Gear & setup
Get practical guidance on what to bring, what to skip, and how to make camp comfortable.
Wildcat ClubSan Diego dads & daughters
Start Registration
Wildcat Club · San Diego · 2026–2027
Give her a childhood full of stories.
Monthly campouts for dads and daughters ages 5–13, built around uninterrupted time together, outdoor confidence, real friendships, and memories that last.
A father-daughter Adventure Clubs community through the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA.
HOYA HOYA!Your first adventure starts here.
AUG292026
Featured event
Wildcat Opening Day
Saturday · 10:00 AM–1:00 PM · Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA
We are Wildcat
One weekend a month.
A lifetime of stories.
Wildcat Club brings dads and daughters together for welcoming weekends outdoors. From beach camps to mountain cabins and desert skies, every event is built around connection, participation, and fun.
New families can join at any point in the season. No camping experience is required. Start here on WildcatSD.com and a Wildcat dad will personally help you choose a group and plan your first event.
Tell us about your family →5–13Daughter ages
Sep–JunAdventure season
11Season events
6Welcoming groups
See Wildcat in action
The easiest way to understand Wildcat is to see it.
These year-overview reels capture the campouts, traditions, friendships, and father-daughter time that make a Wildcat season hard to explain in a brochure.
Your first weekend
Never camped? Don’t know anyone yet? That’s an easy place to start.
You do not need camping experience or a built-in friend group. Your Wildcat group helps with the practical stuff so you can focus on having a great weekend with your daughter.
Ask a Wildcat dad anything →Meals & logistics
Your group coordinates the weekend details so you are not figuring everything out alone.
Introductions & belonging
We connect you with dads and daughters who can make the first event feel familiar from the start.
A simpler way to join
Start with Wildcat.
We'll handle the handoff.
You should not have to navigate a confusing outside registration process just to learn whether Wildcat is right for your family. Give us your information once and a real Wildcat dad will take it from there.
Tell us about your family
Complete the short registration form on this page. No outside registration maze.
Hear from a Wildcat dad
A club leader will call, text, or email to answer questions and learn what your family needs.
Meet your future group
We'll introduce you to a group with nearby families, familiar schools, friends, or a compatible camp style.
Choose your first adventure
Meet us at Opening Day, a casual gathering, or the next campout that works for your calendar.
No commitment required.Ask questions, meet families, and see the culture before choosing your first campout.
Start Registration →
For daughters
Confidence, friendship, and Dad all to herself.
New challenges help daughters discover what they can do. Older girls become role models, younger girls find mentors, and every daughter gains a wider circle of friends.
- Grow confidence through real outdoor challenges
- Practice leadership by helping younger Wildcats
- Build friendships across schools and communities
- Earn patches and beads that record each accomplishment
For dads
Step away from screens, schedules, and daily pressure.
A full weekend outside lets you see the world through her eyes again. You also join a brotherhood of dads who understand that being present is one of the greatest gifts we can give.
- Build trust before the teenage years
- Create traditions you both anticipate
- Learn from experienced dads without judgment
- Come home with stories that belong to the two of you
Why families join
Connection comes first.
Adventure follows.
Each event gives dads and daughters space to be present, try something new, and belong to a community that looks out for one another.
Stronger bonds
Share uninterrupted time that brings dads and daughters closer.
Memories for life
Build traditions and stories you will both remember for years.
New friendships
Find an easy, welcoming community for daughters and dads alike.
Tent & cabin camping
Experience beaches, mountains, deserts, cabins, and family camps.
Adventure hikes
Explore new places together at a pace that keeps everyone involved.
Outdoor skills
Grow confidence through practical, hands-on experiences outside.
Stories & skits
Laugh, perform, and cheer each other on around the whole club.
Club fires
End full days together with music, traditions, and shared reflection.
Patches & beads
Earn colorful reminders of each event, achievement, and new skill.
2026–2027 season calendar
Eleven ways to make the year unforgettable.
Dates, venues, and event details are subject to change. Events take place rain, snow, wind, or shine.
OPENINGDAY!THE ADVENTURE BEGINS
Start here
Meet the club before the first campout.
Opening Day is the easiest way to meet Wildcat dads, explore the groups, ask practical questions, and get ready for the 2026–2027 season.
- When
- Saturday, August 29, 2026
10:00 AM–1:00 PM - Where
- Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA
Encinitas, California - Who
- Dads and daughters ages 5–13
New and returning families
A typical campout
Plenty to do.
Room to just be.
Every location is different, but the rhythm stays familiar: shared food, outdoor activity, club traditions, and unhurried time with your daughter.
Arrive & reconnect
- Club-wide dinner
- Princess Idol
- Sweet Friday
- Midnight Meat
Explore & celebrate
- Group meals
- Hikes, games, and skills
- Bead trading and appetizers
- Club fire and Chief's Challenge
Reflect & leave it better
- Group breakfast
- Bear Claw hike and cleanup
- Zocolo closing ceremony
- Cup and patch awards
The traditions kids remember
Every campout has its own kind of magic.
These playful rituals quietly build confidence, belonging, communication, and responsibility.
Princess Idol
Friday-night songs, jokes, dances, and skits where every daughter gets a chance to shine.
