YMCA Camping Around the World

International Camps help to build your child’s confidence, independence and knowledge of other cultures in an experience that will last for a life time!

YMCA Camp Elphinstone is located on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast near Gibsons, which is just a 40-minute ferry ride from Vancouver. YMCA Camp Elphinstone offers various camping programmes for campers ages 5–17. Campers and staff come from as far away as Japan, Africa, Korea, Mexico and Taiwan, as well as the Lower Mainland and the Sunshine Coast. Campers can go sailing, canoeing, swimming, kayaking, marking arts and crafts, doing archery, high and low ropes, and so much more in Camp Elphinestone.

Howmans Gap Alpine Centre is happily situated on the Bogong High Plains (4 hours drive from Melbourne), about 4km below Falls Creek resort, surrounded by tall ash bushland. Howmans Gap is the only YMCA Camp to offer snow and ski programs in winter and is a great place for groups to discover the Alpine region.

A typical day at camp
  • 7:00 Optional Activity
  • 8:30 Breakfast
  • 9:30 Cabin Clean-up
  • 10:00 Camp Activities
  • 12:30 Lunch
  • 1:30 Rest Time
  • 2:00 Camp Activities
  • 4:00 Free Choice Activities
  • 5:30 Dinner
  • 7:15 Evening Activity
  • 9:00 Evening Snack
  • 9:30 In Cabins
Camp Elphinestone Howmans Gap Alphine Centre
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  • In each camp session, campers will be involved in excellent programmes such as waterfront sports, creative arts, environmental programmes, tenting, and evening campfires.
  • Campers will share and participate in the programmes alongside children their own age from all over the world. Completely immersion with the locals.
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  • Being above the snowline and only 4km from Falls Creek, winter activities are in abundance when the weather starts to get chilly. From downhill skiing to tobogganing or cross country skiing or snow hiking, there is a winter activity for everyone.
  • Snow Play: While most of the snow falls up the mountain, Howmans Gap also gets its fair share of snow. For participants who have never seen snow, this is often a highlight of their camping experience.
Two-Week Camps (Ages 8 to 14)

Campers will have the opportunity to build new skills and meet challenges in a variety of camp activities with campers their own age. Each cabin group works together to choose activities that meet their interests while each camper will also choose their own interest group activities. Young campers will spend one night away from camp and older campers will do a multi-night overnight trip. Programs are developed with progression and age appropriateness in mind.


Sailing Camps (Ages 11 – 14)

What better place to focus on sailing skills than beautiful Howe Sound? Campers will receive three hours of daily instruction from qualified instructors on our fleet of Hobie Cats and Lasers. Practical theory topics such as rigging, repair and care of boats, dealing with emergencies and wind dynamics will be covered. Campers will work on Can Sail levels during their stay. The rest of each day will be spent participating in a variety of camp activities.

Falls Creek Nordic Centre offers ski lessons for beginners to experience ski lovers. Campers will have skiing lesson and also traditional camp activities.