Blog

Longer days and warming temperatures mean spring is right around the corner. While we are not in the clear yet and there’s still plenty of opportunity for more winter weather, there’s no harm in enjoying the beautiful weather as it comes. Here are 5 things – both indoor and outdoor – that yo...

One component of our mission at the YMCA is to strengthen the communities in which we live. To help us fulfill that promise, we must live our cause every day by intentionally thinking, acting and communicating in a way that helps us do just that. One way we do this is by having staff and volunteers ...

We've said it before, and we will say it again. One of the best parts about summer camp (besides meeting our campers) is getting to share a little bit about our new and returning staff members! We introduced you to a few earlier last month. Now it's time to meet a new group including our student nur...

The decision to send your child to overnight summer camp is a big one. For many parents, it’s the longest their child has been away from home and of course, it is natural to worry. To help ease those worries we have put together 10 reasons you’ll be glad you sent your child to summer camp. Continue reading

Is spring fever starting to creep in? Are you starting to feel the urge to get out and do something? Why not shake off the winter blues at one of our upcoming themed weekends? Designed specifically for the family looking for a quick weekend getaway, these weekends are full of fun, adventure and fami...

One of the best parts about summer camp (besides meeting our campers) is getting to share a little bit about our new and returning counselors! Here’s a quick introduction to four of our returning cabin counselors this year. Also, be on the lookout for more staff introductions in the coming weeks. ...

“You can never grow up if you never grow old.” As children adventure and whimsy are all around us. As we mature the day-to-day stresses start to replace the space in our brains that was once reserved for fun, spontaneity and wonder. While these stresses are unavoidable, there is more...

Still searching for the perfect Valentine's Day gift? Here are 10 reasons why you don't want to miss out on our special adults-only Valentine's Day weekend Feb. 10-12. 1. Couples Trivia 2. Wine Tasting 3. Salsa Dancing 4. Romantic bonfire 5. Yoga/Tai-Chi 6. Hula hooping for couples 7. Prime...

Are cold weather and shorter days keeping you inside? If so, now is the time to get off the couch and get outdoors! Being outside is crucial to your overall health. Sunlight and exercise have been shown to prevent colds, improve overall mood and energy levels and give you the dose of Vitamin D your ...

We think it goes without saying that we love camp. Like really, really love it. We live it. We breathe it. Our staff can’t wait to wake up with the sunrise or when the calendar turns to May and the return of campers is just around the corner. For many parents of potential campers, it’s hard t...

As we approach February, it’s time to start thinking about Valentine’s Day. Here are a few tips to help you have what we hope will be the perfect day for you and your special someone. Plan First off, you cannot leave the planning until Feb. 13. Restaurants will be booked, ...

Winter break, cold weather and lots of indoor time can be almost too much for parents and kids alike! While we recommend as much outdoor activity time as possible, we do realize that doesn’t always work. So for those times when you have to be indoors, here are 5 fun winter activities your kids - a...

At the YMCA, we believe in believing in people! You read that right. Our mission at the YMCA is to give people a chance to find their truest potential. We love coming to work every day to inspire everyone that comes through Trout Lodge and Camp Lakewood. Campers experience bravery and confiden...

Have a giant party! Snacks, games, music and noise makers will help you start the new year happy--a great way to kick off 365 good days. Create a time capsule. Have everyone in the family put in something that meant a lot to them in 2016, and a letter about the...

1. Nestled up by a fireplace with a good movie or book. 2. Shopping all the holiday sales. For some people, shopping is the worst part of the holiday season. But there's something to be said for the giant Christmas decorations, the line to see Santa and the joy from finding the perfect something ...

We know what you’re thinking: a vacation in winter? Seems crazy! So crazy it just might work . . . And it will! Because the only day we close our doors is December 25. The rest of the year we are having a ball, indoors and out! What sort of fun things can you expect from us for the rest of the ...

Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving or just want to be a stellar guest, here are 5 ways to delight the dinner party this year at Turkey Day. Show up on time. It’s a busy time of year—we all know it. That’s why punctuality will be even more appreciated. Because when you a...

