SPARK! IGNITING INSPIRATION
FOR LASTING IMPACT
FROST VALLEY YMCA 2018-2019 Annual Report
YEAR IN REVIEW •
JUNE 1, 2018 - MAY 31, 2019
41,333 Program Participants 19,838
4,200
Group & Family Retreat Participants
Summer Camp Participants Traditional Overnight Campers: 1,752
Family Members: 5,556 Y Adventure Guides: 2,089
Day Campers: 963
Religious Group Members: 652 Non-Profit Organization Guests: 2,666
Tokyo Campers: 379
Girl Scouts: 4,408 Boy Scouts: 1,056
Equestrian Campers: 308
School/University Students: 2,408 Other: 896
Adventure Campers: 298
Outdoor Sporting Participants: 107
Farm Campers: 219
READ ABOUT FROST VALLEY’S IMPACT ON THE GORMLY FAMILY ON PAGE 11
MAC Campers: 92
17,295 School Program Participants
Leadership Campers: 90
School Trip Participants: 17,183
BGSA Campers: 64
School Break Camp Participants: 60
Kidney Campers: 35
School-Age Child Care Participants: 52 LEARN HOW SOUTH OCEANSIDE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM THEIR SCHOOL TRIP ON PAGE 7
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READ HOW WILLOW OVERCAME OBSTACLES AT CAMP ON PAGE 5
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Impact Around the Globe
1000+ guests/ campers 500-999 100-499 50-99 10-49 0-9
$2,170,829 Total Provided
40% 39% 21%
Summer Camp Scholarships: $862,950 School Trips Financial Assistance: $841,967 Group & Family Retreat Program Scholarships: $465,912
SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS
Financial Assistance & Scholarships PROGRAM
CAMPERS
SCHOLARSHIPS
Adventure Camp
41
$56,581
East Valley Ranch
23
$37,319
Equestrian Camp (Main Camp)
26
$51,129
Farm Camp
11
$15,908
Bear Grylls
4
$2,940
Overnight Camp
210
$278,830
Kidney Camp
38
$68,400
Newark Partnership
155
$310,850
Tokyo
20
$26,079
Traditional Day Camp
49
$10,025
Equestrian Day Camp
15
$4,889
TOTALS
592
$862,950
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OUR MISSION 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.
OUR VALUES Caring • Community • Diversity Honesty • Inclusiveness • Respect Responsibility • Stewardship
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Message From Our President & CEO
Campfires are the quintessential outdoor experience. No matter your age, ethnicity, race, religion or ability, all people deserve to witness the glow of a fire, to feel its warmth, to listen to its crackle, and to taste a perfectly crafted s’more. Meaningful moments like these can’t be accessed through an app. They have to be experienced firsthand, and they’re best when surrounded by friends. Whether it’s the opening campfire at the start of each session, the Girl Scout campfire songs heard throughout camp on the weekends, or the smell of roasting marshmallows enjoyed by an entire class of sixth graders, every member of the Frost Valley community knows these are vital experiences to a healthy childhood. And at Frost Valley, no one ever really outgrows camp – our family campers who’ve been coming for generations can attest to that.
Jim Vaughan President of the Board, Frost Valley YMCA
But why is something as simple as a campfire so profound? We think it’s because just a few sparks can represent the start of something powerful. Every child, teenager, and adult who comes here has their own spark within them. They come here with unimaginable potential, and just like the individuals you’ll read about within these pages, they find life-changing gifts here that simply add a little fuel to their fire. On page five, you’ll meet Willow who discovered an important life lesson as she scaled a mountain. Juhanna’s story on page nine illuminates how being away from home can create a lifelong adventurer. And there’s the 82nd Airborne Division on page 13, who learned that nothing is stronger than the bonds between soldiers. All six stories in this annual report are just a few of the 41,333 sparks that were ignited here at Frost Valley YMCA last year. None of this is possible without you. It’s generous donors like you who keep the fire burning.
Jerry Huncosky Chief Executive Officer, Frost Valley YMCA
And for that, we thank you.
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The View from The Top A YOUNG WOMAN GAINS A NEW PERSPECTIVE THANKS TO AN ADVENTURE TRIP OF A LIFETIME The world looks completely different from the top of a 200-foot cliff. That’s what twelve-year-old Willow from Long Island discovered on Frost Valley’s Rocks and Ropes Adventure Trip last summer. The new perspective she gained of herself and the world around her will stay with her for the rest of her life. Willow’s mother Lea had a specific reason for wanting her daughter to go on this trip. “When Willow was eight years old, we were hiking in Guatemala near a cliff and she slipped and fell,” describes Lea. “There were two Canadian doctors behind us and they got her down safely. I wanted her to go on this trip because I didn’t want that experience to spiral into a lifelong fear for her.”
“I just want to thank Frost Valley for everything they did. It meant so much to me that we were able to get a camp scholarship and give her this experience.”
Despite that scary experience, Willow learned how to climb and belay at a local climbing gym, and decided she was up for the challenge of a one-week rock climbing trip in the Shawangunk Mountains. First, she had to learn to camp out in the wilderness with other kids she hadn’t met before. “We set up our own tents,” says Willow. “The girls had an A-frame tent which was really different for me, but I really loved it. I felt one with nature.” She took to camping immediately. Willow learned to work closely with the other campers and, unlike at school, found that something that had once made her feel different, instead created a common ground among her fellow campers. Her mother describes, “I got rid of our TV eight years ago and I know that sometimes Willow feels out of the loop, but on the trip when everyone else was also disconnected she felt the same as the rest of the group.” Not only did Willow form a special bond with the other campers, but she formed a deep connection to nature as well. “When we were rapelling down cliffs, there was one that was 200 feet tall and there was about
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170 feet of just air below me,” says Willow. “I was just sitting there suspended in mid-air. The view was absolutely incredible!” Willow was doing more than just climbing; she was growing as a person, challenging herself physically as well as mentally. “This cliff had a really smooth surface with only a small crack here or there to try and get a handgrip on,” describes Willow. “I kept trying to get a grip, but it was difficult. I kept trying over and over again. At one point, I lost my balance and fell, but I kept trying and after 20 or 30 minutes I finally made it to a spot where I could get a good handgrip.
