A note of thanks to our YMCA Camp Alumni Hello, Camp Alumni! I’m Pete Carson, YMCA BC’s Director of Camping and Outdoor Education, overseeing operations at Camp Elphinstone and Camp Kanannaq. Since moving into this role last autumn, I have loved hearing about the deep connections that so many people and families have with Camp Elphinstone, or how vivid their memories are from their time at Camp Deka or Howdy in generations past. A passion for YMCA summer camps is something that I share with alums like you—they have been an important part of my life as well. Before arriving at Elphinstone, I worked in leadership positions at YMCA Camp Chief Hector near Calgary and at Vancouver Island’s YMCA Camp Thunderbird, which I also attended as a camper in my childhood. There is just something special about these places that lingers with you—even decades later, as some of you well know. We’ve just wrapped up another memorable summer at Camp Elphinstone, building upon our traditions that date back to 1907. This year, we provided fantastic Overnight Camp experiences to nearly 2,000 children and teens, welcomed another 500 kids to our Summer Day Camp program, and enjoyed having dozens of families sign up to spend quality time together here through our Summer and Fall Family Camp programs. Our team is now preparing to host more than 10,000 students to camp for our Outdoor Education offerings over the course of the 2025-26 school year. It was a real pleasure getting to meet so many of you during our Alumni Day at Camp Elphinstone in August. I’m extremely grateful for the support we feel from our Camp Alumni community, especially seeing the success of our recent gatherings. I look forward to connecting with more of you at future events and hope you enjoy reading through the stories in today’s newsletter. — Pete Carson YMCA BC Director, Camping and Outdoor Education
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Rolston family among many stewards of 'Order of the Golden E'
Multi-generational camp families are an important part of YMCA Camp Elphinstone’s long and storied history. For the Rolston family, that connection goes back nearly a full century. The Rolstons’ story includes a prominent figure in British Columbia’s history, stewardship of the Order of the Golden E—a past Elphinstone fraternity group—and a YMCA camp tradition that still endures.
Elphinstone family traditions extended by 2025 staff
This summer, there were seven young people working on the Camp Elphinstone staff whose parents worked at camp a generation ago. These types of enduring family connections are part of the fabric of camp. When parents value their YMCA summer camp experiences, they want their kids to have similar opportunities and register them as campers. If the children enjoy camp, they return each summer to develop, grow and have fun. Happy campers become happy leaders-in-training and, subsequently, happy counsellors and program staff.
Continuity from one generation to the next is great for keeping camp traditions alive. It can also provide a wonderful source of shared memories for the family—remembering your time on the dock, in the boats, on the forest trails and around the campfire.
Do you have a story to share about your family's connections to camp? We’d love to hear more about it! Please reach out by email at campalumni@bc.ymca.ca.
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Summer events draw dozens of alums from decades past
Our Alumni Day at YMCA Camp Elphinstone held Aug. 9 was a great success, with more than 70 alumni coming back to camp for lunch, a tour of the property and a chance to re-live memories from their youth. A group photo taken outside the dining hall is pictured above. The group of alums who attended were a mix of campers from long ago and others who spent their time at Elphinstone more recently: some who were at camp just five to 10 years ago, others with memories of the place from the 1960s and ‘70s. The camp kitchen staff made a special effort to serve a fancy “adult meal” which was a nice change from the usual “kids menu.” The weather was near-perfect, so after lunch visitors went down to the dock and pier. All agreed that waterfront programming is an essential part of the camp experience. As our alumni left with broad smiles on their faces, there was strong support for another Alumni Day at Camp next summer!
As well, YMCA BC Manager of Camp Alumni Development Alan Woodland successfully completed the Alumni Swim Challenge on Aug. 9. With a Camp Elphinstone lifeguard in a companion support boat joining him in the early morning hours, it took Alan just over an hour to swim the 2.0-km distance from the New Brighton pier on Gambier Island to the dock at Camp Elphinstone. Typical for a mid-summer morning, water temperatures were warm, and the water surface was calm. Would you like to be a part of the Alumni Swim Challenge in 2026? We also enjoyed a great turnout for our Alumni Picnic & BBQ held July 20, with a group of 40 people coming to the Ceperley Park Picnic Shelter in Stanley Park to share food and meet up with other camp alumni. Longtime YMCA staff member Jamie Waterlow, who attended Camp Howdy 20 years ago, brought his wife and two children to the event. Annie Markvoort, who attended Camp Deka, was reunited with a plaque that she made there in 2010. Ron McLaren shared a photo of himself that was taken at Camp Elphinstone in 1961. Representing Elphinstone from the early 1990s were Ron Klopfer, Hannah Carolan, Bruce Townson and Jill Earthy. Lunch was great and everyone enjoyed themselves. More alumni events are in the works—we look forward to sharing the details with you soon and hope you can join us!
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Family Camp provides special bonding time at Elphinstone
Some camp alumni continue to stay connected by attending Family Camp at Elphinstone. This year’s Summer Family Camp, held Aug. 24-27, was a three-night program allowing parents and caregivers to enjoy the last days of the season at Camp Elphinstone together with their children. The popular annual program includes traditional camp activities on the waterfront, archery, high ropes and enjoying shared meals in the dining hall.
San R., Elphinstone alumni from 2001-02, had not been to camp for more than 20 years. Last summer, San’s 11-year-old son attended Elphinstone for his first time. After a great time at camp last summer, San registered his son for another week this past July and planned to bring the whole family (including two younger siblings) for Summer Family Camp in August.
Holding his own camp experiences in high regard, San hopes his children will want to progress from being campers and leadership development candidates to eventually working as YMCA camp counsellors, just as he did. Attending Family Camp creates an opportunity for everyone in the family to have camp experiences together—even when they are too young to register for summer camp! Regular summer camp programming is a great way for children to become more independent while away from their parents. San appreciates that Family Camp gives kids an opportunity to “teach their parents” about places at camp and fun times they enjoyed while away from the family home. It is a special treat when camp experiences can be shared together as a family. Our Fall Family Camp program will take place Oct. 10-12 this year. The Fall session has a Thanksgiving theme, featuring a turkey dinner and our signature Elphinstone Pumpkin Drop from the climbing tower. Registrations for Fall Family Camp are still available—you can sign up now via our registration portal. If YMCA BC had more Family Camp offerings, would your family be interested in joining? Please let us know by sending an email to campalumni@bc.ymca.ca.
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Join us for our 2025 Women's Weekend at Camp Elphinstone!
Experience YMCA Camp Elphinstone in a brand-new way this fall by taking part in our 2025 Women's Weekend, scheduled for Oct. 24-26! Relax, recharge and connect with other amazing women right here with us on the oceanside of the Sunshine Coast. You'll have access to several of our classic camp activities, including archery, kayaking, canoeing, the rock wall and ropes courses, plus yoga sessions, art classes and other special programming. Enjoy healthy, delicious meals prepared by our kitchen staff—all included in the price of your registration! All-inclusive packages start at $273 for our Women's Weekend, which is open to all women aged 19-plus. Spaces are limited—click below to learn more and access registration links!
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