At any age, being social and active is important. Thanks to school, sports, extra curricular, day camps and scout troops, it’s incredibly easy for kids to stay social, make friends, meet people and try new things. But what about the rest of us? Retirement is a new season of life, and one that t...

As your kids head back to school, to their teams, to their scout troops and to their friends, make sure you encourage them to share their experiences from Camp Lakewood. The lessons that kids learn at camp can be applied to their "regular" lives, too. Ask them what they learned at camp. Maybe the...

After an amazing few months of sunshine, lake water and campfires, the end of summer is now officially closer than the beginning. But we’re here to remind you that even though you’re packing lunches and zipping backpacks and answering emails: IT’S STILL SUMMER! We have a few weeks left of w...

So the summer is starting to wind down, and the school schedules are starting. But you shouldn’t miss our Trout Lodge last hurrah to summer and the water sports (*don’t worry, we’re open all year, though) at Family Camp Continue reading

We talk about the importance of getting outside a lot, and we have so many activities on campus that are centered around the outdoors. Besides just loving soaking in the rays all year long, there are a lot of reasons to get outside—and you should! At least for a few minutes every day. Especiall...

There’s nothing as cool as being outside! Whether we’re camping in the wilderness, or we spy a cicada on our gas pump (true story!) in the city, nature is all around us. Celebrate and learn about nature with these cool nature crafts! Use dandelions as brushes to make abstract paintings ...

Among many working Americans, it’s not uncommon for work to get in the way of a regular fitness routine. However, more than 80% of working Americans say their job is stressful. What does that mean for us? It means that not only are healthy habits being forgotten, but stressful actions may be takin...

Games No road trip is complete without games, and chances are you have a few of your own favorites in the recesses of your mind. Bust out old fail-safes from your days as a traveling kid and teach them to your family. Or make up new ones together! If you’re at a complete loss, ...

Think you’ve got what it takes to be a YMCA adventurer? If you’re trying to test your limits this summer, we’ve got your challenge right here! Here’s a list of our fave adventure activities at Trout Lodge: SUMMIT ZIP 400-ft. zip line! Climb 35 feet up and zip line d...

Thank goodness for summer! Here are our top ten best things about summertime at YMCA!

1. Jumping into the cool lake and playing some intense water sports!
2. Sitting around a campfire making up silly songs and concocting the perfect s’mores
3. Knowing that every new thi...
   Continue reading

Hey Everyone! Camp Lakewood is off to a great start for the summer of 2016. Registrations are up for every session, so we are encouraging anyone who still needs to register to do so as soon as possible. Sessions 7, 8, and 9 will sell out again this summer so please don't wait! Campers are havi...

You could have your family reunion anywhere. We know that. You could spend days, weeks, even months planning, scheduling, researching, booking, planning more, emailing, texting, calling, planning even more, cooking, meal planning, prepping, more emailing—yikes! Because when you take on a fam...

May is upon us and that means camp is just around the corner. Our early sessions are bigger than ever this summer and we have been excited to see a significant rise in the number of first time campers. As your session of camp approaches, many families have questions. First of all, that is normal! ...

May is National Fitness Month! With the dawning of the warmer weather and longer days, it’s the perfect time to get outside and get moving. Here are some of our favorite ways to get fit! Dancing Put on your favorite tunes and go crazy! Make up your own dance moves. Dance with ...

With spring here and summer quickly approaching, it’s time to start thinking about the delicious fruits and vegetables that will be in-season. From fresh-from-the-vine tomatoes to juicy strawberries, there’s something about homegrown food that just tastes better. It’s also been shown to be hea...

Obviously, we love camp. We live and breath it. We can’t wait to wake up with the sunrise and feel the first cool breeze of the day on our skin. We love to get our hands dirty and explore new places. We thrive on trying new things, and we celebrate the nights we go to bed smelling like campfire. ...

