School Holiday Programmes & Camps

Something for Everyone!

Here at the Christchurch YMCA we work hard to provide great school holiday programmes that will ensure that your children stay entertained throughout their holidays. We offer a range of activities from Arts & Crafts, to Sports & Outdoor Activities. Our programmes are designed to cater for different ages, genders and cultural backgrounds

All our programmes are run by talented and responsible staff who are trained to provide a safe and stimulating environment. Ensuring your child is safe and having a great time is at the top of our priority list.

Booking Info

Day Programmes

Our daily school holiday programmes operate Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm and offer your child the chance to experience independence, self reliance, and an opportunity to make great friends. You can choose to register for individual days or for the whole week.

In our quest to provide a higher level of service and to better cater for the needs of the children on our Holiday Programmes, we have split our programmes into age groups. This enables us to offer age group specific activities and outings, accompanied by authorised supervisors and leaders.

Booking Info

Fees & Details

5–7s – based at Middleton Grange School in Riccarton

Activities can include climbing wall, movies, magic shows, Antarctic Centre, Science Alive, gymnastics, circus school, arts and crafts, basketball, swimming, Orana Park, Willowbank, bowling, archery, cooking, mini golf, Tothills Maze and many more!

8–9s – based at City YMCA

Activities can include climbing wall, ice-skating, Court Theatre, movies, magic shows, Antarctic Centre, Science Alive, gymnastics, circus school, arts and crafts, basketball, swimming, Orana Park, Willowbank, bowling, archery, cooking, mini golf, Tothills Maze and many more!

10–12s – based at Bishopdale YMCA

5–10s – based at City YMCA

5 – 10s activities are designed specifically to meet a wider age range. The limited spaces available in this programme means it is great for those who are here for their first time in a Holiday Programme. It is also a great option for siblings that don’t want to be split into the specific age groups and would be more comfortable if they can stay together.

Day Programme Costs

Daily registration is $50
Full week registration is $225

Children can either be dropped off directly at their specific age group location (as above), or at the City YMCA, where transport will be arranged to take them to and bring them back from their programme. Sign-in opens at 8.30am.

Week Long Programmes

Our specialised weekly school holiday programmes operate Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm and offer your child the chance to experience independence, self reliance, and an opportunity to make great friends! Each of these week-long programmes have a focus for those individuals who would like to hone and develop their skills, while having a great time! Our Week-long programmes can only be booked in for the full week.

Booking Info

Fees & Details

Arts 9–15 year olds – based at City YMCA

Our highly popular Arts programme is split between 2 weeks (Creative Arts & Performing Arts). The Creative Arts programme tasked with a range of creative art pieces and work through the design and creation process. Participants in the Performing Arts programme will acquire new skills in the realm of drama & music and will be given a chance to showcase their newfound abilities through a performance at the end of the week! Everyone is encouraged to express themselves creatively in a safe environment without judgement.

Activ8 Junior 9–11 year olds – pick up & drop off at City YMCA

This programme is aimed at 9-11 year olds who are ready to be ACTIVE! Outdoor Adventure is at the heart of this programme in which participants will be introduced to a variety of new activities & challenges around Christchurch. At the end of the week, the group will participate in an exciting day tramp supervised by our trained supervisors and leaders.

Activ8 Youth 12–15 year olds – pick up & drop off at City YMCA

Activ8 Youth has a strong outdoor focus where participants will be challenged with a variety of fun and exciting activities around Christchurch like blowcarting, rock climbing, and much much more! At the end of the week, the group will do an overnight tramp (weather permitting) around the Christchurch area. More details about the tramp will be made available to parents in the days leading up to the overnight!

Frontrunners 13–15 year olds – pick up & drop off at the City YMCA

This is a young leadership programme, which is socially driven and runs less like a holiday programme and more like a stepping stone into leadership. Daily activities will be used to build leadership and confidence, and there will be an opportunity to lead other younger aged group programmes. This programme will be strictly limited to Full Week registrations as this is a continuous programme which builds on skills throughout the week.

Week-Long Programme Costs

Week Long Programmes – $250

Y Camp at Wainui Park

Y Camp is a very popular week-long residential school holiday camp. From the age of 7 years, children can come and participate in the vast array of fun activities led by our outstanding local and international volunteer instructors. A strong focus is on social interaction and as the children grow into teenagers, leadership development and goal setting is incorporated into the programmes. Three camps run through the summer holidays, one in the April holidays and one in the October holidays.

Booking Info

Fees & Details

Sandhoppers Camp 7–9 year olds

Sandhoppers is an introductory camp for younger campers that only takes place in January. It is a shorter 3 day residential camp with lots of opportunities to participate in many fun activities.

Fantails 9–10 year olds

This programme is designed for primary school aged children, and activities may include fishing, kayaking, streamsteering, low ropes, arts and crafts, archery, bivvy building, swimming, sneak outs and much more.

Penguins 11–12 year olds

The focus of this programme is on building social interactions while having fun! It is designed specifically for intermediate aged children, and activities may include kayaking, rock climbing, coasteering, abseiling, outdoor cooking, grass skiing, swimming, archery, campfire and much more!

Dolphins 13–14 year olds

This programme is designed to meet the needs of the teenaged youth. The focus is both on social interactions as well as the outdoors, and activities may include kayaking, coasteering, orienteering, archery, rock climbing, high ropes, raft building, leadership development and much more.

Orcas 15 year olds+

With a maximum of nine participants, this programme is designed around individuals’ own goals and developing leadership skills. Activities may include overnight camps or trips, a solo camping trip and a wide range of outdoor pursuits and journeys.

Y Camp Costs

6 day residential Y Camp – $305
3 day residential Sandhoppers Camp – $165

Children are dropped off at the City YMCA, and will then be transported by coach to Wainui Park.

Certified under Outdoors Mark and registered with WorkSafe to operate ALL Adventure Activities

Ski Camp

Every winter the Christchurch YMCA runs two 5-day residential ski camps for 9-15 year olds. These camps are a great way to gain skills and confidence in skiing and snowboarding and make new friends! We have highly qualified and talented instructors who lead ski camp and work alongside the equally skilled staff on Porters Ski Field. Accommodation is at the YMCA Arthur’s Pass Outdoor Education Centre. The programme caters to all skills and abilities. The trip includes transportation, accommodation, food, lift passes, & 2 compulsory lessons on Day 1 & 2.

Booking Info