Summer Camp

Spring Break Camp offers a chance to spend the week in the mountains and experience what camp is like in the Winter time!  During this 4-Day program, campers will learn how to prepare for a day outdoors in the Winter, participate in a day hike, learn about fire building and shelter building, star gaze away from the lights of the city, plus enjoy all the camp classics like arts and crafts, camp fires, Animal Game, and more!

Campers will bus to and from camp and will be expected to be dropped off at the Shane Homes YMCA in Rocky Ridge by 9:00 am on Monday, March 25, 2024, and picked up from Shane Homes YMCA on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 4:00 pm.

Juniors campers are 7 - 9 years old and come to camp for a 6-day session. They will experience many camp activities including archery, games, arts and crafts, climbing, and pony petting. Juniors campers will participate in an introduction to overnight camping and spend a night onsite in a tent. All Juniors campers will develop their teamwork skills, and experience new challenges and activities together.

Campers will stay in a Cabin or Tipi.

Campers must reach this age before December 31st, 2024.

All overnight camps start at 2:00pm on the first day and end at 11:00am on the last day. Bussing to and from Shane Homes YMCA in Calgary will be available.

This program was formerly called Chiniquay. In our efforts and commitments to Truth and Reconciliation at Camp Chief Hector YMCA, the program will be now referred to as Junior campers while we move through an Indigenous consultation process.

Day Camp is for campers aged 6-9 years old. Day Camp sessions run 5 days, Monday to Friday. Campers receive a lunch each day to fuel them as they participate in many camp activities including archery, games, arts and crafts, climbing, and pony petting. Day campers work as a team to experience new activities and face challenges with the guidance of their counsellor. Bussing is available from CANMORE and EXSHAW for no additional cost. Our site is located in the Bow Valley - approximately 55 min west of Calgary.

This is not an overnight program. No accommodation provided as this is a day camp. Lunch is included.

Campers must reach this age before December 31st, 2024.

Day Camp is for campers aged 6-10 years old. Campers receive a lunch each day to fuel them as they participate in many traditional camp activities including archery, games, arts and crafts, climbing, and pony petting. Day campers work as a team to experience new activities and face challenges with the guidance of their counsellor. Bussing is available from CANMORE and EXSHAW for no additional cost. Our site is located in the Bow Valley - approximately 55 min west of Calgary.

This is not an overnight program. No accommodation provided as this is a day camp. Lunch is included.

Campers must reach this age before December 31st, 2024.

Mistaya - 6 Day camp offers a time for learning, making friends, working as a team, and having fun outdoors! During this 6-day program, campers will participate in a day hike, archery, arts and crafts, climbing, and an overnight excursion in a tent or shelter on site. All Mistaya - 6 Day camps are run out of Hector Lodge and campers will stay in yurts around the lodge.

Campers must reach this age before December 31st, 2024.

All overnight camps start at 2:00pm on the first day and end at 11:00am on the last day. Bussing to and from Shane Homes YMCA in Calgary will be available.

Kananaskin - 6 Day camp offers a time for learning, making friends, working as a team, and having fun outdoors! During this 6-day program, campers will participate in a day hike, archery, arts and crafts, climbing, and an overnight excursion in a tent or shelter on site. All Kananaskin - 6 Day camps are run out of Hector Lodge and campers will stay in yurts around the lodge.

Campers must reach this age before December 31st, 2024.

All overnight camps start at 2:00pm on the first day and end at 11:00am on the last day. Bussing from Shane Homes YMCA in Calgary will be available.

Mistaya campers come to camp for a 13-day session and live in yurts near Hector Lodge. Campers will participate in various traditional camp activities including archery, climbing, and canoeing while building their team, developing their teamwork and self-confidence. Each camper will get the opportunity to visit and learn about the horses. Each Mistaya camper will experience a 3-day overnight hike in the local area near Camp. During this adventure, campers will help pack and carry their gear and food, help set up their campsite and work as a team to learn and have fun. Mistaya campers will be staying in a yurt near Hector Lodge. 

Campers must reach this age before December 31st, 2024. 
 

