Register your child for a summer membership and save on your camp registration!

43 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

The Treasure Valley Family YMCA offers a special summer youth membership to those attending summer camp. With this offer you can register your child for a summer membership at the YMCA and pay the member price for camp! 

Considering the member cost is more than $100 less for camp, the savings alone are worth it, plus a summer membership gets you so much more! Your child will have access to all four Treasure Valley Family YMCA facilities, including three pools, basketball and racquetball courts, youth and teen activity centers and countless youth programs. You will also gain peace of mind knowing your child is in a safe and positive place full of excellent role models. 

Special Youth Summer Membership Special: $65 

Difference in camp registration fees: $100 to $140 

The special requires a minimum three-month active membership beginning in June. Membership fees must be paid at time of registration for camp. This special is not available when registering online, so come see us!

What sets YMCA Camp apart from other summer camps: A note from the camp director

44 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

Camp is a place where relationships are formed and rekindled. During a week of meeting new people, reuniting with old friends and learning from new and interesting counselors, it is only natural to build relationships. At YMCA resident camps, we don’t just leave it to nature. Everything we do is about developing lasting relationships with your camper, from unique and exciting activities to campfires and our Rag & Leather programs. 

What sets YMCA camps apart from other summer camps is the immediate sense of belonging children feel upon arriving at camp. YMCA resident camp staff learn to create a uniquely safe atmosphere where children forget stereotypes, family circumstances, financial status and many other social labels that pervade school and everyday life. This atmosphere is the result of incorporating the core values of the YMCA: Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility, into everything we do at camp. 

By teaching campers to experience camp with these values as a core philosophy when interacting with others, we provide a setting in which campers are accepted and appreciated for their differences rather than questioned or labeled. In the words of one camper, “(Camp is) the only place that people, no matter their background or past experiences, will feel at home.” 

Our camp is also heavily steeped in traditions, songs, games and fun. From opening campfire to closing campfire, campers share experiences, learn new skills, form friendships, laugh, cry and enjoy being themselves.

The YMCA has over 150 years of experience building relationships through safe, fun, and life-changing resident camps. I invite you to join that rich tradition and start building a new relationship this summer with the YMCA resident camps. We can’t wait to show your child the wonderful world of camp!

Sincerely,

Bob Sellinger

Camp Director

208.344.5502, Ext. 246

E-mail Bob

"In those first 10 minutes, I had already bonded with them"

45 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

Britany first went to YMCA Resident Camp when she was 8, and she fondly remembers the experience from the moment she checked in at the Downtown Family YMCA and met her counselors:

In those first 10 minutes, I had already bonded with them. Same with the campers. The bus ride up, I sat next to a girl who I became good friends with for that whole week.

I was in love with camp that first day, but the second day was when all the fun really happened and I got to go to my Camptivities. We did camp store, campfire and all the way fun things that make me come back every year. When it was over that first year, I was so sad but had gathered so much knowledge about how to be caring and open to everyone, how to be myself and know that it is okay to be me.

The following summers, I gained more and more insight into life values. Then as an LIT, I really learned more in-depth about how to become a leader and what it takes. The values I learned at Y Camp I will be able to use my whole life and put into any situation.

Camptivities!

46 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

At YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir, all campers have the opportunity to try new activities like archery, kayaking, rocketry, mask-making, video production and more! 

Traditional activities exist year to year, but staff also develop new and exciting activities at staff training for the coming summer. Youth and Teen campers pick their top choices on Monday and are assigned to two activities that they attend each day for an hour. These activities have lesson plans and are intended not only to be fun, but also to teach new skills. 

During free time, campers can choose any activity offered and attend with a buddy. Campers may also choose to switch activities or stay at the same one for an hour. Other activities take place in the evening and include all-camp games like Capture the Flag or campfires where cabins can share skits, songs and stories.

See specific schedules for this historic Grand Opening year at Horsethief Reservoir on our website!

Thank you to our YMCA Camp cleanup volunteers!

47 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

A big THANK YOU to everyone who volunteered at Horsethief Reservoir over the weekend during our first camp cleanup!

Getting ready for this historic Grand Opening year at Horsethief truly is a team effort, and we appreciate all the hard work that took place over the weekend!

If you want to volunteer again, or if you weren't able to attend this time but still want to chip in, we have three more cleanup weekends planned!

Additional Camp Work Days:

Friday, May 14 to Saturday, May 15

Friday, May 21 to Saturday, May 22

Friday, May 28 to Monday, May 31

Details are coming, but if you already know you want to volunteer, RSVP to campworkday@ymcatvidaho.org or call Laura at 344-5502, Ext. 253.

Thanks again!

The best camp staff in the world!

