Here we will be sharing any updates and communications related to camp recovery after the severe storm that affected camp in June.
Here we will be sharing any updates and communications related to camp recovery after the severe storm that affected camp in June.
We’re deeply sorry for the cancellations caused by the recent storm. Recovery is progressing every day, and we’re committed to supporting every affected family. Please complete the form below so we can understand your needs and outline your next steps.
We’ve compiled answers to the questions families are asking most — from camper safety to session updates.
The trees may be gone, but our roots remain. Support camp recovery and help us welcome campers back this summer.
SUBJECT: All Camp Update: We Are Opening Camp on July 12!
Dear North Woods and Pleasant Valley Families,
We are excited to share that as of this moment, we are planning for Camp Opening on Sunday, July 12 for Session 2.
Over the past several weeks, our staff, volunteers, contractors, and community partners have been hard at work rebuilding, clearing debris, and preparing camp to safely welcome our campers. While there is still work to be done, we remain confident in our progress and are committed to providing the safe, fun, and memorable camp experience your child deserves.
Currently, all arrival logistics remain unchanged. Please review the below documents for drop off and pick up times and locations:
Packing:
We want to highlight a few items that are commonly overlooked and will aide in your campers’ comfort this summer. Please be sure to pack them:
While all our activity areas are open and ready for campers, you will notice that parts of camp—particularly some of the lower-lying areas and portions of North Woods—look different than in previous summers. Our teams have worked incredibly hard to ensure these areas are safe, and all scheduled camp activities will continue as planned. Our staff are eager to welcome your campers and ensure they have the outstanding camp experience they have been looking forward to.
Finally, camp has always been about more than buildings and trees—it is about community, belonging, and the lasting memories created there. Although camp may look a little different when you arrive, what won’t change is our commitment to providing an incredible summer filled with friendship, adventure, growth, and unforgettable memories.
We will continue to keep you informed. Thank you for your patience, encouragement, and unwavering support as we prepare for an amazing rest of the camp season. If you have any questions, please email us at campingservices@ymcaboston.org. Moving forward, all of our camp communications and updates will also be posted on our Camp Recovery Page.
We can’t wait to see you.
Warmly,
Beth Dales & Matt Jago
Directors of PVC and North Woods
Dear LIT and CIT Families,
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete Wednesday’s Google Form and share your feedback with us. We truly appreciated your thoughtful responses during this unique situation.
Based on the overwhelming support we received from our LIT and CIT families, we are pleased to announce that we will be operating a three-week LIT/CIT program beginning on Sunday, July 5th!
We are incredibly grateful for your flexibility, patience, and commitment to making this summer possible. Our team is excited to welcome your campers and provide them with the leadership experience they have been looking forward to.
Please review THIS DOCUMENT carefully, as it contains all the important information you’ll need to prepare for arrival on Sunday, July 5th, including:
Drop-off times and locations
Program expectations
Additional answers to some of your thoughtful questions
If you indicated needing to utilize the bus on the Google Form and were not registered for this option prior to the storm, we will follow up to confirm your needs. The fee for bus transportation will still be applicable.
If you have any questions after reviewing the document, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our camp office at
Thank you again for your continued support and confidence in our program. We can’t wait to welcome our LITs and CITs to camp and make these three weeks an unforgettable leadership experience.
See you on July 5th!
Warmly,
Beth Dales and Matt Jago
PVC and North Woods Camp Directors
Dear North Woods and Pleasant Valley Families,
As we continue recovery efforts following last week’s severe weather event, we wanted to provide an update for families enrolled in all other upcoming Sessions.
First and foremost, we want to share that significant progress is being made every day. Our camp teams, facilities staff, contractors, engineers, and community partners have been working tirelessly to assess damage, clear debris, restore infrastructure, and develop a path forward for the remainder of the summer. While there is still much work ahead, we are encouraged by the progress we are seeing and the dedication of everyone involved in the recovery effort. We continue to evaluate every building, roadway, and program area to ensure that any camp experience we offer meets the high standards of safety and quality that our families expect and deserve.
We know that many of you are understandably wondering about the status of Sessions 2, 3, and 4, and 4-week Sessions; B, C and LIT and CIT Group 2. At this time, we are not making any changes to future sessions. While there are still uncertainties, our goal remains to welcome campers back to camp as soon as it is safe and feasible to do so.