“I just kept trying and trying until I got it. I didn’t give up. It’s a good lesson for life, too. When you go through a difficult time, you just keep trying; you never give up.”
True to her independent nature, Willow nonchalantly alleviated her mother’s fear saying, “My mom thought I was afraid of heights, but I wasn’t.” While she didn’t necessarily need to overcome a fear of heights, Willow did learn how to extract valuable life lessons from the challenges she faced on the trip. Wise beyond her twelve years, Willow reveals, “About 30 feet above your belayer you look out at the trees all around you and ponder life. You think about what kind of person you want to be.” “It brings tears to my eyes,” says Lea excitedly. “I just want to thank Frost Valley for everything they did. It meant so much to me that we were able to get a camp scholarship and give her this experience.” Willow’s experiences, along with those of other young women, have proved to Frost Valley the value in offering trips specifically for young women. That’s why Frost Valley added three new All-Women Leadership trips to its 2019 Adventure Trips lineup to serve more young women like Willow.
The change in Willow was evident to Lea when her daughter returned from the trip. According to her mom, Willow came home and put all of her things from the trip away without being asked, which she wouldn’t have been inclined to do before. Lea also sensed a more profound change had occurred in her daughter. “Willow has a fierce independent streak,” says Lea. “The trip took all of her natural attributes and amplified them. Willow came home elated! She had this glow on her face like I’ve never seen before.
“I’ve never seen such exponential growth in one week in all my life. Seeing that glow on her face moved mountains for me.”
77% of Frost Valley campers surveyed said they needed less help from adults after attending camp.
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Students’ Compassion Blossoms Outdoors ONE SCHOOL’S TWENTY-YEAR TRADITION CREATES A LEGACY OF INCLUSIVENESS South Oceanside Elementary School may be small, with only about 300 children in total, but they have big goals for their students. For more than twenty years, this school on Long Island has been bringing its sixth-grade class to Frost Valley for a teambuilding retreat with the goal of creating a harmonious school community where the students accept and help all of their fellow classmates.
“They return from Frost Valley with a greater sense of community. The greatest thing we overhear them say is, ‘I never really thought I would be friends with this person, but now I have more respect for everyone.’”
“There’s been a dramatic shift in recent years for both the students and the teachers as schools are now having to intervene in cases of cyber bullying,” explains Susan Bruno, a long-time sixth grade teacher and trip chaperone. “Our school has pretty great policies in place, but we’ve definitely had kids bring in screenshots of hurtful messages and we have to try and diffuse the situation. While it’s not a huge problem here, I know it’s a problem many schools are facing now and is something the children might face more once they enter middle and high school. That’s why it’s great to get them to Frost Valley right before they start middle school so they can learn to better respect and relate to each other.” During their recent trip in April, the students participated in a mixture of environmental education and teambuilding activities. “We wanted them to participate in activities that challenge them but not to the point of frustration,” says Joanna Kletter Principal of South Oceanside Elementary School. “We did the rock wall and the cable bridge/night awareness walk. During the hike, the students talked about the functions of the rods and cones in their eyes and how they are used to adjust to light, as well as how their other senses heighten at night as visibility decreases. They visited the raptor center and learned about owls and other birds of prey. They also participated in a trust walk where they walked in pairs with one person blindfolded and the other person leading and they took turns being the leader.”
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Outside of official teambuilding activities, Frost Valley’s lack of cell service is another great motivator that encourages children to interact with one another face-to-face on a personal level. “I love that cell phones don’t work there. It’s such a relief to be able to turn off that part of my brain for a while,” says Susan. “I would say that for the past few years, that has also been an inherent goal of ours—to teach the kids how to form personal connections with one another outside of cell phones and social media. It was so heartwarming to see the girls braiding each other’s hair in the lodge at night and the boys playing a makeshift hockey game using a crumpled-up piece of paper.” Frost Valley taught the students about its core values and reinforced them through discussions after each activity. This gave the students a stronger sense of each one. Inclusiveness is a value that South Oceanside Elementary School and Frost Valley share.
When speaking of the student with Autism, Susan says, “It was great to see all the students going out of their way to make sure he was included in all the games. Ashley, our teambuilding leader, was in tears she was so moved by how well they treated him.” The impact of their environmental education and teambuilding retreat creates a ripple effect that goes far beyond the classroom. “I think the skills they learned, such as active listening, cooperation, and working together, will definitely stick with them the rest of their lives,” says Joanna. “The kids see each other in a new light after working together on the teambuilding activities,” says Susan. “They return from Frost Valley with a greater sense of community. The greatest thing we overhear them say is, ‘I never really thought I would be friends with this person, but now I have more respect for everyone.’”
“In all my time working as a Program Instructor, I have never witnessed such camaraderie and affinity within a group of young individuals,” says Ashley Loftus, Program Instructor at Frost Valley YMCA.
“One of the students has autism and was for the most part non-verbal; however, he took instructions wonderfully and was more than capable of taking part in all of the same activities as his peers. The encouragement he received from his classmates, the little check-ins they did with him, and the profound care they showed him simply took my breath away. We teach our students about Frost Valley’s core values and this group exemplified Inclusiveness, Diversity, Caring, and Community.”
