Mission Impact Change: Frost Valley Life Newsletter, Fall 2013

MISSION IMPACT CHANGE

Frost Valley Life

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Piecing It All Together |

FROST VALLEY YMCA

FALL 2013 | frostvalley.org

PIECING IT ALL TOGETHER

FROM THE DESK OF JERRY HUNCOSKY CEO | Frost Valley YMCA After another season of Frost Valley YMCA summer camp traditions—Olympix, Hirdstock, Hoopla, Geronimo and more—I revel in the brightly colored leaves that begin to speckle Wildcat and Doubletop Mountains now. I look out and feel rejuvenated by these autumnal changes as we embark on another season of school trips, family retreats, scouting weekends, and teambuilding programs. I’m touched not only by the changes in the scenery but also by the changes in our campers.

This summer, we welcomed over 3,000 campers. We watched many arrive shy and unfamiliar with this new environment and one another. We also met campers who had never left the inner city of Newark, NJ. And we greeted young men and women who have been coming to Frost Valley since they were seven and eight year-old Pokey Totem campers.

Right now, students here for school trips are making crisp apple cider in our orchard. Others are on our trails in the woods, exploring the mysterious changes that take place as the world prepares for another Catskill winter. Frost Valley adds these experiences and memories to the lives of children in a way that will cultivate their individuality and shape their values.

This issue of Frost Valley Life centers around the unique way Frost Valley becomes a piece in the puzzles that make us who we are. As you read, I invite you to consider the piece in your life that Frost Valley holds.

Likewise, Frost Valley is a camp created by the people who experience it. Just as Frost Valley adds pieces to your puzzle, you add to Frost Valley each time you visit. And with that, I hope to see you here in the valley soon.

Jerry Huncosky

I’m incredibly grateful for what Frost Valley is able to provide for these individuals thanks to your support.

Frost Valley becomes an invaluable piece in the compilation of experiences that make up a person’s life. The campers who arrived shy and unfamiliar left embracing new friends, promising to write, and exclaiming, “I’ll see you next year!” Our Newark campers left with mud-stained boots—worn and ragged after traversing miles of trails. And many of the young men and women who have been campers since their earliest memories left after completing their first summer as Frost Valley summer camp counselors.

Summer 2013 June 9

June 10

Longtime Frost Valley friend and volunteer, Eric Blum (1964-2013) received this year’s Volunteer of the Year Award, for his selfless legacy of humble servitude to Frost Valley YMCA. The award has been named in his memory - the Eric Blum Volunteer of the Year Award.

Thanks to a grant from West Marine, we were able to purchase new boating equipment, which will allow more families and campers to enjoy our rowboats on Lake Cole.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SHARING CULTURES TO CREATE CONNECTIONS

Every five years, campers from over 60 countries worldwide come together to explore their goals for the future, celebrate their talents, develop leadership skills, and improve their understanding of the world and its people at the YMCA Europe Festival. This year, eight Frost Valley YMCA campers, joined by three chaperones, participated in the 2013 YMCA Europe Festival in Prague from August 4-10. This festival provides a unique opportunity for young people from all over the world to celebrate life, culture, and diversity. Throughout the week, these young men and women, embarked on a journey that will forever have an impact on their lives.

Along with visiting historical Prague landmarks and scenic vistas, our campers were constantly interacting with other YMCA teens, challenging themselves, and learning through workshops and culture-sharing events.

At the end of the festival, these eight young men and women were honored with the privilege of partnering with YMCA Victoria of Australia to deliver a culminating presentation on YMCA camping around the world. Our Frost Valley campers became ambassadors, sharing with others the magic of our camp and our values. Teens from all around the world have now experienced our eight core values, hoopla, and a traditional Frost Valley devotion or “devo,” as we call it.

According to camper Dyami Vieira, “Of the 62 countries represented, I felt like I went to 40 of them. And we all had so much in common! We have the same problems, we listen to the same music … it was just amazing.”

June 14

June 23

Thanks to the generosity of the Hyde and Watson Foundation, our newly renovated Cabin 31 provides a comfortable camp stay for more children and families as a three-season lodging option.