The cancellation of Session 1 was an incredibly difficult decision, but it also provides valuable time for recovery work to continue. Every day brings new information, additional progress, and a clearer understanding of what will be possible in the weeks ahead.
Throughout this process, we have been inspired by the resilience of our camp community. We have heard from families, alumni, staff, and friends who have shared messages of encouragement, offers of support, and countless stories about what North Woods and Pleasant Valley mean to them. Those reminders of the impact camp has on so many lives reinforce our commitment to doing everything we can to preserve the camp experience this summer. We do plan to organize a volunteer workday and will announce the details of this on Friday. To contribute to our recovery efforts, please DONATE HERE.
We know that uncertainty can be difficult, especially as families make summer plans. We are committed to communicating regularly and transparently as decisions are made. Our next update will be shared on Wednesday, July 1st.
Thank you for your continued patience, understanding, and trust. We remain hopeful and optimistic about the work ahead and are grateful to have such a caring community standing alongside us. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at campingservices@ymcaboston.org. We are in process of creating an FAQ Page which will be posted to our website soon.
With appreciation,
Beth Dales and Matt Jago
PVC and North Woods Camp Directors
Dear Session 1 and Session A Families,
We want to begin by once again expressing how deeply disappointed we are that the severe weather event and resulting damage to camp required us to cancel Session 1 and the first 2 weeks of Session A. We know how much campers and families look forward to their time at North Woods and Pleasant Valley, and we share that disappointment.
As recovery efforts continue, our teams, contractors, engineers, and volunteers are making significant progress each day. While our focus remains on restoring camp operations for the remainder of the summer, we are also working diligently to support the families whose sessions were impacted.
To help us move forward and better understand your family’s preferences, we are asking all Session 1 and Session A families to complete the Google Form linked below.
The form outlines the options currently available to your family, which may include:
Transferring to a later session, if space is available
Add your camper to a waitlist for a later session
Applying your tuition as a credit toward Summer 2027. We will provide a “Storm Discount” to honor the 2026 rates for the 2027 Season.
Donate a portion or all of your tuition to support camp recovery efforts and financial assistance programs
Requesting a refund according to the options provided
Submitting the form will help our team process requests efficiently and ensure we can provide the support and next steps that best meet your family’s needs.
We recognize that every family’s circumstances are different, and we appreciate your patience as we navigate this unprecedented situation.
We also know that some families are now urgently scrambling for alternative options.
If you are local to the Greater Boston area – HERE IS A LIST of YMCA of Greater Boston Day Camps that have availability during the upcoming 2 weeks.
We are also compiling a list of Overnight Camp Options with some openings here.
Throughout this challenging time, we have been inspired by the kindness, flexibility, and support shown by our camp community. The messages from campers, families, alumni, staff, and friends have reminded us just how meaningful North Woods and Pleasant Valley are to so many people. We will be hosting a volunteer workday soon. We plan to announce that on Friday. We are in the process of creating an FAQ Page which will be posted to our website soon.
Thank you for your understanding and partnership. We remain committed to communicating openly and transparently as recovery efforts continue and look forward to welcoming campers back to camp as soon as possible. If you have any questions after reviewing the form, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team at campingservices@ymcaboston.org.
With appreciation,
Beth Dales and Matt Jago
PVC and North Woods Camp Directors
Dear LIT and CIT Families,
As we continue recovery efforts following last week’s severe weather event, we wanted to provide a specific update regarding our plans for the LIT and CIT Group 1.
At this time, we are hoping to gather some information from you so we can help gain some clarity regarding the desire to attend a three-week LIT and CIT experience beginning on Sunday, July 5th if safety permits. While we are currently still in an evolving situation, we wanted to share the direction we are actively planning toward so families can remain informed.
Currently, we are exploring a model in which both North Woods and Pleasant Valley LITs and CITs would begin their programs together at Pleasant Valley Camp for the first week. This approach would allow us to move forward with leadership programming while providing additional recovery time at North Woods. Our hope is that North Woods LIT’s and CIT’s will move back to North Woods for the final two weeks of the program, allowing participants to spend the majority of their experience in their traditional camp setting.
