Protecting Camp Grady Spruce for Generations to Come

For more than 75 years, YMCA Camp Grady Spruce has been a place where young people discover confidence, build lifelong friendships and create memories that stay with them long after camp ends. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, that experience is stronger today than ever before.

In recent years, Camp Grady Spruce has undergone a remarkable transformation. New cabins have expanded overnight accommodations. Dining facilities have been renovated to better serve campers. A new Welcome Center now greets families as they arrive, while improvements to the equestrian program, waterfront and camp safety systems have enhanced the experience across camp.

These investments have strengthened Camp Grady Spruce for the more than 17,000 children, families and groups who participate in camp programs each year.

But creating exceptional spaces is only part of the journey.

To ensure these facilities and programs continue serving future generations, the YMCA has established the Camp Grady Spruce Program & Facility Endowment Fund. With a goal of $5 million in cash and planned gifts, the fund will provide permanent financial support for maintaining and renewing the camp's facilities and program infrastructure.

Once fully funded, the endowment is expected to generate approximately $250,000 annually to help care for the places and equipment that make camp possible, from cabins and dining facilities to boats, docks, climbing towers, zip lines and other essential program assets.

While Camp Grady Spruce already benefits from endowed funds that support scholarships and operations, no permanent funding source currently exists for maintaining these critical facilities and replacing heavily used program equipment. A dedicated endowment ensures that today's investments continue to serve campers for decades to come.

"Camp Grady Spruce has impacted countless lives over the past 75 years, and we have an opportunity to ensure it continues changing lives for the next 75. We believe caring for camp isn't just about maintaining buildings, it's about preserving the experiences, friendships and personal growth that happen within them. Supporting the Program & Facility Endowment Fund is our family's way of helping protect that legacy for generations to come."

— Van Shaw, Camp Grady Spruce Alumni and Supporter

Every dock, cabin, trail and gathering space helps create moments that shape lives. By investing in the Camp Grady Spruce Program & Facility Endowment Fund, donors are helping ensure that future campers will experience the same sense of adventure, belonging and transformation that has defined Camp Grady Spruce for generations.

Together, we're not simply preserving a place, we're safeguarding the experiences that will continue to inspire young people for decades to come.