87% of young people have seen cyber bullying occurring online and 26% have been victims themselves.* *McAfee’s 2014 Teens and Screens study
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Camp Opens The Door to New Possibilities ONE FORMER CAMPER USES HER CAMP EXPERIENCE TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHERS Though not a timid child by nature, it still took courage for Juhanna Rogers to take that first step off the bus at Frost Valley YMCA for the very first time. As a seven-year-old who had never before spent time in nature or a camp environment, taking in the full scope of the breathtaking Catskill Mountain scenery was truly eye opening. From the moment the doors of the bus swung open, a whole new world opened to Juhanna. Attending Overnight Camp at Frost Valley was an entirely new experience compared to what she was used to. Juhanna, like many children in her community, came to Frost Valley through our partnerships with agencies in Newark, NJ which she found out about through her local afterschool program. “There’s no way my Mom and Pop could afford to send me,” Juhanna says. “Without the scholarship program, I don’t know how else I could have gone to Frost Valley.” From her very first summer, Juhanna fell in love with Frost Valley. It was here at camp that she first experienced meeting people from a variety of backgrounds. Looking back at her childhood, Juhanna recognizes how Frost Valley forged her connection to the world. “I still remember how so many conversations at summer camp centered around culture and community,” says Juhanna. “When I was in the fifth or
sixth grade that was the first time I really became aware of the different socio-economic backgrounds of my fellow campers as everyone talked about their homes, families, and communities. Because of camp I was exposed to a very diverse group of people at a much younger age than I think some people who don’t really travel beyond their own communities.” Frost Valley’s richly diverse camp community became a steadfast draw for her, beckoning her back to camp year after year. “I came every second session because I loved the Olympix. I loved the cultural aspects and I was always excited to find out which country I was going to be a part of,” Juhanna explains. She went on to become a Counselor in Training (CiT) for one summer, and subsequently came back as a counselor. Meeting a Frost Valley staff member from Spain became the catalyst that would once again open a new door for Juhanna. “I remember telling her that I was going to visit her in Spain one day,” Juhanna recalls. “That was the seed that grew in my mind and when I went to college I ended up living in Spain for six months. People would always tell me how brave it was to want to go to a foreign country where I didn’t know anybody. They were surprised by the lack of fear I had regarding travel and experiencing new cultures, and for me it had become ingrained in me since summer camp.
“Traveling away from home without my family every summer, not knowing what other kids I was going to meet, what old friends I would see, and what new friends I would make, it all prepared me to meet adventure wherever it lived on whichever continent.” Feeling prepared to live with people from all different backgrounds, Juhanna went on to become an RA at Penn State University. She used some creative bonding strategies that she learned around the campfire at Frost Valley to bring the students together. “We had snacks and watched movies and held door-decorating contests,” Juhanna says. “It was the simple things like coloring or talking that brought the women on the floor together, which helped eliminate a lot of potential issues. It really
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helped them to engage with one another. These are things I learned from my experiences working as a CiT and counselor at Frost Valley.” Juhanna earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Integrative Arts from Penn State University – Altoona. While at Penn State, she wrote, directed, and produced artistic pieces that celebrated Black history and culture. Her work in theater earned her the prestigious title of Central Pennsylvania NAACP Woman of the Year at only 20 years old. She went on to receive her Master’s Degree from Indiana University in Higher Education and Student Affairs. She then worked for the university for three years during which time she took more than 100 African American and Latino students to the Dominican Republic on a study abroad program, expanding their perspective of the world. “I try to help students navigate other communities and give them experiences they might not otherwise have had – like taking an airplane for the first time, seeing the ocean, being a roommate, and participating in circle conversations,” Juhanna explains. “Day-to-day life doesn’t often afford us the opportunities to just connect with each other. Those were values I took from camp.” While pursuing her doctorate degree, Juhanna recognized that she, along with fellow African American women, could benefit from a strong support network as they navigated the doctoral program at Indiana University — Purdue University Indianapolis. She co-founded SistaCircle, a support group for Black women to strengthen relationships with faculty in their doctoral programs. Five years later, Juhanna along with seven colleagues made institutional history by becoming the largest group of Black women to receive their doctorates at the same time. They garnered national attention as “The Great 8” and were included in Ebony Magazine’s Power 100 list. Dr. Juhanna Rogers currently works for Centerstate Corporation for Economic Opportunity in Syracuse, NY as Director of Community Engagement and Empowerment.
“Now, I advocate for those same campership opportunities that were available to me because I know firsthand how life-changing they are,” Juhanna says. “When you’re living in
an area entrenched in poverty it can be incredibly hard to get kids to even imagine a life outside their neighborhood.” Juhanna has also passed the Frost Valley tradition on to her son Nile who attended Overnight Camp two years ago. Driving him up to camp, she was even more excited than he was. “While dropping my son off at Frost Valley, we pulled up and saw Big Tree Field,” Juhanna retells. “It was so magical and all the memories started rushing back to me – the hikes, horseback riding, the waterfall, gymnastics, all the amazing times that shaped my life. That was the moment everything had come full circle. I didn’t want to leave.” Revisiting Frost Valley as a parent of a camper, she was able to view Frost Valley through an entirely different lens.
“As a mom, I can now appreciate that it takes a village – as my mom always said – to raise a child,” Juhanna says. “It takes intentionality as well. I was raised in many ways by Frost Valley, and I took those lessons back to not only my community but everywhere else I’ve traveled.”
83% of Frost Valley campers surveyed said their willingness to volunteer increased after attending camp.
