Growing Healthy Communities, Frost Valley Life Newsletter, Fall 2015

GROWING

HEALTHY

COMMUNITIES

Frost Valley Life FALL 2015

| FROST VALLEY YMCA

| frostvalley.org

GROWING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES FROM THE DESK OF JERRY HUNCOSKY CEO | Frost Valley YMCA

After another year of Frost Valley summer camp, brightly colored leaves have almost immediately begun to appear on our trees. These autumnal changes always serve to rejuvenate as we embark on another season of school trips, family retreats, and teambuilding programs. The new scenery is awe-inspiring but not half as much as the growth and transformation we see in the children and families who come here.

This summer we hosted more campers than ever before in our history. We watched some children arrive shy and unfamiliar as they entered a new, screen-free environment, which would soon become the place where they learned new values, made new friends, and created lifelong memories. We met campers who have never left the inner city. We were humbled as they discovered a world outdoors they didn’t realize existed. We also greeted lifelong campers returning to this special place they so often refer to as their “second home.”

Fall is often thought of as a time of harvest. As we continue to focus our efforts on environmental sustainability and stewardship, the children and families who come here learn that the fruits of the earth – the apples in our orchard, the veggies in our farm, and the wild edibles in our forests – are to be carefully tended to, protected, and enjoyed in good health. frostvalley.org | 1

But fall is also a time of thanks. Without you, none of the following stories, programs, and new additions to our values-based offerings would be possible. It’s clear what we’re thankful for: kind and caring donors like you.

I know I speak for all of us here at Frost Valley YMCA when I say – thank you.

Jerry Huncosky

SUMMER 2015 REVIEW June 21

June 28

June 29

Nearly 400 summer camp staff from over a dozen countries worldwide arrive in the Valley to prepare for another summer filled with lifelong memories and values-driven growth.

The first day of summer camp begins! During summer 2015, we’ll see over 3,000 overnight campers and 1,000 day campers, making this a groundbreaking summer: In 2015 we served more children than any summer in our 100+ years in camping!

Thanks to a generous grant from Autism Speaks, campers with autism in our Day Camp program join us in our inclusive and adaptive environment where they make friends, try new things, and have a growth-filled summer.

UPCOMING EVENTS

STEWARDSHIP & SUSTAINABILITY FARM DAY CAMP

Frost Valley’s Day Camp programs aim to promote achievement, relationships, and belonging, and this year, these lessons were brought to the Frost Valley Educational Farm for our first-ever session of Farm Day Camp.

The Frost Valley Educational Farm is a 515-acre working farm that’s home to a barn filled with livestock, a spacious chicken coop, verdant organic gardens, a craft studio and indoor space, and plenty of room for campers and animals to run and play. This summer, as children enjoyed a variety of activities that center around sustainable living, compassion, and stewardship of the earth, the air was filled with happy laughter, bleating goats, and the earthy scent of a garden that’s ready for harvest.

Farm Day Camp is abundant with educational opportunities, and children learn experientially. In the gardens, campers walk among herbs, vegetables, flowers, and other vegetation, and study these plants by using their senses of taste, smell, and sight.

“When I teach in the garden, my biggest goal is to help campers understand where their food comes from,” says Missy Cottone, Garden Manager. “When you ask them, at first they’ll say ‘the grocery store’ because they don’t often think about how food is grown. So, we walk through the garden, tasting things like

basil and kale, studying how sunflower seeds are harvested, and examining how things grow. One camper was amazed at how cabbage grows, it was a huge deal to him. He won’t forget that!”

Beyond the garden, a large red barn acts as another classroom setting. Even just seeing and touching the animals is a learning experience.

“When campers meet the animals, it’s therapeutic; they’re excited, they ask a million questions, and they usually develop a bond with a particular animal,” says Livestock Manager Charlotte Harrison.

“It’s a good chance for them to slow down, explore their thoughts, and learn about animals.”

Barn lessons provide an understanding of the life cycles of animals, in addition to how to care for them, feed them, clean up after them, and — in the case of goats — milk them.

“Farm Day Camp provides such a different experience for children.

They milk goats, pull veggies, and collect eggs — and they’re excited to take part in it all,” explains Day Camp Director Katia Martin. “Campers also learn where food comes from and the cycle of sustainability at the farm: raising a cow leads to eating beef, then food scraps become compost, and compost is returned to the earth by being used in the garden. Plus, because it’s a smaller group, the campers are able to build stronger friendships and truly connect with nature, all while having a simple, back-to-basics camp experience.”

June 30

July 5

Frost Valley’s new healthy snack truck makes its rounds throughout camp thanks to a generous grant from the National Recreation Foundation.

