TheBestCamps.com > Best Illinois Camps > YMCA Camp Benson
YMCA Camp Benson
Mount Carroll, IL
Visit Our YMCA Camp Benson Website
815-244-8722
gwyn[AT]ymcacampbenson.org
16355 Scenic Palisades Rd
YMCA Camp Benson
Mount Carroll, IL 61053
CAMP VIDEO LINK:
Watch Our YMCA Camp Benson Video
CAMPER AGES: 5-17
TYPE OF CAMP: Overnight/Sleepaway.
CAMPER GENDER(S): Coed Campers.
AFFILIATION(S): YMCA
BRIEF CAMP DESCRIPTION: YCB is an adventure based overnight summer camp in northwestern Illinois for boys and girls in 1st-12th grade. We’re dedicated to positively impacting the lives of our campers and providing a transformational camping experience.
CAMP INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES OFFERED:
Adventure, Wilderness/Nature, and more. Rock Climbing, Kayaking, Zip Lining, Cave Exploration, Outdoor Living Skills, High Ropes.
CAMP LOCATION: We are a short two hour drive from Madison, WI, the Chicago Suburbs, and only an hour from Rockford, IL and the Quad Cities.
CAMP FACILITIES: We have 12 modern, brand new cabins with heat and air conditioning. A brand new indoor climbing wall, covered pavilion, 250 seat amphitheater, and more make Camp Benson fun. Take a look around our site and discover why the Chicago-Tribune called our property one of the 7 wonders of the modern world.
CAMP PROGRAM INFO: It is the mission of YMCA Camp Benson to provide a safe, fun, transformational and educational experiences for our campers through the demonstration of the four core values.; caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility and by practicing a camper first philosophy. Sending a child to camp is an act of great faith by parents. As directors, we take that responsibility very seriously. We strive to maintain an environment that both encourages personal growth and creates an unforgettable summer experience. The Camp Benson Community is a caring and supporting one, and at the core of everything that takes place at camp.
ADVENTURE camp is our most popular camp. This is a 7 day overnight camp with every activity to chose from based on your age. ADVENTURE CAMP is for those who are ages 8 -14. Your camper will take their summer to new heights. From zip-lining, swimming, and climbing to exploring a cave, high ropes, archery, and campfires. ADVENTURE camp is everything you need for one amazing week of camp.
EXPLORER camp is our starter camp. This is your 4 day overnight camp with fun activities to chose from based on your campers age. Explorer CAMP is for those who have completed kindergarten through 8 years old. Never been to YCB before or still in their first couple of summers at camp? Then EXPLORER camp is just for them. It's one week of camp packed into 4 days. With skits, big games, campfires, songs, and more, your camper is sure to have a great time.
SPECIALTY camps are the camps that have a certain niche to them They include; MEGA camp, TEEN camp, and LITERARY camp. MEGA camp is more than twice the fun! This 14 day camp gives campers the chance to try more activities, participate in the special middle-weekend stay-over, and get to know their counselors and fellow MEGA-campers much better If you are ages 8-14, register early for this one. It will fill quickly. TEEN camp is the one that no camper ages 12-17 wants to miss.
CAMP LEADERSHIP CIT/LIT PROGRAMS: Simply put, an SDP (staff development participant) is a student entering the 9th-12th grade in the fall of 2014. While often this age group is overlooked and underutilized, this is not true at YMCA Camp Benson. SDPs attend Camp Benson for a week at a time serving and learning, growing and expanding, in both leadership and character. There are 4-levels of the Staff Development Program and placement is based on their grade in school, their attendance at weekend retreats, and an application process.
CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: Every child deserves a camp experience. Just one summer at camp can positively influence a child’s life forever. Our confidential Financial Assistance Program allows numerous children, who would otherwise not be able to attend, to experience all that YMCA Camp Benson has to offer.
Applications for assistance will be made available on our website beginning in November with submissions being accepted after that.
FAMILY CAMP SESSION(S): Every spring and fall YMCA Camp Benson hosts a Family. For more information visit Our Camp Website Link: srfymca.org
CAMP SESSION DATES & FEES:
Check out Our Camp Website Link: srfymca.org for rates, dates, and discounts.
Illinois Summer Camps Offer Wide Range of Programs & Summer Activities
Be sure to check each camp listing under INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES OFFERED for the range of Special Interest Activities and Programs provided by each Illinois Summer Camp or Summer Recreation Program.
Many Illinois Day and Sleepaway Camps offer professional level instruction in a wide-range of activities, from Horseback Riding, to Computers & Technology, to Performing Arts, to Leadership.
For a complete List of Illinois Special Interest Summer Camps & Summer Recreation Programs scroll down to the big black bar at the very bottom of this page.
You can go directly to any of our 2026-27 Special Interest Camp Directories from the list in the black bar at the bottom of this page.
HOME | SUBMIT YOUR CAMP | FIND A CAMP | 2026-27 CAMP GUIDE
Top Ten Reasons to Attend Summer Camp
Search Our
Best Summer Camps Website
Enter Keywords, Activities, Phrases, or Camp Names in space above to Search Entire Site
