YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Youth & Government and Camps

YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Youth & Government and Camps includes the California YMCA Youth & Government program, where teens learn how the government works by debating policies, drafting bills, and collaborating with peers from across the state. The program also includes camp experiences such as Camp Marcil, which sits high in the mountains adjacent to the San Bernardino National Forest, Camp Whittle, which rests on a natural meadow only two miles from Big Bear Lake, and YMCA Camp High Sierra, which is a family-friendly camp for rustic fun near Big Bear Lake. The camp sites range from day camps to overnight adventures, and activities are described as helping kids build confidence, try new things, and connect with nature and each other in unforgettable ways.

• Ages: 12–18 years old

The mission statement for the program’s Center for Community Well-Being is that health is shaped by access to food, safe spaces, learning, and the power of human connection, which are described as the social determinants of health at the core of its mission. The community involvement description notes that California YMCA Youth & Government teens learn how the government works by debating policies, drafting bills, and collaborating with peers from across the state, and that the program is available at various YMCA locations statewide.

Last updated June 10, 2026.