On a summer morning in Kingston, the ramp leading into the YMCA fills with a familiar soundtrack: hands clapping in unison, kids chanting, counselors calling out instructions that quickly dissolve into laughter. It’s the sound of Camp Starfish in full swing—and for generations of local families, it signals that summer has officially begun.
The YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County runs three distinct day camps, each designed to meet kids where they are developmentally while delivering the shared joy, camaraderie, and sense of belonging that define the Y camp experience. From nature-immersive days at Camp Seewackamano in Shokan to learning-forward programs at Camp Starfish in Kingston and all-day adventures at Camp Wiltmeet in New Paltz, these camps offer different flavors of summer, united by a common ethos.
“Our camps are really about youth development,” says Katie Giordano, the Y’s Youth Development Director. “Our counselors are deeply invested in the whole child—socially, emotionally, and developmentally. We believe in our four core values—caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility—and those values guide everything we do, from how staff show up to how campers treat one another.”
Camp Seewackamano (ages pre-K through grade 9), the Y’s traditional outdoor camp, unfolds across 34.7 wooded acres in Shokan. Each morning, a bus from the Kingston YMCA brings campers to a landscape of lake water, trails, ropes courses, and open fields. On any given day, foursquare games are in full rotation, boats skim across the water, and a distinctive metallic ping rings out from the camp’s beloved rock barrel—an invitation for the entire camp to erupt into cheers.
“That moment captures it,” Giordano says. “There’s this constant energy—celebration, joy, excitement—moving across the whole site. With around 300 campers a day, something is always happening.”
In Kingston, Camp Starfish (ages pre-K through grade 5) offers a different rhythm, blending play with purpose. Hosted at the YMCA’s Broadway facility, Starfish focuses on preventing summer learning loss while keeping days active and fun. Campers swim daily, work with educators at the YMCA Farm Project, and participate in literacy-based programming designed to keep young minds engaged. Breakfast and lunch are provided, easing the load for families. “We track where kids are at the beginning and end of the summer,” Giordano explains. “It’s about maintaining momentum, so they head back to school feeling confident.”
Then there’s Camp Wiltmeet (ages pre-K through grade 9), based out of Duzine Elementary School in New Paltz. Wiltmeet leans into classic camp traditions—songs, games, sports, and wacky group activities—alongside weekly trips to Moriello Pool and special excursions like Renegades Camp Day.
Across all three camps, the throughline is staff. “Our counselors are the magic,” Giordano says. “They model the values we care about, and they create an environment where kids feel safe being themselves—and making new friends.”
Registration is now open, with flexible session options and income-based financial aid available. Families are encouraged to register early, as sessions fill quickly. Full program details, session dates, and pricing are available through the YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County’s Day Camps.
For many campers, the verdict is simple. As one Starfish camper announced after his first day last summer: “Best day ever!”
YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County
Ymcaulster.org
This article appears in March 2026.
