Former members of HI-Y and attendees of various camps will gather to celebrate YMCA Camp Horseshoe's 70 years of service this Labor Day weekend.
Among the hundreds of youth who have participated in the programs at the camp, many have become important figures in the state and nation. Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives 1st District Mike Oliverio and U.S. Sen. Carte Goodwin, D-W.Va., both attended camp at Horseshoe in Tucker County.
Constructed in 1940 by the Civilian Conservation Corps for the United States Forest Service, Horseshoe is the state YMCA camp for West Virginia. The State YMCA of West Virginia (now the Ohio-West Virginia YMCA) has operated it since.
"I spent a couple wonderful summers there," Oliverio told The Inter-Mountain Friday. "It is a very, very special place."
Oliverio is hoping to attend the ceremony and lunch Sunday. While unable to attend personally, Goodwin's mother is scheduled to make an appearance.
Activities begin today with a hike to the recreation area, where there will be activities for kids and a tour of improvements for adults. The hike begins at 9 a.m. at the flagpole. Participants can join the photo scanning and history project at 1:30 p.m. in the lodge and a hike to Horseshoe Mountain at 3 p.m. Also Saturday, there will be a folk dance in the lodge at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday activities include several hikes in the morning, leading up to the celebration meal at the dining hall beginning at 1 p.m. Following the meal, organizers will present the 70th Anniversary Program in the lodge. A group photo will be taken after on the lodge steps. The evening's pastimes include flower pressing, a family kickball game, fishing and a Euchre tournament.
Monday at 9 a.m. campers can participate in bracelet making, photo identification from years past, a family volleyball game and fishing. The weekend-long event wraps up with a picnic lunch at noon in the dining hall.
Horseshoe has earned a national reputation for its teen leadership and entrepreneurship camps and its special programs for needy children.
"Over the years Horseshoe has responded to community and school needs with pioneering residential learning camps, programs to challenge youth on the wrong path to turn their lives to achievement and community capacity building initiatives," said Horseshoe Alumni Director Doug Wetsch.
"Horseshoe also impacts youth and communities in other states. This summer, we launched Ohio's HI-Y Teen Ambassadors for Ohio first lady Frances Strickland. Forty Ohio teenagers returned home motivated, better prepared and ready to help the first lady's work to build a better Ohio," Wetsch said.
Another successful program for all of West Virginia is the annual Governor's Youth Opportunity Camps for low income boys and girls.
"The Labor Day weekend celebration marking Horseshoe's 70 years of service is open to all," explained Wetsch.
Guests may attend the entire weekend or register for daily events. The main celebration meal and program are 1 p.m. Sunday. Anyone with memorabilia and photos are asked to bring them for preservation in digital format.
