Welcome to YMCA of Boulder Valley Camp Santa Maria. Camp Santa Maria is an overnight resident camp serving campers ages 6-16. In addition, we offer Family Programs, Group Rentals and Getaway Weekends during the spring and fall.
Location
Camp Santa Maria is located 45 minutes west of Denver on US Highway 285, just past Bailey Colorado, nestled in the Rocky Mountains, surrounded by Pike National Forest and the Lost Creek Wilderness area. The camp is at about 8200′ in elevation.
History
The YMCA of Boulder Valley has offered residential camp experiences to campers for the past ten years. Over the past five years, YMCA of Boulder Valley has worked with the Mary M. Dower Benevolent Corporation, a non-profit family foundation, to create a partnership that allows the YMCA to manage Camp Santa Maria. YMCA of Boulder Valley Camp Santa Maria opened in the spring of 2007. The YMCA of Boulder Valley and the Mary M. Dower Benevolent Corporation share the common goal of providing camp and recreational opportunities for all youth. Our hope is that this partnership will provide the opportunity for campers to share their camp experience and traditions with future generations of their family.
Mission
The YMCA of Boulder Valley is an association of people of all ages, abilities, ethnic groups and religious affiliations who are united in a common effort with a worldwide fellowship, putting Christian principles into practice and enriching the quality of spiritual, mental and physical life for all.
We build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.
Values and Character Development
It is important to us that campers have fun and learn new skills when they come to camp. Even more important, however, are our efforts at Camp Santa Maria to provide campers with experiences that support their growth and help them develop the relationship, leadership, and decision-making skills that will help them to be happy and successful in the future. At Camp Santa Maria it is our goal to make every activity, from eating breakfast to teambuilding initiatives, opportunities for learning and development. The Camp Santa Maria staff strives to include the core values of the YMCA; Respect, Responsibility, Honesty and Caring, into each experience that campers have while they are at camp.
Accreditation and Licensing
YMCA Camp Santa Maria is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), the nationally recognized accrediting body for the camp industry. ACA accreditation means that YMCA Camp Santa Maria has undergone a thorough (up to 300 standards) review of its operation, from staff qualifications and training to emergency management. ACA collaborates with experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth-serving agencies to ensure that current practices at the camp reflect the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation.
For more information about ACA Accreditation, visit the American Camp Association’s Parent Page.
YMCA Camp Santa Maria is licensed as a camp for children by the Colorado Department of Social Services.
