An Experience That Will Last A Lifetime!

Sign your child up for an experience that will last a lifetime!  At Kimball Camp YMCA, we understand the importance of building your child’s self-esteem and their ability to forge new relationships, and

bring goals into focus. Our experienced counselors will work with their campers through experiential learning activities that are challenging as well as fun. Summer campers have the opportunity to experience team-building elements, the Giant’s Swing, Goliath, our 40-foot climbing tower, and the high ropes course.

Since 1938, Kimball Camp YMCA has been in the Fun Business!!  Thousands of children have attended our programs, including overnight and day camp.  Everyone knows that summer overnight and day camp can be great for school-age kids and their families. Camp gives kids the opportunity to make friends, learn new skills, have adventures, and get some exercise. It cuts down on screen time by getting them outdoors and encouraging active play. It also helps working parents who need childcare during the summer months.

But did you know that Kimball Camp day camp can be beneficial to your preschooler as well? Kimball Camp YMCA’s day camp program begins with children as young as 4 years old—and while this might sound too young, there are some pros to consider, especially if your child will be entering preschool or

kindergarten in the fall.

Summer camp can also be a great "practice run" for kids who don't have a lot of experience being away from Mom and Dad. After all, being dropped off for a day full of fun and friends might seem a little less daunting for kids (and their parents) than going to the first day of school. Give your children the gift of camp!  Register today at www.KimballCamp.com !  Email (office@kimballcamp.com) or call for more information 517.283.2168.

Resident Camp is Back for 2020!

Kimball Camp YMCA resident camp is back for Summer 2020!  The staff has been preparing and training for new safety measures and health standards.  Since 1938 Kimball Camp YMCA has provided youth with the opportunity to build meaningful relationships, develop new skills, and create memories that last a lifetime.  Resident camp will begin on July 5th with Adventure Camp, New Adventure Camp and Horse Camp!

Kimball Camp’s highly dedicated, enthusiastic, and caring staff not only ensure that campers have a fun and safe camping experience, but they also strive to build character, make a difference, and change the lives of each and every camper that comes through the gate.

Executive Director, Harold Campbell said that he asks campers, “Do you like to make S’mores by the campfire? Conquer Goliath? Swim like fish in a lake? Play on an amazing water trampoline?  Explore the outdoors?  Of course they all say, ‘Yes!’”  He continued by saying, “then Kimball Camp YMCA summer resident camp is for you! At camp, you’ll learn new skills and experience new adventures. You’ll also make new friends and create memories that will last a lifetime.”  He mentioned that campers can come by themselves or they can bring their best friend, even if he or she hasn’t been to camp before.

Kimball Camp YMCA adheres to the philosophy that the resident camp setting offers a 24-hour living

experience that provides opportunities for campers and staff to develop more fully as individuals.  Campers attend chapel while at camp because the Kimball Camp YMCA staff  believe that campers should have a growth experience that involves as acceptance of social responsibility, a sense of moral values, and an awareness of spiritual values.

Whether you are looking for individual, small group, or camp-wide fun, we definitely have something for you! Campers are grouped according to age and gender. They stay in cabins with up other campers and a counselor. Friendships grow as they live, share meals, laugh, and play together during a full week of fun! Campers are given the opportunity to participate in many activities like cheer and dance, horseback riding, swimming, archery, canoeing, the high ropes course, and more.

Kimball Camp YMCA has taken steps to ensure the safety of campers.  “Unusual conditions during a pandemic means learning new operational procedures,” said Devlin McNeil, the Head Counselor. “Training for the staff has included updated cleaning procedures, social distancing practices, and then, of course, ways to teach and help the children understand the new ‘norm’ that will be in existence for a while,” he said.  He continued by saying, “We’re relying on the guidance of the community health experts and referencing all materials available to truly care for the youth we aim to serve.”

Campbell, who is in his 26^th year as the Executive Director at Kimball Camp, said that, “Campers will play outside on the playground, participate in arts and crafts, learn Bible verses and songs, and increase their knowledge and awareness as they learn through fun new activities in the YMCA’s outdoor education program.

Both the children and staff members will be happy to get back to Kimball Camp, said Campbell. “We have staff that are extremely excited about running the fun and educational programs with our kids while also prioritizing safety.”  Campbell mentioned that families may still sell candy bars to help pay their way to camp this summer or apply for a scholarship provided by local individuals who believe that supporting the youth of our community is a priority.  Register your child today at www.kimballcamp.com or call 5172832168.

 

Kimball Camp Prepares for Campers!

Kimball Camp YMCA is planning to open our annual summer childcare (day camp) with new careful precautions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.  “Safety is essential,” said Executive Director Harold Campbell.

He and his staff are adjusting many of the ways programs and activities are conducted. There will be a smaller than usual enrollment to allow for social distancing.  Daily health screenings at the curbside drop-off and pickup of children will be mandatory.  Sanitizing and hand washing will become a pattern in this new way of life.

“Most important is that we will have fun!” Campbell said. “Our focus is to reinforce our goal to communicate honesty, respect, responsibility, and caring to the youth of our community.”

Under social distancing guidelines in the summer program, Campbell expects that Kimball Camp YMCA will be able to accommodate 60 to 70 children age’s four to twelve in our childcare program.

