Generosity made these real

Fully Funded
Camp Chief Ouray's Day Camp will be relocated and expanded at Snow Mountain Ranch — a dedicated, purpose-built space giving more children access to structured outdoor programming each summer. 

Mission connection:  Day Camp is one of the most direct expressions of the YMCA mission. This expansion means more children can experience what the Rockies do for a young person's confidence and character. Funded entirely through donor contributions, this project will unlock expanded capacity, directly increasing the number of children served each summer. 

Fully Funded
A Gear Closet at Camp Chief Ouray ensures that campers have access to the outdoor gear they need to participate fully in every activity, regardless of what they brought from home. 

Mission connection:  The Gear Closet removes a quiet but real barrier: the child who can't afford a rain jacket no longer has to sit on the sidelines. Access for all isn't just a slogan — it's a storage room full of gear. 

Fully Funded
A new camp entrance sign creates a clear, landmark welcome to the Camp Chief Ouray property. 

Mission connection:  The entrance is the first moment a child steps into something new. A well-designed welcome sets the tone for everything that follows. 

Fully Funded
The Flagpole Gathering Area has been relocated closer to the new center of camp — preserving one of CCO's longest-standing daily traditions: the flag raising and lowering ceremonies that open and close every day. 

Mission connection:  This is where campers come together as a group — the daily ritual that builds shared identity and belonging at Camp Chief Ouray. 

Fully Funded
The outdoor chapel at Columbine Point has been fully renovated — providing enhanced amenities for reflection, worship services, and weddings. One of the most meaningful spaces on the Snow Mountain Ranch campus, it has been enhanced to serve the needs of guests for the next generation. 

Mission connection:  This chapel is where guests mark the most significant moments of their lives — weddings, memorial services, quiet prayer. Investing in it says clearly: this dimension of human experience matters here. The renovated chapel increases the campus's ability to host faith-based groups and ceremonial events, expanding both mission reach and event capacity. 

Fully Funded
Accessibility improvements at the Gaylord Reservoir will expand access to this beloved natural feature for campers and guests who previously could not reach it — including guests with mobility limitations and those requiring accessible pathways. It is on track to completed in July 2026. 

Mission connection:  The YMCA mission is for all — not just those who can navigate a mountain trail without assistance. This project is a concrete expression of that commitment: the outdoors, made genuinely accessible. 

Fully Funded
Underground infrastructure improvements at Snow Mountain Ranch addressed critical water system issues — fixing significant leaks and improving overall water use and efficiency. The kind of investment guests never see, but that keeps everything else running. 

Mission connection:  Infrastructure is the unglamorous foundation of everything else. Reliable utilities mean programs run, facilities stay open, and guests experience what they came for. Every dollar invested in infrastructure efficiency reduces ongoing operating costs, freeing resources for mission-facing programs and services. 

Fully Funded
The Center for Well-Being opened in August 2025 — a 2,000-square-foot facility offering yoga, Pilates, mindfulness programs, and massage therapy, with a nearby outdoor yoga platform with panoramic mountain views. Solar panels, an electric heat pump, and the campus's first Level 3 EV charger reflect YMCA of the Rockies' commitment to sustainability. 

Mission connection:  The Center for Well-Being addresses the epidemic of burnout, anxiety, and disconnection that brings so many guests here — making the implicit promise of the mountain experience explicit: you can find rest here, and it will be intentional. 

 "Guests and staff often ask, 'Where's the gym?' Our answer has usually been, 'Get outside and go for a hike.' But movement requires more than hiking. This building will not only meet those needs, it will also build community — one of the pillars of what we do at the Y." 

— Susan Taylor, Estes Park Center Program Director 

Fully Funded
Dedicated in July 2025, the Vice Family Recreation and Sports Park features new pickleball courts, updated game and gathering areas, and improvements to existing spaces including the fire ring, basketball courts, and tennis courts. The Bishop's Fellowship Fire Ring and Benbrook Pickleball Courts were named in recognition of additional donor gifts. 

Mission connection:  The park has served guests for over a century — the first thing people see when they arrive and the last when they leave. This investment ensures it welcomes the next century of guests with the same energy. 

 "This park is the heart of the campus. It's the first thing people see when they arrive and the last when they leave. We wanted to give back to this community that means so much to us." 

