At the YMCA, we believe in people. We see their potential. We find strength in telling stories of our differences and find inspiration in sharing our diversity – all with the purpose of bringing us closer together.
Meet Correna Jones, one of our cabinet members for Camp Chief Hector’s Love, Camp Campaign. After one visit to camp at age 11, Correna quickly grew to love the outdoors and all Camp Chief Hector had to offer. She continues to support Camp Chief Hector and the YMCA today, ensuring that generations of kids can have the same experiences and develop lasting relationships just as she did.
Correna started her Y journey 37 years ago attending Camp Chief Hector, immediately falling in love with the mountains and camps’ lifestyle. The impact of Camp Chief Hector has lasted a lifetime for Correna, the friends she made at camp have continued to remain her best friends’ to this day.
“The experiences from camp and the Y last a lifetime. Camp was such an important part of my life.”
At Camp Chief Hector, youth get to experience an outdoor education and continue to develop lifelong skills. As they grow older, campers get to experience more challenging experiences and push their personal growth. For many, like Correna, their journey as campers even leads them to become Camp Counselors! Through these experiences, campers gain tremendous self-confidence and understand that they are capable of more than they initially thought.
Correna still recalls being 13 at camp and canoeing along the Bow River. Her group had to portage around Horseshoe Falls, and she remembers carrying the canoe with her teepee mates for what felt like an eternity, while her camp counselor carried the rest of their supplies.
“That memory reminds me that whenever there’s a challenge, I can push myself and grow through it.”
For over 90 years, Camp Chief Hector has provided an unparalleled opportunity for children and youth to come together in a supportive environment and develop themselves to grow and learn through opportunities in the outdoors. Correna still holds her time at Camp Chief Hector as one of the most powerful experiences in her life.
YMCA Calgary is currently raising $14.5 million to revitalize Camp Chief Hector to allow camp to continue to be that magical escape in the Rocky Mountains – where some of life’s best stories come from. These funds will support necessary upgrades to Camp’s STAY & PLAY environments, benefiting campers, staff and guests.
“Please take the time to support and donate to our Love, Camp Campaign. Camp is a powerful community, and we want to continue to support healthier, more vibrant future generations.”
Do you have a camp story that you want to share with us? Submit your stories about your Camp experience at We Love Camp. You can also donate to Love, Camp by visiting our Love, Camp Campaign page.
YMCA Calgary and Camp Chief Hector YMCA would like to thank the Government of Alberta for their investment of $2 million for the Love, Camp Capital Campaign. We have a long way to go till we raise $14.5 million, and we are asking the Government for further support to achieve our goal. If you care about the future of Camp, please submit this pre-scripted letter to Minister of Culture Jason Luan, encouraging the Government of Alberta to support the Love, Camp Capital Campaign with an additional $2 million investment. Thank you for supporting the future of Camp Chief Hector YMCA.