Greetings from Camp Echo!
Camp Echo is a winter wonderland but the sun in shining and summer is on our mind! We are grateful for another round of excited campers applying to join us this coming summer – we have crossed over 1000 campers for the summer.

Whether or not you will be able to join us at camp this summer, please consider helping us recruit an amazing Summer 2021 Camp Echo staff! Though we will have less campers per cabin this summer, we will still have multiple counselors with every group and a full support staff to help keep our campers safe as we adapt new procedures throughout camp. We don’t have the benefit of in-person job fairs or international recruitment so we are asking YOU, our generous camp community to help us build an incredible team.

Feel free to forward this email along to anyone you think might be interested or put them directly in touch with us to learn more. As an added bonus, anyone who refers a staff member to us at camp will receive a $50 gift card to the Camp Echo online store!
Together, we are so much more.

Bernard Rocca
Executive Director
Summer 2021 Registration Update
The Echo team has had a busy week as we continue to process registrations for both youth camps and Family Camps!

Family campers will receive confirmation by next Friday, February 26.

Next week, enrolled youth camper families will receive a direct email with details about registering for additional programs during Phase 3 registration (February 24-26). 

If you have any additional questions about registration, please let our team know.
Important: Summer Travel Restrictions
We know that travel will impact the experience this summer, with families who live out of the Evanston/Chicagoland area, and families who are making other travel plans throughout the summer. 

The McGaw YMCA currently has the following travel guidelines that we expect will continue through the summer: Stay home if you’ve recently traveled to a Hot Spot. Members and staff who have traveled will be asked to comply with all CDC, local and McGaw travel guidelines. If you have recently traveled to any international or domestic destination with 20+ cases per 100K as listed in the COVID-19 Risk Levels Dashboard, we ask that you stay home for 14 days following your travel.

Our team is still figuring out policies in regards to air travel. We are concerned about high-risk exposure of air travel immediately prior to arrival to camp. We do expect to have a pre-camp testing component, and are not yet sure how that would work with air travel.

We will continue to communicate policies regarding travel guidelines for participants to enrolled families as they are finalized. We appreciate your flexibility as we navigate this uncertain time.
Staff Experience Packet
Historically, the greatest benefit of working at a summer camps has never been the financial pay. Community, relationships, personal growth, leadership development, FUN!, and so many lifelong memories have filled staff with a sense of purpose. Despite the many benefits, leaders throughout the camping industry are recognizing the need to change our mindset towards staff compensation and close the pay gap that exists between overnight summer camp jobs and other paid summer opportunities. Closing this gap will make working at camp more accessible to people of all financial backgrounds.

Of course, Summer 2021 is a tough time to be increasing any expenses at Camp Echo due to the lost revenue from Summer 2020 and decreased program enrollment in Summer 2020. Though difficult, we are committed to finding a way and are grateful to be making modest increases to the Summer 2021 staff pay scale. These increases are a direct result of the many families who, when given different options for Summer 2021, selected a pricing option that ensured greater investment in our seasonal staff.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Summer 2021 staff pay, benefits, and the experience of working at Camp Echo.

NOTE: Even if you aren’t working at camp this summer, take a look and pass the information along to anyone who might be interested in working at camp – you can get a $50 credit to our online Camp Store for each staff member hired that you refer!
Y-USA Town Hall ft. McGaw YMCA CEO
As part of Black History Month, join McGaw YMCA President and CEO Monique Parsons and other Black YMCA CEOs across the country for a virtual town hall on February 24th from 11am - 2pm CST on the topic of “Unlearning Systemic Racism.” During the town hall, Monique will facilitate a panel on health inequities.


This event will be hosted on Zoom and is free and open to the public. Register Today using this link!
Staff Reunion Video
This summer, a group of staff alumni from the 60s and 70s are gathering at Camp Echo to reconnect with Camp Echo and each other.

Check out this video which features some pictures from this time period and a great Camp Echo song. Thanks to Bob Tarkington (Staff 1965-1973) for putting this video together.

If you are a staff alumni who worked at Camp Echo from 1960-1975 and have questions about the reunion, please contact Katie Trippi.
McGaw YMCA Camp Echo
3782 S. Triangle Trail, Fremont, MI 49412
P 231.924.7076
The Impact of Camp Echo
Camp Echo strives to continue offering the best summer camp experience to all participants, and to make summer camp accessible to every camper and family in the communities we serve. Donations to Camp Echo help with our operating budget and support access to camp for all. Please consider making a donation to help Camp Echo thrive for many years to come. Questions about donating to camp? Contact KTT.

Camp Echo Wish List
Camp Echo has also compiled a specific wish list as we look to rebound from the financial impact of a canceled youth camp summer in 2020. Some items that we were ready to replace or add have been moved down our priority list. This list is an opportunity for friends of Camp Echo to help us in the areas that they are particularly passionate or excited about! Please click here to view the Camp Echo wish list.

To avoid any duplicate purchases, coordinate delivery, and ensure proper recognition, we ask that you let us know if you are purchasing or donating for a specific item by emailing our team!