Making progress at Takodah

Last September, I recorded an End of Summer Update video at YMCA Camp Takodah in which I talked about what we had achieved throughout the 107th summer and what we needed to accomplish in the off-season. Let’s take a look back at it and see how we did:

• Drainage and Erosion Prevention: We hired SVE Associates , a civil engineering firm who did a complete study of our Richmond Campus, including assessing the damage we sustained from the record breaking rains last July. They provided us with a detailed proposal and plans on how to move forward, including navigating the complex permitting process. In the meantime, our Facilities Manager and his team have been tirelessly working to get us ready for the upcoming season, no matter what nature decides to throw at us.
• Data & Registration: Our numbers heading into the Spring have been strong and we’re definitely trending towards being at full capacity across all sessions. We've also paid close attention to our surveys as we look to be "bigger and better" year over year. Getting the Registration Numbers from Sarah Cunningham , our Camp Director, on a weekly basis shows us how we're doing from the sessions we need to fill to the camperships we need to provide to ensure that every kid who wants to go to camp has a space in a cabin waiting for them to claim as their own. We also get a good sense of how many campers are new versus returning as we keep an eye on current performance and future expansion.
• Health Lodge: Work is underway to give The Hemlocks a refresh inside and out so it not only looks better, it works better for our amazing nursing staff. We’re also looking at long terms plans to replace that building with a purpose-built medical facility so we can continue to provide top notch care, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, throughout the summer.
• Cass Pond: We’re not anticipating a repeat of the unusual bacteria bloom we experienced last year that lead to a brief shutdown of the Waterfront. Even so, we have regular testing procedures in place with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services so we always know what’s happening in and around our beautiful lake.
• Improvements & Maintenance: There’s a huge amount of work being done by the full-time staff and a crew of weekend warriors determined to see each and every item we have on the list – and more that have been added to it as we go – completed before Opening Day in June. And while this work never really ends, they’ve made substantial progress in the past several months. As promised, it includes repairs to Memorial Lodge, one of our most beloved and iconic buildings, along with constructing new Staff Housing and moving Maintenance to the Dickinson Barns.
• Leadership Transition: Well, we did it and it only took us… 16 months! Our hard working volunteer Search Committee, along with Jim Doremus , our interim CEO, hired Chris Burke to be our new CEO & Executive Director. Chris has been hard at work since his first full day in January and he’s already had a positive impact across the operation, staff, Board of Directors, committees, our community, and beyond. The result proved that we "did it right, instead of doing it right now" and we ended up hiring the best of the best. He's a natural fit for our community and culture and we're excited to see what he can accomplish in his first year on the job. It wasn't easy to say goodbye to Jim, but we know he'll be around for Family Camp Weekends and to lend a helping hand whenever we need it. In fact, our Winter Update video from this past January gives a good sense of how much Jim meant to us and what Chris brings to the table.
• Off-season Projects: The list is simply too long to add here but I can assure you that while Camp lays relatively quiet during the winter months, the staff, Board, and our committees never slow down. I am exceedingly grateful for their hard work and dedication to our important mission. To be honest, I think we’re in really good shape for the 108th Summer and I can’t wait to personally welcome the campers, LITs, and leaders back to Takodah. After all, they're going to see a revitalized and refreshed camp that's ready for them to make the most of everything we have to offer, day in, day out.
• Fundraising: This is another area where the work never really ends and I am always excited to learn about a new or repeat donor, a major gift, or a campaign that over-performs so we can help get more kids to camp, improve our facilities, and enhance our programming as we work to maintain our status as one the best residential camps in New England. Plus, we're close to hiring a new Director of Philanthropy and Communications, along with a new Enrollment Coordinator and Summer Office Manager, which we hope will bring a fresh perspective to this critically important aspect of every non-profit organization.

Even now, as you read this, there's work going on at camp. By day, the Staff is navigating through their extensive checklists to get us ready to open, and the Facilities Team is focused on repairs, improvements, and construction. By night, the Board and our Committees are creating new policies, plans, and procedures to support and manage the CEO along with ensuring that we're able to give kids a safe place to be themselves and help them reach their full potential.

That's what we do. That's why it matters. That's why I am proud to be part of the Takodah YMCA.

Onward to the summer!