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Affordable overnight camp for local families opens June 12, 2016
The YMCA of Western North Carolina will be holding a dedication ceremony for its new overnight summer camp, YMCA Camp Watia, on June 8, 2016, on the grounds of the camp, located outside Bryson City, N.C. Attendees will include YMCA executive leadership, its board of directors, donors, and other supporters of YMCA Camp Watia.
The dedication will start with a welcome from Charles Frederick, current board chair, followed by a blessing of the land and the camp by Jerry Wolfe, a Beloved Man of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Rick Lutovsky, one of the fundraising chairs for the camp, will deliver recognitions and acknowledgements, followed by remarks by Ken Glass who, along with his wife, Nancy Glass, donated family-owned land for the camp. The dedication will conclude with comments from Paul Vest, president and CEO of the YMCA of Western North Carolina, and a campfire ceremony.
The YMCA of Western North Carolina founded YMCA Camp Watia to make overnight camp accessible to all local families. The camp will be an inclusive, supportive environment for children 8 to 17 to build character, make friends, unplug from technology, and plug into nature. Campers will arrive Sunday, June 12, for the first summer of YMCA Camp Watia.
About the YMCA of Western North Carolina
The YMCA of Western North Carolina is one of the area’s leading nonprofits, strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Y serves Buncombe, Henderson, and McDowell counties, engaging over 33,000 households through membership, programs, and child care. Regardless of age, income, or background, our goal is to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the area’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support the community. Deeply anchored in Western North Carolina, the YMCA has been developing lasting personal and social change in the community for over 125 years. For more information, please visit www.ymcawnc.org.
