YMCA Camp Fuller
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
YMCA Camp Fuller is described as a deeply cherished, transformative 'second home' environment that fosters 'lifelong memories and friends' within a 'beautiful community.' Reviewers consistently highlight it as a 'life changing experience' that helps campers develop personal identity and instills 'YMCA values and traditions,' particularly through its diverse range of water and land activities offered on an 'idyllic property.'
Key Highlights
- ✓Exceptional community and social bonding, leading to 'lifelong friends' who remain 'close' even over '4,000 miles.'
- ✓Wide range of specific summer activities: 'Sailing, swimming, archery, canoeing, sports, windsurfing, water skiing.'
- ✓A 'beautiful property in an idyllic location' enhances the camp experience.
- ✓Strong emphasis on 'Sailing' as a premier and 'best program area,' highly recommended by long-time attendees.
- ✓Develops character and 'instills the values and traditions of the YMCA experience.'
- ✓Creates a profound sense of belonging, with many considering it their 'second home' and fellow campers/staff as 'family.'
- ✓Offers a pathway for long-term engagement, with many attending as both a 'camper and counselor' for multiple years (e.g., '14 years').
Standout Features
- ⭐Capacity for fostering profound, lasting friendships and a strong sense of community, often described as 'family.'
- ⭐Comprehensive offering of classic summer camp activities, with a noted excellence in 'sailing.'
- ⭐Beautiful natural setting ('idyllic location').
- ⭐Opportunity for personal growth and character development through 'YMCA values and traditions.'
- ⭐High potential for long-term engagement, evolving from camper to counselor, creating a deep, continuous connection.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Highly recommended for parents seeking a transformative summer experience that builds character and lifelong friendships for their children, as many reviewers state they 'would send [their] kids' and 'tell everyone I know to send theirs.'
- →Consider this camp particularly if your child has an interest in water sports, especially 'sailing,' as it's highlighted as a strong program area.
- →Parents should be prepared for their children to form extremely strong, long-lasting bonds with fellow campers and staff, potentially defining 'much of who I am because of this place.'
- →This camp is suitable for children looking for more than just activities, but a deep sense of community and personal growth.
Things to Consider
- ⚠No specific concerns or negative experiences were reported across the reviews; all reviews are 5-star and overwhelmingly positive.
Price & Value
Pricing details are not mentioned in the provided reviews, preventing an assessment of specific costs or value comparison to alternatives.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific information regarding accessibility accommodations for children with special needs is mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No specific details on food policy, meals provided, or outside food rules are provided in the reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •No information regarding parking facilities or ease of drop-off/pickup is mentioned in the reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Reviews focus on community and personal experience rather than crowd levels; as a summer camp, it operates with structured groups of campers and staff rather than open public crowds, suggesting a controlled environment.
🛡️Safety Features
- •While the reviews highlight the instillation of 'values and traditions' of the YMCA, specific safety protocols or features like staff ratios, medical facilities, or security measures are not detailed in the provided reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • No specific situations or types of campers to avoid were mentioned in the uniformly positive reviews; it appears to be a universally loved experience by its attendees.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
One Week Starter Program
$1,200Duration: One week
Designed for brand new, younger campers for an introduction to the overnight camp experience. Allows campers to get a taste of summer at Fuller. Reside in cabins with other one-week campers, fostering community and trust. Offers a taste of progressive programs without going through the full progression.
Includes:
- •Access to all traditional camp activities
Traditional Two Week Sessions
$2,200Duration: Two weeks
Provides life-changing experiences focused on leadership, independence, confidence building, and friendships. Campers gain new skills, learn to work with others from around the world, respect cultures and languages, and build lifelong friendships.
Includes:
- •Access to all traditional camp activities
LIT (Leaders-In-Training) Program
$1,200Duration: Four weeks
A transformative experience designed to empower young individuals with leadership skills and foster personal growth. Participants engage in a dynamic curriculum including team-building activities, outdoor adventures, and workshops on communication and problem-solving. Emphasizes responsibility, resilience, and empathy, creating lasting bonds with peers.
CIT (Counselor-In-Training) Program
$900Duration: Four weeks
Offers a hands-on opportunity for young individuals to immerse themselves in camp counseling. Provides practical experience in guiding and mentoring campers, honing communication and problem-solving skills through training sessions, shadowing experienced counselors, and increasing responsibilities. Participants who complete the CIT program are eligible for hire the following summer as a Junior Counselor.
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Fall Events and 2026 Registration Opening
November 1st (2025)
Not specified for Fall events; 2026 registration costs are detailed under 'pricing.packages'.
Communication regarding Fall events and the opening of 2026 summer camp registration. 2025 rates are available for 2026 sessions if registered between November 1st and December 31st.