It is important to emphasize that this plan is not yet finalized. Recovery work continues daily, and our ability to transition the boys back to North Woods will depend on the progress made over the coming days. We ask families to remain open-minded and flexible as we continue to evaluate options that will allow us to provide a safe, meaningful, and memorable leadership experience for all participants.
If you could please COMPLETE THIS FORM with your preference, we would appreciate hearing your thoughts.
What gives us confidence is the tremendous progress already being made and the extraordinary support we have received from our camp community. Contractors, families, alumni, staff, volunteers, and friends have rallied around North Woods and Pleasant Valley, reminding us just how special these programs are and how committed so many people are to ensuring they continue.
We know uncertainty can be difficult, especially as summer plans approach. Please know that we are committed to transparent and timely communication. We will continue to provide updates as decisions are made and as recovery efforts progress. We do plan to organize a volunteer workday and will announce the details of this on Friday.
We have had many requests on how to help. To contribute to our recovery efforts, please DONATE HERE.
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and partnership during this unprecedented situation. We remain optimistic about the weeks ahead and are excited about the possibility of bringing our LITs and CITs together for a summer filled with leadership, growth, friendship, and camp spirit.
With appreciation,
Beth Dales and Matt Jago
PVC and North Woods Camp Directors
Dear North Woods and Pleasant Valley Families,
We are writing with an important update following last week’s severe weather event at camp.
Our team continues to work through the full assessment and recovery process across North Woods and Pleasant Valley. At this stage, we are still awaiting and working through structural engineering determinations for each building. This includes identifying which buildings can be repaired, which may require more extensive work, and where new construction may be necessary.
Given the scope of the damage and the time needed to complete these safety assessments and repairs, we have made the difficult decision to cancel regular camper programming for Session 1 at both Pleasant Valley Camp and North Woods Camp.
We know how disappointing this news is for campers and families. It is deeply disappointing for us as well. Session 1 is such a special part of the summer, and this decision was not made lightly. However, the safety of our campers and staff must remain our highest priority, and we cannot open regular camper programming until we are confident that our facilities and operations are ready.
At this time, we are still exploring whether we may be able to bring our CIT and LIT campers to camp in some capacity in the second week of session 1. Because these are smaller groups with different programming needs and schedules, we are continuing to assess whether a safe and appropriate plan may be possible. We hope to have more information to share with CIT and LIT families by the beginning of next week. Our goal date for a decision is Wednesday, July 1st.
We understand that this update may create many questions, including questions about tuition refunds, future session availability, and logistics. We are continuing to work through these details and will share additional information as soon as possible. In tomorrow’s update at 4 pm, we will include specific information on how families can request refunds, explore alternative camp options, and access additional resources and next steps. We ask that you hold any detailed questions until tomorrow afternoon.
We remain incredibly grateful for the patience, care, and support of our camp community during this challenging time. Our teams are working hard every day to move camp forward safely, thoughtfully, and responsibly.
With appreciation,
The Camping Services Team
Dear North Woods and Pleasant Valley Families,
We are writing with our Day 4 update following last week’s severe weather event at camp.
We are glad to share that electricity, water, and the internet have now been fully restored. This is an important step forward as our teams continue working through cleanup, assessment, and recovery.
Impressive logging equipment began working early this morning to clear trees, and that work is still actively underway. This is a significant part of making camp safe and accessible again.
Jeremy Stiles, our VP of Risk, and Lauren Reyes, our COO, are both on site today helping us assess conditions and work through the next steps as we move forward.
We understand that many families are eager for more information regarding check-in for Session 1, Session A, LIT, and CIT, which is currently scheduled for this coming Sunday. We also know that many families are traveling from far away and may need to make decisions regarding flights or other travel arrangements. We will share an announcement about session opening plans in our Wednesday update. If you need to make a decision based on flights or travel logistics before then, please use the Camping Services email address to keep us in communication with your plans. Our year-round team is here to help if needed.
Thank you for your continued patience, trust, and support as we continue this work.
With gratitude,
The Camping Services Team
Dear Camp Families,
We wanted to share today’s 4 PM update as we continue moving through the recovery and assessment process across the camp.
Since our last update, we have cleared staff belongings out of all North Woods cabins and Senior Village at Pleasant Valley to make space for the clean-up work beginning tomorrow morning. This was an important step in preparing camp for the next phase of recovery, and we are grateful to the staff who helped move carefully and quickly through that process.
