LETTERFROMTHE EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR
When I was seven years old, my mom sent me to a YMCA overnight camp in New Jersey for two weeks. By the second Friday, I was sitting in the director’s office asking to call home not because I was homesick, but because I wanted to stay longer.
Somehow my mom said yes, and I ended up staying eight straight weeks that summer!
Looking back, she saw what I didn’t yet understand: camp was giving me confidence, positive role models, and a second family. It gave me a foundation that shaped the rest of my life. That’s why this work matters so much to me and why this year feels especially meaningful as we prepare for our 100th summer at Camp Kon-OKwee Spencer. For a century, camp has been a place where kids grow, try new things, and discover who they are.
As we step into our Centennial Year, we ’ re making improvements to ensure camp is ready for the next hundred summers. One of our biggest efforts this year has been the Cabin Renovation Project. Thanks to the leadership from our Property Committee Volunteers led by Bob Boyle, we ’ ve installed 210 new bunk beds over a 4-year period to maintain safe camper ratios, added LVT flooring and exhaust fans, and refreshed cabin interiors. These updates help keep camp safe, welcoming, and ready for the future.
This newsletter is also making its return as we share more stories, highlight the impact of camp, and look ahead to celebrations like our Centennial Weekend (September 11–13, 2026!!!).
Whether you ’ re a camper family, alum, partner group, or friend of camp—thank you for being part of this incredible 100-year story.
Sincerely,
Executive Director
YMCA Camp Kon-O-Kwee Spencer
Young Mack cooking up some dinner at a campout
Mack being inducted into Bulls Eye Club in 1984 at a Boy Scouts Weekend
WHAT’SNEWATCAMP
THELATESTNEWSONCAMP EVENTSANDPROGRAMS!
SUMMERCAMP
Wearegearingupforanepic100 Summerhere atCampKon-O-KweeSpencer! Ourstaffishard atworkpreparingthegroundsandfine-tuning ourprogrammingtoensureeverycamperhasan experienceworthyofthishistoricmilestone. th
NEWTHISYEAR: X-ZONE
X-Zoneisaskill-buildingProgramZonedesigned specificallyforour12-13year-oldcampers(Expa andLora)!X-Zoneallowscamperstochoosea specializedactivitytofocusoneachday.Whether theydiscoveralifelonghobbyormasteranew craft,they’llheadhomewithanewfoundskilland lastingmemories.Moredetailsandspecific programoptionswillbereleasedinthecoming weeks!
VILLAGES AREFILLINGUPFAST!
Ifyouhaven’tregisteredforSummer2026yet,we encourageyoutodososoon.Wearecommitted tomakingcampaccessibleforeveryfamily,so pleasecontacttheofficeifyouhavequestions aboutfinancialassistance.Pleasenotethatthe deadlinetoapplyforfinancialassistanceisMay 15,2026.
NEEDNEWGEARFORCAMP?
CheckoutournewonlineTradingPostHERE!
STAFF SPOTLIGHT: AMANDA ADAMS
Hi friends! My name is Amanda and I started in this position in late September and camp already feels like home to me and my family.
I am coming from French Creek Council of Scouting America, where I focused on youth development and fundraising! I hold a Master’s in Environmental Education and Parks and Resource Management from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (Go Rock!!) and a dual Bachelor’s degree in Parks and Resource Management and History.
My husband, Kyle and I are proud parents of two human kiddos, Theodora “Teddi” (5) and Walden “Wally” (11 months) and four furry kiddos, our dogs, Birdie and Kiki and our cats, Jasper and Jenner. I love to read and needle felt, and enjoy hiking (I have been exploring the trails around KOKS whenever I can)!
I look forward to meeting everyone at camp drop off, parent-child weekends, or around Zelie. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, connections or “howdies” (aadams@ymcapgh.org)!
VOLUNTEERING &GIVINGBACK
RING WORK DAY
d 18 amazing volunteers on Saturday, March 21 for our first Spring Work cobwebs, rake leaves, repaint, and spruce up camp for the spring. st
o all of our volunteers for helping us prepare!
plenty of work to be done! Our next community workday is APRIL11TH! If ke to join please reach out to our Property Director, Tim Shank, Sr. ymcapgh.org) to schedule time to come lend a hand!
