Camp Speers-Eljabar

As the cold December winds blow, I’m warmed by my memories of the closing campfire ceremonies in both Eljabar and Speers on the last night of camp this year.  As a candle was passed amongst all the Speers campers and staff, each person talked about what camp meant to them and how it effected their life. One after another, they shared about challenges overcome, friendships made and how important time in this unique place was to them. 

On the other side of the lake, I stood on the beach with the Eljabar campers and staff as they described their favorite camp memory and wrote them on slips of paper. We watched as they put their slips of paper into the ceremonial friendship fire. The smoke rose heavenward symbolicly becoming part of the universe forever. Campers whispered about what they wrote - friends, independence, pride, love and support - all discovered during their time here.

As you can well imagine the tears were flowing and the hugs were hearty on both sides of Lake Nichecronk that August evening as all said goodnight and goodbye until next summer. Even though Camp is now covered in snow and ice, we are counting down the days until “our kids” return.

In these tough economic times, many families face the challenge of meeting their most basic needs and are often unable to afford the camp experience. With fewer families able to fund camp fees greater pressure is placed on Camp Speers-Eljabar YMCA to meet our financial obligations as the costs of staffing, food, and facility maintenance continue to rise.  Meeting these challenges is a bit like putting together a complicated jigsaw puzzle. With your help, we can and will make all the pieces fit. 

If every camper’s family, every former camper, every former staff member, every family camper, and all of the friends of Camp made a donation within their own means, we’d be able to offer scholarships to every one who needs assistance to experience “Camp”. We’d also be able to complete needed facility improvements and preventative maintenance. with your help, this "puzzle" will become a beautiful montage of extraordinary camp experiences available to EVERYONE!

Please donate today. We need your support. Please help us transform lives and prepare this generation of children and teens to become tomorrow’s leaders and bring responsibility, respect, honesty and caring to their world and all of our future!  Use this link to make a secure, online contribution now http://www.campspeersymca.org/vmchk/18-donate-now/50-donate-now.html

On behalf of all the children and teens who's lives you help to transform - thank you!

Cherie Hammond, CEO