YMCA Storer Camps

This review is focused on the one-​week «Ottawa» and «Pioneer» level camp options at Camp Storer.
Our daughter has attended a one-​week camp at Storer last year, and again this year. And, she attended the mid-​winter reunion weekend this past December. My husband and I are very impressed with Camp Storer. My husband served as a counselor and then a division leader at a summer camp for eight years; he knows summer camps «behind the scenes» and is thoroughly satisfied with the quality of Camp Storer.
The facilities are modern, clean, comfortable, and air-​conditioned. The staff is well-​trained, and there is the right ratio of staff-​to-​campers. In a cabin for 7 – 12 young girls, there are two fully-​trained/​experienced college-​age counselors, and one «counselor-​in-​training» («CITs» are high-​school-​aged teens who have been to Camp Storer numerous times as a camper, and are ready for the next level). Both summers, our daughter’s counselors were college students. Numerous counselors are from countries around the world, which makes it a wonderful experience for the children.
One Sunday in March, I called Camp Storer to leave a message for the staff regarding a question I had. To my surprise, the camp director answered the phone, then gladly spent about 20 minutes on the phone with me thoroughly addressing my question and providing me the information I needed ot make an informed decision regarding which session option to sign our daughter up for.
Camp Storer is adjacent to Stony Lake; there are two levels of swimming test the children must pass. If they demonstrate adequate swim skills, they can play in the shallow area; if they demonstrate stronger swimming skills, they can play in the deep area. Counselors are always with them, and a life-​guard is on-​duty. Regarding safety, the staff also takes medication very seriously. There is a Health Officer on-​site at all times; and a strong process in-​place to ensure that children receive the medication (or have the right food to address allergy concerns).
The camp also has horses. Children have the option to sign up for horse lessons (both western and english lessons are available). The children also have the option of a daily trail ride. Anything to do with horses is an additional fee. Our daughter has taken horse-​riding lessons both years, and thoroughly enjoyed it. She is also taught to care for the horses, and treat them with kindness & respect.
As Camp Storer is part of the YMCA, there is a daily chapel service. Our family is blended; we are both Jewish and Christian. Upon careful questioning, we were comfortable with our daughter going to Camp Storer as the brief chapel service is focused on God, not any one interpretation of God.
Our daughter reports that the food is very tasty; certainly, from what my husband & I saw of the dining hall, the facilities are top-​quality and very clean. And, she also reports that the cabins are kept clean during the week; the children have daily cleaning duties they must perform that help the cabin stay in tip-​top condition. There are modern toilets, showers, and sinks in each cabin.