Since 1924, campers have enjoyed the wonders of summer camp on Camp Echo’s incredible peninsula location. “The Peninsula” remains the focal point of our traditional summer camp programs, which support campers to demonstrate improvement in skills needed for successful living.
Traditional Camp offers campers of all gender identities the opportunity to grow both as individuals and as members of their peer group. Cabin groups live, work, and play together, enjoying activities as a group while learning to respect each other’s differences.
From morning reflections to bedtime Taps talks, campers grow in spirit, mind, and body, learning YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility in a supportive setting. Afternoons and evenings include our free choice periods of Fun Swim and Twilight Fun for all Traditional Campers.
Campers grow personally and learn to enjoy independence in a safe environment, while also working with their cabin mates to develop into a caring and successful group for their time together at Camp Echo
Try everything! In this program, Discoverers grow familiar with and deepen their confidence at camp. During the first week campers will spend the mornings with their cabins doing many activities with their cabin. These include horseback riding, lake safety and swimming, archery, corcls, fishing, arts and crafts, nature, tubing and more! For two week sessions, Discoverers sign up independently for camptivities during the second week. Discoverers-only unit activities, undernights, and cook outs round out the opportunities for our youngest campers.
Two-week sessions include team activities mid-session for Discoverers and Navigators, often referred to as Olympics. At Camp Echo, these activities emphasize participation and cooperation over winning.
As we work to provide as inclusive of a camp experience as possible, we are offerings our Discoverers campers the opportunity to stay in an all-gender cabin while guaranteeing a boy-identifying or girl-identifying cabin for anyone that prefers this. In all cabins, privacy is an expectation. Discoverers cabins are all equipped with a private changing space, such as a changing tent on the porch, and campers will be taught to change privately.
We cannot guarantee all-gender cabins. We will offer all-gender cabins if there is enough interest to support this option to create a complete cabin group in a given session. Parents will indicate their housing preference on camper forms in the winter/spring. If parents select all-gender housing or have no preference, the Camp Echo staff will follow up with details regarding camper housing assignments once all preferences are received for a given session.
Note: Rising 3rd graders are only eligible to attend one week sessions: sessions 1 and 6.
Experienced campers will love the chance to continue building skills and independence while also further exploring their passions at camp. Responsibility, choice, self-care, and growing comfort in nature are the hallmarks of this experience. Each camper embarks on an individual journey in three camptivity classes that change each week and two hours of free choice activities daily. 7th and 8th graders also have the choice to sign up for several specialty camp options the second week. Evening activities bring all Navigator cabin groups together to enjoy campfires and large-group games. Additional highlights for Navigators include overnights, night hikes, and access to some more advanced activity areas like sailing, biking, paddle boarding, and water skiing.
Two-week sessions include team activities mid-session for Discoverers and Navigators, often referred to as Olympics. At Camp Echo, these activities emphasize participation and cooperation over winning.
Note for Returning Families: This program is an update to our traditional Main Camp experience.
Still want more of our traditional activity offerings? Explorers is for you! Our oldest campers on the peninsula will master their favorite camp activities as role models to others during this two week program. Mornings will be spent doing camptivities the first week and specialty camps the second week. Explorers will do group-focused activities together in the afternoons focusing on group exploration: seeking understanding of peers and their place in the world. Programmatic highlights also include planning and leading activities for themselves and Discoverers, joining other on-site teen programs, and an on camp overnight and off camp experience.
Note for Returning Families: This program is similar to the previous Villagers program.
Watersports
Watersports are a hallmark of Camp Echo. With over a mile of shoreline on Ryerson Long Lake, and five waterfront activity areas, there is no shortage of watersports to take part in – only a shortage of time to do it all! In Watersports Camp, participants will spend the whole morning learning more about the various watersports at Camp Echo and exploring the full expanse of Ryerson Long Lake in various watercraft. Note: Watersports Camp is primarily focused on human-powered watersports, not waterskiing, wakeboarding, and tubing.
Ropes
Become a master of the low ropes course and begin exploring Camp Echo’s multi-level high ropes course, with elements 12’, 24’, and 36’ off the ground. Ropes Camp participants will hone their balance and confidence at ground level before learning all of the safety protocols involved in Camp Echo’s climbing wall and high ropes course. Note: participants must be at least 12 years old to participate in Ropes Camp.
Nature
Go beyond the beaten paths and leave no stone unturned. Nature Camp participants will step off of nature trail and explore Camp Echo’s 500 acres of woodlands, wetlands, and grasslands. Participants will map out the area and create a log of camp’s plant and animal life. Finally, participants will become environmental stewards for camp, promoting and uplifting our composting and recycling efforts.
Sailing
Advance your nautical knowledge with 3 hours of sailing each morning. Sailing Camp participants will have the opportunity to rig and sail each boat in our fleet while progressing through the ranks of Skipper, Captain, and Admiral. Participants will sail with other experienced campers and have the chance to compete in a regatta at the end of the session.
Arts and Crafts
Get crafty and create something new in Arts and Crafts camp. Participants will learn crafting skills like leather work and concrete craft. An art show will be planned for the end of the session where participants will be able to display their works of art.
Biking
Level up to advanced riding in Biking Camp! A full morning of biking offers the opportunity for participants to pump up the adventure on the trails at camp and master the berms and bunny hops on mountain bike trails nearby. Participants will learn to care for their bikes and perform minor fixes while on trail. Bike safety and trail etiquette will be a cornerstone of learning in this program.
Please Note: These options are only offered during two week sessions. During Sessions 1 and 6, all campers will have the chance to go to the barn at least once with their cabin.
Horseback Riding Lessons (Grades 4-9)
Traditional campers in two-week sessions are eligible for Horseback Riding lessons as one of their camptivities. This is an opportunity for campers to become more comfortable in our barn space. Our Horseback Riding program is focused on safety, education and fun. During Horseback Riding camptivity, campers spend part of the week in our classroom and the barn learning the basics of how to care for horses. The other part of the week is spent riding either in our ring or on trail rides. During two week sessions, campers can sign up for one or two weeks of lessons.
Ranch Camp (Grades 7-9)
This program is for a small group of campers who have a passion for horseback riding. This special group receives specialized riding instruction from a highly trained Ranch Camp Instructor! Participants will enjoy Ranch Camp during ALL THREE CAMPTIVITIES for one week and participate in other Traditional Camp camptivities for the other week. Campers can only sign up for one week of Ranch Camp, but they may also sign up for one week of Horseback Riding lessons.
Eligibility: We suggest that campers have at least three years of horseback riding lessons at Camp Echo, however campers’ riding ability will be evaluated on the first day of the session. Campers must demonstrate a good position and be confident in their ability to remain balanced within the saddle while posting to the trot. Ranch Campers often trot (and subsequently learn to canter) on Echo’s trails and must have complete control of the horse’s steering. If the Wrangler does not feel it is safe for a camper to participate in Ranch Camp due to their evaluation, we may remove a camper from the Ranch Camp program. The camper may then transfer into one or two weeks of horseback riding lessons (for one camptivity), and Camp Echo will refund the cost difference in programs.
Please note: Voyagers are eligible to sign up for either Horseback Riding lessons OR Ranch Camp.