One Week Starter Sessions (2026)
1a: June 28th - July 4th; 1b: July 5th - July 11th; 4a: August 9th - August 15th; 4b: August 16th - August 22nd
Total Cost: $1,200 (2025 rates if registered early)
One-week sessions for younger campers, offering an introduction to the overnight camp experience. Certain special ceremonies and traditions may not be observed due to the shorter duration.
Traditional Two Week Sessions (2026)
Session 1: June 28th - July 11th; Session 2: July 12th - July 25th; Session 3: July 26th - August 8th; Session 4: August 9th - August 22nd
Total Cost: $2,200 (2025 rates if registered early)
Two-week sessions designed to foster independence, leadership, confidence, and friendships through a wide range of activities.
LIT (Leaders-In-Training) Program (2026)
Session 1: June 28th - July 25th; Session 2: July 26th - August 22nd
Cost: $1,200
A four-week leadership development program for 15-year-olds or those entering 10th grade.
CIT (Counselor-In-Training) Program (2026)
Session 1: June 28th - July 25th; Session 2: July 26th - August 22nd
Cost: $900
A four-week program for 16-year-olds or those entering 11th grade, offering practical experience in camp counseling. Completing the program makes participants eligible for junior counselor hire the following summer.
🍎Food Policy
- • Peanut tree nut-free camp: Any peanut or nut butter brought to camp will be disposed of.
- • Campers are allowed a small shoebox-sized rubber bin to store snacks.
- • Discourages chocolate or items that can melt, as cabins are not temperature controlled.
- • Food left open can attract mice and chipmunks.
- • The Camp Store has a concession stand open throughout the day for campers to purchase healthy snacks, chips, and candy via their camp store accounts.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • On-site infirmary with a nurse on staff 24/7 for non-emergency medical needs.
- • Behavioral support specialist on staff to assist with mental health needs.
- • In case of emergency, campers are taken to South County Hospital in Wakefield, Charlestown Urgent Care in Charlestown, or Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence.
- • Parents/guardians are called immediately in case of emergency.
- • Camp is not responsible for medical charges incurred; charges are billed to family’s medical insurance or directly to parents/guardians.
- • Medications prescribed due to injury/illness at camp are billed to family's insurance; if paid by camp, charge passed to family.
- • Staff trained in managing camper homesickness.
📅Booking Policy
- • A non-refundable deposit is required at the time of registration.
- • The remaining balance for camp is due on May 1st.
- • For registrations made after May 1st, the full amount is due at the time of registration.
- • Payment plans are available for families, must be completed by May 1st. Contact mselter@gpymca.org or campfuller@gpymca.org to set up.
- • Financial Aid applications are available and will be processed starting January 2026.
- • New families need to create an account on Daxko (registration system), select Camp Fuller as branch, and sign up for a Non-Membership.
- • Returning families log into their existing Daxko account to register.
🚗Parking Information
- • Drop-off area available on check-in day for care packages.
- • Early drop-off available on Sundays from 10-11 am (normal drop-off starts at 1:30 pm).
What People Say
Areas for Improvement
- Can get crowded during peak times (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Lucy McNamara
a month agoCamp fuller is one of the best places to spend your summers with such a beautiful community of lovely people. I consider camp fuller as my second home and all the people my family. It’s a beautiful place to make life long memories and friends. #campfullerforlife
Claire Ewens
6 months agoI love this place so much! Ive met all of my best friends here, and im still close with every single one of them. Some live 4,000 miles from me and others only a 30 minute drive. I will keep the memories I make there for the rest of my life. I will also go there as a camper and counselor as long as I can.
Charles Barnes
3 years agoPossibly the greatest place on earth. Loved being a camper and counselor here and will be sending my kids as soon as I can, as long as my wife will let me. Sailing, swimming, archery, canoeing, sports, windsurfing, water skiing... Pretty much all of the summer activities one would expect at a camp on a beautiful property in an idyllic location. One of the good things to come out of the pandemic was the fact that I was able to come back last time (or 3) and share it with my family.
Harry Channing
2 years agoWent here for 14 years (camper and counselor). Best place on earth! I would send my kids. I tell everyone I know to send theirs! I became much of who I am because of this place. Sailing is the best program area and I will happily die on that hill. Send your kids!
Doug Caldwell
8 years agoNothing less than 5 stars for my experience at Camp Fuller for six seasons (1959-1964); three as camper and three on sailing staff. A life changing experience. Camp Fuller was recommended to me as I had aged out of my YMCA day camp in CT and the local director knew of Camp Fuller. Its been over 50 years now and the memories are a bit vague so I just remember all the good stuff now. I trust the camp has kept its high standards as one to instill the values and traditions of the YMCA experience. I posted a few photos on my camp experience.