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Bonding in Nature Becomes an Honored Tradition ONE FAMILY’S ANNUAL REUNION SPANS 50 YEARS! Family is more than a collection of people who share DNA; it’s a group of people that intentionally supports and cares for one another, sharing history, resources, and common goals. For Rob Gormly, “family” has come to encompass neighbors and close friends in addition to his blood relatives, and their shared history includes an annual reunion at Frost Valley YMCA.
The Gormly Family
“It’s like the volume of life is turned down so that we can really hear each other and make that strong connection to one another.”
In 1969 the Gormly family was living in Richmond Hill, Queens, NY when a friend of the family who was a Boy Scout leader brought his scouts to Frost Valley on a camping trip so they could experience nature. Soon after, their family along with friends’ families returned for a weekend retreat and loved it. Every year since 1969, 18-24 members of the Gormly tribe return to Frost Valley to soak in the breathtaking mountain views and spend long days catching up on one another’s lives. The Gormly “family,” which has grown over the years, has stayed in nearly every lodge on Main Camp and at Strauss House before and after it evolved into East Valley Lodge. This year marks their 50th reunion at Frost Valley! “It just became self-evident over time that we needed to keep coming,” says Rob. “It’s become a place where our group gets together to unplug and spend quality time together. We connect with each other and nature. We bond here. There’s this esoteric quality at Frost Valley that we can’t find or recreate other places. This is our happy place. It’s just where we need to be.” Even the six-hour drive from northern Virginia doesn’t deter Rob, his wife Lori, and their boys David and Aidan from returning to Frost Valley every year. For years until his good friend moved to California, Rob’s family held the record for traveling the farthest. Rob was also the person who came to Frost Valley at the youngest age (nine months) until his friend’s children were born and began bringing his children at two-and-a-half months old. “We like to bring them to the woods young,” Rob jokes.
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Introducing the younger generations to Frost Valley has been a priority for the Gormly family. Rob’s boys have been coming to Frost Valley their whole lives. A few years ago, worried their teenagers might be growing tired of the same trip year after year, Lori asked David and Aidan if they were still happy coming here. They enthusiastically replied, “Absolutely!” “The boys don’t have a problem giving up technology for the weekend,” explains Rob. “They know it’s always a screen-free weekend.” Although the group enjoys archery and canoeing at Frost Valley, their most cherished pastime is simply spending time outdoors together. “My favorite memories include the silly ‘Frost Valley Olympics’ we created amongst ourselves,” Rob reveals. “We made up bizarre games and activities including rock sitting and giving out prizes. It’s all the many little things like hiking through the woods and getting lost or every year someone hiding a piece of the jigsaw puzzle so they can be the person who adds the last piece to complete the picture. There was the time my cousin caught a fish with an empty coffee can. It’s coming here and just letting your kids explore the world around them.
“What’s been amazing is witnessing the bonds being formed between people that only see each other once a year at Frost Valley.” Rob describes, “You can’t create that bond any other way than through this long-standing tradition. On any given weekend, a small group of three or so people would break away from the larger group and have these intense conversations and then you would later find yourself in another one of these deep conversations with another small group. It’s like the volume of life is turned down so that we can really hear each other and make that strong connection to one another.”
37 min American families get an average of 37 minutes of quality time together per day, according to new research.*
*2018 Study by “Visit Anaheim” marketing group
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The 82nd Airborne Division Takes the Scenic Route Home GIVING BACK TO THE SOLDIERS WHO DEFEND OUR FREEDOM Deployed soldiers spend months to years thousands of miles away from their families in foreign countries without any creature comforts, working long days engaged in dangerous military operations that could potentially take their lives. The stress can take its toll on both the physical and mental health of soldiers and their families. After returning from deployment, military personnel must navigate the challenging transition back to the less high-stress environment stateside. Learning to reacclimate to the day-to-day routines of family life is very important for soldiers’ mental health.
“It is a testament to Frost Valley how quickly the soldiers bonded with each other.”
It was during this transition period between coming back from deployment and making their way back to their bases to start their block leave that 20 members of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, Inc. visited Frost Valley YMCA in June of 2018. The personnel, who came from different brigades, had been deployed for nine months or more in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and other countries. Bill Bauer, Executive Director of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, Inc. explains:
“The only country they’ve seen for a long time may have been engulfed in war. We wanted the soldiers to be able to relax, have fun, and reenergize before they go home.” During their stay at Frost Valley, the soldiers cleared their minds during a hike up nearby Slide Mountain. The soldiers later basked in the peaceful tranquility along the banks of Lake Cole as they spent hours fly fishing alongside one another; their prior stresses fading like ripples on the water.
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Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Hasz from the West Point Military Academy volunteered his time to come up to Frost Valley to teach the soldiers in the 82nd Airborne Division how to fly fish. “We had a great time fly fishing, and were grateful to Lieutenant Colonel Hasz for teaching us how,” says Bill. Towards the end of their trip, the troops rallied indoors for an upbeat concert performed by a local band called “Side Effects.” The band, which is comprised of Vietnam-era veterans, was all too happy to give back to the troops by performing free of charge. Just prior to departure, the soldiers participated in high ropes challenges at the Y tower, working together as a cohesive unit.
journeys home. Jokes were exchanged jovially and conversations flowed freely among the group as they reminisced about the trip. Though some of them had been strangers upon their arrival, it was apparent they were leaving as friends. “It is a testament to Frost Valley how quickly the soldiers bonded with each other,” says Bill. Frost Valley was honored to give these brave, hardworking soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division some well-deserved respite. The soldiers will carry the memories with them wherever duty calls them in the future.