Campers and staff love stopping at the truck for treats like frozen fruit kabobs and other nutritious snacks.

We celebrate the many cultures represented here as our international staff members share their traditions and customs during summer camp’s annual Small World Festival. The day concludes with another annual favorite – fireworks over Lake Cole in celebration of Independence Day.

QUILT & CRAFT WEEKEND November 6-8, 2015 Please join us as we celebrate 20 years of Quilting in the Valley for our special anniversary weekend. Enjoy classes in quilting technique, felting, and more.

Y-GUIDE ALUMNI WEEKEND November 13-15, 2015 Whether you want to connect with former Y-Guide Alumni or let your entire family have the Frost Valley experience, this is the weekend for you!

VOLUNTEER WORK WEEKEND November 13-15, 2015 Spend the weekend at Frost Valley giving back to the camp you love.

FESTIVAL OF THE HOLIDAYS December 4-6, 2015 The best gift of all is sharing quality time with your family. Kick off the holiday season with a stress-free weekend here at camp, celebrating with your family beneath the Frost Valley Christmas tree.

HOLIDAY FAMILY CAMP December 26, 2015 - January 3, 2016 Spend quality time with your family in our Catskill Mountain winter wonderland! On New Year’s Eve, join us for an exciting party including dancing, trivia, plenty of party food, and cheer during our very own ball drop. frostvalley.org | 2

FROST VALLEY CELEBRATES 1960

1975

Ruth Gottscho’s parents found the Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation to assist families in purchasing home dialysis machines and focus on finding a way to help children with kidney disorders attend summer camp alongside their peers.

Former CEO Halbe Brown oversees the development of the Ruth C. Gottscho Kidney Dialysis Center at Frost Valley YMCA, the first of its kind, for campers with kidney diseases. Staffed by caring professionals from the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Kidney Camp officially opens on July 17.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

A HISTORY OF HELPING OTHERS As a child, Ruth Gottscho always wanted to attend summer camp, but she never had the chance. Ruth, born in 1945, was diagnosed with kidney disease at a very young age, before life-saving dialysis treatments were available. So every summer, when her childhood friends gleefully boarded buses or were driven to camp, Ruth stayed behind, wishing there was a way she could join them.

frostvalley.org | 3

Her loving parents, Eva and Ira — who met at a summer camp — sought to find a cure for their daughter over the years. Some treatments worked, others were less effective, but they continued searching for the best way to ease their daughter’s illness. In 1960, however, Ruth passed away at the young age of 15.

Although they grieved for their daughter, Eva and Ira saw an opportunity to help other families who were still going through the same struggles that their family endured throughout Ruth’s childhood. That same year, the Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation was born.

The organization began as a way to help kidney patients find and afford treatments. After health insurance policies were developed and became available to people with kidney disease, the organization’s focus switched gears. Its goal became to help children with kidney disorders attend summer camp, making Ruth’s dreams come true for other children. Frost Valley YMCA saw Kidney Camp as a great opportunity for children and families and was excited to host such a necessary program.

SUMMER 2015 REVIEW

In 1975, Frost Valley’s dialysis center opened, with the help of the foundation, equipment donations from dialysis machine manufacturers, and caring staff from the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore.

Over the last 40 years, the Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation has paid medical and camp expenses for nearly 2,000 kidney campers who are receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis; diagnosed with chronic kidney disease or with kidney impairment due to chronic congenital or rare disorders such as FSGS, Lupus, Cystinosis, and others; or kidney transplant recipients.

Kidney Campers experience traditional summer camp activities, while also receiving their vital dialysis treatments each summer. Special attention is given to the individual medical and developmental needs of each Kidney Camper, but they are not segregated from their peers; Kidney Campers live in cabins and participate in a variety of activities alongside campers of various abilities. Thanks to the Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation, the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, and our generous donors, these children and teens can experience an incredible summer and make memories for a lifetime.

July 12

July 19

August 3

Frost Valley offers a second session of Kidney Camp this year. Through Frost Valley’s partnership with Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation and the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, campers in the program receive treatment for chronic kidney disease, kidney transplants, and other illnesses requiring dialysis and medical supervision, while also experiencing a traditional summer camp with their peers.

Another year of sportsmanship, teamwork, cultural exchange, and spirited cheers fill the Valley during summer camp’s annual Olympix event. Congratulations to New Zealand, this year’s spirit award winner!

During summer camp’s annual Battle of the Themes, campers and staff bring TV to life here in our screen-free zone.

With a Nickelodeon theme integrated into every activity, this event is filled with costumes, challenging games, and creativity.

40 YEARS OF KIDNEY CAMP! 2001

2008

2008

2009

2010

2015

The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore expands their partnership with the Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation to include sending pediatricians to Frost Valley to serve as primary care physicians in the infirmary.

