Message From Leadership

At YMCA of the Rockies, sustainability is more than a practice, it’s a leadership journey shaped by our staff. This year, team members stepped into meaningful opportunities to grow as environmental stewards, engaging in hands-on learning experiences, thoughtful dialogue, and skill-building trainings that deepened their understanding of conservation and community impact. Through these efforts, staff strengthened their own leadership capacity and also brought renewed purpose to the way we care for our mountain environment and serve our guests. That commitment extended beyond training and into action. Staff showed up across our communities, supporting local initiatives, caring for public lands, and giving their time to causes that reflect our mission. In total, staff contributed 75 volunteer hours and completed 216 hours of sustainability-focused training, demonstrating a shared dedication to learning, leading, and giving back. Together, these experiences are cultivating a culture where leadership is lived daily, and where every hour invested helps build a more sustainable future.

YMCA of the Rockies has taken a meaningful step in its commitment to environmental stewardship by placing an additional 85 acres at the Estes Park Center into a permanent conservation easement. Recognized for its open space, scenic beauty, natural habitat, and connection to Rocky Mountain National Park, this land will remain protected for generations to come.

Estes Park Center Day Camp reached its highest level of inclusion support to date, serving 34 campers through its Inclusion Program last summer. Made possible through donor and grant support, the program ensures children with diverse learning, emotional, and developmental needs can fully participate in the camp experience with the care they need to thrive. 

More children will experience camp in a space designed for belonging and connection in 2027 at Camp Chief Ouray’s Day Camp at Snow Mountain Ranch, thanks to the successful completion of funding through the Climbing Higher Campaign. This important project brings the Day Camp closer to Camp Chief Ouray facilities, strengthening connections to camp life and resources, so more children can fully share in the joy and experience of camp.

In 2025, YMCA annual fund supporters helped provide donor-sponsored getaways for 4,846 deserving families and individuals!

• 2,756 Teacher Families 
• 1,007 Military Families 
• 71 G.R.A.C.E. Families 
• 136 Single Parent Families 
• 553 Faith Leader Families 
• 185 Foster Families
• Plus 138 stays to school and nonprofit fundraisers.

“Fostering comes with constant coordination, appointments, and responsibilities that rarely pause. This time gave us a rare chance to step away from those pressures and simply be together as a family. YMCA of the Rockies gave us space to connect, breathe, and build memories we will always treasure.” - KOCH FAMILY, Foster the Future Guests 

The recent dedication event for the Center for Well-Being at Estes Park Center marks a new hub for yoga, Pilates, meditation, and massage, featuring sustainable design elements. Made possible through donor support, the facility and outdoor yoga deck are already serving as an inspiring space for wellness and connection.

For one week this winter, Snow Mountain Ranch became a place where barriers gave way to confidence, connection, and possibility as Ski for Light International returned to YMCA of the Rockies. Visually- and mobility-impaired skiers from across the country experienced the freedom and joy of cross-country skiing alongside volunteer guides who encouraged and supported them every step of the way. For many participants, the week was transformative—building confidence, independence, and meaningful friendships while discovering they could do more than they imagined. That impact extended beyond the trails. Snow Mountain Ranch staff volunteered outside their regular roles to help create a welcoming and accessible experience for every guest, assisting participants throughout the property and helping foster a community where everyone felt supported and included. Together, Ski for Light International and YMCA of the Rockies created a community where every person could belong, grow, and thrive. As one participant shared, “Overall, the best event I have ever attended. Words are unable to express how it has changed my life and given me belief in myself and the human race.” 

This short video story follows a visually impaired skier on the trail, offering a powerful look at resilience, trust, and the teamwork that makes every turn on snow possible.

YMCA of the Rockies partnered with Ellen Bradley, a Lingít skier, scientist, and storyteller, to host an Indigenous Film Screening at Snow Mountain Ranch, welcoming more than 70 staff, guests, and community members for an evening of powerful films by Indigenous filmmakers. The films highlighted efforts to break down barriers to snow sports and expand access and representation in winter recreation, strengthening connections and celebrating inclusion, storytelling, and the joy of outdoor adventure.

As part of our donor-funded effort to diversify our libraries and deepen connection through storytelling, we hosted two author events in 2025 that brought new voices and perspectives to our community. Poet and essayist Teow Lim Goh shared powerful stories recovering the histories of Chinese immigrants in the American West, and artist, writer, and environmental leader Eddie Ahn led a graphic novel workshop that explored creativity, identity, and care for the natural world.