Welcome back to Bloggamaria!

As winter weather is becoming more and more of our daily experience just remember that camp is only about 200 days away! We are just in the process of closing camp down for the year, turning off the water, closing down the kitchen, and getting all the bikes tuned up. And at the same time, we are gearing up for the summer of 2011 by opening up Early Bird registration, attending camp conferences, re-hiring returning staff and hiring new staff, and getting ready for regional camp fairs all around Colorado.

We are also getting ready for camp by asking you the campers to help us design the 2011 Camp Santa Maria shirt design! Here is a great opportunity to show off your artistic talent! Submit your designs tosantamaria@ymcabv.org by December 12, 2010. We will be choosing the winning design at the Barnes and Noble’s in Boulder on December 14, 2010 at the Barnes and Noble’s YMCA Book Fair. You will also get to vote online for your favorite design on the Camp Santa Maria Facebook page. So get designing and submit those ideas!

So, until next time, have fun, keep camp in your mind, and begin getting ready for Summer 2011!

Howdy Folks Shawn Here!

So, as winter is beginning to get a foot hold in the mountains, it is the perfect time to be thinking about summer camp at YMCA Camp Santa Maria! Now since I have just come on board here as the Director of Santa Maria I am still getting educated by parents, campers, and alumni on everything Camp Santa Maria. It has been fantastic to hear all about the summer programs, trips, skill tracks, and the programs and groups that come to camp in the non-summer months. I have also been hearing great stories about the history of the camp property from the members of the Dower Family and camp alumni.

I was up at camp last weekend with a group of adults who had never been to the camp and loved listening to them talk about the beauty of the property, especially in the early morning and the brilliant stars at night. After meeting with Michelle the Wrangler on Saturday, and spending some time up at the ranch with the herd, I am even more excited about the summer of 2011! There is no doubt that YMCA Camp Santa Maria is an awesome place! I was recently up at YMCA Estes Park representing  Camp Santa Maria as part of the YMCA’s celebration of 125 years of summer camping. It was wonderful to spend 3 days with over 400 YMCA camping professionals from around the country, and to see how well Santa Maria stacks up against so many other great camps. Keep your eyes out for more Bloggamaria this fall and winter as we gear up for the amazing summer of 2011! Also keep your eyes on our Facebook page, our YouTube channel, and our Twitter feeds to keep up to date on all things Camp Santa Maria! If you have any questions or comments about camp, please email me at shawn.moriarty@ymcabv.org