There’s no doubt about it. Moms are awesome. Since Mother’s Day is coming up next month (Sunday May 8—don’t forget it!), here are 10 things we love about moms. She taught us everything we know. How to talk, how to dress, how to tie our shoes, how to be polite—everyt...

It’s a truth as old as time itself: quality time together as a family matters. But how on earth can we do that? Between bills and homework and chores and sports and all of the different technologies constantly beeping at us—well it’s a wonder we can even think, let alone carve out time for...

The flowers are finally starting to poke their heads up here, and that means spring is here! Once it starts to warm up outside, it seems like it’s way easier to have all kinds of fun, and here are some of the most awesome ideas we found while perusing the internet for fun ways to celebrate spring!...

Remember when you were a kid and summer was THE BEST THING EVER? Days upon days spent outside doing whatever you wanted. Granted, part of that was the no school thing, but it was also a mindset. You woke up - and whether it’s cause you chose to or your mom made you - you put on your swimsuit or pl...

Who says kids have all the fun? Obviously people who have never come to the adult programs at the YMCA. If you’re looking for the same old boring activities you’ve always done, then we can’t help you. But if you’re excited about life and ready for adventure, then good news—you’re in the ...

Camp is coming up! Here are the 5 things we’re most excited about today (every day is different since there are so many things to be excited about)! Warm weather While we’re lucky to call the Midwest our home this winter (sending warm wishes your way, East Coast) we’re sti...

March Here’s to the necessary time between the holidays and the summer sunshine that keeps us motivated: Spring Break. We have themed spring break weeks plus discounted rates March 11 through March ...

It seems like the cold just arrived, and already, we’ve started counting down to spring break. The campus changes at spring time! We have more flowers, more colors, more life and more things to do. By the time spring break rolls around, it can be tempting to want to spend the week sleeping and ...

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! What do you get for the person who has everything—or at least seems to have everything after a fruitful Christmas? Plan ahead Don’t just go for a tie or a box of chocolates on February 13—put some thought into your Valentine’s...

New Year’s Resolutions Happy new year! The dawning of a new calendar year is traditionally a time when everyone makes new, refreshing promises in the hopes of a better year. Otherwise known as: New Year’s Resolutions. New year’s resolutions are a funny thing. They creep up on us at the...

Ever heard the old saying that friends are the family you choose for yourself? Being a friend is one of the most important things we’ll ever do. When we find people that we have common interests in, those people become the ones we can depend on for everything. Trying to make time for friendship...

Why take a weekend at the YMCA for Valentine’s Day? It’s quiet. Why would you want to spend your Valentine’s day with throngs of couples staring lovingly over dinner at crowded restaurants? Spend your V...

Indoor Campfire Being stuck indoors is a huge bummer in winter, for parents and kids alike. Here’s an opportunity to explore your creativity and use your imagination. Set up a tent in the living room, ...

The holidays are hard. So we’ve made this list of ways to keep you de-stressed and in the holiday spirit! Plan This seems obvious, but it still needs to be said. The first step to any successful endeavor is to figure out what needs to be done and when. Sit down and write every...

The weather is getting colder. Leaves are falling off the trees, the days are shorter and Christmas carols are slowly making their way into stores. The last thing on your mind is camp. But here at YMCA, we never stop thinking about camp! We work tirelessly all year long to make sure our summer c...

Turkey Day is coming up! For decorating your home or having fun with family, check out these incredibly fun (easy) crafts.

Spruce up your house, whether you’re hosting the holiday or not. Votive candles are awesome for ambiance—and so easy to do. These three diff...

If you’ve ever come to the YMCA of the Ozarks, you know that we are a pretty enthusiastic bunch. Many of the people who come to our facilities are families looking for a traditional getaway, or friends looking for a place to reunite. And we love meeting all those people! But the YMCA Trout Lodge a...

Halloween is the favored holiday of many, and as we get ready for our Halloween parties, we decided to throw together a list of all the things we love about All Hallow’s Eve! Candy! This one is pretty obvious. Schoo...

