YMCA Camp Lakewood
A traditional overnight camp in Potosi, MO, offering a screen-free experience with a focus on building confidence...
▌ Editor's read YMCA Camp Lakewood is an overnight camp located in Potosi, MO, operating under the Greater St. Louis YMCA. The camp is ACA accredited, with its accreditation valid through 2025, indicating compliance with over 200 health and safety standards. The website mentions that all staff undergo extensive training, including background checks, first aid, and CPR certification. Google reviews show a strong rating of 4.8 stars based on 588 reviews, with many reviewers praising the positive impact on their children and the variety of activities offered. The camp offers a wide range of activities such as horseback riding, watersports, climbing, and arts and crafts. Social media handles include @ymcacamplakewood on Instagram and YMCACampLakewood on Facebook. The camp is clearly a nonprofit organization, consistent with the YMCA's mission.
Who thrives here Ages 6–17
YMCA Camp Lakewood is built for middle-school campers — an age where leadership tracks, deeper specialization, and identity exploration take over from generalist day-camp formats. overnight/sleepaway programs that thrive at this age publish a clear weekly progression rather than a rotating activity menu, and the staff-to-camper conversation usually matters more than the activity list.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Overnight camp
- ACA accredited
- Yes
- Established
- Not listed
- Operator
- Nonprofit organization
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: Overnight/Sleepaway
- Ages: 6–17
- Hours: 24-hour residential
- Address: 13528 State Highway AA, Potosi, MO 63664
- Phone: (573) 438-2155
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost notes: Tier 1: $1,185, Tier 2: $985. Prices are per session (5 nights).
Runs 24-hour residential, 7 sessions (7 one-week), from Jun 7 to Jul 31.
Sessions
Bookable units published by the camp. Each row is a one-week session.
- Session 1 Jun 7 – 12, 2026 · 1 week · $1,185
- Session 2 Jun 14 – 19, 2026 · 1 week · $1,185
- Session 3 Jun 21 – 26, 2026 · 1 week · $1,185
- Session 5 Jul 5 – 10, 2026 · 1 week · $1,185
- Session 6 Jul 12 – 17, 2026 · 1 week · $1,185
- Session 7 Jul 19 – 24, 2026 · 1 week · $1,185
- Session 8 Jul 26 – 31, 2026 · 1 week · $1,185
↗ What parents like
- Screen-free environment
- Tiered pricing available
- Financial assistance offered
↘ Watch for
- $200 non-refundable deposit
- Medical exam required
Logistics
- Lunch provided: Yes
- Transportation: Yes
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: outdoor
Frequently asked about YMCA Camp Lakewood
- What ages does YMCA Camp Lakewood accept?
- YMCA Camp Lakewood is open to children ages 6–17. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does YMCA Camp Lakewood cost?
- YMCA Camp Lakewood publishes $1,185/week for the standard session. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are YMCA Camp Lakewood's hours?
- YMCA Camp Lakewood runs 24-hour residential. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Is YMCA Camp Lakewood accredited?
- Yes — YMCA Camp Lakewood is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). ACA accreditation means the camp has been audited against ~300 health, safety, and program-quality standards covering staffing, supervision ratios, emergency response, and program design.
- Who runs YMCA Camp Lakewood?
- YMCA Camp Lakewood is operated by a nonprofit organization. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does YMCA Camp Lakewood provide lunch?
- Yes — YMCA Camp Lakewood includes lunch in the program. Confirm whether it's a hot lunch, cold lunch, or a snack-plus-bring-your-own setup, and ask about allergy accommodations if relevant.
- Does YMCA Camp Lakewood offer transportation?
- YMCA Camp Lakewood provides transportation. Coverage zones and bus stops vary; ask for the route map for the summer you're enrolling in. Some camps fold bus fees into tuition, others bill separately.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare YMCA Camp Lakewood with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Day camp vs. overnight camp · Decide whether the format fits your child and schedule.
- Packing list and camp prep · Plan gear, medication notes, labels, and drop-off prep.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
Camps near here
Same city, with age-overlapping options first. Other camps to consider alongside YMCA Camp Lakewood.
- YMCA Camp Lakewood · Ages 6–17 · $985/week
- YMCA Camp Lakewood Mini Camp · YMCA Camp Lakewood Mini Camp · Ages 6–7 · $1,048/week
- Camp EDI · Camp EDI · Ages 8–17 · $825/week
- Camp EDI - Leader-in-Training (LIT) · Camp EDI - Leader-in-Training (LIT) · Ages 16–17 · $825/week
- Camp EDI - Overnight · Camp EDI - Overnight · Ages 8–17 · $825/week
- Camp Roehr (Epilepsy Foundation) · YMCA Camp Lakewood in Potosi, MO · Ages 0–17