Eva Gottscho is inducted into Frost Valley’s Hall of Fame at our Annual Summer Meeting.

The new Guenther Family Wellness Center, featuring a modernized dialysis unit, is dedicated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 13, with Eva Gottscho, 95, in attendance.

Eva Gottscho passes away, four days before her 96th birthday, on June 17.

Dr. Frederick “Rick” Kaskel is honored with Frost Valley’s Excellence Award for 35 years of dedicated service to the Kidney Program.

Maya Doyle, LCSW-R, PhD and Dr. Frederick “Rick” Kaskel are honored as the 2014 Eric Blum Volunteers of the Year on August 15.

SO MUCH MORE THAN A CAMP

HOW KIDNEY CAMP HELPS CHILDREN GROW

“I feel like I have so much more freedom at Frost Valley,” she says. “I can get my dialysis here, but then go and play sports or hike up to High Falls and enjoy the waterfall. I’ve made so many friends here, too.”

At Frost Valley, Kidney Campers participate in various activities alongside their peers, but they also learn new skills and improve techniques for their own medical management. During her time here, Melody took on a range

August 4 Frost Valley campers and staff enjoy a night in Japan right here on camp during our annual Tokyo Night. Through Frost Valley’s partnership with the Tokyo YMCA, this exciting event introduces campers to traditional Japanese games, dances, food, and customs.

‘‘

of new responsibilities, from making sure she’d get to her dialysis appointments on time, to taking on cabin chores.

“I feel like I’ve become more responsible here, but not just at camp,” she explains. “When I go home, I’m more likely to take on responsibilities, clean up after myself, and take care of myself.”

Melody has also had the opportunity to spread awareness about kidney disease to her fellow cabin mates and friends. She’s happy to teach others about her illness, and proud to prove that she is still capable of accomplishing so much.

“My friends at camp ask why I’m in the kidney program, and I don’t mind telling them; what’s great is that they never treat me like I’m different,” she says. “Outside of camp, some kidney patients feel like they’re different or don’t fit in. But when you come here, you forget about that. You can just be yourself.”

August 6 Thanks to a generous grant from Y-USA, a solar thermal system is installed at our Leadership Lodge providing enough hot water for the entire lodge to shower without use of any fossil fuels.

frostvalley.org | 4

Melody, a second-year Kidney Camper, loves to draw. If she could create a picture of what her ideal summer would look like, she’d sketch herself playing basketball with friends, or going on a nature hike — two activities she enjoys, but is rarely able to do at home. Melody, 16, has kidney failure, which requires her to receive dialysis and often takes her away from doing things she loves. However, thanks to our partnership with the Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation and the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, as well as the generous donors who make Frost Valley YMCA’s Kidney Camp possible, she has been able to participate in these activities and so much more for the past two summers.

‘‘

I feel like I have so much more freedom at Frost Valley.

2014 ERIC BLUM VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR MAYA DOYLE, LCSW-R, PhD & DR. FREDERICK KASKEL Maya Doyle, LCSW-R, PhD and Dr. Frederick “Rick” Kaskel are the 2014 Eric Blum Volunteers of the Year for their lasting impact on Kidney Camp. As the social work coordinator since 2000, Maya recruits campers and supports their families with selfless dedication and enthusiasm. Dr. Kaskel began his work with Frost Valley in 1978 as a visiting nephrologist and in addition to continuing to provide medical direction he is also actively involved as a member of our board of trustees.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

(L-R) Dr. Rick Kaskel, Maya Doyle, LCSW-R, PhD, Jerry Huncosky, CEO & Dr. Judy Aschner, The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Physician-in-Chief

ROBERT OHAUS (1919-2004), lovingly referred to as “Mr. Y” for his passion for the YMCA movement, has been described as a “quietly forceful, innovative” trustee, a position he held for many decades. For his passion for Frost Valley’s Newark partnerships, his prioritization of mainstreaming, and his commitment to board governance, Bob has been inducted into the Frost Valley Hall of Fame.

frostvalley.org | 5

HENRY HIRD (1884-1983) was so dedicated to the mission, he once visited over 40 YMCAs in three months. We have him to thank for our beautiful location, as he discovered the site through his friendship with the Forstmanns. Henry supported and enabled summer camp to include girls in 1962. In 1983, the decision was made to group campers by ages, and the older half continues under the name Camp Henry Hird. For the countless, indelible ways he shaped Frost Valley, we welcome Henry into Frost Valley Hall of Fame.

