Camp Grady Spruce Unveils First Phase of $10.2 Million Renovation This Summer

Camp Grady Spruce, the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas’ flagship camp, has completed its first phase of a $10.2 million campaign to revitalize and enhance its site. On Tuesday, staff held a celebration to unveil the improvements. For 75 years, YMCA Camp Grady Spruce has helped the community connect with nature, practice independence, and find belonging. Originally a summer-only camp, Camp Grady Spruce is now a year-round operation with nearly 18,000 people attending annually.

Renovations include: An updated Ray Bean Dining Hall; eight new cabins to increase capacity from 140 campers to 256; a welcome center to serve as the check-in point, controlling access and enhancing security; and a new equestrian facility to offer covered and enclosed training arena, a tack room with restrooms, and a covered hitching post to protect riders and horses during inclement weather.

Click to View Photos From the Ribbon Cutting!

“My first position at the YMCA was a camp counselor, so I have a deep appreciation and connection to the positive impacts of camp. It stays with you long after you leave the campfire circle,” Curt Hazelbaker, President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas. “At Camp Grady, friendships form without filters and kids can learn life-long values. The upgrades we’ve made improve their experience and ensure future campers are set for success. This is only the beginning.”

Alarming data from the US Surgeon General highlights a critical societal shift: a sharp decline in face-to-face interactions, which may lead to feeling more anxious and/or depressed. According to the American Psychological Association, youth are more at-risk as they are still developing and are more sensitive to external validation. Camp Grady Spruce recognizes its responsibility and while it cannot single-handedly solve the complex problem of loneliness, the camp provides an important intervention, actively mitigating its effects through genuine human connection.

“We’re excited to see the faces of campers who now can enjoy these new spaces,” said Cassandra Marlatt, Executive Director Of Camp Grady Spruce, “These renovations will bolster our ability to continue to foster meaningful relationships, and create a welcoming and enriching environment.”

To learn more about how you can get involved in this project or to donate, visit https://ymcadallas.org/strategic_growth/camp_grady_spruce.
 

Click to View Photos From the Ribbon Cutting!