50 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

The YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir resident camp staff is an amazing group of folks who love to return to camp each year as much as the campers. Over 95 percent of our staff are former campers who have decided to give back to camp by sharing the knowledge and compassion they have gained during their experience as campers. 

All staff complete a comprehensive two-week training prior to camp, including education in conflict resolution, leadership development, dealing with homesickness, child abuse prevention and activity instruction. All staff provide references and undergo a criminal background check. 

Senior counselors must be 18 or older and have CPR and First Aid training. Assistant counselors must be 16 or older and have completed our two years of Leadership Programs. Each cabin has an assigned senior and assistant counselor. All counselors are supervised by unit leaders (21 or older) who are part of the leadership staff. There is also a waterfront leader certified in life guarding and a volunteer nurse or EMT. 

All told, the staff to camper ratio is 1:6 minimum in a cabin and 1:4 in camp. The YMCA Camp staff members are selected and hired based on their experience with children, their willingness to learn, and most importantly, their ability to model and teach the four YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. 

Read stories of our staff members' personal experiences at YMCA Camp HERE.

YMCA Camp at Horsethief Reservoir: It's fun for a boy or a girl (even those who don't like dirt)

51 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

Let's face it — not everyone likes to run around, hit the ground and end the day caked in mud. And at YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir, there are tons of activities for boys and girls that don't involve dirt and grime:

Talent Show: Are you a natural performer? Do you like to ham it up on stage in front of your friends? At Teen Camp, campers compete in a fun (and often funny) Talent Show!

Invention Competitions: Teen Camp also has a competition for all the science-minded Mr. and Ms. Wizards.

Arts and Crafts: Want to tie-dye a shirt? Draw a picture? Campers have plenty of opportunities to get arty and crafty at Horsethief Reservoir.

Music and Drama: From guitar lessons to skits, campers can explore their creativity at Horsethief Reservoir.

That's not to mention the state-of-the-art facilities at Horsethief, which include clean and dry cabins, modern shower facilities and The Lodge, which houses two dining halls, camp store and classrooms!

Learn more about YMCA Camp activities and facilities HERE.

Watch a video on Ranger Camp!

52 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

Watch this great video on YMCA Ranger Camp kids learning outdoor skills and giving something back while they work on Horsethief Reservoir:

The video is part of the Idaho Children and Nature Network's Be Outside campaign. The Idaho Children and Nature Network is a coalition of diverse agencies and organizations united in a common cause of empowering all Idahoans to lead healthy lives by developing a sense of place in Idaho's outdoors. Learn more HERE.

"I went there a shyer person and left full of confidence and trust in other people"

53 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

A lifelong YMCA member who grew up with the Y's core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility, Christina nonetheless took some convincing to register for resident camp. "Camp didn't sound like my sort of thing," she says. "It was outdoorsy, dirty and buggy."

Armed with a bottle of bug spray, Christina's first camp experience, as a Leader-in-Training, finally took place after hearing her sister rave about YMCA Camp for two years. Here's Christina's story:

My first week at camp was interesting. I met tons of new people who immediately accepted me for who I was. LIT training consists of a lot of team-building, and I bonded with my cabin mates. I was determined to become a senior staff member.

The next summer, I became a CIT (Counselor-in-Training), and this is when camp really started to change my perspective about myself and other people. I was now in more of a leadership position, and I had a cabin filled with little girls looking up to me. I probably French-braided about 60 times that week! I still savor that experience.

I met some amazing CITs that week also. We all shared similar goals: to become senior staff. This group of CITs convinced me that Teen Camp was the best experience they've ever had, and again, with much convincing, I went to Teen Camp. 

Teen Camp changed my life completely. I went there a shyer person and left full of confidence and trust in other people. It's hard to describe how much those three weeks at camp changed me. Camp taught me to respect and listen to people and to understand that everyone has something to offer. Being in the outdoors and around accepting people leaves you with a fantastic sense of happiness.

I consider myself truly blessed that I am up here for my fourth summer of camp as an assistant counselor. I have the opportunity to give little kids the same experience that I had.

Congrats to our registration contest winners!

54 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

A big THANK YOU to everyone who registered for our historic grand opening year at YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir last week!

Our registration contest ended Thursday, and we're happy to announce the winners:

• Luke Graham won his family a six-month family membership to the Treasure Valley Family YMCA.

• Chase Borchardt won the Children's Camp Adventure Pack, which includes a day pack, sleeping bag, water bottle, flashlight, writing journal and pen.

• Barb Dutra, the mother of YMCA camper Allyson Dutra, won the Spa Day for Mom, a lavish package including a manicure, pedicure and 60-minute massage from Stepping Stones Salon and Spa.

There's still time to register for camp, but bunks are filling fast — stay tuned for more updates!

Volunteers needed for Horsethief Reservoir camp cleanup!