364 summer camp staff from 12 different countries worldwide arrived in the valley to prepare for another summer of invaluable growth filled with lifelong memories, time-honored camp traditions, and unbreakable friendships.

CHAIRMAN R. Fenn Putman PRESIDENT James S. Vaughan CEO Jerry Huncosky VICE CHAIRMAN Robert B. Haines TREASURER Peter E. Sundman SECRETARY Jerold W. Dorfman VICE PRESIDENTS Professor Al Filreis Catherine M. Harvey Michael P. Lahue Peter E. Sundman TRUSTEES William E. Baker Dr. R. Mark Ghobrial Ted B. Hilton Dr. Frederick J. Kaskel Jeffrey S. Kaufman James Kellogg Jr. Robert Messick John O’Brien Cheng Ong Judith L. Pasnik Robin Wachenfeld Mary T. Wheeler Shigeko Woolfalk ADVISORY COMMITTEE William H. Abbott Mitchell Brock H. Corbin Day Barton C. English Thomas M. Moriarty TRUSTEES EMERITI Thomas W. Berry Hunter Corbin Helen M. Geyer Co-Director

Paul B. Guenther Dr. George J. Hill James C. Kellogg Co-Director

W. Thomas Margetts Gerald H. McGinley

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GROWING UP FROST VALLEY: FROM CAMPER TO STAFF

Whether their counselors are lifting up spirits during a roaring village cheer, providing a sense of belonging and camaraderie around the campfire, or offering emotional support for homesickness, campers quickly view their camp counselors as mentors and role models. Many campers eagerly await the summer they become Counselors-in-Training (CiTs), and the goal of working as a Frost Valley staff member is one that many strive to reach.

Through the following staff’s Frost Valley stories, we trace the journey a young camper takes to a life built upon their camp experiences. The lessons learned, the memories made, and the friendships formed here at Frost Valley shape an individual into a responsible leader.

KIRSTEN WILLIAMS

When Kirsten Williams of Verona, NJ came to Frost Valley at age 9, she arrived at Susky Village for a one week session of summer camp. Now 21 years old, Kirsten remembers how the village and dining hall were always filled with cheering and laughter. “I knew then I’d be coming back for years,” she says.

Years later, as a CiT, Kirsten’s goal was to someday become a counselor. And when she achieved that goal the next summer, Kirsten says, “I grew up fast. We had really strong leaders on staff, and I felt I had to keep up.”

During the summer of 2012, Kirsten was a counselor in Windsong Village. “The oldest campers are great to work with,” says Kirsten.

“It’s just interesting to guide them into adulthood. And it was really great to see so many of my campers from last year come back this year as CiTs.” Given Kirsten’s experience, she was an ideal chaperone for Frost Valley’s trip to Prague this summer for the YMCA Europe Festival,

a culture sharing event of YMCA teens from 62 countries around the world.

“It was really great to be the bridge for the campers because I already knew many of them well,” Kirsten says.

One of Kirsten’s responsibilities was to help coordinate the campers’ culminating presentation at the festival. “The campers did a really great job. It was just a wonderful experience for everyone!”

Kirsten credits her Frost Valley experience for helping her become a responsible adult. “Frost Valley has completely shaped my leadership skills,” Kirsten says. “I’m going to school for stage management and producing, and my experience as a counselor has contributed to how I deal with situations and obstacles.”

Her time as a Frost Valley camp counselor has prepared Kirsten for just about anything. She says, “I think I could pick any job and tell you why being a camp counselor helped prepare me for it. I just feel ready to take on anything that comes my way.”

Summer 2013 June 30

Through Frost Valley’s partnership with the Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation and the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, we welcomed our first kidney campers of summer 2013. These campers were provided treatment for chronic kidney disease, kidney transplants, and other illnesses requiring dialysis while also participating in a memorable summer at camp with their peers.

Farm campers enjoyed their first meals on camp in the new dining hall, which allows all the campers to eat together in a shared space.

