The camp was originally constructed in 1955 as the "Children's Village in Wu Kai Sha" (烏溪沙兒童新村), when it was an orphanage, or orphan's village, with up to 1,000 children. The orphanage and children's hospital services ceased in 1971 after which the land was handed over to the Chinese Y M C A of Hong Kong to develop into a holiday camp and beach resort, and renamed Chinese Y M C A of Hong Kong Wu Kai Sha Youth Village.[2] When the camp was opened there was no road access, and the only transport was a kaito service from the Wu Kai Sha Public Pier to Ma Liu Shui. In the 1980s, roads were constructed.[3]
The campsite comprises an area of 11 hectares, and can accommodate up to 1,100 residential campers and 1,000 day campers.[1]
烏溪沙青年新村 "烏溪沙青年新村(英語:Wu Kai Sha Youth Village)位於新界馬鞍山鞍駿街2號,落成於1955年。前身名為「烏溪沙兒童新村」,當年兒童新村收容了逾千名的孤兒,內有自成系統的道路網、自給自足的生活所需設備,讓孤兒感到像一個家,提供他們生活住宿的地方。至1971年兒童院服務結束後,兒童新村的土地移交予香港中華基督教青年會(英語:Chinese Y M C A of Hong Kong)發展成營地,並改名為香港中華基督教青年會烏溪沙青年新村,由香港中華基督教青年會管轄。營地面積11公頃,可容納1,092 宿營 及 600 日營營友入住,為全港宿營人數最多的營地。"
Report of the Director of Audit on the Results of Value. Hong Kong Audit Commission - 2005 "5.2 Wu Kai Sha was once an isolated community in Ma On Shan, with fishing villages and a youth camp. Prior to the 1980s, there was no road access. The only transport available was a kaito service operating from the Wu Kai Sha Public Pier to Ma Liu Shui. In the 1980s, with the development of the Ma On Shan new town, roads were built. "