Kananaskin campers come to camp for a 13-day session and live in yurts near Hector Lodge. Campers participate in various traditional camp activities including archery, climbing, and arts and crafts while building their team, and developing their strengths and self-confidence. Each camper will have the opportunity to go on a horseback ride. These campers will prepare for their 4-day overnight hike by first doing a day hike and overnight on mainsite. During the hiking adventures, campers will help pack and carry their gear and food, help set up their campsite and work as a team to learn and have fun. Kananaskin campers will be staying in a yurt near Hector Lodge. 

Campers must reach this age before December 31st, 2024.

All overnight camps start at 2:00pm on the first day and end at 11:00am on the last day. Bussing to and from Shane Homes YMCA in Calgary will be available.

Pioneer (14-15Y) campers come to camp for a 13-day session and stay in yurts near Deer Lodge (Mid-camp). Campers will learn about teamwork, leadership, responsibility, and develop personal strengths and self-confidence. Campers will participate in a variety of camp activities such as games, arts and crafts, archery, climbing and more.

These campers will participate in 7 days (total) of hiking or canoeing. These 9 days are broken down into a day trip, and the longer backcountry expedition. These experiences give opportunities for campers to focus on developing leadership and outdoor living skills, as well as backcountry travel. Pioneer campers will be staying in a yurt near midcamp and will be based out of Hector Lodge. 
 

Campers must reach this age before December 31st, 2024. 

All overnight camps start at 2:00pm on the first day and end at 11:00am on the last day. Bussing to and from Shane Homes YMCA in Calgary will be available.

Leadership (16Y) campers come to camp for 27 days and stay in yurts near Deer Lodge (Mid-camp). Their focus will be on learning and developing backcountry expedition skills and leadership abilities. To facilitate their development in these areas, campers will participate in various outdoor expedition trips, including onsite overnights, and 18 days worth of overnight hike or canoe trips. Groups plan and prepare together for their exciting and rewarding expedition trips with their leaders. Throughout their month-long experience, they will develop personal strengths and new abilities.

Leadership campers will be staying in a yurt near Hector Lodge. 

Campers must reach this age before December 31st, 2024. 

All overnight camps start at 2:00pm on the first day and end at 11:00am on the last day. Bussing to and from Shane Homes YMCA in Calgary will be available.

Our Wrangler in Training Program is an equine and leadership focused program. In this two week program, campers will spend the majority of their time involved in activities at the barn where they will gain a rich experience with horses involving developing horsemanship and horseback riding skills. Campers will also participate in camp activities, a day hike, and games. They will experience daily life at the barn and have leadership opportunities with the younger groups onsite. Wranglers in Training II is suitable for campers that have been through the Wrangler in Training program, or know how to posting trot. Campers will stay in yurts near midcamp and be based out of Hector Lodge. 

All overnight camps start at 2:00pm on the first day and end at 11:00am on the last day. Bussing to and from Shane Homes YMCA in Calgary will be available.

Sac Dene (17Y) campers come to camp for 55 days and live in a Yurt near Deer Lodge (Mid Camp). The focus of this program is on honing outdoor leadership skills on a 40-day wilderness canoe trip.

Sac dene Campers will be immersed in a team environment, allowing them to explore the ways in which they can contribute to a common goal and group identity. Campers will become a part of the planning and preparation process for the wilderness expedition by contributing toward food and gear packing as well as developing individual and group goals for the expedition. On the 40-day wilderness expedition, campers will have the opportunity to hone their skills as outdoor leaders by taking on peer-leadership roles, such as navigation, route planning, camp craft, and cooking.

Throughout the Sac Dene program, campers will develop their personal strengths, learn new skills, and recognize areas of growth.

Campers must be 17 years old before December 31st, 2024.

All overnight camps start at 2:00 pm on the first day and end at 11:00 am on the last day. Bussing to and from Shane Homes YMCA in Calgary will be available.

LIT is a month-long program which starts with two weeks of leadership training, a backpacking trip, and activities to develop leadership skills. The second two weeks is reserved for the LIT's to volunteer as a counsellor for a Juniors or Mistaya group. This program is focused on building leadership skills and gaining experience being a counsellor. This program includes a 3-day offsite expedition aimed to build outdoor leadership skills. LIT campers will be staying in a yurt near midcamp and will be based out of Hector Lodge. 

All overnight camps start at 2:00pm on the first day and end at 11:00am on the last day.

LIT participants will also have a break from Friday to Sunday morning in the middle weekend of their experience. Bussing from Shane Homes YMCA in Calgary will be available.