"I consider camp a part of my family"

73 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

Read Ally's story about her transformation from shy camper to confident counselor:

Seven years ago, I was a shy 10-year-old who never spoke out. Then my mom decided that I should try YMCA Camp. I was terrified, but she assured me that if I did not like it, I would never have to go back.

When I arrived at Pilgrim Cove, I was so intimidated. I knew no one, had never been away from my family for more than a day, and there were all of these enthusiastic people talking to me. These were the counselors.

In my eyes, the counselors were the epitome of what I wanted to be, but I felt like that was so out of reach. To my surprise, a few days into camp I had made friends and I found myself talking more than I ever had before. I already loved camp. By the end of the week, I knew what my goal was — to become a counselor.

When I got home, my mom asked me if I would like to go back next year and I immediately said yes. My camp life had just begun — how could I not go back?

Throughout the next five years of being a camper, L.I.T. and C.I.T., I began to pick up the mannerisms of the counselors and realized that I had become outgoing, confident and who I truly am. 

As a second-year counselor, I have the foundation that I need to become a role model for my campers, and I feel like I have been building on that for years. Camp and the staff helped me become who I am, and for that I am forever grateful. I consider camp a part of my family, and I never want to give that up. Hopefully I can encourage my campers to feel that way, too.

"An amazing experience"

74 DAYS UNTIL HORSETHIEF RESERVOIR GRAND OPENING!

Some of our campers attend resident camp for the first time as teens. In Sean's case, his first YMCA Camp experience was as a Leader-in-Training (LIT); in subsequent years, he advanced to Counselor-in-Training and Assistant Counselor. Here's what he had to say about his four years with YMCA Camp:

I found out about Y Camp through my best friend, Michael. He said how much fun it was to be a camper and how much he enjoyed the counselors. As I drove up with Michael and his brother and sister, all three of them talked about their favorite counselors and their best experiences. I knew I would have the time of my life up at camp.

As I arrived in Pilgrim Cove for the first time, I was shocked to see how many kids there were. As I walked over, so many campers and staff were willing to accept me and welcome me into this new place.

The camp was an amazing experience. There were so many activities to choose from, and so many people who were there for the same reason — to have fun and meet new people.

I love being a mentor and someone for the kids to look up to. Camp has really allowed me to find myself and learn who I am and what I want to become.

From camper to counselor: "I wanted to come back every year"

Many of our YMCA Camp staffers were once campers themselves. Here's Horsethief counselor Althea's story of that journey:

I first came to camp on a recommendation from a friend. She'd been going since she was 7 years old and had always wanted me to come and see the magic.

The first summer I came to camp, I was 11. I was so amazed at how the counselors and staff treated me like an adult, not a little kid. We got to pick the activities we would do all week and there was free time that was actually free. This was so different from camps I had attended in the past. I wanted to come back every year.

I later attended Teen Camp, where I met the most amazing people. My cabin was full of the kindest, most loving girls, and the boys that week were full of fun. We made life-long friendships that week.

At Teen Camp, I started my journey to becoming staff as an L.I.T. Being an L.I.T. was such an amazing experience. I learned all about becoming an effective leader and I got my first real taste of being able to positively change someone's life. It was the best feeling in the world.

I'm finally staff this year at a new location. I am part of an amazing team of people that will make history, and I couldn't be more excited. It's my turn to make magic for my campers, and if I can give them even half the amount of fun I have had at camp, I'll consider my job well done.

From Y Camp to the Marine Corps

YMCA Camp counselor Shane has gone from the woods of Idaho to the war zone of Iraq, and the lessons Shane learned as a camp counselor had an impact overseas as well:

"Most Marines have only three core values — God, Country, Corps — but I have seven: God, Country, Corps, Respect, Responsibility, Honesty and Caring. These core values I took over with me in my two tours in Iraq, and with over 1,000 combat missions under my belt, I never once let any of those core values stray from my conscience.

"I feel that because of some of things I learned at camp, me and the majority of my squad came home. I also take pride that because of the foundation that was instilled in me, I know I also saved a lot of Iraqis' lives who I knew if I met under different circumstances could have had a different outcome."

"The most influential counselor I ever had"

Longtime YMCA Camp resident camper Jenn first attended camp when she was 7 years old, and like many young campers, at first she was shy and uncertain. But that soon washed away with the help of her counselor, Christina.

"Christina was probably the most influential counselor I ever had. It wasn't what she said to me that made me feel like my own person, but it's what she did. She opened her arms and heart and let me in. Never in my life had I felt so a part of a family other than my own until then. That entire first week of camp was the first time that I felt independent."

YMCA Camp Alumni: Share your stories with us!

Attention YMCA Camp Alumni: 

We want to hear your stories! Whether you attended YMCA Camp at Horsethief Reservoir or anywhere else in Idaho, chances are you have a great story from camp to share with our blog readers.

If you are interested in sharing a story, please visit the Alumni Page on ycampidaho.com HERE, then click on Alumni Registration. Once registered, you can fill out a questionnaire, including stories, memories and how Y Camp influenced your life.

Since its inception in 1905, Y Camp has provided thousands of children and adults with memorable experiences that have lasted a lifetime. These experiences have carried on into the personal lives of everyone who has attended or worked at the camp. 

For years, there have been discussions about re-acquainting and re-connecting past participants and friends of Y Camp and now is the time! The Alumni Page is dedicated to re-connecting past alumni, staff and friends of Y Camp. Here is your chance to find out whatever happened to your fellow counselor or best friend you made at camp.

As the new alumni database grows, we are creating the opportunity to return to your camp roots and get involved with what’s happening at YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir.

"One Counselor's Story"

At YMCA Camp: Horsethief Reservoir, the resident camp experience is a life-changing one not only for the campers, but for the counselors, too.

For some campers, particularly those experiencing resident camp for the first time, the newness of it all those first few days can be scary. Often, a young camper's first friend is a counselor who reaches out, provides a comfort zone and helps ease the transition. 

Interactions like these can be powerful for campers and counselors alike. To read about one such story from a counselor's perspective, click HERE.