The first Adventure campers of the season moved into their new canvas platform tents as well as our six new lean-tos. By the end of summer, 96 Adventure Village campers enjoyed the new tents, while almost 600 campers (including Adventure Trips campers and resident campers) slept beneath the stars and bonded around campfires at the new lean-tos.

RAE NATHANSON

RICH KRUDNER At age nine, Rae Nathanson of Brooklyn, NY, came to Pokey Totem village to join her older sister at camp. Rae says she was instantly “swept away by the magic of Frost Valley.”

Rae, now 22, says the “magic” has influenced the direction of her life.

“I fell in love with the counselors, activities, and the feeling that I was free to be myself,” says Rae. “I came here so young, and now Frost Valley has shaped who I am.”

One memorable summer, Rae became close friends with a Mainstreaming at Camp (MAC) camper who was non-verbal. Through Frost Valley’s partnership with the Young Adult Institute, MAC affords campers with disabilities the opportunity to have a mainstreamed experience with peer campers. “She was the happiest person I ever met,” says Rae. “I was able to get to know someone who didn’t speak my language. When I saw her the next summer, and she recognized me, the whole purpose of MAC became clear.”

After several summers working her way up from MAC girls CiT to Village Chief of mini-MAC, Rae joined us as the director of the MAC program this summer. Working with MAC year after year has had an invaluable impact on Rae’s future. After recently graduating from Cornell University, Rae will be applying for graduate school to study occupational therapy so she can continue to work with individuals with special needs, a passion she acquired through her many years at Frost Valley.

Rae says the most rewarding part of working with people who have disabilities is seeing the smiles on their faces.

She adds, “Everyone laughs in the same language.”

Rich Krudner’s Frost Valley story began as a 14 year-old camper in Lenape Village. A native of Staten Island, Rich says, “I had all these expectations of what Frost Valley would be like, but it far exceeded them.”

After returning as a camper the following summer, Rich returned as a CiT a year later. “Being a CiT was the best experience of my life,” says Rich. “I had so many opportunities to grow. All of a sudden people really trusted me and gave me leadership roles.”

For the second half of that summer, Rich was employed—for the first time in his life—as a junior counselor in Forest Village. Rich continued to work as a counselor at Frost Valley for the next three summers while he completed his college education. Then, as the Forest Village Chief, Rich’s first management position saw him supervising 12 staff members and responsible for over 60 boys. Summer employment at Frost Valley provided Rich with more than a summer job; it gave him the skills to become a responsible adult.

Eventually moving up the ranks to CiT Director, Rich’s view of Frost Valley’s scope and impact broadened as he took on greater responsibilities and higher level leadership roles. “Being a director really opens your eyes to everything that happens here,” says Rich. “You see all the moving parts of camp and realize it takes a lot to make camp run as well as it does.”

Given his background in education, the following fall Rich eagerly accepted the position of program instructor for Frost Valley’s school programs, group and family retreats, and teambuilding departments.

Rich continues today as a program instructor during the school year and CiT Director in the summer.

“I just keep coming back!” says Rich. “I never would have known I wanted to work with kids if it weren’t for being a counselor. Now, I’m devoted to education, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

July 2

Thanks to the generosity of the Camp Fire Conservation Fund, Inc. and E.J. Grassman Trust, campers and guests can now enjoy our brand new fishing dock on Lake Cole.

Our first six Adventure Trips began, bound for various destinations across the Northeast, including the Habitat for Humanity Catskills trip in which eight campers gained firsthand understanding of service and gave back to the Catskill community.

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July 1

CORE VALUES IN ACTION

FROM WEEKEND GUEST TO DAY CAMP SUCCESS When parents, Kim and Jim, came to Frost Valley YMCA’s Autism Family Support Weekend last June, they were looking for an introductory experience for their five year-old son, Logan who was registered for Day Camp the following summer. The Autism Family Support Weekend was the perfect time to come for a visit, since Logan has Asperger’s syndrome—a disorder on the autism spectrum.

“My husband and I wanted to give Logan a nice transition and have him feel comfortable,” said Kim. “Trust can be an issue for him as well as new environments. Both can be very overwhelming.”

