Dexter Johnson, president of YMCA of Greater Springfield, thanks volunteers for their work preparing summer campgrounds in West Springfield and Wilbraham as children play in the background.
Reminder Publishing photo by Tyler Lederer
WEST SPRINGFIELD — This year, 124 volunteers spent hundreds of hours between May and June preparing the YMCA of Greater Springfield’s campgrounds at Camp Weber in West Springfield and Stony Brook Acres in Wilbraham.
That made a difference for the 300 kids who were registered for Camp Weber over the summer.
“With all of these trees, there are a number of leaves and branches that pile up over the nine months that no one’s here and that we’re closed,” said Dexter Johnson, president of the YMCA of Greater Springfield, in a July ceremony. “It takes a lot of people power to get it ready for these kids to be here.”
Some of those volunteer people and organizations included Eversource, who helped prepare the ropes course, “Mike the Bike Guy,” who helped refurbish and donate 20 bikes for a dirt bike track, and the West Springfield Rotary Club, which donated money for a refrigerator at the nurse’s station, among others.
At Stony Brook Acres, approximately 40 employees at companies like the Bulkley Richardson law firm spent a Friday in May painting, cleaning and doing yard work.
“Being able to see the smiling faces, it really tells you the importance of the work that was done,” Johnson said.
In attendance at the Camp Weber event were volunteers and representatives of volunteering organizations, as well as Bridget Healy, representing state Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield).
“He’s really big on seeing kids out there practicing wellness, both physically and mentally,” said Healy.
Camp Weber’s programs include arts and crafts, drama, swimming, archery at a specially-built archery range, cycling on a dirt bike track, a high ropes and low ropes course, among other things.
“It’s a great outdoor nature camp,” said Johnson. “A great day camp that’s been serving this community for decades.”
Located off Dewey Street in the southwestern portion of town, the 75-acre property, a 5-minute drive from Bear Hole Reservoir, serves children ages 6 to 12 for nine weeks during the summer between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
A separate camp exists for teens ages 13 to 15, said Johnson, to separate them from the younger kids. During that camp, teens are taught how to be camp counselors. Camp Weber employs 60 to 70 people a summer, he said.
“We’re one of the largest employers of teens,” said Johnson.
Although the camp is open to children from its host town, many of its attendees come from Springfield and Chicopee, he said.
But why should parents send their kids to camp in the first place? It’s an opportunity for children to be social, said Johnson.
“It is a good opportunity for kids to be able to be outside and make new friends,” he said. “The friendships that people make at camp are lasting.”
More information on the YMCA of Greater Springfield’s summer camps can be found at springfieldy.org.
