Camp Gold Rush

Gallatin Valley YMCA

WRITTEN BY CARSON JACOBS-FORSTER

Camp magic – a term many of us have heard before and one that is used widely in the summer camp world, yet whose true meaning can be challenging to put into words. Perhaps it’s evident in those lasting memories that many of us still have if we were lucky enough to attend camp as children. The giggles erupting from cabinmates’ bunks after lights-out, the thrill of victory after winning the all-camp game and the contentment of sitting around a campfire on the final night with a community of strangersturned-friends are all still easy for us to draw upon.

Or maybe camp magic consists of the things we experience for the first time at camp that build our self-confidence and shape our perspective. Such shifts in self-growth are rooted in finally hitting the bullseye in archery after trying all week, eating new foods and navigating social situations while making lifelong friends, or spending time away from home for the first time, and realizing that you actually can do it. How the tears of uncertainty on the first day became waterworks from not wanting to leave this newfound home in the woods on the last.

If you were fortunate enough to be impacted by camp or an outdoor adventure as a child, there’s a good chance it was through a local YMCA program. The YMCA has been a staple of summer camps for over a century, after all. The Gallatin Valley Y, which has been established in the valley for 25 years, is building on that longstanding history of quality summer camp and youth programming by bringing Montana’s first-ever YMCA overnight summer camp to the Gallatin Valley to serve youth ages 8 to 14 from all backgrounds.

At our newly-formed Camp Gold Rush, we believe that camp magic, in its ever-elusive form, is encapsulated in both the memories we make and the growth that occurs during a camp session, and yet is so much more.

The true beauty of that magic lies in the nitty-gritty work that the campers never see, the tricks up the proverbial sleeve of the magicians. Take, for instance, one of the classic camp activities listed earlier, the allcamp game. In order for a camper, let’s call him Camper Alex, to relish in those sweet moments of victory, much coordination has occurred behind the scenes. Before camp began, the camp director helped Alex’s caregivers secure a scholarship and register for camp, trained the sitecoordinators on large group facilitation, and made sure all staff understood the risk-management policies and plans. Then, Alex’s site coordinator sifted through the vital caregiver-provided camper information so that the counselors would know which campers could be given sunscreen or had asthma, while also creating and adjusting weekly camp and staff schedules to make sure all the campers and enough staff would be present. All of this allowed the folks in the trenches, Alex’s counselors, to make sure their group was well equipped for the intense slog of capture the flag, to ensure everyone had proper footwear, were well- hydrated (and had gone to the bathroom ahead of time), and had alternative activities for those less competitively-inclined, ultimately resulting in the exaltation of the final flag being captured by Alex’s team.

However, that extensive description only begins to tell part of the story. Camp magic is also contingent upon the culture that permeates the camp. At Camp Gold Rush, the culture is centered around the belief that camp should be a place where everyone can be their best and truest selves. A place where kids from all backgrounds, abilities, and identities can experience (even if they may not know all that goes into it) true camp magic.

Camp Gold Rush, the first-ever YMCA overnight summer camp in the state of Montana, will welcome its inaugural group of campers in the Summer of 2024. Camp Gold Rush is a oneof-a-kind overnight camp that aims to combine traditional camp activities and experiences with programming that develops a passion for stewardship of our wild spaces. Your child will make memories and friendships that last a lifetime, gain confidence by stepping out of their comfort zone and forge a sense of belonging and place that only summer camp can provide. For more information about YMCA Camp Gold Rush and how to register, please visit Gallatinvalleyymca.org. Camp magic has never been more accessible.

Carson Jacobs-Forster is the Overnight Camp Director at the Gallatin Valley YMCA.