So many people came together to show the troops their support and give back to the men and women who serve our country. This weekend retreat was made possible thanks to a generous donor with a special place in his heart for this particular division of the United States Army. He planned to join the 82nd Airborne in his youth but contracted a serious illness, which prevented him from serving. He longed to give back to the division he was unable to join, so he donated the funds for the soldiers to enjoy this special retreat at Frost Valley. The beautiful scenery and the camaraderie they shared had a therapeutic effect on the soldiers. “This place is amazing! We loved the accommodations and the staff was wonderful,” says Matt Worstell, Chaplin for the 82nd Airborne Division. “Coming to Frost Valley gave the soldiers a great opportunity to get to know each other better and everyone had a good time during their stay,” he adds.
Findings suggest that extended group-based nature recreation can have significant positive impacts on veterans.*
The joy was written all over their smiling faces as the soldiers gathered together, waiting for the buses that would take them on their separate *University of Michigan’s 2013 study on outdoor activities and veterans’ mental health group
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From Surviving to Thriving ONE SUMMER CAMPER FINDS THE COURAGE TO OVERCOME HER FEAR “I never knew exactly how afraid I was of heights until the first year,” says seventeen-year-old Olivia from Westchester. “I didn’t know we were going to be rappelling down High Falls. I was beside myself crying.” Olivia knew what survival challenges she could expect by the time she returned for her fourth summer of Frost Valley’s Bear Grylls Survival Academy Teen Camp. Having already attended the one-week program for the first two years and the two-week program during her third year, Olivia was excited to brush up on her survival skills and learn new ones. However, the one challenge she struggled with every year was rappelling down High Falls — a 50-foot waterfall.
“It was the most incredible experience. I never thought I could do it but when I did, it opened doors for me. It showed me that I could push myself to do things I never thought I could.”
Along with a strong aversion to heights, Olivia faced the added challenge of having an impairment with her depth perception, making it harder for her to visually gauge how near or far away things are. Whenever she was hiking and the decline became especially steep going downhill, she would deliberately slide down on her backside because her depth perception made her unsure of her footing. Despite her depth perception issues and fear of heights, Olivia completed a four-day overnight hike covering 14 miles during which time she summited eight mountains including Slide Mountain, the highest mountain in the Catskills. Still, rappelling down High Falls remained the one feat she had yet to conquer. “Two years ago I got a third of the way down and couldn’t go any further,” Olivia explains. When it came time to rappel down the Falls for her fourth and final year in the survival camp program, all the pressure seemed to culminate in this one pivotal moment. It was Olivia’s very last chance to complete this challenge since she was aging out of the program. The emotional moment finally arrived.
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“When I got as far down as I had the previous year, I started crying,” Olivia recalls.
“My counselor said, ‘You have a decision to make. You can climb back up or you can finish going down, but we will be proud of you no matter what you decide and I have the utmost confidence in you.’ I sat there for a second and decided to go back up, but then I quickly changed my mind and when I put my feet back up on the rocks and leaned back I knew for sure in that moment that there was only one way to go—down.
Olivia’s persistence in overcoming her fear inspired her fellow campers and counselors. But nobody was more surprised and encouraged by completing the challenge than Olivia herself. Her confidence grew by leaps and bounds that day. “If you had asked me years ago if I could do something like this I would have said absolutely not,” says Olivia. “It was the most incredible experience. I never thought I could do it but when I did, it opened doors for me. It showed me that I could push myself to do things I never thought I could.”
“I was looking up at her and she was telling me I could do it,” Olivia continued. “I cried the whole way down, but when I got to the bottom and I went over to where the rest of the group was standing, I was laughing and crying at the same time and another counselor at the bottom said what a great job I did. My best friend was the last to go down and she was so excited for me saying, ‘You did it! You did it!’ She gave me a great big hug.” Olivia’s mom Dianne was also thrilled with her daughter’s accomplishment. “Olivia is really persistent,” Dianne gushes. “She works really hard to get to a goal. I’m really proud of her for everything, but especially this exceptional thing since she’s afraid of heights and has a problem with her depth perception.” At the end of camp, Olivia received a congratulatory card signed by all her counselors. “That was really amazing,” Olivia recalls. “It really meant a lot to me!”
90% of Frost Valley campers surveyed said, ‘At camp, I did things I was afraid to do at first.’
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2018-2019 FACILITY ENHANCEMENTS The following property and facility enhancements have allowed Frost Valley to serve more people in more sustainable, more innovative, and safer ways. Thank you to all who supported these efforts with your time, talent, and treasure.
LANDSBERGER AMPHITHEATER AT CiT POINT Thanks to the generosity of our longtime friend David Landsberger, our cherished opening and closing campfires will now take place at our exquisite new amphitheater overlooking our beloved Lake Cole. This new space was completed for summer 2019!
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SOLAR ARRAY As of May 2019, 672 bifacial solar panels are now producing roughly 35% of Frost Valley’s electricity! These panels, which were funded by an anonymous donor and friend of Frost Valley, capture direct energy from the top of the panel as well as indirect solar energy reflected off the ground into the back of the panel. This moves Frost Valley closer to achieving our five-year strategic goal of reducing our overall carbon footprint by 25%. Money saved on Frost Valley’s electric bill through the use of the panels will be reinvested into future energy efficiency initiatives throughout camp.
MAKER’S LAB Frost Valley has added a Maker’s Lab to The Cathy Harvey Program Village. The Maker’s Lab will offer campers and guests the opportunity to participate in a variety of STEM-based activities starting with Summer Camp 2019. It will encourage creative, independent play through an Imagination Playground™ (a system of giant foam blocks), as well as an illumination station. Children across all programs will have the chance to apply STEM principles to LEGO® activities, and future plans include offering a robotics class.
