YMCA Camp Surf
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
YMCA Camp Surf offers a unique, activity-rich, beach-focused camping experience in Southern California, ideal for families and organized groups. Its standout features include direct beach access with provided surf equipment and lessons, a vast array of facilitated land activities, and a strong communal atmosphere with good food, making it an all-inclusive and highly engaging destination.
Key Highlights
- ✓Beach access is a short 5-8 minute walk from cabins, allowing for extensive beach time.
- ✓Free use of surf and boogie boards on the beach, with free surf lessons/instruction upon request.
- ✓Staff are EMT trained and on-site during specific beach activity times.
- ✓Extensive facilitated activities including rock climbing walls, archery (with staff), volleyball sand court, pickleball court, basketball area, and two Ga-Ga Ball areas (one with shade and raisers for little ones).
- ✓Creative activities like a craft area with limitless supplies and a pirate ship stage for skits.
- ✓Delicious and plentiful meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) with fresh fruit and salad bars; staff eat with campers.
- ✓Organized daily itineraries with planned evening activities (e.g., board game night, minute-to-win-it, skit night), alongside flexible free activity time.
- ✓Cabins offer 16 bunks, and there are options for beach camping or brand new cabins.
- ✓Hot showers are available, though they may take a bit to get going.
- ✓Unlimited coffee and hot cocoa available almost all day, with a unique 'donate a mug' program.
- ✓Campfire pits available outside cabins and on the beach, with free firewood, lighters, and starter pods.
- ✓Environmentally conscious practices like using cloth napkins and actual dishes/silverware.
- ✓Opportunity to bring canned goods for local organizations.
- ✓Allows guests to leave camp to explore local activities and return, or order food delivery (to be met in parking lot).
- ✓Magnificent dining hall with ocean views.
Standout Features
- ⭐Direct, convenient access to the beach for water activities.
- ⭐Provision of essential gear (surfboards, boogie boards, wetsuits - confirm cost) and free surf lessons.
- ⭐Structured yet flexible activity schedule with dedicated staff for activities like archery and rock climbing.
- ⭐High-quality, included meals with healthy options and a communal dining atmosphere.
- ⭐Clean and functional facilities, including cabins and showers.
- ⭐Variety of camping options, from cabins to beach tent camping.
- ⭐Abundance of free extras like craft supplies, firewood, and hot beverages.
- ⭐Strong emphasis on group programs and fostering a community feel.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Confirm the current policy and cost for wetsuit rentals prior to your visit, as reviews provide conflicting information.
- →Bring your own scooters or skates if your children wish to use the small skate park.
- →If planning to leave camp for local excursions or order food delivery, be prepared to meet delivery personnel in the parking lot.
- →Consider joining a program like YMCA Adventure Guides for a structured and highly recommended group experience.
- →Bring canned goods to contribute to their local charity collection program.
- →Be prepared for a short walk from the parking area to the beach and other camp facilities.
- →If hot water is a priority, be aware it may take a few minutes to warm up in showers.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Wetsuit availability and cost is inconsistent across reviews; one states 'free wet suits for all campers', another states 'rented out for $10 for the day'. Parents should confirm current policy.
- ⚠Hot water in showers takes a bit of time to get going.
- ⚠The skate park area is described as 'small', 'out of the way', and requires campers to bring their own scooters or skates.
- ⚠One review noted a school trip 'couldn't swim' at the beach, suggesting potential restrictions depending on group or conditions.
- ⚠There is 'a little walk from parking to the beach'.
Price & Value
While no overall camp price is mentioned, the value appears high due to the extensive list of included activities and amenities. Free surf lessons, free use of surf/boogie boards, limitless craft supplies, and free firewood/starters represent significant added value. The main potential 'hidden cost' or discrepancy is wetsuit rental: one review suggests they are free, while another states a $10 daily rental fee. Parents should confirm this cost. Meals are provided and highly rated, contributing positively to the perceived value.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Ga-Ga Ball areas include 'raisers for little ones to see over the wall' to accommodate shorter children.
- •No other specific accommodations for physical or sensory disabilities are mentioned.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided, often with fresh fruit and salad options.
- •Staff eat meals with campers, indicating quality and appeal.
- •Unlimited coffee and hot cocoa are available.
- •Guests are welcome to leave camp to purchase snacks from a store nearby.
- •Guests can order food delivery, but must meet the delivery person in the parking lot.
- •The facility promotes sustainability by using cloth napkins and actual dishes/silverware.
- •No explicit policy on bringing outside food (beyond snacks) into cabins or dining hall, but meals are provided.
🚗Parking Info
- •Parking is available, but there is 'a little walk from parking to the beach' and facilities.
- •Guests receiving food delivery must meet drivers in the parking lot.
👥Crowd Levels
- •The camp regularly hosts large groups like Cub Scout troops, school trips, and YMCA Adventure Guides programs.
- •Reviewers did not report feeling overly crowded even on a Veteran's Day weekend with a family of five, suggesting good capacity management for the activities.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Staff are EMT trained and on-site during specific beach activity times.
- •Staff are present to educate and facilitate activities like archery and rock wall climbing.
