WAPSIE WELCOME HOME

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WELCOME HOME

YMCA Camp Wapsie is a traditional overnight and day camp located 30 miles north of Cedar Rapids, in rural Coggon, Iowa. The site is nestled on 182 acres of scenic land, including lodging for around 280, a scenic waterway for exploring in canoes, a climbing tower with a zipline, an archery range, Ga-Ga pits, an outdoor sports court, a swimming pool, and much more. Camp Wapsie provides the perfect setting to serve Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and surrounding communities. We serve people of all ages through summer camp, year-round retreats, teambuilding, community, youth, and family programs.

Each summer, more than 2,000 campers of all ages and identities arrive at Camp Wapsie to make new friends, learn new skills, develop character, and have an adventure. Campers become a community as they learn to be more independent and contribute to a group as they engage in physical, social, and educational activities. Camp Wapsie is the place to help young people build the character values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. With our deep tradition in camping, we strive to instill these underlying principles into each camper during their time at Camp. Here at YMCA Camp Wapsie, we are: For Youth Development, For Healthy Living, and For Social Development.

EXPLORE OUR PROGRAMS

CAMP HIGHLIGHTS & UPCOMING EVENTS

JOIN US FOR A FAMILY OR SPECIAL CAMP THIS SCHOOL YEAR

  • Parent/Child Weekends
  • Book Retreats
  • Mather/Daughter Weekend
  • Family Camps
  • Halloween, Winter & Spring Fling Camps

SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION WILL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT

Looking ahead for summer 2026:

  • Pre-Registration for Summer 2025 Campers will be coming soon…watch your emails!
  • Y Members can register on January 25
  • Registration Begins February 1

Spend Your Summer Making a Difference

Applications for summer 2026 opening soon!

Get ready for another unforgettable summer at YMCA Camp Wapsie! Whether you’re returning for more camp magic or applying for the first time, we’re excited to connect with you and see what you can bring to the Wapsie experience. Stay tuned for updates and be sure to apply early as some positions fill fast!

 Applicants must be at least 16 years old for entry-level jobs, with some positions requiring applicants to be 21+. If you are a minor, we strongly encourage you to take part in our Leadership Development Program as the best pathway to future camp employment. 

Interested in completing an internship through a job at YMCA Camp Wapsie? We are excited to partner with students and schools to create meaningful internship opportunities. 

Have questions? Reach out to our Summer Camp Director, Hanna O’Toole, who will be happy to help.

We are also hiring for Program Coordinators on a rolling bases. These positions have flexible start and end dates and they work with the retreats/groups that come to camp during the school year. You can find the details here:  

Apply for the Leadership Development Programs

Looking for an opportunity for your child to grow, lead, and have fun at camp? Our Leadership-In-Training (LIT) and Counselor-In-Training (CIT) programs combine workshop sessions, mentorship, and hands-on leadership opportunities that build essential skills for future success.

LIT’s must be entering 10th or 11th grade and CIT’s must be entering 11th or 12th grade in the fall.

Applications will be out by mid September and be due by October 15th. Applications received after October 15th will be processed separately.

Financial Assistance

YMCA Camp Wapsie and the YMCA of the Cedar Rapids Metro Area are committed to providing quality programs to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.  Financial Assistance is subsidized by the YMCA Annual Support Campaign.

Click Here for The Application