Summer Camps
- Camp Leif Ericson Store
- Camp Alumni
- Transportation Information
- Camp FAQS
- Little Vikes (Ages 4-5)
- Camp Leif Ericson (Ages 6-9)
- Camp Tepeetonka (Ages 10-13)
- Tepeetonka Leadership Camp (Ages 14-15)
- Ranch Camp (Ages 9-13)
- Tailfeather Camp (Ages 11-15)
- Venture Vikes Camp
- Boundary Waters Adventure Trips
- Camp Financial Aid
- Work At Camp!
FAQs
All meals outside of lunch are provided free of charge during overnights and the following morning.
Yes, boys and girls teams are available at all levels.
Yes, you can coach more than one team in the tournament. We do our best to get your teams in the same venue or venues that are reasonably close together. We can only do so much depending on how your teams play. You’ll will want to make sure you have an assistant coach or a parent who can fill in if your teams have to play at the same time.
Yes, however changes must be made ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SESSION. Any changes requested after that deadline are up to the transportation team.
No, we ask that you choose one option or the other, as we are required to order meals 2 weeks prior to the start of the session. You may change your preference up to 2 weeks prior to the start of your camper’s session.
Yes, you are welcome to provide transportation for your camper. If you elect to do so, your camper MUST be enrolled in our Before and After Camp Care program, and you MUST pay the extra one-time fee. It may seem backwards to pay to provide your own transportation for your child, however, that program requires staff to come earlier and stay longer than they would normally. To enroll and pay the fee, please call the camp office (605-336-2267).
No, your camper is required to use the stop that was chosen at the time of registration. Using more than one stop is difficult for us to accommodate, as we are responsible for the transportation for up to 750 campers at a time.
No, we prefer that you choose one or the other to limit traffic in and out of camp, and to limit confusion for campers and staff. If you want to use camper care, you MUST enroll in camper care, and pay the fee associated with that program.
No, players cannot play on more than one team.
Yes, we have plenty of table space, outlets, and fridge space for any food or drinks you would like to bring.
Yes, you can have multiple grades play on the same team. You have to register in the grade of the oldest player on your team though.
Yes, we serve and are accountable for up to 750 campers at a time, and all campers are required to be signed in and out by an approved adult. We do our best to accommodate pick-ups and drop offs, but you may need to be patient as there are a lot of requests to accommodate every day. (605-336-2267)
Please see the transportation information page or parent handbook for the designated early pick-up times.
Yes, extra staff is required to be there to care for your child at those times.
Parents will have the opportunity to select a Camp Lunch Option for $55 which will provide a Camp Lunch each day for campers, or you will be able to send your camper with their own lunch each day. Every camper will receive a Camp Snack each afternoon regardless of the option you select. For campers who bring their own lunch, we recommend using a lunchbox with an icepack.
No, GreatLIFE is simply leasing our space so their members can also work out here in the same building. YMCA members and GreatLIFE members have the same access to the building and all of the amenities that come with your membership. YMCA members cannot use other GreatLIFE facilities though.
Yes, we participate in the YMCA’s Nationwide Membership but you need to make sure that the YMCA you intend to visit also participates in the program. It’s always best to contact the Y you wish to visit and make sure it’s one of the 2,600 locations that participate. We offer Nationwide Membership because we want to help you reach your health and wellness goals wherever you live, work or travel. Please ask a front desk staff member for more information on Nationwide usage.
Learn more on our Nationwide Memberships page.
We no longer have a pool or hot tub but there is a Steam Room and Dry Sauna in BOTH men’s and women’s locker rooms.
Yes. Please pick up a form at the front desk.
We do not offer part time rates, but rather, we try to make the prices affordable for every family to be able to utilize our program.
Yes, we provide care from 7:15am-6pm most no-school days. We provide the kiddos with a morning and afternoon snack and require families to provide lunch. We will have activities for the kiddos, a bounce house, and lots of outdoor play (weather permitting).
There is about 1,800 square feet designated for play and 360 square feet designated for tables, chairs and eating.
You can register your student on the Sioux Falls YMCA website.
Please come down to 220 S. Minnesota Ave and fill out an application and while you’re here take a tour of the facility! You can also call and we can do it over the phone. You will just need to sign the membership application on your first visit.
There is not a limit on adults we allow in the facility. The limit for jumpers is 15 kiddos, if you purchase the additional 5. There is plenty of standing room as well as chairs around the table for adults to sit and stand.
K-5th grade have the opportunity to participate in our cheer and dance programs.
Students come right after the school bell rings and the program ends at 6pm.
Currently Mon-Fri 6am -9pm. We are open Saturdays only during basketball season (Fall-Winter) and these hours do get posted before the season starts. We are not open weekends during the rest of the year due to low staffing and low weekend traffic.
