Volunteer At Echo

Every spring, a hearty crew of volunteers help ready camp for the summer by painting buildings, installing piers, cleaning cabins, and much much more. Every fall, many of the same volunteers return to remove the piers, move boats into storage, and close up building for the winter. These weekends are a classic example of the adage “many hands make light work” and camp would not be able to open without these mighty crew!

Adult Work Weekends are open to any and all interested, so long as they are 21 years or older. Transportation is available for the weekends, departing from the McGaw YMCA on Friday at 5:30 PM and returning to the McGaw YMCA on Sunday around 4:00 PM. To reserve a ride, contact Operations Director Bernard Rocca.

Spring Work Weekend 2013 will be May 3-5.

In mid-April, 50 high school volunteers from the Chicago area take a bus to camp and spend the weekend raking leaves, placing woodchips on Camp Echo’s nature trails, and readying boats for the summer. This is a wonderful chance to see Camp Echo in a whole new way and give back to camp.

High School Work Weekend is open to any current high school student. Adult volunteers are also needed to serve as Crew Chiefs.

High School Work Weekend can be counted as community service hours.

Visit the McGaw YMCA registration site to sign up for High School Work Weekend – use bar code 8366.

The Camp Echo Committee meets monthly from September to April, and once during July at camp, to discuss current issues with the Camp Director. Camp Echo Commmitte members are former staff, parents of current and former campers, and friends of Echo.

Camp Echo alumni are invited to join the Echo Spirit Team, adults who help with bus departures and arrivals at the McGaw YMCA in Evanston. A couple hours on a Friday or Saturday afternoon or a Sunday morning will help make a stressful time more pleasant for parents and campers.