ON-SITE DAYCARE In November 2018 Frost Valley completed renovations on what was formerly the Fly-Fishing Cottage, turning it into an on-site daycare for staff and local community members, called Little Rainbows Daycare. The program has served 10 children since its opening.
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HALL OF FAME In 2008, to commemorate Frost Valley YMCA’s 50th year in the Catskills, the Board of Trustees resolved to begin a tradition of recognizing the outstanding individuals who have been instrumental in service and leadership to our organization. The following individuals have been inducted into our Hall of Fame for their contributions to the founding, continued success, and legacy of Frost Valley.
PAST HONOREES 2008
2012
2016
D. Halbe Brown Woodruff J. “Woody” English Eva Gottscho
R. Fenn Putman Dr. Jerome Wolff
Bill & Eva Devlin Sumner Dudley Cathy McFarland Harvey
2009 Helen Geyer James C. Kellogg
Paul B. Guenther David King Howard Quirk
2010
2014
Walter T. Margetts
2011 Jane Brown Tatsuo and Emiko Honma Charles Scott
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2013
2017 Hunter W. Corbin Robert B. Haines Charles J. “Chuck” and Joy White
Dr. Ira Greifer Clara Hasbrouck Frank Ketcham John Ketcham
2015 Carl and Marie Hess Henry Hird Robert Ohaus
FROST VALLEY YMCA | June 2018 - May 2019 Annual Report
2018 Ted B. Hilton James “Jim” Marion Beverly Gross Sutton
2019 Hall of Fame Inductees
John Ledlie
Charles Kremer
Marie Kremer
Director of Camp Wawayanda 1930-1944
Maintenance Staff 1975-1979
Camp Cook, Office Manager 1964-1981
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Program Partners ALLIANCE OF NEW YORK STATE YMCAS The Alliance of New York State YMCAs is comprised of 45 independent Ys and more than 120 YMCA branches across the empire state. Making up an extraordinary group of dedicated nonprofits working together to strengthen the communities of New York. BEAR GRYLLS SURVIVAL ACADEMY In partnership with the Bear Grylls Survival Academy, Frost Valley is honored to provide outdoor survival courses and summer camp programs to children, teens, and adults. Through survival expert Bear Grylls’ signature dynamic self-rescue approach, these simulated experiences are safe, engaging ways for individuals and families to challenge themselves in the great outdoors. BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF NEWARK This partnership provides opportunities for Newark youth to experience Frost Valley YMCA camp, empowering them to succeed and excel. LA CASA DE DON PEDRO La Casa de Don Pedro is a community development corporation offering comprehensive social services to Newark and surrounding areas, with particular expertise in serving the Latino community. CATSKILL WATERSHED CORPORATION The CWC is a Local Development Corporation established to protect water quality in the NYC Watershed West of the Hudson River; to preserve and support Watershed communities; and to strengthen the region’s economy. The CWC generously funds schools to come to Frost Valley to learn about and experience firsthand the importance of the Watershed. CHARTWELLS Chartwells is an educational dining service partnering with Frost Valley to promote the goal of providing tasty, wholesome food for every camper and guest. NEW JERSEY PARTNERSHIP FOR HEALTHY KIDS New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids is a statewide program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with technical assistance and direction provided by the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance. The goal of the program is to convene, connect and empower community partnerships across the state to implement environmental and policy changing strategies that prevent childhood obesity. NEW JERSEY YMCA STATE ALLIANCE The New Jersey YMCA State Alliance is comprised of dozens of corporate YMCA associations and nearly 80 branches from across the garden state. Together, New Jersey YMCAs work together to strengthen the foundations of community to better serve the people of New Jersey.
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ORANGE, ULSTER, SUFFOLK AND NASSAU COUNTY BOCES The Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) provide shared educational programs and services to school districts within the state, including partnering with Frost Valley to bring environmental education programs to a variety of school districts. PREP FOR PREP Prep for Prep is an independent school educating leaders and preparing them for the future with a clear sense of social responsibility. RUTH GOTTSCHO KIDNEY FOUNDATION AND THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT MONTEFIORE These partnerships allow children with kidney disease to attend summer camp at Frost Valley with professional medical support. TOKYO YMCA Our partnership with Tokyo YMCA is a program for Japanese international families in the U.S. on temporary work transfer, providing them the opportunity to join together for language and cultural immersion at camp. USAIMMERSION USAImmersion is a local not-for-profit organization offering fellowships to attend Frost Valley YMCA Day Camp for free to those families interested in participating in their international cultural immersion program. WATERSHED AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL (WAC) WAC works with farm and forest landowners in the NYC Watershed region by partnering with Frost Valley to run and maintain Frost Valley’s model forest. YMCA KOSOVO In October 2018 Frost Valley YMCA officially entered a partnership with YMCA Kosovo to support its efforts to open the nation’s first YMCA camp that will ensure Kosovar children and families have access to enriching outdoor opportunities. YMCA FRANCE As a member of the Y movement for over 40 years, YMCA France has partnered with Frost Valley for enhanced culturesharing and professional development for both YMCAs. Frost Valley is grateful to hire volunteers from YMCA France each summer, thus broadening our campers’ worldview in immeasurable ways. YOUNG ADULT INSTITUTE YAI is an organization creating hope and opportunity for people with developmental and learning disabilities through a wide variety of programs, including the Frost Valley experience of “Mainstreaming at Camp.”
