THE FOUNDERS of YMCA Camp Surf ( S.U.R.F ) Three dedicated individuals played key roles in the establishment and early development of YMCA Camp Surf. The vision and drive of the camp founders served as a catalyst for the hard work and tireless efforts of the volunteers, community leaders, elected officials, generous donors, and YMCA staff teams that followed.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM “BILL” FARGO Captain Bill Fargo of the United States Navy was the driving force that identified and developed the plan for the YMCA to lease the oceanfront land just north of the small town of Imperial Beach. Captain Fargo volunteered to represent the Navy on the San Diego County YMCA Camp Committee because of his daughter’s connection to YMCA Camp Marston as a staff member. In 1967 at a Camp Committee meeting, Captain Fargo suggested developing a beach camp to help alleviate overcrowding at Camp Marston, the only San Diego YMCA camp at that time. The “Camp Surf” Committee was formed to explore the feasibility and location of a beach camp. An undeveloped 45-acre beachfront site located on the Naval Radio Receiving Facility (NRRF) north of Imperial Beach was identified. The Camp Committee convinced the command of the 11th Naval District that the YMCA could put this site to good use as a waterfront camp for youth-serving organizations in San Diego County. Captain Fargo retired from the U.S. Navy in 1969 as the Commanding Officer of Fleet Training Center San Diego. He continued his service on the YMCA Camp Committee and was instrumental in maintaining close ties between the YMCA and Navy, introducing Senior Naval Officers to YMCA Camp Surf and the value it brought to the community.
8 || The Founders
