YMCA Camp Fitch, Springfield, Pennsylvania
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YMCA Camp Fitch is a summer camp owned and operated by the YMCA of Youngstown, Ohio. During the summer months it offers eight sessions of traditional summer camp, each of which are one week in length. In addition the camp runs several “specialty” camps, including computer camp, soccer camp, swim camp, music camp, diabetic camp and Camp FROG (a camping session for campers with epilepsy). During the winter months, the camp runs an outdoor education program for middle school students and hosts several weekend groups.
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[edit] History
The Youngstown YMCA began hosting camps for young boys in the early 1900s, the first of which was conducted at Muddy Lake near Ravenna, Ohio in 1906. In 1907, the camp was moved to Grand River between Orwell and Ashtabula and the following year the camp was moved to a site on Lake Erie between Saybrook and Geneva-on-the-Lake.
In 1914 the Board of Trustees of the Youngstown YMCA adopted a permanent policy of conducting a summer camp for boys. The campsite in 1914 was established at Cannon's Mills on Little Beaver River. Thirty-two campers where enrolled. The camp continued to operate at that site for the summers of 1915, 1916 and 1917. During these summers, campers were never permitted to leave the camp site without a forked stick, due to the abundance of rattlesnakes and copperheads in the area.
Due to growing enrollment, in 1918 the camp was moved to West Point, also on Little Beaver River. At the close of the 1918 camping season, the family of the late John H. Fitch donated $10,000 to purchase the West Point camp site and make permanent improvements. The property consisted of twenty-six acres of land and a lodge. The total purchase price was $4,500. In gratitude, the Board of Trustees passed a resolution changing the name of the camp from Ot-Yo-Kwa to Camp John H. Fitch.
During the summer of 1919, a $5,600 dam was built to improve swimming and boating facilities; however, in spring of 1920, the dam gave way to a flood and for the next three seasons the camp used a wooden dam constructed by campers and their families.
In 1923, the camp once again reached its capacity at eight tents and one ball diamond. A 93 acre site in North Springfield, Pennsylvania was picked to serve as a new permanent site for the camp. The wood land, located on Lake Erie, was located 72 miles (116 km) from Youngstown. Heirs of John H. Fitch contributed $25,000 for the purchase of the site. In 1924, the tenth anniversary of Camp Fitch, camp was moved to its present site. The new site consisted of many acres of woodland and a half-mile of beachfront.
On the present day site, the camp emphasis was on program and the camp was staffed with a doctor, chaplain, directors for crafts, nature study, riflery, waterfront, village directors for each of the three villages (Windy City for boys 9-11, Chickagami for boys 12-14, Ot-Yo-Kwa for boys 15 and older), an assistant camp director for program, a camp steward to handle the dining room and camp store and a tent leader for each tent.
Camp Fitch operated exclusively as a boys’ camp until the summer of 1951, when a two-week program for girls was initiated. This received an enthusiastic response, and the following years additional periods just for girls where added. By 1957, attendance for boys and girls increased to the point that the camp finally saw the necessity of simultaneously operating both a girls’ camp and a boys’ camp. The girls’ camp (Chickagami) occupied the original site of the boys’ camp. An area of forest was cleared to the east of Chickagami for the establishment of the new boys’ camp, Ot-Yo-Kwa.
In the early 1970’s, the camp purchased 284 acres (1.1 km²) of wooded flatland and a half-mile of shore line on Lake Erie. In addition, the eastern boundary was expanded to run along Crooked Creek. In 1984, the French Creek Boy Scout Council in Erie sold its Camp Sequoyah, located just east of Camp Fitch. Fitch purchased all of Sequoyah south of Ables Road, along with 300 feet (91 m) of lake front property. This expansion brought the camp to its current size of over 450 acres (1.8 km²) with a mile of frontage on Lake Erie. To date, only about 90 acres of camp land has been developed. The remaining lands have been left as undisturbed wilderness, which is used for outdoor camp programs, hiking trails and extended overnight camping.
[edit] Camp Fitch today
[edit] The Cabent
While most large summer camps use cabins to house campers, Camp Fitch has long held on to the tradition of housing campers in tents; however, by 1986, the cost of repairing canvas and the inconveniences of conventional military tents brought on the need for alternative accommodations. Thus, the cabent (a tent/cabin hybrid) was born. A cabent has a permanent wooden roof with 8" x 8" corner pillars and canvas sides erected over a cement platform.