When the family of three came to Frost Valley in the late spring, they enjoyed all the traditional camp activities—hiking, pond exploration, and a raptor center tour—but through this weekend designed specifically for the needs of families affected by autism, they were able to network with other families who have shared similar experiences.

“The weekend was a nice combination of large group activities and activities just for the Autism Support families,” says Kim. “We ended up getting a lot out of the experience, and we all loved the staff right away. When we left, Logan wanted to come to overnight camp. Then he said he wanted to live at Frost Valley!”

Logan and his parents really appreciated the opportunity to meet the staff before day camp began and to participate in camp activities as a family.

But for Logan, nothing topped watching his dad soar on the Flying Squirrel, an exhilarating high ropes element in which participants soar among the treetops.

The weekend also helped Kim and Jim feel more comfortable about sending Logan to Day Camp in the coming months, especially considering that Logan has many dietary restrictions due to allergies. Our food service staff took special care to meet his needs and ensure that Logan would have nutritious meals he could safely enjoy.

Summer 2013

When Day Camp began, Logan’s experience proved to be just as successful as the Autism Family Support Weekend. “Sometimes when he feels like he’s out of options or backed into a corner, he has a hard time knowing what his choices are and how to cope,” says Kim. “But this summer we’ve had no meltdowns at camp.

He’s just had so much fun!”

Kim has seen Logan make changes to the way he handles everyday conflict. “He came home with problem solving strategies he didn’t have before,” she says. “He’s more social and more flexible with his routine. Each night before bed we talk about his day and how it went, but one night he said he didn’t want to do it that way anymore. He wanted to try something different. So I agreed because any time he changes his routine it’s a good thing. He wanted to ‘talk problems out.’ When I asked him what that meant he said he would tell me what problems he had and the different strategies he could have used to solve them.

He definitely learned that at day camp!”

According to Kim, Frost Valley’s impact on her family is long-term, and not just limited to Autism Family Support Weekends and Day Camp. “My husband and I are really impressed with the camp,” she says. “He wants to sign up for one of the Father Son Weekends! It’s something that really gets me misty when I think about it.”

For parents like Kim and Jim, the chance to observe a child’s success at the archery range, laughter in a canoe on Lake Cole, and triumph atop the climbing tower is just as rewarding for the parent as the child. Kim says, “Sometimes the small things are really the big things.”

July 3

July 7

July 15

Teen day campers took part in their first overnight of the summer in our orchard.

An evening of teambuilding activities at Lake Cole was followed by stargazing, laughter, and lifelong memories that strengthened the bonds of friendship made during a night in nature.

We celebrated the many cultures represented here during summer camp as our international staff shared their traditions and customs during our Annual Small World Festival.

The day concluded with another annual tradition—fireworks over Lake Cole in celebration of Independence Day.

“Just Us Girls” day camp program kicked off its first session of the summer, welcoming dozens of girls ranging in ages 9 to 12. Led by positive female role models, the girls enjoyed traditional camp activities, learned about influential women from different cultures, and participated in hip hop and Zumba classes taught by instructors from the Janice Center for Learning Arts.

A CELEBRATION OF IMPACT

story captures the essence of STEPs influence.

2013 ANNUAL SUMMER MEETING & BBQ Each summer, Frost Valley’s Annual Summer Meeting is a time-honored chance for donors and volunteers to come together in the valley to celebrate our values, programs, and mission which they have so generously supported. This year, on August 17th, over 150 guests joined us during session four of overnight camp to reunite with one another and enjoy a sunny day on camp.

The meeting is an opportunity for donors to see our mission being carried out and connect with longtime friends. Taking place at the height of summer camp, the gathering allows donors to enjoy camp in action. This was especially true when STEP participant Christian R. shared the impact Frost Valley has had on his “Journey to Independence.” The Supportive Training Employment Program (STEP) is made possible through Frost Valley’s partnership with the Young Adult Institute, allowing individuals with disabilities over the age of 21 to experience typical camp life as well as receive preparation and training for the working world. And Christian’s

ERIC BLUM

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

“Coming to Frost Valley led me down the right path to being a young man and helped me show others how responsible I can be,” Christian said. “I’m proud to have STEP in my life because it makes me successful and independent.”

