YMCA Frost Valley
Encyclopedia
Frost Valley YMCA is a camping, environmental education, and conferencing center located in the Catskill Mountains
of New York
. Founded in 1901 as Camp Wawayanda, the camp moved to its present location in 1958.
During the Summer, Frost Valley runs a summer camp for 6–15 year-olds, most of whom are from New York
and the surrounding tri-state ara. Throughout the rest of the year, Frost Valley hosts school groups and other organizations for environmental education and conferencing activities.
The Wellness Philosophy has been a part of camp for several decades. The camp promotes growth in "mind, body, and spirit" and the motto is "Build Strong." Frost Valley focuses on keeping its guests healthy and happy.
Various other villages have also existed in the history of the camp, including Sequoia, an adventure village, and Phoenix, the precursor to Sycamore. Iscusfa was an arts program that was last ran in Summer 2006.
Villages are located in groupings of cabins or lodges and most villages are usually 30–40 campers each. Campers live in cabins or lodges that sleep eight per room. There is a 1-to-4 counselor to camper ratio. (Except when a camper has dialysis, in that case, there is a 3:8 counselor to camper ratio
(CIT) program is a month-long program for 16-year-olds who have an interest in becoming camp counselors. The program consists of three weeks at camp, training, working, and having an in-cabin experience, and one week hiking. During the in-camp portion, CITs work together to plan and run programs for campers. The out-trip has varied in length from 6 to 10 days and includes backpacking through the Catskill Mountains. Many CITs return to camp the following year to become Junior Counselors when they are 17 years-old.
to assist Habitat for Humanity.
Catskill Mountains
The Catskill Mountains, an area in New York State northwest of New York City and southwest of Albany, are a mature dissected plateau, an uplifted region that was subsequently eroded into sharp relief. They are an eastward continuation, and the highest representation, of the Allegheny Plateau...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Founded in 1901 as Camp Wawayanda, the camp moved to its present location in 1958.
During the Summer, Frost Valley runs a summer camp for 6–15 year-olds, most of whom are from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and the surrounding tri-state ara. Throughout the rest of the year, Frost Valley hosts school groups and other organizations for environmental education and conferencing activities.
Summer camp
The summer camp program at Frost Valley runs for eight weeks (four sessions, 12 days each). Each session starts on a Sunday and ends on a Friday, and nearly 500 campers attend each session. About 250 summer-time staff arrive the week before the first session, many of whom were campers when they were younger. Campers are broken up into villages by age and live together in cabin groups. Each village has a corresponding brother or sister village for the opposite gender of the same age. Camp is separated into two halves, Camp Wawayanda (ages 7–12) and Camp Henry Hird (ages 13–15). During the day, the camp schedule includes Specialties, Waterfront, Sports & Games, Feeling Good and an Evening Program.The Wellness Philosophy has been a part of camp for several decades. The camp promotes growth in "mind, body, and spirit" and the motto is "Build Strong." Frost Valley focuses on keeping its guests healthy and happy.
Villages
The villages in Wawayanda are: Pokey (Pocohontas) and Totem, Susky (Susquehanna) and Forest, Lakota and Outpost. The villages in Henry Hird are: Sacky (Sacajawea) and Hemlock, Tacoma and Lenape, Windsong and Pac (Quinnipiac). There are also several mixed-gender villages with special focuses: Adventure Village (previously known as Woodwise), Sycamore (for the oldest campers, with special trips and leadership projects) and MAC (Mainstreaming at Camp, for those with developmental disabilities).Various other villages have also existed in the history of the camp, including Sequoia, an adventure village, and Phoenix, the precursor to Sycamore. Iscusfa was an arts program that was last ran in Summer 2006.
Villages are located in groupings of cabins or lodges and most villages are usually 30–40 campers each. Campers live in cabins or lodges that sleep eight per room. There is a 1-to-4 counselor to camper ratio. (Except when a camper has dialysis, in that case, there is a 3:8 counselor to camper ratio
Mainstreaming at Camp (MAC)
Mainstreaming at Camp (MAC) is a village formed with YAI National Institute for People with Disabilities, for children and young adults with developmental disabilities.Kidney Program
Established in 1975, over 1000 children and adolescents with kidney disease have attended the resident camp program at Frost Valley YMCA, under the supervision of the Ruth Gottscho Dialysis and Children's Kidney Program. The first program of its kind in the US, today the Frost Valley program is still unique in its efforts to mainstream the children with kidney disease into cabins and programs with other children. Children receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, in chronic renal failure, or post-transplant, are able to participate in a traditional residential camp experience, while gaining confidence and independence, in what may be their first time away from home. Campers are able to meet other children with medical problems similar to their own and are also able to be "teachers" to their counselors and cabin mates. They learn new skills and improve techniques for their own medical management. The children are part of the mainstream camp environment, and participate as fully as possible in all camping activities, meeting other campers from all walks of life, and from around the world. The program is based in a full-service, on-site dialysis unit, equipped for hemodialysis, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), as well as care of the post-transplant and pre-dialysis camper. The unit is staffed by pediatric nephrologists and nephrology nurses, under the supervision of the Children's Hospital at Montefiore. Special attention is given to the individual medical and developmental needs of each child, and treatment schedules are arranged to allow for maximum participation in camp activities.Counselor-in-Training program
The Counselor-in-TrainingCounselor-in-Training
This article is about the program at a summer camp, i.e., church, Scouting, or other organization.Counselor-in-Training can be both a person’s designation and a program, intended to prepare the individual for the leadership and responsibility of being a counselor...
(CIT) program is a month-long program for 16-year-olds who have an interest in becoming camp counselors. The program consists of three weeks at camp, training, working, and having an in-cabin experience, and one week hiking. During the in-camp portion, CITs work together to plan and run programs for campers. The out-trip has varied in length from 6 to 10 days and includes backpacking through the Catskill Mountains. Many CITs return to camp the following year to become Junior Counselors when they are 17 years-old.
Adventure programs
The Adventure Trip program has been in existence since 1968 when Henry "Bud" Cox took a group of teens on a 2-week backpacking trip throughout the Catskills. Today, Adventure Trips travel around the country and are expanding to international destinations as well. These trips are designed for boys and girls ages 11–17 who are looking for a different experience than the traditional resident camp. Trips vary from traditional backcountry adventures to service learning expeditions focused on giving back to needy communities. Activities available through the Trip program include whitewater rafting, rock climbing, backpacking, canoeing, surfing, skateboarding, spelunking, volunteer service, biking, sea kayaking, and high ropes. Other offerings are beginning to appear as well including a Spring Break trip to New OrleansNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
to assist Habitat for Humanity.