Celebrating more than a
century of summertime fun
Story by Scottie Vickery
Submitted Photos
For many kids, summer camp is a dream come true. There’s swimming, horses, campfires, crafts and new friendships that often last a lifetime. Factor in more than a mile of shoreline on beautiful Logan Martin Lake, and it’s easy to see YMCA Camp Cosby as a field of dreams of sorts.
The lake is a huge part of what makes the camp special, according to Sky York, senior program director. “We have so many activities on the water,” she said. “There’s sailing, canoeing, paddleboarding, fishing, and we’ve got a section of the lake roped off for swimming with lots of fun inflatables. The kids love it.”
The fun doesn’t stop there. Thanks to a partnership with Rambo Marine, which provides the use of ski boats and pontoons, campers can enjoy waterskiing, wakeboarding, wake surfing and tubing while learning about water and boating safety at the same time. “A lot of kids, especially if they’ve grown up in the city, have never gotten to do things like that,” York said.
Trying new things and meeting new people are some of the best parts of camp, she added. “It’s really neat to see kids come out of their shells and get really excited about trying new things,” she said. “I also really enjoy helping guide the staff so they can help kids fall in love with camp.”
100 years and counting
Camp Cosby, which is accredited by the American Camping Association, has been providing summer fun for more than a century. The camp first opened in 1922 after the YMCA bought property north of Trussville that had a 26-acre lake. While it started as a camp for boys, it later offered sessions for girls, too. The camp moved to its current location on 135 acres in Alpine in 1972.
Today, there are eight sessions of summer camp for kids ages 6 to 16, and more than 2,000 campers attend each year. While most sessions are Sunday through Friday, there’s an option for kids attending more than one session to stay over the weekend. In addition, a three-day session is offered for rising kindergarteners and first-graders who may not be ready for a full week, York said.
The goal of camp is to build confidence, inspire independence and foster a spirit of acceptance and family. In addition to watersports and swimming, campers can participate in horseback riding, archery, high and low ropes courses, arts and crafts, ceramics and more. Older kids can even learn to ride and maintain minibikes, and there are separate trails for hiking, horseback riding and minibikes. An outdoor classroom helps campers learn about and develop a love of and appreciation for nature.
The fun isn’t just limited to the summer, though. Camp Cosby offers programs and special events all year long, including Winter Camp, offered during the holiday season, and Teen Retreats held over weekends in the fall and spring. The focus is on leadership, and participants learn employment and life skills, as well.
Not just for kids
One of the biggest draws, though, is Family Camp, offered in the spring and fall, when entire families can stay in a cabin and enjoy the outdoors together. “Some parents may have only been to camp for drop-off and pick-up,” York said. “This gives them an opportunity to enjoy some of the same experiences their kids do.”
It’s also a great way to disconnect from electronics and other distractions so family members can better connect with each other. “Sometimes families just want a weekend away,” York said. “It’s a nice respite when they can come and hang out, take some time to get outside, and get a break.”
Family Camp can also be a good way to give new or young campers a glimpse of what they would experience at summer camp. “By the time summer rolls around, they know what to expect and they remember how much fun it can be,” York said.
Camp is a wonderful way to help build relationships, whether with family, counselors or new friends. “We have staff and kids from all over the place. Many times, those camp friendships end up lasting longer than other friendships,” York said. She added that group activities, cabin time and team-building experiences help deepen bonds.
The camp employs more than 100 seasonal staff members, and they come from all over the region, country and world. “We’ve had staff from Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South America and Mexico,” York said. “I love seeing the counselors bonding with the kids and encouraging them to try new things. Growing up, the counselors I had at summer camp had a big influence in my life.”
In fact, camp, in general, made a big impact. “I have a passion for it,” York said. “It’s a fun way to meet people you might never meet otherwise, and it’s a cool way to try new things. Some of my best memories were made at summer camp. It had a big impact on me as a kid.” l
For more information about YMCA Camp Cosby and its programs, visit campcosby.ymcabham.org.
