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SUMMER CAMP SIGN UP IS OPEN!

Learn about this year’s camp offerings! Browse through our Camp Guide below:

DAY CAMP REGISTRATIONS

Registrations for Day Camp only close the Thursday before the new week begins

2026 Summer Camp Changes and Cancellation Process

  • Changes and cancellations to camps weeks 1-5 (6/1-7/3/2026) must be requested via Camp change form (per camper) by May 15, 2026 to avoid fees. After May 15, 2026, no refunds or credits will be made to weeks 1-5, and you will be charged in full for your registered camp(s). 
  • Changes and cancellations to camps weeks 6-11 (7/5-8/14/2026) must be requested via Camp change form (per camper) by June 15, 2026 to avoid fees. After June 15, 2026, no refunds or credits will be made to weeks 6-11, and you will be charged in full for your registered camp(s). 
  • No changes will be made by phone or email and exceptions to this timeframe are not allowed. No credit is given for absences within the program, including illness and injury after these dates.
  • Accounts will not be adjusted, and credits/refunds will not be given for non-attendance, including illness. When you enroll in our programs you are reserving space, time, and staffing whether your child attends or not.
  • The YMCA reserves the right to dismiss a child from the program upon notifying the parent. Refunds or credits will not be issued for dismissal from the program due to behavior (within that current week registered; any additional registered weeks will be charged the 10% fee).
  • Third party campers will be charged the absence fee for cancellations after the deadline.

Who We Are

YMCA Camp Abe Lincoln provides positive outdoor learning experiences for a diverse camper population. At Camp Abe Lincoln, we are in the business of building people up. We meet campers and staff where they are, when they arrive at camp. With a camping heritage that goes back 100 years, Camp Abe Lincoln can give your child the connection, the confidence, and the character they need on their journey to finding their purpose!

Open to Everybody

“Welcoming to all” is more than a motto at Camp Abe Lincoln. This principle guides how we treat one another. this helps us learn and grow in a place where we feel comfortable being ourselves. We seek to create a welcoming, affirming, and inclusive environment at camp.

A Nature-Focused Experience

Research shows that nature experiences significantly reduce children’s stress. Free play in natural areas enhances children’s cognitive flexibility, problem-solving ability, creativity, self-esteem, and self-discipline. Here at Camp Abe Lincoln we couldn’t agree more. We see this happen on a daily basis. We want kids leaving camp more connected to nature – dirt and all!

Character Development

Kids can be faced with countless negative influences these days. In all that we do, we practice and model our motto, “build people up”. At Camp Abe Lincoln, we are guided by our core values of Honesty, Caring, Respect, and Responsibility. We teach these values throughout every aspect of our program.

Professional Role Models

We hire staff who already demonstrate our core values of honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility in their daily lives. Staff complete a rigorous application process, reference checks and background checks. Staff attend a week-long training experience where they learn about youth development, safety and supervision, camp programming, and how to welcome and include all campers. They also become certified in CPR and 1st Aid and learn how to help children with homesickness and peer conflicts. We live by the philosophy that if we hire kind, caring, honest and respectful young adults, we can train them to be great camp counselors.

OVERNIGHT CAMP

The Overnight Camp program at YMCA Camp Abe Lincoln is a world where imagination comes alive!  Campers spend a magical week participating in fun and intentional daily activities while making friends and creating lasting memories. Camp Abe Lincoln’s unique and exciting evening activities are bursting with energy.  Games such as Capture the Flag, Swim Under the Lights, Camp Carnival, and more make for fantastic evening fun, while building camper teamwork and leadership skills.  No week at Camp Abe Lincoln is complete without the traditional campfires, songs, night hikes, and cookouts.

 

Day Camp

Day campers get a great taste of traditional outdoor camp during their days with us. Campers arrive about 8:45am and start with a snack and morning circle to set the tone for the day. Campers participate in camp activities with a group of similarly-aged peers and their counselor. Bus transportation is provided from the Bittner and the Bettendorf Ys. Campers can be dropped off between 7:30 – 7:50 am and picked up between 4:30 – 5:30 pm.