Thank you to everyone tha camp on Y Day of Giving (M either sharing a story abou important to you or by givi
We raised $5,090 towards s camp!
“Ihadtheprivilegeofatt formanysummersandlo seeingmanykidsincluding nephewdothesame”-
Volunteers (left to right) Ray Steeb, Patrick Maltba, Cheryl Sorensen, and Bob Boyle bring the last of the new bunk beds into Cabin 2 in Juna Village!
Volunteers Brett Aristegui (left) and David Williamson (right) give the village signs a much needed new coat of paint!
S’MORETOSHARE!
CABINRENOVATIONPROJECT COMPLETED!
BOBBOYLE,VOLUNTEER
Over the past two years, Camp Kon-O-Kwee Spencer has completed a major cabin renovation project that prioritized enhancing comfort, safety, and community for campers. Upgrades included new bunk beds and mattresses, fresh paint, improved flooring, and added exhaust fans.
These improvements were made possible through generous community support. Special thanks to Rosedale Technical College students for their hands-on contributions, PPG Paints for donated paint, and our Clarion Boards, Inc and JM Leasing Company for their support with flooring and trucking.
Thanks to these efforts, our cabins are more than just places to sleep, they’re spaces where campers truly feel at home.
MAKINGASPLASH: POOLHEATERUPGRADE
SALLYWRIGHT, OUTDOOREDUCATIONAND PARTNERCAMPDIRECTOR
After years of relying on a pre-owned boiler that limited our early-season use, Camp Kon-O-Kwee Spencer has installed a new pool boiler!! By May 2026, our pool will reach a comfortable 80°F, perfect for visiting school groups!
The upgrade also allows us to host lifeguard certification courses on-site, giving staff the chance to train in the same environment they’ll oversee all summer.
A simple change with a big impact: warmer spring swims and better-prepared lifeguards for a safe season ahead!
SPRINGINTOSUMMER
JONATHAN“JONO”SPRING,VOLUNTEER
I’m Jono, an ex-camper and summer staff member, and current Advisory Board member for Camp KonO-Kwee Spencer! I love volunteering at Spring into Summer and Fall Fest because I can show people all of the things I love about camp! I’ll be back in Juna Village for Spring into Summer on May 3rd for s ’ mores by the fire and would love to see you there. It’s a great chance to explore camp, try activities, and make memories as a family!
Sign up HERE to come visit or volunteer on MAY 3RD
Jono (right) tending the fire at Fall Fest in 2025
Tim Shank Sr (center) picking up paint donations from PPG Paints!
Tom Bayley (left) and Nate Hughes (right) staining new bunk beds!
Inside one of the finished cabins- new flooring, paint, and bunk beds!
ALUMNI CORNER
Hi Camp Family!
I’m Cat Vargo, proud camper and staff alum from 2003–2008, and I’m so excited to reconnect with you all.
Some of my favorite memories take me back to a village overnight campout, tucked deep in the woods. We cooked over the fire, leaned on our outdoor skills, and learned what it really meant to work as a team. Those moments didn’t just make great stories, they built confidence and leadership skills that have stayed with me ever since and continue to shape who I am today.
Find us on social media, and scan the QR code to share your memories of YMCA Camp Kon-OKwee Spencer!
Cat and her partner, Ben in Summer 2025
Left to right: Tai Papariella (Steeb), Greg Illson, Cat Vargo, Jonathan Jono Spring, Anne Beitler, and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Rubenstein at the Board of Advisors Retreat in Winter 2026
Cat and some of her favorite campers in Summer 2008
SEPTEMBER 11-13, 2026
Mark your calendars for Camp Kon-O-Kwee Spencer’s Centennial Celebration!
We’re planning a reunion weekend filled with the traditions you remember and the memories you’ll make all over again. Full registration and lodging information will be released May 1, 2026.
Cabin space is limited, CLICKHERE to sign up to be notified with early access information!
Questions, let us help you by reaching out KOKSCentennial@ymcapgh.org.
2026ANNUAL CAMPAIGNDONORS
THANK YOU FOR GIVING THE GIFT OF CAMP!
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126NagelRd,Fombell,Pennsylvania16123 | (724)758-6238 | ycampkok.org | campkon-o-kwee@ymcapgh.org