LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 125th Anniversary of Camping at
the YMCA on July 14, 2010

WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in acknowledging
significant milestones in the distinguished histories of its esteemed
entities; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 125th Anniversary of Camping at the YMCA; and
WHEREAS, In honor of this most auspicious occasion YMCA camps across
the country will hold the "World's Largest Campfire" on Wednesday, July
14, 2010; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the YMCA is to put Christian principles into
practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for
all; and
WHEREAS, At the heart of community life across America, mission-driven
YMCAs are a place to belong and to live the values that guide and unite
its members with caring, honesty, respect and responsibility; and
WHEREAS, The YMCA was founded in London, England, in 1844, and it
became involved in camping in 1867, when a Vermont youth director took a
group of teens to Lake Champlain in New York for summer encampment; by
1882, enough YMCAs were holding youth and adult camping that the activ-
ity was included in national records as "outings and excursions"; and
WHEREAS, Sumner Dudley, a volunteer with New York and New Jersey
YMCAs, is credited with starting the first continuously-used camp to
help build character in young men; in 1885, he took seven teenagers for
a week's encampment at Orange Lake, New York; and
WHEREAS, The first YMCA camps were small, consisting of a cluster of
tents, lined up near a lake, a continuous fire and a flagpole; led by a
YMCA director and aided by volunteer male leaders, the camps were regi-
mented programs that included training the boys in character, good
health habits and respect for each other; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, as more YMCAs believed the camping experience
nurtured young people's values and leadership skills, camps would expand
and change to serve males and females of many ages, abilities and
incomes; and
WHEREAS, By 1905, the number of YMCA campers had grown to 6,348 in 187
YMCA camps; in 1910, YMCA leaders helped create the American Camping
Association (ACA) with YMCA camp director Charles Scott as its first
president; and
WHEREAS, As society evolved, YMCA camps branched out; in the early
1900s, Columbus, Ohio's Camp Wilson offered a Fitness Week for men;
Cleveland had an excursion camp, teaching history while leading trips
through Ohio in covered wagons; by 1938, the Wilshire-Beverly YMCA in
Los Angeles reported 191 co-eds in its winter camp; and
WHEREAS, The most significant development since the start of the YMCA
camping came in 1932; day camps nurtured the same character-building
skills in kids that resident camps did; by the mid-1900s, camp leaders
were encouraging campers to help make program decisions and set and
reach individual goals; and
WHEREAS, Today, YMCA camps spread from the shore of Maine to the peaks
of the Colorado Rockies to the northwest branches of Hawaii; more than
335 residents camps and nearly 2,000 day camps serve more than 800,000
kids and adults every summer; each year an additional 1.5 million people
participate in camp programs through YMCA family camps, weekend
retreats, outdoor education, and school camping; and

WHEREAS, In addition, the YMCA employs over 61,000 college-aged young
adults as summer resident camp leaders each year providing exceptional
leadership development experiences; and
WHEREAS, Day and resident camping are the cornerstone of YMCA
programs, building character and memories in such effective ways that
key YMCA volunteers and donors often point back to their YMCA camp expe-
riences as their primary emotional tie to the YMCA today; and
WHEREAS, Camp is not only about the fun activities, but also about the
chance for children to develop and learn new skills, enjoy nature,
handle new responsibilities, experience independence, make new friends,
and build memories that last a lifetime; and
WHEREAS, The YMCA camping programs have greatly enriched the quality
of life of the citizens of the State of New York by making available the
opportunity to enjoy exceptional recreational facilities; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 125th Anniversary of camping at the YMCA on July 14,
2010; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to YMCA.