With just over two months until Camp Echo’s 100th summer on Ryerson Long Lake begins, there are many opportunities to volunteer in Fremont and in Evanston this spring and summer.
Adult Work Weekend at Camp Echo
The 2024 Adult Spring Work Weekend is scheduled for May3-5. This year, volunteers can choose to extend their stay before or after the weekend to complete additional projects in preparation for the 100th Anniversary. Standard work weekend tasks include dock installation, cabin painting, cleaning and organizing program areas, clearing trails and/or woodchipping trails, splitting logs, and more.
RSVP for Adult Work Weekend by April 26. Â
Camp Echo Spirit Squad at McGaw YMCA
The Camp Echo Spirit Squad plays an important role in helping families navigate the camp bus departure and arrival process at the McGaw Y in Evanston.  Spirit Squad volunteers help with medication check-in, help manage the Solution Station, assist with traffic control and luggage loading, conduct parent/guardian check-ins, and handle camper lost and found.  Volunteer opportunities are available as follows:
Medication Check-In
Spirit Squad volunteers assist staff with camper medication check-in for every bus departure date, typically on the Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning before the first day of the session.
Bus Departure Days
On departure days, several hundred people gather on Maple Avenue and Grove Street to await the arrival of 5-6 coach buses. For the 2024 youth camp season, there are six Sunday bus departures and two turnaround Saturdays with morning and afternoon departures. The following volunteer support is needed:
Solution Station: The Spirit Squad manages the Solution Station on departure days for families with medication check-in needs, outstanding forms, or to answer questions.
Traffic Control and Loading Luggage: Spirit Squad volunteers help families locate their campers’ assigned buses or the Solution Station and assist staff with loading luggage into the bus bays.
Bus Return Days
There are six Friday bus return dates for the 2024 youth camp season. The following volunteer support is needed:
Parent/Guardian Check-In: For every bus return, Spirit Squad volunteers assist staff with checking the IDs of parents/guardians or other authorized adults. Once their parents/guardians/authorized adults have shown IDs and signed in, their campers will be released to their care.
NEW! Camper Lost and Found
Throughout the summer months, the Camp Echo Office at McGaw Y, known as the Log Cabin, fills with belongings left by returning campers on the bus.
New this year, Spirit Squad volunteers will sort through these items on the Monday or Tuesday after the bus returns, contact the owners, and determine what to store or discard.
To join the Spirit Squad, send an email to [email protected] with your name and contact information.Â