Camp Wood YMCA
FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBITY About
Camp Wood YMCA
MAINTAINING HIGH STANDARDS
Since 1916, Camp Wood YMCA has provided high-quality camping programs in a caring family environment tucked within the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas.
Gaining new skills, increasing self-respect and developing a sense of independence are trademarks of our program. Campers participate in life-changing, outdoor experiences that foster healthy decision-making, lasting friendships, skill development, and strengthened values in a safe, friendly environment.
Safety is our top priority. We are accredited by the American Camp Association – a process that has over 300 safety and quality standards to which we must adhere. Our dedicated staff are carefully screened, trained and certified (by such organizations as the Red Cross and the Certified Horsemanship Association) to serve as positive role models and help with your child’s skill development and growth. There is also a nurse on site while camp is in session and our camp doctor is local and on call, should we ever need him.
Our camp has a one-of-a-kind view, too. Sitting atop the Cottonwood River Valley with the Flint Hills as its backdrop, Camp Wood YMCA features 630 acres of Kansas Tallgrass Prairie and is the only YMCA camp in the United States located in this unique ecosystem.
Become a part of the Camp Wood YMCA family and start making the friendships and memories you’ll cherish forever.
MEET THE STAFF
Ken Wold - Executive Director
“The Camp Wood YMCA outdoor experience is essential to living in a world that’s grown small. It allows youth the experience of being a part of a whole and learning where they fit. They become comfortable with themselves, their environment, and with others that come from a variety of settings. I love the smiles and noise that comes from a dining hall filled with 200 campers and staff … and the setting of the Tallgrass Prairie is breathtaking.”
Jill Burton – Senior Summer Camp Director
“I hear campers so often say, ‘I love coming to Camp Wood because I can be myself.’ I believe a Camp Wood experience allows a child one perfect week where they are celebrated for who they are and learn to celebrate others for who they are. I love building a relationship with both our campers and our camper’s families.”
Anne Clark – Senior Director of Contracted Services
“My favorite thing about Camp Wood is the tradition of how camp has stayed the same over the 90+ years but also brings in the trends for the kids to keep it current. It’s fun to watch kids grow up each year and see the friendships they have with staff and other kids.”
Katie Sutton – Intern
““My favorite thing about Camp Wood is the sense of community and watching friendships grow.Campers and staff alike may arrive strangers, but leave as part of the Camp Wood YMCA family.”
Nancy Scott - Office Manager
“I enjoy watching the campers come through the office to do service projects and being able to offer encouragement and a thank you.”
Jeri Stout – Book Keeper
“The staff always intrigues me. By the middle of the summer they become more than a name on a paycheck. Getting to know them is always a positive experience.”
Mark Davis - Maintenance Director
“I am the newest member on staff and am waiting for my first summer. This winter I have been enjoying the wildlife on camp. I am looking forward to experiencing a different kind of wildlife that this summer may bring.”
Sharon Smith - Housekeeping Director
“What I like about camp is the freedom campers feel as a part of their experience. I also enjoy watching as they try many new experiences.”
