On a recent sunny Wednesday evening, a group of Boothbay Region YMCA donors, early supporters of The Greater Impact campaign, gathered at Camp Knickerbocker’s McEvoy Lodge. The agenda was simple: connect, tour, and learn. Attendees were updated on the campaign’s final push and told about the Impacting our Next Generation 1:1 match for the final phase of the campaign. They were invited to consider an additional gift to renovate McEvoy Lodge and were asked to spread the word about the Y and the campaign to others who might be interested. Mostly, they were there to learn about how Camp Knickerbocker impacts hundreds of children every single day who learn essential skills, play in a beautiful space, make friends, and create memories.

Many people at the party had never actually been to Camp K nor knew about the spectacular lake where children learn to swim, canoe, and fish in the summer and participate in after-school programming throughout the year. To envision the enhancements to the McEvoy lodge, guests viewed architectural renderings, both inside and out, that includes a new wrap-around porch to enhance programing during inclement weather and was one of the reasons the event was entitled, “We Can’t Wait to Have a Porch” party.

Judy Ryan, the vice president of the Y’s Board of Trustees, told the crowd that the Board has been focused on renovating all of the Y’s facilities without taking on any debt. She said, “Through generous donations, the Y has renovated its facilities in three different phases, including during COVID, no less! This final phase to renovate the McEvoy Lodge and the Child Enrichment Center, has the biggest impact which is to support working families and their children” She continued, “Since 2018, the Y has raised $14 million in gifts and pledges – a tremendous accomplishment. In order to complete the projects, the Y seeks a final $500,000 from the community. The best part of that is that all new gifts and pledges will be matched.”

Guests sampled camp-inspired fare, including ants on a log, mini peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and gooey s’mores. The food and flowers were assembled and/or donated by a group of dedicated volunteers. Marily Kerney, a member of the Y’s board and part of the Baldwin family who has been on the peninsula for generations, shared, “My family has always been inspired by what camp has to offer our community. We helped sponsor the Baldwin Center, which is part of Camp K, and right on down the road from this building. There’s a climbing wall, a high/low ropes course, and access to the other side of the lake that creates innovative programming for camp. We are proud to support the Y and this initiative and hope others will join us.”

Several of Camp K’s international staff were on hand to share their excitement about the children and programs they lead at camp. Many of them are learning to be teachers in their home countries and their experience working with the over two hundred campers who attend each week is helping them hone their craft and also learn a little bit about living in Maine. One of the counselors said, “I have never been to the States before and I feel so lucky to be working with kids who are so eager to learn in such a beautiful location.”

Charlie Britton, the Y’s campaign chair since 2018 and former Board president, thanked the McEvoy family who were in attendance. “It was the McEvoy family’s foresight 40 years ago that helped us build the McEvoy Lodge,” Britton said. “I’m rolling off the board in the spring, and nothing would make me happier than seeing kids enjoy the renovated space. After all, that’s why we do what we do, and we’re grateful for a community that supports us. Past. Present. And future,” Britton added.

With a gentle breeze blowing, staff took guests on tours of the greater Camp K campus, including the volunteer-built covered picnic tables where campers gather daily, the basketball court, the Rotary Centennial Stage, and a new Waterfront Pavilion on the stunning shore of Little Lake Knickerbocker.

The Y’s staff and board members will be more than happy to provide a tour of Camp K and/or the Baldwin Center. To arrange for one, contact Allyson Goodwin, Director of Development, at agoodwin@brymca.org or (207) 633-2855 x290. There’s just a little “s’more” to go in the A Greater Impact campaign, and to learn more it and the the 1:1 “Impacting our Next Generation” match, please contact Allyson or check out the Y’s website. We are excited to bring refreshed spaces to our community members, especially to our region’s children, and match those facilities with the excellent programming that the Y offers to the community year-round.