We were very excited to be able to return to a more traditional Camp Leif Ericson experience the past two summers and we will continue to keep the safety of our campers and staff as our top priority as we look forward to Summer 2023. Thus, we will continue to follow the recommendations of the American Camping Association, Y-USA, CDC, OSHA, and local Health Department as they are updated.
Camp does not close due to the weather. If it rains during the day, all campers are moved under shelters, and are entertained with skits and games until it stops raining. If the weather becomes severe, or the rain is prolonged we move programs indoors, and continue with activities and games. Please keep in mind that we serve over 700 campers at a time, and all campers may not fit in one indoor area. Campers are often moved to several different indoor locations. If we evacuate camp for any reason, you will be notified via email as soon as possible. The safety and well-being of all campers is always our #1 priority.
Mosquito Control comes to camp everyday to check on the mosquito population at camp. They also spray and treat any standing water at camp several times a week. Camp staff also applies bus spray to campers 2-3 times a day. We understand how frustrating mosquitoes and bug bites can be, as we work at camp all summer long. We do our very best to keep mosquitoes off of your campers.
- a sleeping bag and pillow
- weather appropriate clothing
- a change of clothes
- a set of pajamas
- any other necessary toiletries
We prefer that your camper uses the mode of transportation chosen at the time of registration. We highly encourage families to AVOID early pick ups, late drop offs, and any other deviations from the regular transportation routine if at all possible. Campers are absolutely NOT permitted to drive themselves to camp, park at camp property or park at the Cliff Avenue Greenhouse parking lot.
That’s fine! It is EXTREMELY important that you communicate that with the camp office at least 24 hours before the overnight. Campers may either ride the bus home at the usual time, or be picked up at: 4:15pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm or 9:45pm. camp@siouxfallsymca.org or 605-336-2267.
Our camp nurses will distribute all medications. Please send medications in the prescribed bottle labeled with the camper’s name, the name of the medication and administration instructions. Camp nurses will NOT administer medication that isn’t properly labeled. Please refrain from sending over the counter medications that aren’t absolutely essential for the camper’s well-being (these may include: melatonin, daily vitamins, etc.).
You are welcome to try and catch the bus at a later stop on the route, or you can drop them off and sign them in at camp.
Family night is an open house-style event where your family is welcome to come to camp! Family night starts at 6:00pm with a short program, and includes time for you and your family to walk around. We ask that everyone leaves by 7:30pm. Your camper will still ride the bus home as usual, or will be picked up at the normal time from camper care. It is not required for your family to come, but it is a lot of fun!
The 2023 menu will be posted as soon as we receive it from our food vendor.
The cost to play in the tournament is $150 for up to 10 players. There is an additional fee of $10 per player over 10.
Please send the following items LABELED with your camper’s name EVERYDAY:
- clothes that can get dirty and are appropriate for the weather
- CLOSED toed and comfortable shoes that can get dirty (NO SANDALS)
- swimming suit- in case of water activity
- towel
- water bottle
- sunscreen and bug spray (all staff have sunscreen and bug spray for camper use, as well)
In years past, we have held two separate family night events during the session. This year we are condensing them into one night. ALL CAMPS will have their family night on the Tuesday evening during the second week of the session. The event starts at 6:00pm, and ends at 7:30pm.
Games are typically held in venues in Sioux Falls, Brandon, and Harrisburg, South Dakota. Venues are not assigned until teams have been paired and multiple coaching assignments have been identified.
Sioux Falls: The Youth Performance Center: 2517 S Shirley Ave.
Hartford: West Central Elementary School: 303 E. 2nd st. Hartford, SD, 57033
Baltic: Baltic School: 1 Bulldog Ave. Baltic, SD 57003
Located at each individual middle school
Rules are available upon request prior to the pairing email being sent out. Coaches will receive the most up to date copy of the rules in the pairing email. If you would like to see a copy of the rules prior to receiving the email, please talk to Nicole Bissell at tristate@siouxfallsymca.org or 605-336-3190×4757.
In Sioux Falls we bus from JFK, Pettigrew, Discovery, Oscar Howe, Laura Wilder, Sonia Sotomayor and Endeavor to the YPC. We also bus from Humboldt to Hartford for our KARE program. No busing provided for the Baltic site.
Guests must be at least 14 yrs old and have an ACTIVE membership.
The coach or a representative comes to the downtown YMCA to pick up the team packet to ensure the roster is accurate, make any last minute changes, and pay any additional fees.
Campers enrolled in Tepeetonka, TLC and Ranch Camp will participate in overnights as listed below:
- Tepeetonka Alpha (campers ages 10&11) and Ranch Camp will have ONE overnight on the second Thursday of the session.
- Tepeetonka Grande (campers ages 12&13) and TLC (campers ages 14&15) will have TWO overnights during their session. One on the first Thursday and one on the second Thursday of the session.
- Tailfeather campers will enjoy ONE overnight on the Thursday night of their session.