FROST VALLEY YMCA | June 2018 - May 2019 Annual Report
Research Partners EPA: CASTNET (THE CLEAN AIR STATUS AND TRENDS NETWORK)
NEW YORK CITY DEP RONDOUT and NEVERSINK STREAM PROGRAM
Provides long-term monitoring of air quality in rural areas to determine trends in regional atmospheric nitrogen, sulfur, and ozone concentrations and deposition fluxes of sulfur and nitrogen pollutants in order to evaluate the effectiveness of national and regional air pollution control programs
Bank Erosion Hazard Index (BEHI) surveys erosion sites along Biscuit Brook and both branches of the Neversink
INSTITUTE OF ECOSYSTEM STUDIES
SUNY COLLEGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & FORESTRY
Studies Frost Valley’s Model Forest and offers public education and outreach
Studies Frost Valley’s Model Forest
NADP (NATIONAL ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION PROGRAM)
Monitors gage station, Biscuit Brook and Neversink Watershed Research, studying forest nutrients
Monitors the Mercury Deposition Network, the Nation Trends Network, and the Ammonia Monitoring Network to provide data on the amounts, trends, and geographic distributions of acids, nutrients, and base cations in precipitation
SUNY ALBANY Oversees our MESONET weather monitoring station
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
WATERSHED AGRICULTURE COUNCIL Monitors Frost Valley’s Model Forest
Annual Giving Our kind and caring community of donors who support Frost Valley YMCA’s Annual Giving Campaign is crucial to the life-changing experiences that take place here throughout the winter, spring, summer, and fall. Ensuring that all children and families can participate in our programs, the generous support of donors like you provides financial assistance to individuals who otherwise would not have this lifeenhancing opportunity. Without this loyal commitment to our mission, thousands would miss out on the joy of exploring the wilderness, laughing with friends in a cabin, or making memories around a campfire.
Capital Campaigns As a dynamic and growing organization, we regularly upgrade our facilities to meet the needs of our guests. Capital campaigns invite members of the Frost Valley community to help us grow by funding new building projects such as the recently completed Bud Cox Trip Center, new bathhouse, and new cabins, made possible with contributions from individual donors, foundations, and the YMCA of the USA Strategic Initiatives Fund.
Endowment Endowment funds are vital to endurance and longevity of a non-profit organization. Gifts to our endowment can take many forms. Whether it is an outright gift or a planned bequest, a restricted contribution or unrestricted, donors who commit to our endowment fund help ensure that Frost Valley continues to fulfill its mission well into the future. Individuals are recognized for their legacy gifts by becoming members of the Neversink Society.
SPARK! IGNITING INSPIRATION FOR LASTING IMPACT
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FINANCIAL Frost Valley operates on a June-May fiscal year. The information below is representative of the period from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019, and is unaudited.
Revenue
2018-19 2017-18
Summer Programs Retreats/Teambuilding Environmental Education Tokyo Partnership Other Programs Scholarship Total Program Revenue Other Contributions Contributions - In Kind Investment Income
6,105,059 3,650,544 3,032,476 824,289 219,600 (1,328,862) 12,503,106 512,131 1,264,855 67,639 508,400
5,928,963 3,601,580 2,744,222 699,294 114,235 (1,163,361) 11,924,933 383,973 1,153,709 214,534 502,000
Total Revenue
14,856,131
14,179,149
Salaries & Wages Taxes & Benefits Food Services Supplies & Equipment Professional Services & Fees Occupancy/Insurance & R/M Printing & Promotion Miscellaneous Total Expenses
6,132,900 1,755,371 2,272,853 718,588 605,130 1,759,432 267,099 867,914 14,379,287
5,829,307 1,780,501 2,236,219 704,384 553,992 1,596,880 427,665 872,182 14,001,130
Expenses
FROST VALLEY YMCA | June 2018 - May 2019 Annual Report
2018-19 2017-18 Operating Surplus/(Deficit) Before Depreciation
476,844
178,019
1,040,000
1,029,717
(563,156)
(851,698)
(204,118)
(215,542)
404,285 226,600 43,661
122,549 77,995 217,782
Change in total net assets before gain (loss) on investments and perpetual trusts
(92,728)
(648,914)
Gain (loss) on investments & perpetual trusts
(340,781)
510,238
Change in total net assets
(433,509)
(138,676)
Depreciation Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets From Operations Non operating expenses Contributions temporarily restricted Contributions to capital Contributions to endowment
VOLUNTEER AND STAFF AWARDS ELIZABETH KELLOGG AWARD WINNERS Emily Fonti-Lomauro, School Programs Coordinator Tom Goodrow, Resident Registered Nurse Annie Harmon, Program Instructor Darlene Mcgee, Field Trainer/Safety Coordinator Nemesia Peet, Development Operations Manager
D. HALBE BROWN AWARD WINNER Danielia Barron, Director of Group & Family Programs Top row pictured from left to right: Annie Harmon, Emily Fonti-Lomauro, Nemesia Peet Bottom row pictured from left to right: Danielia Barron, Darlene Mcgee, Tom Goodrow
“I AM THIRD” AWARD WINNER Dale Price, Construction Supervisor
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Jessie Emmons, Community Programs Director
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Judith Gottscho Eichinger, Chair, The Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation
FROST VALLEY YMCA | June 2018 - May 2019 Annual Report
2018-19 Board of Trustees CHAIRMAN Catherine M. Harvey PRESIDENT James S. Vaughan CEO Jerry Huncosky TREASURER David B. Bieler SECRETARY Jerold W. Dorfman, Esq. VICE PRESIDENTS William E. Baker Professor Al Filreis Amy F. Melican, Esq. Robert Messick Peter E. Sundman
Peter Andruszkiewicz John S. Butler, Esq. Mahtab Foroughi, Esq. Dr. R. Mark Ghobrial Robert B. Haines, Chairman Emeritus Ted B. Hilton Dr. Frederick J. Kaskel Michael D. Ketcham Kate Lewis John McCabe John O’Brien Judith L. Pasnik Gail Ryan Barbara Spitz Professor Joshua A. Tucker Robin Wachenfeld Mary T. Wheeler
ADVISORY COMMITTEE William H. Abbott Andrew Chapman Barton C. English Thomas M. Moriarty Shigeko Woolfalk TRUSTEES EMERITI Thomas W. Berry Hunter Corbin Paul B. Guenther Dr. George J. Hill W. Thomas Margetts
TRUSTEES
Pictured from left to right: Ted B. Hilton; Amy F. Melican, Esq.; Peter Andruszkiewicz; John McCabe; Dr. Frederick J. Kaskel; James S. Vaughan; Mary T. Wheeler; Jerold W. Dorfman, Esq.; Jerry Huncosky; Peter E. Sundman; Professor Al Filreis; Catherine M. Harvey; Robert Messick; Gail Ryan; William E. Baker
2018
JUNE
OCTOBER
HEARST FOUNDATION ACKNOWLEDGMENT
60TH ANNIVERSARY ALUMNI REUNION
We are honored to receive a grant of $100,000 from The Hearst Foundation, Inc. to help underwrite the infrastructure for another new village of cabins in addition to the ten completed prior to summer 2018. They will be ADA accessible, uniquely designed for Frost Valley’s guest needs, and enable us to serve more people.
