YMCA Camp Wa Wa Segowea is officially open!

Kids are swimming, kids are boating. They're learning archery, they're playing soccer. They're singing, they're laughing all at Wa Wa once again! After being vacant since September of 2005, there's been a tremendous amount of time, construction, money and work all put in to get us where we are today- Camp Segowea being open for business!

We're calling it the Miracle on Harmon Pond as it is just that. From January of 2009 till now, with assistance from the Capital District YMCA, the camping leadership of George Painter , the help of Camp Directors Toby Hettler and Stuart Schultz , the unbelievable talent of Facilities Director Norm Button, the guidance of the Smith Park Board and alumni, friends and family members all performing their roles are why this opening of camp truly is a miracle.

The Wa Wa Spirit is alive and well, in the local community (where many donated their time and efforts to help), in the 2010 Camp Staff (where the normal staff week prior to camp opening became Staff Two and a half weeks!), and alumni working (and spending morning afternoon and night) to get it all done.

It is indeed a great accomplishment to look back and admire and we need to do just that. We also need now to share the story. Tell your family, your friends, your neighbors- Send Your Kids to Camp! Encourage all to be a part of the historical return of YMCA Camp Wa Wa Segowea!

From Pasta to Pies

Some 40 Wa Wa Segowea alumni and friends kicked off the First Annual Wally Waddle Weekend with a pasta dinner Saturday night, heldal fresco in the courtyard of Christ Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie. The event raised more than $400 to help camp open this summer. In true Wa Wa fashion, donations of menu items poured in and planners, cooks, set up and clean up crews emerged in the weeks preceding the event, with more than enough help and food for the evening. Pasta, meatballs, sauce and bread not consumed were donated to St. Joseph's and the Grace Smith House. The Turtle theme was carried out by Amy McPheeters' hand-crafted turtle centerpieces, and turtle cookies contributed by Mike Bruns. Friends of Segowea President Lily Mercogliano welcomed everyone gathered including the newest future camper, Hazel Perks (born 3/23/10), and Dad/Race Director- Josh Perks helped everyone get psyched for the next day's race. Special thanks go to Bountiful Bread, Better Bite, Olive Garden, Christ Church and all the individuals who donated and participated. Those who couldn't attend were busy making pies for the next day's race winners!

2010 Volunteer Work Weekends Underway

Thank you volunteers who came out and joined us April 17-18th and 24-25th, our first two volunteer Work Weekends of 2010!
Together we built and began installing shutter braces for the cabins, cleaned out the old office in the lodge, unburied and collected insulation from the foundation work at the new dining hall site, moved, organized, and inventoried kitchen supplies, sanded bunk bed frames, picked up around the waterfront, dug out a ditch draining to the lake, moved boats, and cut foam mattresses to fit new mattress covers.

We have plenty of work left to do prior to opening this summer, please come out and give us a hand. Upcoming Work Weekends include: May 1-2, May 15-16, May 29-30, June 5-6, and June 19-20. To RSVP, contact Toby Hettler at thettler@cdymca.org or 518 656-9462 ext 6632.

Enjoy the below photos showing some of our progress during the weekends and building improvements that Norm has completed with contractors and volunteers this Spring.


Board members Mike and Tom showing their shoveling skills.

Lynn and Norm sanding a bunk bed frame.

Does anyone recognize this building? Pictures below will be good hints.

Sanding in the main lodge.

New siding and deck on the Beacon.

New stairs on the cabins.

New deck and seating outside the Beacon.

Cabin row's new look, new stairs in progress.

Moving boats on the parade field.

Sweeping up in front of the main fireplace.

Segowea in the New Year

A few winter photos of Segowea.


Cabin Row after a fresh snow.

View of the lake from up top.

Council circle. Can't you just see the summer campfires, shorts, t-shirts, songs and skits?

Segowea Archives from the 50's-70's

Can anyone out there tell us some stories about any of these photos? What year they are probably from? Who any of the alumni pictured are? If so, please give camp director Toby Hettler a call or email at 518 656-9462 ext 6632 and thettler@cdymca.org. Thanks!

Segowea Archives

Here are some photos from the archives. (Thank you to Mike Bruns for scanning them at camp over past work weekends.) See anyone you know?

Segowea October 10th Weekend Extravaganza

What a great way to wrap up our fall season at Segowea!
First we kicked it off with a board meeting in the morning, then a Smith Park annual meeting in the afternoon, before our Volunteer Thank You Dinner in the evening. Plus a scattering of work projects inbetween. Besides cooking and setting up for the thank you meal, volunteers also pulled in a few boats back to the lodge, got all the windows of the lodge and dining hall put back in, and even found time to stake out a few potential cabin locations in the new village area. Thank you volunteers!

"Move left Lisha, now back up, okay Liz, over, over, more to the right... "

Darlene Ward sharing Smith Park updates at the annual meeting.

Tom Harvey directing the largest "Cat's Cradle" camp has seen in years, while John Fisher is ready for any early season Vampires with his collection of wooden stakes.

Cooks extraordinaire! Thank you Richard for being our grilling specialist and to Sarah, Mike and Amy for setting up and cooking. And a big thank you to Lily (not in the photo) for buying and bringing the yummy food.

George sharing the current plans with alumni. For any not at the summer reunion, a model of the new dining hall and welcome center is centered in the photo.


Speaking of the new dining hall, we expect to begin pouring concrete for the basement foundation later this month and will send out invitations to everyone to come join us and lend a hand if interested. We hope to see you again soon.