CARL HESS (1926-1979) AND MARIE HESS (1929-2015) moved up to Frost Valley in 1968 when many staff worked from New Jersey. The couple experienced a rapid expansion of camp, including the addition of new villages, Adventure Trips, more than 200 seasonal staff, thousands of acres, and year-round programs. Throughout this epoch of growth, Carl supervised the maintenance staff while Marie worked in both the kitchen and housekeeping. For their whole-hearted dedication, Carl and Marie Hess are inducted into our Hall of Fame.

SUMMER 2015 REVIEW August 15

August 16

August 21

We host our Annual Summer Meeting and BBQ with over 100 donors, trustees, close friends, family, and volunteers in attendance to celebrate the impact our supporters have on all that we do.

Another Frost Valley tradition continues! Hirdstock, a camp-wide music festival and talent show, is once again a huge hit with plenty of singers, dancers, musicians, and more!

By the end of the summer camp season, over 20 new campers, who have never experienced the magic of summer camp, join us through the Resident Camp Access Grant from the YMCA of the USA.

GENERATIONS COME TOGETHER ALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND

Nearly 400 Frost Valley YMCA alumni and their families gathered here over Labor Day weekend to reconnect, enjoy camp traditions, and raise money to send children to summer camp who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend.

Over the course of the weekend, generations of former campers and counselors explored their old stomping grounds on hikes led by Hiking Director, Bud Cox, cheered loudly during Hoopla in the Dining Hall, enjoyed friendly competition during decade-vs-decade kickball, sang nostalgic songs by the campfire, and so much more. Tours of both the Castle and the recently built Blum House seamlessly blended history with new traditions here at Frost Valley.

“It was a special treat to see so much excitement, especially during check-in, from people who haven’t seen each other in a long time,” says Director of Outreach and Alumni Relations Matt Johns. “And just about every decade was present; I spoke with people who were here this past summer, and others who worked in the 1950s.”

Alumni raised $15,000 to benefit camperships during live and silent auctions, as they bid on fun and coveted items including: Frost Valley “Build Strong” stained-glass art, camp memorabilia from the 1960s and ’80s, a framed collection of Big Tree prints, a Family Weekend for four, and a Summer Camp session.

“To see so many different generations come together for a long weekend and share stories, laughter, and happy tears was amazing,” Matt says. “Everyone had a different story, or a different cheer, or a different anecdote — but the one thing they all had in common was that it all happened here at Frost Valley.”

60 165 385 623 222,000 $767,600

miles hiked by our Adventure Village campers

children who attend Frost Valley through our Newark partnership program

community service hours earned through our service trips

children provided a camp experience through our campership programs nutritious meals served in our dining hall

provided in financial assistance for all of our summer camp programs

August 22

August 31

September 4

Over 400 guests join us for our annual Summer Family Camp, six days of bonding with loved ones, enjoying traditional camp activities, and making memories to last a lifetime.

Our first-ever, one-week session of Farm Day Camp is filled with learning and fun, including caring for livestock and harvesting fruits, veggies, herbs, and more!

Alumni Reunion 2015 kicks off three days of reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and cherishing this special place that changed so many of our former campers’ and staff members’ lives.

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

JOIN THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION STAY IN TOUCH!

Just because the 2015 Alumni Reunion has come and gone, it doesn’t mean you have to leave Frost Valley! By joining the Frost Valley Alumni Association you’ll be the first to find out about Alumni gatherings throughout the country, receive all the latest alumni updates via the alumni e-newsletter, and be able to reconnect with all your old camp friends and counselors. To join the Alumni Association you can contact our Director of Outreach and Alumni Relations Matthew Johns at 845-985-2291 ext. 258 or mjohns@frostvalley.org.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIRMAN Robert B. Haines

TRUSTEES David B. Bieler John S. Butler VICE CHAIRMAN Catherine M. Harvey Dr. R. Mark Ghobrial Ted B. Hilton PRESIDENT Dr. Frederick J. Kaskel James S. Vaughan Michael D. Ketcham Robert Lomauro CEO Amy F. Melican Jerry Huncosky John O’Brien TREASURER Cheng Ong John McCabe Barbara Spitz SECRETARY Robin Wachenfeld Jerold W. Dorfman Mary T. Wheeler VICE PRESIDENTS William E. Baker Professor Al Filreis Robert Messick Judith L. Pasnik Peter E. Sundman

ADVISORY COMMITTEE William H. Abbott Mitchell Brock Andrew Chapman

H. Corbin Day Barton C. English Jeffrey S. Kaufman James Kellogg, Jr. Michael P. Lahue Thomas M. Moriarty Shigeko Woolfalk 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

Frost Valley YMCA is a values-driven organization that fosters youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility through outdoor educational and recreational programs for all. Frost Valley YMCA is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization.

To help us give the gift of camp to children and families, 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.