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Established in 1948, the South Mountain YMCA is a vital, colorful community of 200 resident campers, 160
day campers and over 100 staff members from around the world. The camp, with its idyllic mountaintop
setting, encompasses over 500 acres of pristine woodlands.
Program areas include athletic fields, mountain
biking trails, archery and riflery ranges, trap range, tennis and basketball courts, a nature center, a
sand volleyball court, an auditorium/ program center, campfire rings, primitive camping areas, craft
shops, a large outdoor swimming pool facility, a photography lab, a Native American site, a tree house,
low and high element ropes courses, and two riding areas with miles of trails.
Sailing, canoeing
and kayaking are offered at nearby Blue Marsh Lake. Camp Conrad Weiser is operated in accordance
with YMCA policies and accredited by the American Camping Association.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
SMYMCA programs offer fun-filled, educational experiences that last long after your child has returned
home. Camp Conrad Weiser and Bynden Wood Day Camp provide the perfect environment to encourage creative
expression, develop new interests, promote sportsmanship, improve skills, foster spiritual awareness, and
establish physical fitness for children of all ages.
South Mountain YMCA also believes that the development
of character is of the highest priority. Our activities and programs promote respect, caring, honesty
and responsibility and we nurture these qualities, among others, in our community
ABOUT THE STAFF
A camp is only as strong as its leadership. The SMYMCA camps are staffed by some of the best-qualified men
and women available, many of whom have spent countless summers as part of the SMYMCA camp community.
Counselors are individually selected after an intense application and interview process. All applicants are
required to be at least 18 years of age with the average counselor age being 20-22. New applicants are
subjects of a lengthy interview, reference check and national background check before being offered a
position at Camp Conrad Weiser.
A small percentage of the total summer staff is from areas outside the United States. Campers and staff enjoy
making friends and learning about other cultures.
All staff members are required to attend a pre-camp staff training emphasizing the proper and safe care of
children. Many staff are given additional training or instructor certification for program areas such as
life guarding, target sports, waterfront sports, ropes course and horseback riding.
The National Rifle Association, The National Archery Association, American Red Cross Swimming and the
Certified Horsemanship Association programs are all utilized.
CABIN LIFE
We firmly believe that while the experiences gained from participating in our wide variety of instructional
activities is invaluable, the experience of sharing living quarters and responsibilities with a group of
same-aged campers from different cities, states and countries provides an opportunity for growth and long
lasting friendships. Campers learn how to make decisions and work as a team while learning how to
accept differences share space, and cooperate for the good of the group.
Contact us for a brochure! Please call us at 610-670-2267, or e-mail
us at ycamps@smymca.org.
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