A Summer Full of Possibility at Old Colony YMCA

Ask a camper what they did at camp today and you'll get a flood of answers: learned to swim, finished the ropes course, got a part in the skit, made a new friend at lunch. Ask them what camp actually gave them, and most kids won't have the words for it. But you can see it. In how they carry themselves. In what they're willing to try next.

That's the real work of summer camp, and it's what Old Colony YMCA sets out to do every single day. We give kids the room, the support, and the resources to become a little more themselves. 

Room to try. Camp is built for kids to test their limits in a place where the stakes are low and the encouragement is loud. Some campers spend the summer chasing a specific interest, from horseback riding to swimming to the arts. Others want the classic mix of everything, like crafts, sports, the ropes course, and time outdoors. Teens who are ready for more can step into our Leader in Training and Counselor in Training programs, trading in "camper" for the early stages of a leadership role. No matter which one they choose, it all comes down to a counselor who knows their name, a group that has their back, and a summer that pushes them just far enough.

Support to grow. None of this happens on its own. It happens because kids feel safe enough to try. Counselors and staff show up for them every day, cheering the small wins just as much as the big ones. That's why a camper who's never been on stage before ends up in the talent show, and why a quiet kid on day one is leading the group by day five.

Resources to show up. None of this growth is possible on an empty stomach. For many families, camp offers vital and reliable nutritious meals. During the school year, kids often depend on school breakfast and lunch programs. Once summer starts, that safety net disappears. Old Colony YMCA closes that gap by providing healthy lunches and snacks all summer long, so no camper has to wonder where their next meal is coming from. Well-fed kids show up ready to participate, focus, and engage, rather than distracted by hunger. It's simple. Proper nutrition gives every other part of the camp experience room to work. 

Last summer, that mission reached further than ever. In 2025, Old Colony YMCA served 2,587 campers and awarded more than $373,550 in scholarships. That's thousands of kids who spent their summer building something real, whether that was a new skill, a new friendship, or just a little more belief in themselves, because nothing got in the way.

Room, support, and resources. Put those three things together for a kid, even for just one summer, and there's no telling what they'll become.

Help us give more kids a summer like this. Support Old Colony YMCA's Annual Campaign today! https://give.oldcolonyymca.org/campaign/old-colony-ymca/c150195