Bead Trading
Girls trade beads and trinkets, practicing confidence and friendly negotiation.
App Cup
Groups make and share appetizers, then compete for a delicious traveling trophy.
Club Fire
Music, skits, dance parties, and stories bring the club together after dark.
Chief's Challenge
Group leaders take on a different silly challenge while daughters cheer.
Bear Claw & Zocolo
Sunday cleanup, reflection, awards, and patch ceremonies close the weekend.
The memories become visible
Every patch is a weekend you spent together.
Patches and beads are more than campout souvenirs. Over a season, they become a record of places you went, things she tried, friends she made, and time you chose to spend together.
9:00 PM-ish
And yes, there is Midnight Meat.
Sliders, cheesesteaks, tri-tip, street tacos, and other late-night creations have become a Wildcat institution. Nobody goes hungry.
Six groups · one Wildcat Club
Find your crew inside the larger community.
Groups share meals, coordinate gear, plan informal get-togethers, and give daughters a familiar circle at every event.
Chupacabras
Group Leader · Dave Herman
Cottontails
Group Leader · Ross Walker
Dorado
Group Leader · Kouri Andrews
Fire Bees
Group Leader · Alex Nunes
Galloping Ponies
Group Leader · Mark Pekarek
Painted Ponies
Group Leader · Mark Dowsing
Already know a Wildcat family? Tell us on the registration form. Otherwise, leadership will make thoughtful introductions based on location, existing connections, and group fit.
Our shared compass
The Six Aims
The principles that shape how families treat one another and care for the outdoors.
- To be clean in body and pure in heart.
- To be pals forever with my dad or daughter.
- To love the sacred circle of my family.
- To listen when others speak.
- To love my neighbor as myself.
- To seek and preserve the beauty of the Great Spirit's work in forest, field, and stream.
Your first campout
Bring the basics. Borrow confidence.
You do not need to buy an outdoor store on day one. Experienced dads can help with setup, gear, and often loaner equipment.
Sleep comfortably
- Tent or approved lodging
- Sleeping bags and pillows
- Cots, pads, or air mattress
- Extra blankets for cold nights
Pack for the day
- Layered clothes and extras
- Water bottles and sunscreen
- Flashlights or headlamps
- Camp chairs and toiletries
What does a campout cost?
Pricing varies. Many weekends have historically been around $200 for a dad and daughter, including most shared food and camping costs. Current pricing is confirmed before you commit.
Money should never keep your family home.
Financial assistance is discreet and individually tailored. We can help with event fees and practical equipment needs.
Ask privately on the registration form →2026–2027 leadership
Led by dads who show up.
Club leadership keeps the calendar moving. Group leaders make every family feel known, included, and ready.
KH
Club Chief
Kurt Hatch
2026–2027 Wildcat Club
BD
Med Man
Brent Delhamer
2026–2027 Wildcat Club
Club leadership
Dream CatcherJason Veracco
CFOScott Klemme
Fire StarterAlbino Scoz
Sound WarriorJohn McKusick
Sound WarriorChris Collato
Group leaders
ChupacabrasDave Herman
CottontailsRoss Walker
DoradoKouri Andrews
Fire BeesAlex Nunes
Galloping PoniesMark Pekarek
Painted PoniesMark Dowsing
Wildcat memories
See what a season feels like.
From firelight and cabin camps to snow days and desert boulders, no two Wildcat weekends feel the same. Select any photo to open it.
Good to know
Questions new dads ask.
Who can join Wildcat Club?
Wildcat welcomes dads and daughters ages 5–13 from across San Diego County. New families can start at any point during the season.
When does Wildcat Club camp?
The season follows the school year, with optional events from September through June. Most campouts run Friday afternoon through Sunday morning.
Do we need camping experience?
Not at all. Experienced families help with gear, setup, meals, and the small details that make a weekend easier.
Do we have to attend every event?
No. Each event is optional. Consistent participation helps friendships grow, but everyone balances Wildcat with other commitments.
How do we choose a group?
Leadership introduces families based on location, familiar faces, group size, and personality. You can meet families before committing.
Can we try Wildcat before fully committing?
Yes. Opening Day, informal group gatherings, and conversations with current dads offer a low-pressure introduction.
What should we bring?
For most campouts, bring a tent, sleeping gear, layered clothing, toiletries, water bottles, sun protection, flashlights, and camp chairs.
What food is included?
Groups coordinate family-style meals, plus shared traditions such as Friday dinner, Sweet Friday, appetizers, and Midnight Meat.
How much does it cost?
Costs vary. Many traditional campouts have historically been around $200 for a dad and daughter, including most food and camping costs.
What if cost or equipment is a concern?
Money should never stop a family from participating. Financial help is discreet, and the community can often assist with equipment.
What happens after I submit this form?
Your information goes directly to Wildcat leadership. A Wildcat dad will answer questions, introduce you to a group, and help choose the easiest first step. You will not be sent through an outside registration page.
Register directly with Wildcat
We'll personally help you get started.
Share your information here. A Wildcat dad will reach out, answer questions, introduce you to a group, and help choose the right first event.
✓ New families welcome anytime✓ Dads and daughters ages 5–13✓ Financial help available