Christian’s touching speech at the Annual Summer Meeting was a clear example of a transformational experience made possible by giving. The meeting was a wonderful opportunity to show our gratitude to our donors for their loyal support in providing countless experiences like Christian’s.

summers for Eric. And in June, we honored Eric Blum as the Volunteer of the Year for his dedication to humbly serving Frost Valley and our campers.

Eric Blum (1964-2013) always referred to Frost Valley as his “true home.” Even during times of chronic illness and at the height of his full-time career as a medical professional, Eric returned to Frost Valley summer after summer.

Eric coordinated his professional schedule to allow a month off each year to “come home.” He’d arrive at camp to volunteer as a special assistant and relief to the directors—his close friends. He also assisted the medical staff during emergencies.

Eric’s Frost Valley story began as a Junior Counselor during the summer of 1986, an experience he was able to have despite his renal disease. Frost Valley’s dialysis unit provided him a counselor opportunity he likely could not have had elsewhere. That summer would be the start of a lifetime of Frost Valley

He coined the term “Camp Schlep” and gave the title to the Frost Valley colleagues he found to be flexible and willing to help camp run no matter what. Eric’s motto: “We improvise. We adjust. We overcome.”

Throughout Eric’s final days battling his illness, he was regularly surrounded by his Frost Valley family. During the last visit by Frost Valley friends, in a room lined with camp mementos, Eric was given the Frost Valley Volunteer of the Year Award.

Eric Blum epitomized the spirit of giving, of selflessness, of accommodation and sacrifice that ultimately gives Frost Valley the capacity to enhance the lives of so many children and families, including those burdened by chronic illness. For this reason, the Frost Valley YMCA Board of Trustees unanimously resolved to name the award in his memory, and call it The Eric Blum Volunteer of the Year Award.

July 21 & 22 Another year of culture sharing, sportsmanship, and spirited cheers filled our camp during Frost Valley’s annual Summer Olympix. Congratulations to this year’s victors, the Czech Republic team!

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“Boys in the Woods” day campers began a summer of hiking, crossing cable bridges, and building forts. The boys also crafted miniature cars, which was followed by an exciting car race! Dozens of boys ages five to seven had a summer they’ll never forget!

PAUL GUENTHER HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

In 1970, Paul Guenther and his wife, Diane, bought property in remote Grahamsville, NY to build a house that would hold strong meaning to them and their children for generations to come. And one day, enjoying a long ride in the country with his wife and children, Paul was awestruck when he happened upon the Forstmann Castle. After exploring Frost Valley’s camp, he became good friends with Halbe Brown, former Executive Director.

Before long, he enrolled two of his children in summer camp, and he was invited by Halbe and Jim Kellogg, former President, to join the Board as a trustee.

“My father always said, ‘Do what you want, but do it well,’” Paul once shared. “My parents gave me a strong sense of giving back.”

One of Paul’s first actions as trustee was to begin advocating for a better healthcare facility on camp. In all the years between his first advocacy of a new wellness center and the time it was built in 2008, Paul strategically gave generous annual gifts to fund the planning

HOWARD E. QUIRK

process. Paul promoted wellness as a philosophy of responsible healthcare, a matter of emergency responsiveness, and an opportunity to teach children how to live healthily. For these reasons and countless others, Paul was inducted into Frost Valley Hall of Fame this summer.

Finally, working with CEO Jerry Huncosky, trustees Hunter Corbin and Fenn Putman, and fellow donor Eva Gottscho, his dream was realized. Paul supported Frost Valley’s new Wellness Center with an extraordinary gift of $1 million. All who attended the opening of the Guenther Family Wellness Center will always remember the look of hopeful pride on Paul’s face.

Paul’s father also told him, “Go where ‘happy’ is.”

