The YMCA of Greater Rochester is honoring the service of our nation’s military this Memorial Day weekend by offering a free Memorial Day Military Family Camp on May 24 to 26 at its Camp Gorham located in Big Moose in the Adirondacks.
The Memorial Day Military Family Camp Weekend, which is the first of its kind to be offered by the camp, has been made possible through a grant by the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation.
“Camp Gorham Military Family Camp will bring 30 families from the upstate New York region to Camp Gorham as a thank you to veterans and their families for their service,” said Anne Thornton, YMCA Camp Gorham executive director. “We are honored to host military and veteran families at Camp Gorham over a very fitting weekend.”
The Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation provides grants such as this one awarded to Camp Gorham in an effort to recognize the importance of deep and continuing support to our veterans once they have returned to the community.
The foundation provided the YMCA of Greater Rochester a $25,000 grant for veteran and military families to attend the weekend event at Camp Gorham.
The Military Family Camp weekend will kick off Friday evening with a traditional campfire.
On Saturday, attendees will enjoy quality time participating in their choice of a variety of activities.
The weekend will conclude Sunday with a Gorham tradition at a non-denominational chapel and chip ceremony, during which families will share memories and honor those who have served in the military.
Wood chips will be provided to each member of the family to throw in a campfire, leaving a little piece of themselves and the person they wish to honor.
Each member will be given a chip to take home to remember their special time at camp.
“The weekend is meant to provide a safe, fun and welcoming getaway that will give military families a chance to reconnect, get outside, get active and spend time together,” said Thorton. “We are grateful for the support of the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation to help make this special weekend happen.”
For more information about the YMCA of Greater Rochester’s Camp Gorham Military Family Camp, visit rochesterymca.org.
