YMCA Camp McCumber

YMCA Camp McCumber Celebrates 65 Years of Creating Lifelong Memories

YMCA Camp McCumber is known as one of the most popular summer camp destinations in the North State! They mark their 65th anniversary this summer. Its location spot, also named Camp McCumber, is nestled among ponderosa pines and Douglas fir trees seven miles east of Shingletown. It is the setting for a variety of camps hosted by local organizations, along with events for local churches, charter schools, and science programs. It is also available for private events.

In the Beginning

The YMCA became involved with Camp McCumber after members of the Camp Fire organization and the YMCA jointly sought a site to create an overnight camp for youth in the area. In 1953 a lease was signed for 13 acres of land at Camp McCumber and that summer, the first group from the YMCA, including the first YMCA Executive Director Willard Eaton, camped overnight. Officially founded by Eaton and his wife Dorothy, YMCA Camp McCumber has grown from a primitive campground to a retreat with cozy cabins that boast all the comforts of home, while still allowing campers to experience nature at its finest. For the last 65 years, it has provided priceless memories to thousands of families from the North State and beyond.

Summer Camp

YMCA Camp McCumber holds two one-week sessions in July, and focuses on “building character and leadership,” according to Linda Delles, YMCA Director of Child Care and Camps. Many campers over the years have gone on to become CITs (Counselors-in-Training) and counselors. Lacy, a 15-year-old camper from Redding, has attended Camp McCumber for the last four years and hopes to be a CIT this summer. “Camp McCumber is such a great place to make friends and have fun,” she says. “The games and staff make camp so much fun and create great memories.”

For many of the youth, it is their first time away from home, and the first opportunity for them to make choices on their own and challenge themselves. In doing this, they learn to “calculate their own risk,” explains YMCA Development Director Becky Dominguez. The camp is an occasion for personal growth, and the experience that the campers come away with can be “life-changing,” added Delles.

A Typical Day

A typical camp day is filled with a myriad of things to do, including creating masterpieces in the arts and crafts room, hiking in the beautiful surroundings and playing a variety of sports. Delles and Dominguez both emphasized that archery is a particular favorite with campers. There are also field and board games, skits, multiple waterfront activities, quiet time for reflection, and of course the nightly campfire.

Summer camps all have their own unique traditions, and the Bumper Necklace is a long-time favorite custom at YMCA Camp McCumber. The “bumper” is a small piece of wood inscribed with the camper’s real name on one side and a name of their own choosing on the other. The new name can represent anything from a given nickname to a name signifying something they aspire to be. The campers can also earn value beads to add to the necklace. For those who return year after year, the necklaces can become quite large and impressive.

Camp Horizon – A Camp for Youth in Foster Care

YMCA Camp McCumber has expanded its program to include Camp Horizon, a specialized overnight camp for youth in foster care. One of the highlights of Camp Horizon is the opportunity for the campers to participate in flag retiring ceremonies for United States flags that have become worn and tattered beyond repair. Described as a “rite of passage” by Dominguez, the ritual offers campers the chance to join in the ceremonial folding and burning, which many times “gives them new respect and perspective” on the flag and what it represents.

Camp is for Everyone!

To ensure that the camp experience is available to everyone, The YMCA strives “to keep costs reasonable for families,” said Dominguez. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify and is subject to the availability of resources. For more information about YMCA Camp McCumber and Camp Horizon, call (530) 246-9622, or visit the Shasta Family YMCA website.

Camp McCumber Corporation is a 501c3, 100% non-profit organization that is run by volunteers with year-round resident staff camp managers John and Kristina Chrystal. For more information on renting Camp McCumber for retreats, school field trips, or church groups, call (530) 474- 4896,  email, or visit Camp McCumber’s website.