Something awesome about Trout Lodge is all the work we get to do with group events. We work with big groups, small groups, scouts, youth groups and so many other awesome people. Today, check out this profile of the incredible veterans who come to Trout Lodge! We are so glad they picked us to share t...

When was the last time you tried something you’ve never done before? If you can’t remember, that’s okay—actually, it just makes you normal. When asked, most people cannot remember the last time they tried something new. It’s entirely common to have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to...

Family time is tricky. Hectic schedules, differing interests, and influx of technology all make it hard to just hang out and enjoy time together. Even if you think those don’t apply to you, stay tuned. Because the biggest challenge when it comes to family time isn’t any of these things. It’s a...

People are going to be exchanging their watermelons for pumpkins soon. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a yummy recipe without the fall staples—but in case you’re looking for an in between, these cookies will do the trick! Plus they’re easy to make and they’ll please any crowd! So take a ...

Fall has arrived! It’s been so hot for so long that we feel pretty confident in saying that most of us are screaming for cooler weather and pumpkin-flavored treats. One of the best parts about fall is getting to spend it outside, so we’ve compiled a list of ways to get yourself ready for all ...

1. Being outdoors is good for you. Here’s something crazy. Only 6% of children under 13 years old spend any time outside in a day! That means if we lined up 100 kids, 94 of them haven’t picked up a stick to pretend it’s a sword, smelled wild onions or collected bird feathe...

1. Summer is fading away and holidays are still pretty far off in the distance. You need some time for escape and adventure between now and then. 2. Everybody knows that fall is the perfect time to be outdoors—and we just happen to be experts at being outdoors. 3. You will have an entirely ...

Take a minute and think about the last time you ran through grass. Felt your bare feet caked with dirt and cool, whipping wind blowing your hair all over the place. Picture the last lightning bug you caught. The last campfire you sang around. The last time you saw the world from the sky, flying thro...

Can you believe it? It’s already August! This is about that time of summer when kids are restless, parents are ready for their little darlings to return to school, teenagers are over their summer jobs and everyone is just sick of the heat—any of this ringing a bell? Oh, yes, the end-of-s...

Families are pretty spectacular, so in honor of our upcoming Family Camp, we’ve made a list of reasons we love them. They like you. Board game feuds and dirty dish arguments aside, families tend to be our biggest fans. They like our ideas, listen to our stories, clap for our ...

Remember that birthday party when you went bowling? How about the one where you had pizza? Okay, remember the one with the ice cream cake? Remember that one birthday that you got your face painted, went canoeing, took a hike, went on a scavenger hunt, and Zip Lined? No? Well you will now! That...

Did you know that getting outside is necessary for all ages? Sunlight and fresh air are necessary because a daily dose of sunshine increases Vitamin D, which can help keep your bones, muscles and your brain healthy! But a lot of outdoor activities for adults are boring or lonely. If you feel pige...

You pride yourself on being different. When everyone else wants vanilla, you want chocolate. When others say up, you say down. When all your friends are dedicated to the boring and predictable, you are open to exciting new adventures. We love that about you, because we’re the same way. Instead ...

Okay, we all know the old tagline “something for everyone”—but can that ever be possible? The quick answer is YES! How do we know? Simple. YMCA Trout Lodge’s list of Adventure Activities is so extensive, it is guaranteed to please every kind of adventurer! If you find your adventure throu...

This summer, don’t get caught in a loop of pool, park, zoo, pool, park, zoo, pool, park, z—you get the idea! Break the cycle with summertime at Trout Lodge. We pack every day of summer with awesome events for all ages so no matter what you’re looking for to make this summer memorable, you will...

Dear Camp Family, Camp is just around the corner! The staff here at YMCA Camp Lakewood is gearing up for the 2015 season and camp has never looked better. We are all looking forward to opening day and we hope you are looking forward to your summer with the same excitement. As your session of c...

Camp Lakewood staff and programs create a well-rounded experience for campers that helps them grow into well-rounded individuals. At camp, we're growing great kids within an incredibly fun and safe environment where they can feel comfortable to be their "favorite me." WHERE ARE Y...