YMCA of Metro Chicago Overnight Camps, like many Y programs, is about learning skills, developing character and making friends. But few environments are as special as camp, where kids become a community as they learn both how to be more independent and how to contribute to a group. At camp, we teach self-reliance, a love for nature, and the development of attitudes and practices that build character—all amidst the fun of camp fires, canoeing, archery, swimming, and meaningful relationships.