[edit] Facilities and activities
Camp Fitch’s facilities include a 4-story climbing tower, an indoor climbing center, rifle range, archery range, swimming pool, horseback riding, air-rifle range, an inland Lake (Lake MVIMA) and an indoor nature activity center. Activity areas include: Horseback Riding, Air-Rifles, Rock Climbing, Swimming, Sailing, Crafts, Canoeing, Boating, Water-skiing, Archery, Riflry (22 mm), Rocketry, Horsemanship Lessons, Campfires, Swim Lessons, a Paintball Safari, golf program and daily age-group specific programs.
In Camp Chickagami (Girls' Camp) ages groups are divided as follows: Inca Village (8-10 years), Aztec Village (11-12 years), Cherokee Village (13-16 years). Camp Ot-Yo-Kwa (Boys’ Camp) is divided as follows: Sioux Village (8-10 years), Shawnee Village (11-12 years), Apache Village (13-16 years).
[edit] Specialty camps
Blue Dolphin Competitive Swim Camp This program stresses swimming techniques. All applicants must have experience in high school, USS, Country Club, YMCA or YWCA competition.
Soccer Camp- Partnered with Major League Soccer, the camp is based on two major themes:
- Play S.A.F.E. (Play\Soccer\Awareness\Fun\Education) developed for players 8 to 11
- A.T.T.A.C.K. (Attitude\Training\Techniques\Awareness\Competition\Knowledge)for players ages 12-17. Daily Elements include Skillbuilders, Backyard Soccer, Soccer-Robics, Netbusters and All Out Attack.
Distance Running Camp This program follows the American pattern of training; marathon, interval, repetition, and speed training. Training is done with counselorson trails, grass, dirt roads, and some paved roads.
Computer Camp Camp Fitch's Computer Camp is one of the oldest computer camps in the nation. For over 25 years it has blended computer knowledge with a traditional summer camp experience. Individual needs are met by offering instruction in several languages and a variety of applications. Internet-focused languages are also offered including Java, Dynamic HTML, ASP, Pearl, and other emerging Internet technologies.
Music Camp The Camp Fitch String Camp is intended for students that have played the violin, viola, cello, or string bass for a minimum of one year. This specialty camp is designed to have two sections. One section is geared toward intermediate students while the other is designed for high school students. All string campers participate in string orchestra rehearsals , sectionals, and small group instruction. Free time is also scheduled so campers can participate in all traditional activities that Camp Fitch offers.
Counselor in Training (CIT) Camp Fitch's CIT program is designed for high school students aims to provide leadership training applicable in many facets of life. Camp Fitch's CIT program is directed by two experienced staff members. Their role is to guide trainee's personal development and instill leadership values. A unique aspect of the CIT program is the partnership forged with the YMCA of Spain. Early in summer, the YMCA of Spain sends several young adults to train at Camp Fitch. They are then giving placements at camps all over the northern Pennsylvania area, giving both campers and counselors a chance to experience a new culture.
Trip Programs Every summer Camp Fitch offers several multi-week off-site camping trips. Typically, these trips include a bike tour of Cape Cod, a white-water rafting experience and a rock climbing trip.
[edit] International Programs
Camp Fitch works extensively with YMCA España, the YMCA ICCP Program and other international partners to coordinate international camping experiences for foreign children and young adults. Every year, Fitch hosts several international staff members, campers and CITs.
[edit] Affiliations
Camp Fitch is a member of the American Camp Association.
[edit] External links
- Camp Fitch Homepage The homepage of Camp Fitch.
- Lyricwiki A Collection of Camp Fitch songs can be found at LyricWiki.
- Computer Camp Homepage of Camp Fitch's Computer Camp.
- Camp FROG A link to the EFWCP's site detailing Camp FROG, a camp for children affected by epilepsy/seizure disorders hosted at Camp Fitch.
- Camp Barclay Link to page for information on Camp Barclay, a camp for children affected by diabetes.
- Blue Dolphin Swim Camp Link to the Blue Dolphin swim camp hosted at Camp Fitch.
- Youngstown YMCA Homepage Homepage of the YMCA of Youngstown, Ohio.
- The American Camp Association serves as a knowledge center for the camping industry, providing information about accreditation (set of national standards), research, and professional development.
- Girl's Camp Information Site A site created by an Alumni of Girls Camp. It was last updated in 2000.
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