This morning, we spent time touring a small group of board members, staff, and alumni around camp so they could see the impact of the storm firsthand and better understand where things stand. We also had a lovely morning lineup outside of the Todaro Leadership Center, where we created a temporary flagpole and were able to gather in a way that felt grounding and familiar during a very unusual time.
Our team continues to work carefully through the next steps of assessment and recovery. Staff on site, including international staff, lifeguards, and senior staff, have been helping document, photograph, and itemize program supplies. We are sorting through what can be salvaged, what may need to be repaired, and what will need to be replaced. We are also continuing to go through cabins to document, photograph, and itemize any damage.
Staff who are currently on site and off site are continuing to make progress on virtual trainings so that everyone is in as prepared a position as possible when on-site operations can begin. While the facilities, utilities, and clean-up assessments continue, this is one of the important ways our team can keep moving forward and be ready for the next phase.
Our next big win will be when electricity has been restored to lower camp. We have power to the dining hall, and plumbing has been restored. These are major pieces that will help us better understand what is possible next, and we will keep you updated as progress continues.
We appreciate the support and continued outreach from so many of you. We know there is uncertainty around session statuses, and we appreciate your patience as you give us the time needed to work through this process and make thoughtful decisions. Currently, we have not made any decisions about camp this summer. Those decisions are impacted by several factors, including cabin assessments, utilities, clean-up progress, and the ongoing work being done across camp.
We know many families are especially eager for information about Session 1. We will share an update regarding the opening of Session 1 this Wednesday, June 24.
Please continue to direct all questions to our Camping Services team at campingservices@ymcaboston.org. This helps us keep questions organized and allows our on-site team to stay focused on the assessment and recovery of work.
Thank you for your continued patience, trust, and support as we navigate this together.
We will share our next update tomorrow at 4 PM.
With gratitude,
Beth and Jago
Dear Camper Families,
We wanted to share an update with our camper community about where we are in the recovery process following the storm damage at camp.
Currently, our team is still hunkered down and continuing to operate out of the Todaro Leadership Center. We still do not have water or power restored to the main camp, and there are many moving pieces being evaluated each day. Our leadership and facilities teams are continuing to assess conditions carefully and thoughtfully as we work to understand what may be possible in the days ahead.
Things are evolving rapidly, and we expect to know more over the next 36 to 48 hours. We will continue sending a daily update by email at 4:00 PM so families have the most current information we can share.
Right now, we are continuing to assess what may be possible for camp operations while keeping safety as our top priority. We know families are eager for clear answers, and we are working as thoughtfully and responsibly as possible to understand the full picture before sharing the next steps.
We know this uncertainty is difficult, especially as families are planning for the start of camp. We deeply appreciate your patience, flexibility, and care for camp during this time. Pictures and videos do not do justice to the devastation that has happened here, but we also know how strong and resilient this camp community is.
Camping Services is the best email address to send any additional questions you may have, campingservices@ymcaboston.org. We will do our best to answer those questions and add answers to tomorrow’s 4:00 PM update, so everyone has the same information.
Thank you for continuing to keep camp in your thoughts as we move through this recovery process. We will be in touch again tomorrow at 4:00 PM with the next update.
With care,
The Camping Services Team
Dear Camp Families,
We want to share an update regarding severe weather that impacted our New Hampshire overnight camp properties this evening. All individuals who were on site at the time of the storm are safe and accounted for.
Camp leadership and facilities teams are actively assessing conditions at North Woods Boys Overnight Camp, Pleasant Valley Girls Overnight Camp, and Sandy Island Family Camp. Initial reports indicate damage to camp roads and several cabins, and we are working to understand the full extent of the impacts. Our teams are coordinating with local authorities and utility partners as needed.
Safety remains our highest priority. As assessments continue, we are also evaluating any potential impact to summer operations. At this time, it is too early to determine whether any program schedules will be affected, but we are committed to keeping families informed as additional information becomes available.
We understand that many families are eager for updates and may be concerned. Please know that our staff are working diligently to assess the damage and develop plans that prioritize both safety and the camp experience.
Thank you for your patience and trust. We will provide additional information as soon as we are able.
Sincerely,
Kate Lemay
YMCA of Greater Boston