And happy is the teenager with a heart transplant able to attend camp for two weeks, while his parents get a much-needed respite. Happy is the child with a diagnosis requiring the dispensing of complex medications in precise daily intervals yet still has the opportunity to hike out to his overnight camping site.

Paul Guenther once said, “Frost Valley is unique in that it touches so many people in so many different and wonderful ways and provides an incredible service to the entire metropolitan area.”

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE Howard E. Quirk (1924-1994) was passionate about the individuals he served.

By his association with Frost Valley, Howard would touch countless lives in immeasurable ways.

Summer 2013

Before volunteering at Frost Valley, Howard led The Victoria Foundation from 1968 to 1989.

“In the world of foundation grant-making,” he once wrote, “there is no direct correlation between effort and success.” Still, he contended, “We must try and make the supreme effort.”

Yet Howard did more than try—he succeeded. Given this admirable philosophy, Howard was inducted into Frost Valley Hall of Fame, an honor his son, Allen Quirk, accepted in his memory during our Annual Summer Meeting (pictured left).

July 26

July 28

Farm campers ran a fully stocked, homegrown produce stand to help spread the word of Project 332 and support Heifer International.

Staff and campers collaborated to harvest produce and provide families an opportunity to support these causes and take home quality food.

Eight campers and three chaperones joined the YMCA Europe Festival in Prague to participate in culture sharing workshops and events with 62 other countries from around the globe. The festival was capped with our campers delivering a presentation about the traditions and impact of Frost Valley YMCA.

HOWARD E. QUIRK CONTINUED In the years before his passing, Howard had become, as Halbe Brown once put it, “the heartbeat of Frost Valley.” He worked full-time as a volunteer at Frost Valley’s office in Montclair. He directed our Endowment Fund and served as liaison with the Tokyo-Frost Valley YMCA Partnership Program.

By the time Howard retired from the Victoria Foundation, it was

awarding $10 million in grants each year.

Howard’s leadership enabled the Foundation to sponsor projects such as Tri-City, North Ward Education & Cultural Center, Kids Corporation, Unified Vailsburg and PCCI (Protestant Community Center Inc.)—several of these programs quite familiar to Frost Valley. Through these projects, Frost Valley brought children to summer camp whose families could not afford the tuition but who desperately needed time away from the city.

DAVID KING

Before passing, Howard was able to make certain that his impact here would live on. Today his legacy is felt through his talented successors at the foundation, through the high-level volunteerism at Frost Valley that he inaugurated, and through Frost Valley’s various urban partnerships that allow countless children who would never have the chance to set foot in the woods the opportunity to explore the Catskills and sleep under the stars.

his first choice was David King as an inseparable team member, friend, and co-advisor. After some time, Dave was appointed to the membership of Frost Valley’s Board of Trustees.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

Between the late 1950s and the late 1970s, David King offered Frost Valley an incredible sense of continuity. Known for his high energy, attentiveness to staff, facilitation of songs at every meal, and creation of personal connections with every camper, David’s impact on the Wawayanda camping experience continues today. Even now, 55 years later, many of the common Frost Valley customs and traditions are an imprint of David King’s former presence here.

For his prolonged and far reaching impact on generations of Frost Valley campers, David King was inducted into the Frost Valley Hall of Fame this summer.

During the summer of 1958, David served as the first Village Chief of Lenape Village. Before long, he filled the position of Program Director and later Director of Camp Wawayanda. When Halbe Brown took on the role of Executive Director in 1966,

Eventually his demanding position as Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Baltimore County Maryland required him to cut back to only joining us in the valley for half summers and eventually resign his trusteeship. Yet half summers did not mean half the impact.

One of Dave’s summer positions was the Village Chief of a new village: Seneca. This village for children with disabilities would ten years later transform into the program we now call “MAC” (Mainstreaming at Camp).

When his career caused him to give up summers at Frost Valley completely, his legacy remained summer after summer. What Dave King gave to us in our early years is still here: a constant reminder of Frost Valley’s inherent values, the crucial importance of nurturing every child as a future leader, the fundamental pleasures of storytelling, and the lifelong camaraderie that is born of singing camp songs with friends. The songs we sang for years with Dave can still be heard today. The pure sounds of Wawayanda campers singing still echo throughout the valley: “All night, all day, angels watching over you.”