- •A 'required safety meeting' is conducted, often at the pirate ship stage.
- •Overall, staff are described as friendly and helpful, contributing to a safe and supervised environment.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Families who prioritize immediate hot water access in showers.
- • If ocean swimming is a primary focus, as one review noted restrictions for a school group (though surfing is offered).
- • If you are expecting a large, fully-equipped skate park.
- • If you prefer complete isolation, as it's often used by large groups and has a communal environment.
Pricing/Package/Events
Photos
What People Say
What's Great
- Friendly and helpful staff (mentioned in 9 reviews)
- Safe environment for children (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 4 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Can get crowded during peak times (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Yain Porter
2 months agoMy family of 5 and I went during Veteran's Day weekend, and we had the most amazing time! The food was delicious, the staff were all very friendly and helpful, and the facilities were great. Their showers had hot water (although it did take a bit to get it going), and their cabin had 16 bunks. There was an itinerary, and activities planned every night, in typical campy fashion with board game night and minute-to-win-it games. You didn't have to attend any of their events, but it was a welcome addition. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were all great. There was fresh fruit available for breakfast every morning, and salad provided for lunch and dinner. The staff ate their meals with the campers, so it wasn't anything they wouldn't eat! The beach was just a 5-8 minute walk away from our cabin, and we spent a majority of our time there. They provided free wet suits for all campers for their stay, had rock climbing walls, archery, and surf lessons. They also had a volleyball sand court, a pickleball court, and basketball area that our kids enjoyed. There was a small skate park area, but it was out of the way and we didn't have any scooters or skates with us. We stayed at the camp the entire weekend, and only left to grab some snacks from the store. There was more than enough to keep us entertained!
barahona ary
6 months agoIt was so fun I went for a school trip the councilors were so nice and the food is actually so good too the beach was pretty as well but we couldn’t swim
Ken Cousens
6 years agoCool place to go camping or just hang out. We went with our cub scout troop. They have a lot of activities and the food was good. They have unlimited coffee almost all day also which is nice and they have a rock wall and archery. I would stay here again if I was able to. It's a little walk from parking to to the beach.
Tomas Cortijo
2 years agoGreat campground, it's one of our favorite destinations in the YMCA Adventure Guides program. Beach camping or brand new cabins, and a full lineup of activities for kids by the ocean, climbing wall, archery and arts and crafts. It has to be one of the only places in southern California where you can camp on the beach
Dawn
2 years agoThe YMCA Adventure Guides (Corona-Norco) Mother-Daughter program looks forward to this camp all year!! Join Today! YMCA Camp Surf is an opportunity for the older, middle and high school, daughters. The expanse of activities, over a good amount of land, the amazing views, helpful and friendly faculty, and charming cabins and overall character of this establishment is worth planning ahead and going with a group. Meals are provided for lunch & supper on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday. The Dining Hall is a magnificent large space that skillfully highlights the ocean view. They provide a great agenda to layout your day with several hours chuncked together for free activity time. You choose which activity you would like to do throughout that open block of time. Wet-suits are rented out for $10 for the day. Surf and Boogie Boards are accessible on the beach, free of charge (and staff are EMT trained and on-site during specific times of day. They also provide surf lesson/instruction, upon request, free of charge,) limitless craft supplies are provided in the quaint craft area that feels like a you are hanging out in a large open room of a tree house, boardered with paint spattered nice picnic tables, no ceiling and a large grass matt on the floor....it's a private space, away from it all, crafting for as long as you want...fully included in the cost of camp...no extra expense. Two excellent examples of litter art decorate the wooden fence of the perameter with a positive, uplifting and encouraging message of thought-provoking awareness. You are welcome to leave camp to explore a local activity and return to camp, and you may order food to be delivered to you if you wish, (you'll need to meet the delivery person in the parking lot). We love the experience of the dining hall and reserve eating at a local spot for prior to the start of camp or after camp, before we head home. There are 2 great Ga-Ga Ball areas, (one with shade, benches and raisers for little ones to see over the wall,) Archery and Rock Wall Tower climbing (both with staff on location to educate and facilitate), plenty of Basketballs to shoot hoops, and Footballs too. There is also a Volleyball court between the cabins and dining hall with a great view of the shore's breaking waves off in the distance. There is a cute pirate ship stage where skits are done as well as the required safety meeting. The staff make skit night interactive and fun for all! Campfire pits are located outside cabin areas and on the beach for the tent campers that set-up their camps there rather than using tents. Forewood, lighters and starter pods are available free of charge. Shout out to the use of cloth napkins, and actual dishes and silverware that are washed and reused! You can donate a unique coffee mug for future campers to enjoy too! It's a quaint touch to select from an assortment of various coffee mugs when grabbing your hot cocoa or coffee and you get to walk around with them and return them to the dining hall later. Easily overlooked, yet so important in these times when so many are struggling, is the opportunity to bring canned goods they collect to help a local organization. Bring them to the office! I hope you get the opportunity to enjoy this experience! Our daughter and I will cherish it for a lifetime. ❤️
Contact Information
560 Silver Strand Blvd, Imperial Beach, CA 91932, USA
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