Who We Are
YMCA Camp Kitaki is a resident summer camp facility for ages 7-17, whose purpose is to build strong kids and adults through programs that promote positive identity, relationships, values and skills in a unique natural setting. We are a dedicated group of professional youth developers who passionately believe in the power of the overnight camp experience and what it does to help grow a child's sense of self-worth and independence. Our campers, parents, and alumni are an important part of our community!
YMCA Camp Kitaki is a branch of the YMCA of Lincoln, NE.
What We Do
We have fun. Fun that is carefully crafted to help kids learn and grow. Fun that challenges everyone involved to be better. At YMCA Camp Kitaki, crafts aren't just crafts. They are an opportunity to express creativity and to learn about responsibility as campers clean up after themselves. Gaga, a form of dodgeball originating from Israel where feet are the target, isn't just an active and healthy game. It is an opportunity to teach about honesty, and the importance of being truthful, even when no one else will notice. Living together in a cabin is an opportunity to learn about sharing, social skills, community and to bond with new friends. Everything is fun, but fun with a purpose. It all adds up to kids who leave a week of camp feeling more confident in themselves, having met new friends, and having created memories that will last a lifetime.
Camping programs in the Lincoln YMCA were founded in 1903, and camps were soon held at YMCA Camp Strader near Crete, Nebraska. The location, however, was prone to frequent flooding, and the YMCA embarked on a search for a more suitable location. A location was found in the hills above the Platte River Valley near South Bend, Nebraska. YMCA Camp Kitaki was founded in 1953 at the site, and the former cow pasture became home to a summer camp. The site has matured into a beautiful oak and cottonwood forest, providing shade and a whole natural landscape to explore.
Camp Kitaki has grown through the years to include 215 acres, lodging for over 375, over 50 horses, a pool, lake, archery range, and high ropes challenge course.
For Parents:
We've found over the years that parents typically have a few important questions right from the start. We've created a quick reference as you decide if Camp Kitaki is right for your child.
For Alumni:
Do you have memories of Camp Kitaki? Then you are an alumni! Join our alumni group for updates about camp and invites to special alumni events!