August 6

August 11

During summer camp’s annual Battle of the Themes, campers and staff brought fantasy to life, dressing up in Disney-themed costumes. Camp was filled with princesses, legendary heroes, and other popular characters for a fun day of spirited activities and games.

Frost Valley campers and staff enjoyed a night of culture sharing during our annual “Tokyo Night.”

Through Frost Valley’s partnership with Tokyo YMCA, campers were introduced to traditional Japanese games, dances, foods, and customs.

A new wood-fire oven at Farm Camp was built by the combined efforts of campers and staff. Made of clay adobe to withstand high heats, the oven offered enjoyable outdoor cooking opportunities, with pizza being the Farm Camp favorite!

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August 5

THE GIFT OF CAMP PROJECT 332

Frost Valley YMCA’s Project 332 is our community’s way of providing a camping experience to over 332 children, regardless of their financial situation. This summer, hundreds of donors provided campers with the precious experience of a summer built on values and mission.

A SUMMER OF GROWTH

“For you to make Frost Valley a possible opportunity for Levente is amazing,” writes Gabriella, whose son, Levente, joined us this summer thanks to the generous support of our Project 332 donors. “Thank you for giving my son this chance to grow and experience something truly memorable. You have changed his life for the better.”

This summer, Project 332 sponsored over 500 campers like Levente. Thank you to all of our donors and volunteers for your continued support of Project 332.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AT WORK Each summer, over a hundred campers join us through our partnership with Newark-based community organizations to take home fundamental summer camp memories, friendships, and life lessons. This year, 139 children came to us through these partnerships to join campers and staff members from all over the world to have a summer camp experience all children deserve. Science-based experiential learning, physical and emotional-competencies skill building, cultural arts programs, and adventure challenge courses designed to increase fortitude required to face life’s obstacles are just a few of the many benefits a summer at Frost Valley provides all of our campers.

For one Newark camper, Zahir, summer 2013 will be one he’ll never forget. Zahir came to camp for the first time this summer determined to reach an important milestone: learning to swim. After struggling to pass the swim test, Zahir worked tirelessly with Frost Valley counselors each day to help him become a stronger swimmer. Zahir’s counselors describe him as “determined” and “driven,” which was proven true the day Zahir proudly passed the test allowing him to enter an area of the lake for more advanced swimmers. The triumph in his eyes and the sense of accomplishment in his smile are the true gifts every child who comes to camp has the opportunity to receive.

75% of Newark Partnership campers displayed the ability to independently use the new or improved skills they gained at camp.

73% of Newark Partnership campers displayed positive improvement in four or more of the nine categories that determine improvement in cooperative behaviors.

Our Newark Partnership provides campers countless experiences like Zahir’s. As part of our commitment to the Prudential Foundation and Victoria Foundation, we aim to provide measurable accomplishments and improvements in our campers throughout the summer. This year, our campers made progress in the following targeted areas of focus: self-expression, cooperative behavior, non-cognitive skills, and 81% our eight core values. We also strive to curb summer learning loss during each camper’s two-week of Newark Partnership stay. For this reason, we are a “screen-free” zone all summer long—that means no electronic campers displayed four or more of Frost Valley’s devices! For our campers who come to Frost Valley through our Newark partnership, these eight core values. experiences and opportunities are especially priceless. We are incredibly grateful for the support of our donors the Prudential Foundation and the Victoria Foundation who provide the invaluable experience of summer camp to our Newark Partnership campers. *Information based on

Summer 2013

Frost Valley’s 2013 Summer Learning Initiative Report

August 19

August 23

August 25

Campers and staff alike enjoyed the time-honored tradition, Hirdstock, a camp-wide music festival to rival the original Woodstock.

As 2013 overnight camp comes to an end, East Valley Ranch celebrated its third and most popular summer yet, after providing 112 girls a summer filled with horsemanship, leadership, and friendship.

