BEHIND THE SCENES AT CAMP CORMORANT

Meet the woman creating memorable summers for thousands of campers

During the months of June, July and August, it’s hard to find a quiet moment at Camp Cormorant, the YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties’ summer resident camp just outside of Lake Park, Minnesota, one of the oldest resident camps in the United States.

Each week, more than a hundred campers fill the bunkhouses, fields and shorefront for a week of horseback riding, swimming, campfire stories and friendship. Laughter, screams and high fives fill the air as kids swing on the ropes course, reel in bass from the lake and canoe down the Crow Wing River. Every camper at Cormorant leaves the grounds at the end of the week a little more excited, confident and with a big list of new pen pals.

The summer camp extraordinaire who works tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure that every child has the best experience possible is Kim Belgarde, the director at Camp Cormorant.

Belgarde has served as camp director at Cor- morant for the last four years and has a big job making sure that everything runs smoothly, and that all campers are safe and have an unforgettable experience. “I’m responsible for overseeing all aspects of camp, starting with hiring staff, planning programs and running the dayto-day programs,” she said, adding that despite the hectic schedule, “the fun is endless!”

Belgarde brings decades of experience working with youth and camp to her position at Camp Cormorant. On top of her duties as camp director, she has worked as a teacher in the Fargo Public School District for the last 20 years, teaching fourth, fifth and sixth graders, and coaching cross country, track, volleyball and basketball. In addition, Belgarde is no stranger to the summer camp scene. Before taking on her role at Camp Cormorant, she began her camp career as a counselor at Camp Trowbridge near Vergas, Minnesota, later working as assistant director and director at that camp.

Belgarde has also been involved with Kamp KACE, which provides camp experiences for children battling cancer, working as the camp’s director and helping transition KACE to its host site at Camp Cormorant. “The year I moved Kamp KACE to the Cormorant site four years ago was the year I became director at Cormorant,” Belgarde said. “It was an easy transition with our two camps, and is a benefit to both.”

Since then, she has also worked to make the Camp Cormorant a host site for Camp Corral, a national program that provides free stays at camp for the children of military service men and women who have been injured, disabled or who have fallen in the line of duty. Belgarde has also made efforts to improve the physical aspects of camp such as installing new docks, lifeguard stands, and recreational equipment. In addition, there’s another big project on the horizon for Camp Cormorant. “We’re putting up a brand new Welcome Center that will be 3,000 square feet!” Belgarde said excitedly.

The $1.5 million Welcome Center, which is set to open in the summer of 2017, will provide a large shelter for campers to use during storms, camp store, nurse’s station, and areas for hosting events. Belgarde said that the center will help create more opportunities for programming and events at Cormorant, which is goal of hers moving forward.

“I hope to make camp a place that can be used yearround,” Belgarde said, adding that she anticipates school groups, conferences and private events will help expand Camp Cormorant’s mission and capabilities. Belgarde hopes the improvements will continue to build on Camp Cormorant’s ever-growing attendance.

2015 was a record summer for the camp, serving over 1,100 youth including 113 campers from Kamp KACE and 87 from Camp Corral. $97,000 was given to 353 of those campers who were able to attend camp on scholarships provided by funding from the YMCA’s Partner of Youth Annual Campaign, supporting Camp Cormorant’s mission to provide exceptional camp experiences for every child who wants to attend, regardless of ability to pay. In addition, Camp Cormorant hosted 1,250 youth from YMCA day camps and childcare, and Family Wellness day camps, the partner facility between the YMCA and Sanford Health, for field trips throughout the summer.

The camp’s mission is one that has had a long-lasting impact in our region. Camp Cormorant originally opened in 1903 and since then has offered spirit, tradition, leadership, exceptional facilities and safe spaces for campers to grow, learn and enjoy a traditional resident camping experience. “The tradition is long and strong at Camp Cormorant,” she said. “It is one I am proud to be a part of because it is a wonderful family.” That family includes her staff, counselors and the scores of kids who spend a week (or more!) with her every summer.

“Camp Cormorant really is the best place to work,” Belgarde said. “I feel like I’ve become an extra mom at camp!”

For more information on Camp Cormorant, including session information for the upcoming 2016 camp season, visit campcormorant.org.