fishing pier. At Camp Kici Yapi we practice catch-and-release, but with some luck, campers will bring home pictures of their “trophies!” Bait, tackle and fishing poles are provided at camp!
Outdoor Living Skills
For campers entering grades 3 to 6 in fall
Develop your outdoor living skills with this exciting, hands-on specialty camp! Discover the finer points of preparing for your next big outdoor adventure. Campers will develop orienteering skills using a map and compass and learn about plant and animal identification. Campers will also learn a variety of useful camping skills including building a fire, camp shelters, knot tying, campfire cooking and more!
Day Camp Extreme Adventure
For campers entering grades 4 to 6 in fall
Looking for some radical new experiences this summer? Kick it up a notch with a week of Extreme Adventure! Each week focuses on challenging activities designed to get you out of your comfort zone and into an unforgettable adventure! Build your self-confidence and learn valuable skills through both full- and half-day activities such as skateboarding at the YMCA Tri-City Skate Park, rock climbing at Taylors Falls, taking on the climbing tower at Day Camp Kici Yapi and trying the High Ropes Course at Day Camp Streefland. The remainder of the day will be spent enjoying traditional camp activities. Take the “extreme” challenge this summer and watch your confidence soar to new heights!
Enrollment is limited to 12 campers per session.
Climbing Camp
For campers entering grades 4 to 6 in fall
Strike out in a bold adventure of rock climbing in our Climbing Camp! Test your strength and skill against the climbing tower and bouldering wall at Kici Yapi. Campers will learn about basic climbing, belay techniques, and climbing safety. Team-building and low-initiative activities will aid in a successful climb.
Enrollment is limited to 12 campers per session.
Horse Camp Programs#
Come experience the joys of horseback riding at Horse Camp! Day Camp Kici Yapi riding programs are progressively structured to provide campers with a fun experience of interacting with gentle horses. Instructors are trained in horsemanship and carefully match the experience level of the child with an appropriate horse.
Safety is our top priority at Horse Camp. For all horse programs, we recommend that participants wear heeled leather shoes or boots. Long pants and protective helmets are required of all participants. Helmets will be provided by the camp. Our horse camp is a progressive recreational riding program and is not intended to replace formal riding lessons.
Alternative programs may be planned if weather conditions such as extreme heat, rain, or wind jeopardize the safety of campers or horses.
Colts: 1 Hour Program, Introductory Level
For campers entering grades 2 to 6 in fall
Colts is a one-hour-per-day introductory program for children with little experience around horses. First-time riders will build confidence and skills while learning the basics of western horseback riding. Instruction includes safety, leading, mounting, dismounting, reining, and trail rides. The remainder of the day is spent in traditional camp activities.
Wranglers: 1 Week Session, Advanced Level
For campers entering grades 4 to 6 in fall
In Wranglers, experienced riders spend ten hours per week in advanced riding instruction including mounting, trotting, and ring work. Riders also learn about proper horse care such as feeding, grooming, and saddling. Wrangler riders will also have the opportunity to enjoy scenic trail rides.
Circle Y Camp: 2 Week Session, Advanced Level
For campers entering grades 4 to 6 in fall
In Circle Y Camp, experienced riders spend ten hours per week in advanced riding instruction including mounting, trotting and ring work. Riders also learn about proper horse care such as feeding, grooming, and saddling. Circle Y riders will enjoy scenic trail rides and showcase their skills in a special horse show at designated family nights.
Leadership#
Developing leadership qualities and abilities are important life-long ingredients that help build character within the YMCA's framework of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Our leadership camps develop the total person – spirit, mind, and body – through a variety of service projects, hands-on activities and team-building exercises.
Our leaders of tomorrow begin with our youth of today!
Leaders in Training
For campers entering grades 7 to 8 in fall
Rise to the challenge of Leaders-in-Training camp and discover the leadership qualities within you! LITs will learn and develop camp skills needed to lead camper activities, including personal development through confidence building and responsibility management, as well as group development through activity planning and event organization. Then, you'll have opportunities to shadow counselors of younger campers and assist staff in their camp activities. Come experience camp from a whole new perspective!
Before and After Care
For your convenience and peace of mind, our Before and After Care provides the camper with supervised activities prior to and following the end of the program day.
Drop off: 6:15 a.m. to 9 a.m.
(subject to change)
Pick up: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Fee: $30/week per child for Before and/or After Camp Care
Before and After Care will be available in the communities of Downtown, Mpls; Blaisdell; Edina; Richfield; Shakopee and Eden Prairie.
Transportation#
Camp Kici Yapi is located on Pike Lake Trail in Prior Lake, Minnesota. For more information, please call the Southdale YMCA at 952-835-2567.
For the convenience of camp families, the YMCA provides safe and reliable transportation each day for our campers to begin their adventure! Bus stop locations are available throughout the summer from area elementary schools and other sites listed below. Transportation is provided by buses. All drivers have completed special training and are provided by the bus leasing company.
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Transportation is provided each day, to and from camp.
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Specific bus schedule times will be sent to you ten days before your child's session begins.
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Pick-up times are between 8 and 9 a.m.
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Drop-off times are between 4 and 5 p.m.
Please Note: Bus schedules vary from week to week, so if your child is signed up for more than one week of camp, be sure to check the times for that specific week. See bus listings below for the bus stop that is most convenient for you. Bus stops are schools unless otherwise noted by an asterisk.
Parent handbooks have bus information.
Camp Kici Yapi Bus Schedule available Spring 2010
Minneapolis
Kenwood
Downtown YMCA
Blaisdell YMCA
Seward
Hiawatha YMCA
Pearl Park
Linden Hills
Bloomington
Dred Scott Field
Oak Grove Middle School
Eden Prairie
Before and After Care Sites (TBA)
Prior Lake
St. Michael's
Additional Stop (TBA)
Shakopee
Sweeney
Shakopee (TBA)
Edina
Edina Community Center
Creek Valley
Southdale YMCA
Richfield
Richfield Intermediate
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