Roots and Wings: Tradition and Culture of Camp Speers YMCA

Since 1948, Camp Speers has been a place committed to positive impact and community. In the 77 years since its opening, Speers, a place rich with tradition and camp culture, has grown and adapted its programs to fit the needs of the campers and communities it serves. Adapting to the needs of campers is what truly gives Speers wings.

Although changes big and small have occurred, Speers also holds its roots close, and honors the work, values, and mission of our vast and passionate family of leaders, staff, campers, and alumni. Our programs are developed based on the Y’s core values: Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. In addition, we have a distinct camp culture founded in these pillars: building community, cultivating belonging, strengthening character, creating opportunities for camp magic, and having fun.

At Speers, our traditions have grown and been cherished over the years, and are as exciting and meaningful for returners as they are for first time campers.

Opening and Closing Campfire

Campfires with everyone in the village marks both the commencement and conclusion of our sessions together.

Opening campfire features all of the staff in the village and is a perfect opportunity for campers to get to know all of their safe adults.

Counselors perform their favorite songs and skits with silly and personal twists, and the amphitheater fills with giggles and applause. Returning campers confidently sing along and the new campers, apprehensive at first, find their voices and begin to learn as well.

Leadership members use opening campfire as an opportunity to set our community expectations and teach everyone about our values. We offer space for setting personal goals and intentions for the session ahead, and remind campers they are an important part of something bigger than themselves.

All-Camp Activities

All-Camp activities are simple, yet engaging programs that usually occur on Monday nights and on weekends. The purpose of all-camps is to bring campers and staff from our various programs together for a fun activity that is accessible for all ages and abilities.

Some favorite all-camp activities include carnivals, counselor hunt activities, meadow games, creative scenarios, and glow dances.

Closing Ceremonies

The closing ceremonies occur on the Thursday evening before pickup day. Closing ceremonies are a very special part of our time together and celebrate individuals, cabin groups, coaching periods, and the village as a whole.

We begin at the amphitheater with closing campfire, where campers take the reigns and perform for each other. This gives campers the opportunity to share skits, songs, and other things they’ve been working on throughout the session. These performances highlight the creativity, teamwork, and confidence that camp grows in young people while at Camp Speers.

After, cabin groups journey on a four core value walk lit by luminaries, pausing to hear about each of the Y's core values. Every camper then commits to improving upon one of the values in their own lives.

We light candles and stand in a triangle shape, representing mind, body, and spirit while the leadership team explains more of the history and intention behind the candlelight ceremony.

The ceremony concludes with singing the song, “Linger”, and our last words together are, “This is goodnight and not goodbye,”. This reinforces the love of our community, and suggests we will see each other again.

The Roots and Wings

The strength and extent of the Speers’ roots allow us to flourish and grow wings. The foundation of tradition and culture at camp keeps our camp family involved in our community and committed to our mission. We use our wings to learn, create, and grow our programs to be able to support our returning campers as well as our new ones.