Through a generous grant from the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust, our new Disc Golf Course opened to its first participants at the beginning of Family Camp. The course offers three holes which can be played as a nine-hole course using different T-boxes. Thanks to the vision and expertise of John Houck, disc golf designer and consultant, the course will have 18 holes for campers and guests to enjoy once it is complete.

TRADITIONS FOR GENERATIONS FAMILY CAMP SUMMER 2013

Family Camp is a time-honored, annual tradition for families to reunite at Frost Valley YMCA for five days of camp activities and the invaluable chance to slow down and spend quality time with family and friends. This year, Frost Valley hosted over one hundred families during Family Camp, which included families that joined us for their very first time as well as families who’ve been coming to Summer Family Camp for 40-plus years.

Family Camp is Frost Valley’s yearly culmination of the summer through which we welcome families to participate in customary camp pastimes, such as boating, archery, arts and crafts, zipline, hiking, and horseback riding, as well as Frost Valley’s unique, time-honored traditions.

Our World Service Auction is one such tradition our families look forward to all year long and feel good about participating in.

Through this charitable auction, families bid on items such as sponsorship of our resident raptors and crows, handmade gifts, and Family Camp’s own “Eternity Chime,” a special tuning fork accompanied by a memory book, both of which are passed on each year to the new family who wins it in the auction.

Other Family Camp favorites include our Rodeo, Family Follies, and Camp Carnival. The Rodeo is a great time for our equestrian staff to dazzle the crowd with their horsemanship and for our horses to showcase their many talents, giving families the chance to learn about a classic American pastime. Family Follies is another tradition that allows our guests to command the stage with their creativity and share performances in elaborate costumes and entertaining feats of comedy. And finally, the Camp Carnival is fun for all ages, allowing families to take part in face painting, crafts, and traditional carnival games to provide families with lifelong memories and quality time together.

Our camp Families who’ve been coming here for generations look forward to reuniting with friends they’ve met right here on camp, and many families can be heard throughout the week saying, “This is our second home.”

August 30

By the end of our summer season, over 500 campers were sponsored by Project 332, allowing them the opportunity to enjoy the summer of a lifetime that their families would not otherwise be able to afford.

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We celebrated our most popular summer of Pony Camp, welcoming 40 kindergarten through third grade day camp equestrians. Our pony campers enjoyed typical camp activities mixed with horsemanship lessons, and of course— plenty of pony rides!

September 1

FROST VALLEY YMCA 2000 Frost Valley Road Claryville, NY 12725

TEL (845) 985-2291 EMAIL info@frostvalley.org WEB frostvalley.org/donate

facebook.com/frostvalleyymca

MISSION. IMPACT. CHANGE. When you join the Frost Valley Neversink Society you join others who have made a commitment to the ongoing successful future of the organization. Like others that have come before you, their gift has ensured the sustainability of Frost Valley for generations to come.

Many friends of Frost Valley have chosen to extend our values and influence beyond their own lifetimes by gifting assets they have accumulated to Frost Valley’s permanent endowment fund.

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT: • • • •

Include Frost Valley YMCA in your estate plans Set up a trust that benefits Frost Valley Provide “unrestricted” gifts to Frost Valley’s endowment Designate your gift for a specific purpose

WAYS TO GIVE: • • • • •

Bequest, conveyed through your will Securities, such as bonds or mutual funds New or existing life insurance policy Gifts of real estate Retirement accounts, IRAs and 401(k) plans

For more information please contact Director of Planned Giving Alison Buxton at ABuxton@FrostValley.org

Frost Valley YMCA is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to put Judeo/Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. We raise funds throughout the year for camperships that cover the costs of camp for children who would not otherwise be able to attend. To help us give the gift of camp to children, families and students, please contact our Development Office at 845-985-2291 or email development@frostvalley.org. To donate online go to www.frostvalley.org/donate Let us know if you prefer to receive Frost Valley Life via an online link sent to your email address.

Please email us your request to info@frostvalley.org and sign up for the e-newsletter!