A Little Bit About Camp.
Camp Kresge is the Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA’s camping facility and retreat/conference center. The Camp is an 1100 acre property located south of Wilkes-Barre in Pennsylvania’s scenic Pocono mountains. Our camp rests below 1800ft high Mount Yeager upon the shores of our very own Beaver lake. The lake is central to the main living and activity area of the camp, and provides a scenic backdrop for day to day camp life. Camp Kresge is bordered to the west and north by Nescopeck State park and PA State game lands. This placement grants the camp a large natural buffer against development from those directions and consequently daily sightings of wildlife are a common occurrence. The camp is home to deer, raccoon, possum, squirrel, fox, bobcat, beaver, and many other kinds of animals. Our lake is home to various kinds of ducks and geese, heron, and a pair of osprey. The fishing is particularly good and is one of our more popular activities. Catch and release policies make sure that future campers will have the opportunity to haul in lunkers as well.

Our facilities include: 12 cabins that sleep 8-10. These are divided into two villages. Two outpost tent sites that accommodate approximately 25 campers each. A large winterized dormitory( the Blaine Arnold lodge) that sleeps 20 and houses toilet and shower facilities. The Max and Lorraine infirmary– a fully winterized and air conditioned building that sleeps 8 with amenities. Dining hall lodge, camp store, office, coaches cabin-sleeps 15 with toilet facilities and showers, swamp cabin sleeps 8 with toilet and shower facilities. The camp has a 30 acre lake with life guarded swim area and boating docks with over 30 playaks, rowboats, canoes, and paddleboats. Athletic facilities include a full outdoor basketball court, sand volleyball court, athletic field, soccer goals, archery, rifle ranges, miles of trails and a low ropes challenge course.

Camp Kresge has been located on the current site since 1953. The camping tradition remains strong as ever and your camp experience will be bathed in the history of more then fifty summers of campfires, ghost stories, and camp life.

Besides a strong historical camping tradition Camp Kresge offers an excellent staff. Most of our staff are “homegrown” having started out as campers and moved up the ladder through our CIT program and then on to become Junior and Senior staff. We work very hard to develop our staff as an integral part of the camp family. Their dedication to the camp is strengthened by an intensive week long training period before each camp season. During staff training all staff members receive certification in CPR and First Aid. General behavior of children and many of the common challenges that arise at camp (homesickness, behavior, sharing etc.) are discussed as well as the planning of daily activities.

Our senior staff are typically of college age or at the very least have graduated high school. Junior staff are generally ages 16-17 and have shown themselves to be the best candidates from our CIT programs.

All our staff are responsible, well rounded young adults who have undergone a criminal background check and child-line screening, as well as a rigorous interview process with the director. We maintain close contacts with our staff throughout the year and we have been very fortunate in that we are generally able to rehire anywhere from 80-100 % of our past staff each summer. Staff not only work to make our summer sessions great but they also assist with our spring and fall weekends.

Camp is for everyone. We welcome all campers regardless of race, color, religion, or national origin. We do have specific age requirements for the various programs. They are listed in the brochure for your convenience.

Campers with special needs
Camp Kresge is in the midst of our Camp for All project. When completed we hope to have a series of fully accessible buildings around camp linked by paved paths. We envision these paths connecting our waterfront and dining hall with a new bathhouse and several living areas.

If your child has a condition necessitating special diet, health care, or accessibility to facilities please call the camp director prior to registration. At this time you can discuss the program and the aspects of your childs needs. Together we can then determine whether
the camp can currently provide the necessary support, accommodations, and supervision that your child needs and deserves for a safe and fun summer.

Having a healthy and safe summer
At Camp Kresge we stress a safe and fun summer as our number one staff priority. All staff are committed to responsible decision making when it comes to camp safety. We back this up by making sure all our staff from our newest Junior counselor on up to our Camp Director are certified in First Aid and CPR. These certifications are also part of our CIT program.

Camp maintains a RN on site 24 hours a day Sunday through Friday. The camp nurse is responsible for overseeing the health of staff and campers, dispensing all medication, and making decisions regarding the treatment of any and all injuries. We have a close relationship with the local ambulance service and our local emergency room doctor is a member of our camp committee.

The resident camp director lives on site year round and makes the security and safety of both staff and campers a personal priority.

Camp Kresge requires that all campers in the day camp and resident camp programs have had a recent ( within the past 12 months) health examination by a licensed physician. In your confirmation packet you will receive a health/physical form. Please take care of this immediately. Campers without this form completed will be unable to attend camp. Camper immunizations must be listed on this form, even if the camper has been to camp previously. Within the same packet you will also find camper emergency and confidential information forms. These forms are self explanatory and must be completed for attendance. It is in every ones best interest if all forms are completed before your camp session. All forms can be found on the camp website www.campkresge.com.

Every camper is screened on check-in for head lice and contagious illnesses. Camp Kresge reserves the right to send home any camper for medical reasons throughout the camp session.

The Camp Store
During spring and fall weekends the camp store is open an hour after every meal. The camp store is located past the dining hall in the old nurses station and is the perfect place to pick up Camp Kresge t-shirt, hats, crafts, and various bits of camping gear you might have forgotten. During summer session the store is open during check in and check out.

In summer the camp trading post is open after meals. Campers can spend up to two dollars a day on snacks. All money is placed into a store account for each camper on Sunday at check-in. Any change is refunded at the end of the week. Your child can spend no more than $10 a week at the camp store.