Over 150 Frost Valley alumni gather on th October 26-29, 2018 to celebrate 60 year Wawayanda moved to the Catskills from N favorite camp games, take tours of the Fro and bid on memorabilia in both silent and
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
ABBY’S PORCH DEDICATION
KOSOVO SIGNS PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH FROST VALLEY
Friends and family gather on the scenic vista of Red Hill to dedicate the porch at Merrell Pavilion in memory of former Frost Valley Kidney Camper, Abigail “Abby” Trent.
Kosovo’s President and National Board sign an official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Frost Valley YMCA. This is a meaningful step forward as Kosovo works to develop the country’s first summer camp for children.
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JANUARY JANUARY
MARCH MARCH
VICTORIA VICTORIA FOUNDATION FOUNDATION GRANT GRANT HELPS HELPS SEND SEND KIDSKIDS TO CAMP TO CAMP
ADOPTION ADOPTION OF THE OF THE 2023 2023 STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PLAN PLAN
he r on weekend the weekend of of For theFor On March 9, 2019 9, the 2019 Frost the Valley Frost Valley Board Board of of 2019 the summer 2019 summer camp season, camp season, Victoria Victoria Foundation Foundation On March 60 rs since yearsCamp since Camp generously Trustees passespasses a motion a motion to approve to approve the 2023 the 2023 generously awardsawards $75,000 $75,000 to Frost to Valley Frost Valley to provide to provide Trustees NJ. from Alumni NJ. Alumni play play financial Vision.Vision. This five-year This five-year strategic strategic plan addresses plan addresses financial assistance assistance for 136 forchildren 136 children to obtain to obtain ost the Valley Frost Valley Castle,Castle,developmental areas key of areas focus, of focus, including including affordability, affordability, developmental skills from skillsafrom Frosta Valley Frost Valley experience. experience. For For 10 key10 nt live and auctions. live auctions. almostalmost diversity, diversity, operational operational efficiency, efficiency, sustainability, sustainability, and and 50 years, 50 years, the Victoria the Victoria Foundation Foundation in Newark, in Newark, more. readTothis read forward-thinking this forward-thinking document document in in New Jersey New Jersey has granted has granted funds to funds Frost to Valley Frost Valley to support to support more. To full, please full, please visit www.frostvalley.org/strategic-plan visit www.frostvalley.org/strategic-plan the cost theofcost camp of for camp children for children in Newark. in Newark.
019 2019
FEBRUARY FEBRUARY
MAY MAY
CONGRESSMAN CONGRESSMAN DELGADO DELGADO VISITS VISITS THETHE EDUCATIONAL EDUCATIONAL FARM FARM
SOLAR SOLAR “FLIP “FLIP THETHE SWITCH” SWITCH” EVENT EVENT
On a brisk On aday brisk in day February, in February, U.S. Congressman U.S. Congressman Antonio Antonio Delgado Delgado visits the visits Frost the Valley Frost Valley Educational Educational Farm to Farm learn tomore learnabout more about our sustainable our sustainable practices practices and how andother how New otherYork Newfarmers York farmers can replicate can replicate these these vital agricultural vital agricultural efforts. efforts. Congressman Congressman Delgado Delgado is an is an excellent excellent advocate advocate for sustainable for sustainable practices practices in the in the districtdistrict and supporting and supporting the needs the needs of farmers. of farmers.
On May On18, May 2019 18, members 2019 members of our of community our community gathergather on a grassy on a grassy field tofield officially to officially cut thecut ribbon the ribbon on ouron new our new 672-panel 672-panel solar array. solar Speakers array. Speakers at thisat momentous this momentous event include event include Frost Valley Frost Valley Board Board President President James James S. S. Vaughan, Vaughan, Ulster Ulster CountyCounty Legislator Legislator Kathy Kathy Nolan,Nolan, NY NY Senator Senator Jen Metzger’s Jen Metzger’s Chief of Chief Staff ofLeslie Staff Berliant, Leslie Berliant, and and Frost Valley Frost Valley CEO Jerry CEOHuncosky. Jerry Huncosky. For more Forinformation more information on theon operation the operation itself, read itself,the read description the description on page on18. page 18.
FROST VALLEY YMCA 2000 Frost Valley Road, Claryville, NY 12725 TEL (845) 985-2291 EMAIL info@frostvalley.org WEB frostvalley.org