To deliver exceptional outdoor programs that inspire, build and strengthen relationships with God, His creation, and each other.

What is even more important than fun? Our activities give each camper an opportunity to build confidence and PRACTICE character in their actions as a responsible part of a cabin group. We nurture character development in campers by teaching the values of respect, caring, responsibility and honesty. With Camp Grady Spruce, your campers will:

• Develop integrity, self-reliance, and leadership skills in a caring environment.
• Build lifelong friendships.
• Enrich their spirit, mind, and body through challenging and fun camp activities.
• Gain an appreciation for the natural environment.
• Experience a sense of community by living with campers in age-appropriate small groups with trained staff.

In our culture, and indeed throughout the world, there are a lot of understandings and definitions of ‘Christian’. The word is used as an adjective for various behaviors, values, lifestyles, and beliefs. In fact, it has probably been used so often as to have lost some of its core meaning, leading to much confusion and many disagreements among the many who call themselves Christian.

For us at the YMCA, the use of the word ‘Christian’ is very intentional and straightforward. It means that we do our best every day to model our operations, programs, and relationships with the Christ of scripture, through the core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

It means that, like Christ, we are inclusive and open to every person seeking a better life. It means that, like Christ, we are focused on touching lives with positive influences, to help each person we reach become all that God intends him or her to be. It means that we, at Camp Grady Spruce, work hard to provide a positive environment that recognizes and treats each person as a unique child of God.

Indeed, the YMCA’s mission says it best: we put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. And we take the “for all” seriously, welcoming persons from all faiths, backgrounds, and perspectives.