Kimball Camp’s summer childcare program will begin June 8^th, with hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with extended hours available upon request and transportation from Hillsdale, Coldwater, and Quincy.

Campbell said Kimball Camp YMCA is dedicated to provide the community with a safe childcare option for the youth of our community and our essential workers.

“Our goal is to be there for our community’s children and their parents with this affordable childcare option,” he said, “so they can go back to work for their families.”  “This is an unprecedented time for us and the country at large,” he said, “and we feel we must do more than our share to get through it together.”

“Unusual conditions during a pandemic means learning new operational procedures,” said Christa Green, the Day Camp Director. “Training for the staff will include updated cleaning procedures, drop-off and pick-up updates, social distancing practices, and then, of course, ways to teach and help the children understand the new ‘norm’ that will be in existence for a while,” she said.

She continued by saying, “We’re relying on the guidance of the community health experts and referencing all materials available to truly care for the youth we aim to serve.”

Though the number of children will be smaller, the number of activities will remain the same. Kimball Camp YMCA participants will enjoy climbing Goliath, flying on the Giant’s Swing, canoeing along beautiful Long Lake, making new friends and eating yummy s’mores!

They will play outside on the playground, participate in arts and crafts, learn Bible verses and songs, and increase their knowledge and awareness as they learn through fun new activities in the YMCA’s outdoor education program.

Both the children and staff members will be happy to get back to Kimball Camp, said Green. “We have staff that are extremely excited about running the fun and educational programs with our kids while also prioritizing safety.”

Campbell said Kimball Camp YMCA will remain flexible throughout the coming months, closely watching pandemic developments.

Kimball Camp YMCA, which has been making a difference in the lives of

area youth since 1938, is currently conducting a fund drive to provide scholarships for children. Individual donations during that drive are more important than ever before.

Individuals can donate at any time by going to Kimball Camp YMCA’s website www.kimballcamp.com or mail it to 4502 Berlin Drive, Reading, MI 49274.

Summer's On The Way!

Kimball Camp YMCA is full of children participating in fun activities like climbing Goliath, canoeing on Long Lake, and reaching new heights on the high ropes course.  Campers are enjoying making S'mores over a campfire and building new friendships during team-building. 

The staff at Kimball Camp YMCA has some terrific activities planned.  This summer our Leaders In Training campers will be taking a trip to West Virginia to go White-Water Rafting!  The New Adventurers program will feature two different trips: The Bicycle Trip will feature a fun trek from camp to Pokagon State Park and an overnight stay at the Pokagon.  The New Adventure Canoe Trip will give the campers an opportunity to paddle down the Pigeon River. 

Horse Camp, Adventure Camp, Cheer and Dance Camp, Trailblazers, and Specialty Camp all feature fun activities.  If  you are interested in registering for camp, email office@kimballcamp.com or call 517.283.2168.

Jump in for Fun!

Summer camp can be a life-changing experience!  Children running around excitedly because they had an opportunity to visit the candy store or try archery for the first time.  When it is time to swim in the lake, then everyone wants to jump in and cool off. 

At Kimball Camp YMCA, the camp counselors not only work with the campers to have fun, but they consider the eternal ramifications of witnessing to their campers.  In Acts 2:32, we read that, "God has raised Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it."

Please join me in praying that our awesome God will work in the lives of the Kimball Camp staff and campers this summer!

Generosity is the New Evangelism

Recently I heard this story related by Don Denyes during a sermon: A small church in southern California was preparing for their missions conference. They decided that they would like to build a hospital in Africa. Offerings for missionary projects in this church usually totaled around $25,000, but they were told that they would need to raise $160,000 to build the hospital. There were those who said why even try, we could never raise that much, let’s try something else.

They began very early to challenge their people towards this African hospital project and the people took it to heart. The kids would have lemonade stands during the summer to make a little bit of money to give towards the project. It was interesting in this small community that this project grabbed hold of the psyche of even those who didn’t know Christ. The Christians were talking about it at work and they were talking about it in their neighborhoods. Soon people who had no interest in the gospel of Christ, but who were interested in helping people in general, began to give to this hospital in Africa, and they gave, and they gave. When the mission conference came they didn’t raise $25,000, they didn’t raise $160,000, they raised over a half million dollars. The pastor said that the amazing thing wasn’t the way the funds came in, but the way it affected the people in the community. He said, “Generosity is the new evangelism.”

As we begin the summer we are working to raise funds, not for a hospital in Africa, but to fund scholarships for children in our own community. Many children at Kimball Camp YMCA depend on the generosity of others to assist them as they learn more about Jesus Christ and become salt and light to our community. Would you be able to help by donating to our scholarship fund? Contact us at 4444 Long Lake Road, Reading, MI 49274.

Climbing Goliath

Thinking about the upcoming summer camping season made me wonder how many campers have climbed Goliath.  Goliath was constructed in 1997 to challenge campers to take one more step. 

It is very exciting to see campers test their skills as they climb; some scurry up the wall, seemingly with no fear, some are more hesitant and are careful as they reach for new heights.

As I was thinking about all of the students who would climb Goliath this summer it made me think of II Samuel 22:34, "He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights."  It is God who gives us the ability to climb and go one more step towards our goal, just like all of the campers who have climbed Goliath! www.kimballcamp.com