— Marc Vice, Donor 

Fully Funded
A cornerstone of family programming since 1960, the Sweet Memorial Program Building will be fully renovated thanks to lead support from the Morriss Family and ten additional YMCA supporters. Renovations include refinished floors, a lofted ceiling, updated accessible bathrooms, new furnishings, a welcoming front porch, and all-new game room equipment. Expected to reopen by Memorial Day 2026. 

Mission connection:  Sweet Memorial is where guests start their adventures, connect with one another, and feel the heart of YMCA of the Rockies. Named for William Sweet — early board member, site selector, and former Governor of Colorado — this renovation honors everything the building has meant to generations. 

 "When our children were young, Sweet Memorial was at the center of our visits as we planned hikes and discussed activities with staff. Supporting Sweet Memorial seemed a natural choice." 

— Jim Morriss, Lead Donor 

Fully Funded
A $2 million gift at the start of the Climbing Higher campaign re-launched a much-needed preschool at Estes Park Center — providing $250,000 in start-up funds and a $1.75 million endowment for ongoing support. The Beverly K. Booe Early Childhood Education Program ensures that early childhood education at the Y is protected and sustainable for generations to come. 

Mission connection:  Early childhood education extends the mission to the very beginning of a child's story. Families who encounter the YMCA in their children's earliest years often become lifelong members of this community. The endowment structure means this program is protected regardless of future giving environments — a permanent investment in the organization's youngest community. 

Fully Funded
"Jake's Place," the new Day Camp playground at Estes Park Center, gives children a dedicated outdoor space for unstructured play while building the life skills that come from time spent freely outdoors. 

Mission connection:  A well-designed outdoor playground gives children a space to be children: physically active, imaginative, and free.

Fully Funded — Opening, Summer 2026
Renovations to Hempel Auditorium are fully funded — made possible through the support of several YMCA families who wish to remain anonymous — enhancing the auditorium's functionality for performances, programs, and community use as part of the Arts at Altitude initiative. On track for completion summer 2026. 

Mission connection:  An auditorium-scale venue allows YMCA of the Rockies to host events that bring large groups together — concerts, community events, performances — experiences that amplify a sense of belonging.

Fully Funded — Opening, Summer 2026
Upgrades to the Kathie Mennel Amphitheater are fully funded — made possible by John and Lauri Mennel and their family, honoring the legacy of John's mother, Kathie Mennel. Part of Arts at Altitude. Completion on track for summer 2026. 

Mission connection:  An outdoor amphitheater turns the mountain setting into a stage — creating shared memories that bind guests to this place and to each other. 

 "Philanthropy plays a vital role in how we can serve families and conferences. Their generosity ensures that Estes Park Center remains a place where people can come together, be inspired, and create lasting memories." 

— Julie Watkins, President and CEO, YMCA of the Rockies 

Fully Funded
The Teen Barn at the Outpost has been fully renovated with a new concrete floor, upgraded bathrooms, a new roof, and a heating system for year-round use. By the end of 2025, more than 3,000 students will have benefited from the updated space through Outdoor Education, Day Camp, and adventure activities. 

Mission connection:  Teenagers need their own space — one that meets them where they are, not where adults expect them to be. 

Fully Funded
Mission connection:  Joy is part of the mission. The roller rink is where a parent watches their child do something for the first time, or where a grandparent discovers they still remember how. 

Fully Funded 
YMCA of the Rockies has established an endowment to provide access for Indigenous communities to reconnect with their ancestral lands in the Rocky Mountains — recognizing that these mountains belong to a history that predates the organization. 

Mission connection:  The YMCA mission is for all — and that includes the communities whose relationship with this land runs deepest. Indigenous access programming is one of the most meaningful expressions of the commitment to belonging in this campaign. 

Fully Funded 
Two new aerial challenge courses expand high-adventure programming across YMCA of the Rockies campuses — used in youth development programming, team-building retreats, and family activities. 

Mission connection:  Challenge courses are among the most powerful tools in outdoor education. When someone faces a physical challenge in a supported environment and succeeds, something changes in them. High-adventure programming is a key differentiator for conference and retreat groups, strengthening YMCA of the Rockies' appeal for team-building events.