Camp Williams is here every school holiday!
YMCA’s flagship day camp, Camp Williams runs every school holiday, and is bursting with creative activities, outdoor adventures, sports, group games, camp songs and more.
Campers range from ages 4 to 15, and enjoy a programme that grows with them, designed to introduce amazing new experiences, skills, opportunities, and responsibilities at every age group.
What to expect from Camp Williams
Camp Williams is not your usual holiday club! Every part of the programme is by design, carefully shaped using the building blocks of positive youth development.
By the end of each week, campers will have achieved something amazing and fantastic for them – be it learning how to climb, going up on stage, making a new friend, or just trying something new.
Our Core Values of Honesty, Caring, Respect and Responsibility are embedded into every aspect of camp for both children and staff. Children are celebrated for their quality of character and the effort they put in.
Whereas other clubs may focus on winning, Camp Williams recognises triumphs big and small – recognising children for their uniqueness and individual feats.
Camp Activities
Whatever age a camper is, they’ll be able to get involved with a huge range of activities and games that make the most of the fantastic facilities at the YMCA Community and Activity Village. Every child can enjoy sports, group games, crafts, Juice Jam, swimming, camp rallies and Gaga Ball.
Camp Fire Friday
Every week, campers have the chance to show off their new skills and achievements at Camp Fire Friday. All Villages attend, and parents and carers are invited to join in with songs, watch performances and experience the camp spirit for themselves.
Skill Clinics (ages 8+)
A real favourite for our campers, Skill Clinics form a core part of the progression-based programming for campers.
Skill Clinics often include Basketball, Football, Dance, Drama and Theatre, Music, Crafts, Soft Archery, Climbing, Skateboarding and more.
Note: Skill clinics vary week by week. We cannot guarantee the availability of specific clinics, however do our best to ensure an exciting range is always available.
Day Bookings
For children aged 8+, Camp Williams is designed to be a week-long programme. However, we can offer limited day bookings available as part of our Pioneer Camp. Pioneer campers still access tons of camp favourites, but have a different activity schedule to make the most of their time with us. Learn more here.
Book Camp Williams Today!
Villages: A camp that grows with them
While at camp, children join a Village based on their age group. Each Village is like its own community within Camp Williams – each with their own camp leaders, base room, colours, song and flag.
As children age through Villages, the activities, and privileges available to them grow too.
Kids Zone
(aged 4 -7)
Our youngest campers are just starting their camp journey. They join in with indoor and outdoor sports, games, arts, crafts, and swimming.
Campers can also perform their newfound skills for parents at Campfire Friday!
Discovery Village
(aged 8 – 9)
Our full-week campers get to choose their Skill Clinics! Find out more about Skill Clinics below.
In addition to Skill Clinics, Discovery campers can also enjoy sports, camp games, and swimming!
Explorer Village
(aged 10 – 12)
Campers can enjoy everything Discovery can access.
Plus, Explorer campers are offered the chance to take their abilities to the next level with Masterclass Skills Clinics (see below for more details).
Adventure Village
(13 – 15)
As role models, our oldest and wisest campers enjoy sports, games, swimming AND Skill Clinics, plus Masterclass Skills Clinics and participation in Adventure Day Trips, which take place each Thursday at camp (full week bookings at Summer camp only).
Pioneer Village (aged 8 – 12)
Day bookings only.
Pioneer village campers are those who join us for a single day booking.
One-day programme campers can enjoy a range of awesome activities, including sports, games, structured and freestyle swimming, arts and craft projects.
Children also get the chance to try some of the skills-based activities on site, which have been tailored especially for campers to get the most out of their single day. This means that campers booked on the full week at camp will get priority choice of their Skill Clinics, and Pioneer Village campers will be able to try available Skill Clinics, which vary each week depending on capacity and staffing.
Book now!
| Holiday | Week | Week booking Price | Day booking Price |
| Summer Week 1 |
30th July – 1st August
|
£127.20 | £60 |
| Summer Week 2 |
4th – 8th August
|
£212 | £60 |
| Summer Week 3 |
11th – 15th August
|
£212 | £60 |
| Summer Week 4 |
18th – 22nd August
|
£212 | £60 |
| Summer Week 5 |
26th – 29th August
|
£170 | £60 |
All dates are 8am – 6pm and located at YMCA Community and Activity Village, Newark-on-Trent.
Live closer to Nottingham? Click here to book our Nottingham camp instead.
Scholarship Programme
Everyone should have a fair chance to discover who they are and what they can become.
YMCA’s Scholarship programme is bedded into the ethos of Camp Williams as a charity run, not-for-profit service. The initiative provides financial accessibility to families who may otherwise not be able to attend, with costs part covered by charity grants and generous community donations.
Campers who attend on a scholarship enjoy the same incredible experience as everyone else.
Learn more & applyFAQs
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Who should I contact whilst my child is at Camp?
For early pick up, if you’re running late or for any questions whilst your child is at Camp, please call the Camp Site Mobile Phone: 07587 552 923.
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Where can I find your prices and dates?
All camp dates and cost breakdowns can be found online so you can choose the best camp package for you and your child. If you can’t quite cover cost of the week camp, you may qualify for our Scholarships support.
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What happens on arrival?
Everyone will be introduced to their team and Village spaces. If you have any questions during the day, parents/carers will be given a specific YMCA Camp Williams phone number to contact anytime. Collection is between 5pm-6pm every day.
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Is there an age limit on who can take part in Skill Clinics?
Yes. For the safety and enjoyment of our campers, only older children aged 8-15 can participate in Skill Clinics – but don’t worry! Campers in our Kids Zone (aged 4-7) will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy other engaging activities such as clay modelling, slack-lining and rocket building – not to mention creating craft props for their Campfire Friday performances!
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What is Camp Fire Friday?
At the end of each week, we invite parents and carers to join us and celebrate the children’s achievements at Camp Williams with a series of performances from each Village. Campers can take to the stage and show off their new skills! A lovely way to round-off their YMCA adventures.
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Communication, feedback and complaints
We would love to hear your feedback. Of course, our staff team are always happy to listen to your concerns or thoughts at arrival and collection time.
If you have concerns about the quality of the care your child is receiving, we want you to tell us. Assistant Operations Manager – Early Years & Childcare, Catherine Shotton on: 07467 818 580. If you are a parent/ carer and cannot resolve your concern through discussion, you can send your formal written complaint toymcadaycamps@nottsymca.org or by post to YMCA Camp Williams, The Malt Cross, Nottingham, NG1 6FG.
More information can be found in our Parent Handbook.