Winter 2025 | ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT CAMP!
Words from the Director Greetings Alumni & Friends, Every day, I am inspired by our team’s commitment to providing life-changing camp experiences for thousands of families. Running our overnight camps is a community effort, and we are especially grateful for our board, donors, and volunteers—many of whom are alumni. We invite you to support our mission in whatever way feels most meaningful. Your involvement ensures that every child, regardless of financial means, can experience the magic of camp. Please stop by our spring open houses on March 1st and May 3rd (1–5 PM) to say hello and learn more!" In the spirit of camp, Jamie Cosson Regional Executive Director
PINES TO PALMS | MARSTON | SURF | RAINTREE
Great News From Our Camps YMCA CAMP MARSTON The calendar may read February, but you would never guess at YMCA Camp Marston, as I look out of the office to see campers running around in shorts and a t-shirt. It has been an extremely mild winter up in the mountains, and while we yearn and dream of snowball fights on the Upper Field, sunny “winter days” will do just fine. December 20th closed the books on our 2026 Fall Outdoor Education season, and I am extremely proud to say it was a fantastic season! We had the great opportunity to host 1,876 students from all around San Diego County and give them an unforgettable 6th Grade Camp experience! A big thank you goes out to all the teachers, schools, campers, and staff that made this season a huge success! All of us in the Outdoor Education department are looking forward to some much-needed rest while we prepare for the 4000+ students that will be making the trip up to Julian for 6th Grade Camp! Ian McCrohan Program Director
Great News From Our Camps YMCA CAMP SURF Camp Surf had an exciting Fall season! Our weekends were especially busy and full of fun, as we welcomed back a wide variety of groups and events to Camp. We also hosted both new and returning schools for Leadership Development programming. Students participated in hands-on experiences focused on teamwork, communication, and confidence-building in addition to surf filled fun in the water. One of the major highlights was hosting the Western Camping Conference, where we welcomed camp professionals from across the country for professional development and meaningful conversations within the camping community. During the Conference, $2,080 was raised for Y World Service initiative and $2,370 for our YMCA of Tijuana partners. Speaking of global partners, Payton and Fredo went to Colombia to learn about YMCA locations, facilities and hire staff. We also became a test site for the Surfrider Foundation’s Blue Water Task Force. Our staff collected and analyzed weekly water samples along the South Bay coastline, contributing to ongoing efforts to monitor water quality and protect ocean health. We celebrated some of Camp Surf’s favorite traditions with our annual Beach Party and Halloween Carnival, bringing campers, families, and community members together. In addition, Camp Surf expanded its offerings by hosting a variety of events, including a camp-themed birthday party, celebration of life, going-away and retirement parties, and multiple meetings in McKinney for our nonprofit partners. These events highlighted Camp Surf as a versatile and welcoming space for both meaningful milestones and professional gatherings. Let us know if you’d like to host an event at camp! We are grateful to everyone who helped make it such a successful fall season at the beach! Bolling Keogh & Payton Schoonmaker Program Directors
www.ymcasd.org/overnight-camps
Employee Spotlight JOMO Assistant Camp Director | Camp Marston & Raintree Ranch Supports the Camp Director in overseeing daily camp operations, ensuring a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment for campers and staff. This role assists with staff supervision, program coordination, parent communication, and problem-solving throughout the camp season. Hidden Talents or Hobbies I'm an avid player of a sport called Airsoft! I have been playing for nearly 10 years now! I also love Longboarding and photography as side hobbies. Camp Journey I have been working for the Y of San Diego since summer 2024. Although I have worked for the Y of Greensboro NC since 2017. Who Inspires You During my career I have had many role models 3 that come to mind our Jamie Cosson, Luke Gerke and Ryan Carr. These three Directors really saw something in me and have supported my career for many years and have always been there for support and advice!
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Great News From Our Camps YMCA RAINTREE RANCH As we wrap up an incredible year at Raintree Ranch, we’re thinking warmly of our campers, families, and alumni who make this community so special. This past summer, we welcomed 626 amazing campers and were supported by 35 outstanding staff members representing 5 different countries, each helping create unforgettable memories! Even though our beloved horses have headed home to Arizona for the winter, and the trails may be quieter, the spirit of camp is still very much alive with laughter, gratitude, and friendships that last far beyond summer. We’re already looking forward, with excitement, to the adventures ahead as we work on building our 2026 summer team AND enrollments for the upcoming camp season are open! From all of us (two-legged and four-legged friends alike), we wish you a joyful and cozy holiday season! Sharnaye Neale Program Director
Wish List CAMP SURF Modular Bike / Scooter / Skateboard Pump Track ($40-80,000) https://www.modularpumptrackusa.com/ Shed (1-2) for storage in villages Inflatable Movie Screen for family movie nights ($200) plus license ($400) Student science equipment: microscopes, plankton nets ($5000-$10000) Pizza Oven and Outdoor Kitchen Setup ($500) Stand up Paddle Boards CAMP MARSTON Soccer balls and playground balls Canoes, kayaks, paddleboards for the lake Sound system and projector for Holmes Lodge Macroscopes for OE Pond Ecology RAINTREE RANCH Wintec western saddles x 4 ($500 each) Shade structure for Rileys Arena Automatic watering system for Tack up New troxel helmets x 30 (Sizes XS,S,M & L)
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Upcoming Events YMCA CAMP SURF March 1: Open House March 23-27: Spring Break Day Camp March 30-April 3: Spring Break Day Camp May 3: Open House YMCA CAMP MARSTON & RAINTREE RANCH March 1: Open House April 3-5: Easter Family Camp May 8-10: Mother's Day Family Camp May 3: Open House