When you climb the gangway to the deck, you step away from the familiar routines of school, friends, and family, and begin your own personal voyage of discovery. Your home is a magnificent 19th century-style sailing ship, cruising the New England Coast.
You become a sailor, standing watch, tending sheets, and steering your ship with pride as she scuds along before a fresh breeze. You watch whales, seals, and dolphins in their natural habitats, and observe the ocean world through hands-on investigations led by dynamic instructors eager to share their passion for ocean stewardship.

You’ll visit historic ports along the coast and her islands, including historical sites and museums, and be submerged in maritime culture through the stories, legends, superstitions, and myths of sailing ships and the sea. The rewards are found in moonlight nights with a gentle breeze…in knowing the names of the stars… and in feeling at home in the vastness of the ocean world.

You experience this voyage with strangers who will quickly become friends – friendships born through shared adventure. You become a respected member of a close-knit community, and what you learn about yourself is the true bounty of your voyage. Welcome aboard!

We understand the connection between playing and learning. That is why all of the programs at YMCA Camp Ingersoll are designed to encourage children to make new friends, learn new skills and spend time with counselors who model the values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Our goal is to ensure all campers have an opportunity to:
Develop self-confidence and self-respect
Grow as responsible members of their families and communities
Form good habits of health and physical fitness
Recognize the worth of all persons
Develop a sense of world-mindedness
Develop their capacities for leadership
Develop an interest in, a knowledge of, and respect for the natural world
All while having FUN!

We at YMCA Camp Oakasha are committed to inspire memorable experiences through a variety of fun and safe activities. We pledge that campers will be actively involved with peers in a positive and meaningful way. Along with our traditional camp program we are proud to offer a completely new set of specialty camp programs. Each program has been designed with an emphasis on participation, skill development, meeting new friends and of course fun!!

Sea Squirts (Grades PreK & K – 9am-12pm) Junior scientists get a crab's eye view of the Sound's amazing animals and their ocean friends! Learn how different animals eat, move, and hide in warm, wet tide pools, gooey, muddy saltmarshes, and even between the grains of sand! Play exciting games and get creative with art projects to take home and share with your family.
Price $195/week

Sea Sprites (Grades 1 & 2) Sprites search for Long Island Sound marine life as they explore tide pools, beaches, and salt marshes. Each day will focus on a different animal that lives in the Sound - learn where they live, how to collect and hold them, and unbelievable facts about our neighbors in the water! Crafts, games, cool science activities, and fun filled exploring adventures make Sea Sprites a great way to spend the summer in the sun and make some new friends!
Price $225/week

Sea Otters (Grades 3-4) Sea Otters become true Eco-Explorers as they take daily expeditions into Long Island Sound habitats to discover what lives there and why. With daily quests, amazing science activities, and games, your budding scientist will become an expert on the shore and make memories that will last a lifetime!
Price $250/week

Sound Explorers (Grades 5-8 *CHANGED FROM 2011) Campers will navigate and sail their way around New Haven Harbor while learning to work together as the 'crew' of the tall ship Quinnipiack. Under sail each day, campers will participate in different marine science experiments that will be performed at different locations. This combination science and sailing camp is perfect for campers with no sailing experience, but even the most advanced sailor is welcome. This camp will end with a camper-led sailing adventure on Friday!
Price $300/week

Coast Quest (Grades 7-12 * CHANGED FROM 2011) Paddles in hand, this camp will explore the shore and become an expert on all things in, on, and around the water! Daily excursions bring marine science to life with Schooner. In partnership with the University of New Haven, each day’s activities will be led by our trained paddling and Marine Science experts… finding the best spots around the Harbor to explore, paddle, and (of course) have fun!
Price $325/week

Opti Sailors (Grades 4-6) What do you get when you combine Sailing, Science, and Summer Camp? OPTIs!! This two week camp program is an amazing addition to campers’ summer plans! This combination of shore-based and sailing camps (with a fleet of Opti's perfectly designed for the age group) will have campers on the shore for half the day exploring and learning about Long Island Sound and on the water for the other half learning the basics of sailing. Small groups allow for plenty of supervision and plenty of fun!
Price $600/2 week session

Flying Juniors (Grades 7-12) Get ready to set sail for a summer of fun on the water! Each day of this two week program will be a different adventure in sailing and discovery – led by certified US Sailing instructors and Marine Science students from the University of New Haven. What could be better than sailing away for the summer?
Price $650/2 week session

Trailmark is an adventure travel program ideally suited as a post-camp experience for students' ages 11-17. Co-ed trips travel to New England, the Northern Rockies or Southwest Colorado and are 7-14 days in length. Various trips may be combined to create a longer experience. Campers grouped closely by age, travel by van with 2 adult leaders, camping each night in either established or wilderness campsites.

Trailmark provides a supportive small-group environment, which fosters personal growth through active participation in a variety of adventure activities. Outdoor activities include whitewater rafting, backpacking, horseback riding, sailing, mountain biking, canoeing, sea kayaking, rock climbing, mountaineering, and service projects. No previous travel camping experience is necessary to have "the best summer of you life".

Choosing a summer program for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make this year. The experiences that your child has throughout the summer months will greatly affect the values they learn and the person they become. We here at YMCA Camp Mataucha are committed to inspire meaningful experiences through a variety of fun and safe activities such as, swimming, boating, arts & crafts, archery, nature, ropes course, and more! All of our staff are hand selected based on their past experiences, attitudes, as well as their ability to accept and demonstrate the positive values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. These "Professional Role Models" are zany and energetic people who are dedicated to working with campers and inspire them to form friendships, try new adventures and create lasting memories. We look forward to sharing these experiences with your family this summer.