57 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir will be opening in a few short weeks, and we need help getting ready for camp!

If you'd like to help and, at the same time, have a little fun outdoors, join us for a couple of hours or spend the night on one of our upcoming volunteer days!

We will be trimming trees, chopping wood, building bed frames, cleaning cabins, setting up the water area, building fire pits and cleaning up from the construction. Consider the dates below and see which one(s) work best for you, your friends and family. We welcome you as many times as you would like to come.

Saturday, April 24 — This is the first of several work days to come. This day will focus on tree trimming. We will need people with their own chainsaws, safety glasses and ear plugs to be trimming, while others will be hauling the branches to the road. The work day will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  We promise you a good time and a wonderful break from the city. Please let us know as soon as possible when you will be able to join us.

RSVP to campworkday@ymcatvidaho.org or call Laura at 344-5502, Ext. 253. When you RSVP, please let us know if you plan to bring a chainsaw.

Additional Camp Work Days:

Friday, May 14 to Saturday, May 15

Friday, May 21 to Saturday, May 22

Friday, May 28 to Monday, May 31

Resident camps continue to fill up for historic year at YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir!

58 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

We're under two months to go until the grand opening of YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir, and our resident camps are filling up fast!

Our youth session for boys (July 19-24) just filled its remaining beds, and several more camps have only a few spots left. Male CIT (July 12-24) and Amazing Race (Aug. 2-7) are also full. For online registration and more information on YMCA resident camp at Horsethief Reservoir, click HERE.

Reminder: Today is the last day to register for resident camp and be eligible to win one of three fabulous prize packages, one of which is a six-month family membership to the Treasure Valley Family YMCA! Read Wednesday's post for more info.

Congratulations to Joel Thorne, who won a free week at camp on Saturday! Thanks to everyone who came out and had fun at our camper reunion at Camel's Back Park!

Last chance to win family membership!

59 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

Change a life, win a prize!

Don't hesitate. Don't wait. Register your camper for the new Summer Resident Camp at Horsethief Reservoir by the end of the day tomorrow (April 15), and you'll be entered for a chance to win one of three great prizes:

Family Membership: 6 months ($432 value)

Children's Camp Adventure Pack: Day pack, sleeping bag, water bottle, flashlight, writing journal and pen (approx. $175 value)

Spa Day for Mom: 60-minute massage, plus classic manicure and pedicure from Stepping Stones Salon and Spa in Boise (approx. $140 value)

The new YMCA Camp at Horsethief Reservoir has first-rate facilities in a wonderland setting. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be among the first campers to experience it. Join us as camp opens June 12, and your child will experience the time of his or her life with fun and engaging activities such as: 

Campfires

Rock climbing

Swimming

Fishing

Wind surfing

Rafting

Water skiing

Mountain biking

Arts & crafts

Canoeing

Tubing

Treasure hunting

Backpacking

Survival skills

Orienteering

Archery

Hiking

Kayaking

Capture the Flag

Rappelling

Water balloon battles

New friends

Much more!

Resident Camp is a week of fun, adventure and growth — all in a safe and supporting environment. It's positively the best way to change someone's life! 

Register now at ycampidaho.org or at any Treasure Valley YMCA location. Already registered? Refer a friend who registers for camp and you will be entered into the raffle as well!

From a "mad, quiet kid" to a leader changing lives

60 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

Not everyone likes camp right from the start, and for Joe, the first couple of years weren't the best. He admits, however, that he didn't go into his resident camp experience with the most open of minds. It took a taste of leadership to turn him around, and now he's one of our leaders. Here's his story:

One day during a cabin activity, we did the human knot and I was made the leader. I told people what to do and they did it. I started to have fun because people listened to what I had to say. From there on out, I was living the high life. I was having fun.

From then on, I would think about camp all year and wait. Later on, I went through LIT (Leader-in-Training) camp and met a few of the counselors I work with now. Then I went through CIT (Counselor-in-Training) camp, where I met counselors one-on-one and made friends with other CITs. Now I am at staff training at our new camp. Y Camp has changed my life completely from being a mad, quiet kid to a leader who is changing lives. It is awesome.

"I came to camp to learn from people I admired"

61 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

Everyone, it seems, no matter if they're a camper, a counselor or somewhere in between, gets something out of YMCA Camp. Here's a great story from Charlie, who came to camp to learn and lead: 

As I write my story of camp, kneeling in the sun of a brisk Horsethief afternoon, I have three years to reflect upon.

I arrived as a Leader-in-Training (LIT). I signed up for two weeks. I had never had an experience remotely similar to camp, and I was enthralled. At the end of the two weeks, I was confident and enthusiastic, high as a kite, eager to come back. 

What brought me back next summer and the summer after that was obvious. I didn't come to expand my social group, though I did through the process. I didn't come to boat or shoot arrows. I came to camp to learn from people I admired; at least, looking back, I realize this is what I mostly took away and what I craved in coming back.

My LIT leaders talked to me, respected me and treated me like a contemporary who they happened to be teaching. My counselors during my CIT (Counselor-in-Training) stint did the same. They valued my opinion and took an interest in my life. On top of all this, they taught me.

"Camp can be life changing"

64 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

File Michael under "reluctant camper" — initially. YMCA Camp has a way of quickly turning "reluctant camper" into "returning camper." Here's Michael's story:

I have been attending camp for six years, but I can still remember the first summer my parents told me they had signed me up for YMCA summer camp. I remember whining and complaining and telling them that I wasn't going to know anyone and wouldn't have fun or go, but thankfully, they didn't listen and sent me anyway.

I ended up meeting a lot of people and having a great time. This is why I came back year after year, because I remembered how fun the previous year had been. And although this is what camp is about, it is also much more than that. 

Camp can be life changing for many campers as it was for me. However, I didn't realize how big of an impact it has had until recently when I looked back at all the experiences I have had at camp. And it wasn't one specific week, but the whole experience of camp itself that has had a subtle but significant impact on my personality and character.

Summer resident camps are filling fast!

65 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

Resident camps for this historic grand opening year at YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir are filling fast!

The Male CIT (July 12-24) and Amazing Race (Aug. 2-7) camps are already full, and several more only have a few spots left.

If your child has his or her heart set on a certain camp, don't hesitate! For online registration or to print out a paper form, click HERE.

If you have any questions about availability or anything else, please email us or call 208.344.5502, Ext. 246.

Recent photos from Horsethief Reservoir

66 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

Here's a look at the completed cabin at YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir. We will have more photo updates soon! In the meantime, check out the Idaho Statesman's recent article and photo gallery.

Rangers are the new L.I.T.s!

67 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

Going to be 13 during summer 2010 and confused about which program is for you? It’s the new Ranger program at YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir!

Rangers follow a program much like the L.I.T.s (Leaders-in-Training) of old, focused on leadership and service to camp. Rangers will participate in some camptivities, be a part of the all-camp activities like games and campfires, and get a chance to try new teen activities like the zip line, rappelling, and ropes course. 

Additionally, Rangers will get involved in camp leadership through small projects that highlight the value of giving back. After being a Ranger, campers can continue on the camp leadership path in the LIT and CIT programs in future summers.

For more information on Ranger Camp, click HERE.

Win a free week at YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir on April 10!

68 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING! READ THE IDAHO STATESMAN'S APRIL 5 ARTICLE ON HORSETHIEF HERE.

The historic Grand Opening year at YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir ... Sounds pretty fun, right? Well, how does a FREE WEEK at camp sound? We're guessing your answer is, even better!

All registered and non-registered campers are invited to join YMCA Camp staffers at Camel's Back Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 10. In addition to meeting counselors, reuniting with camp friends and participating in some fun activities, the event is a chance to win a free week at camp!

Here's how it works:

• Everyone who registers for camp at Camel's Back Park on the 10th will be entered into a drawing for a free week of camp!

• Any currently registered camper who refers a friend who registers for camp on the 10th also will be entered into the drawing. Both campers must visit the YMCA Camp tent on the 10th to be entered.

If you've never been to YMCA Camp and you want to learn more about it, the April 10 event at Camel's Back Park is a great opportunity to get more info, meet the amazing YMCA Camp staff and maybe even win a free week at camp!

YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir in the news!

71 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

The word is starting to spread about YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir, the first newly-built YMCA Camp west of the Mississippi River in over 60 years.

YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir is featured in the April issue of Treasure Valley Family Magazine and an Idaho Statesman online photo gallery.

Read the Treasure Valley Family Magazine article HERE.

View the Idaho Statesman photo gallery HERE.

Later this month, look for an article in the Idaho Statesman by columnist Tim Woodward!

A reluctant camper is won over — by cold water?

72 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

When Max first went to YMCA Camp in 2001, it was not his choice, but his father's. With visions of every bad camp-themed horror movie in his mind, Max did not have high hopes for a fun week at camp. Oddly enough, it was during the swim test and his first taste of the chilly water that Max turned around. Here's what he had to say about the experience:

Jumping in the freezing cold lake really helped me start to appreciate camp and its surroundings. 

My first activity was swimming — Greased Watermelon, in particular. It never occurred to me that sprint-swimming through water with fruit covered in petroleum jelly could be so much fun. This was just one of the many new activities that thrilled me.

The games, however, did not compare to the relationships I made with the numerous first-time campers and counselors. So many of these meet-and-greets over tomato soup turned into lifelong relationships. All of these friendships will stick with me until the day I die.