Deer Valley YMCA Family Camp

General Information

Address

Deer Valley YMCA Camp
254 Deer Valley Drive
Fort Hill, PA 15540

Toll-Free:
1-800-YMCA-FUN

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Staff

Todd Brinkman, Executive Director
David J. Riether, Assistant Director
Andrew Forman, Program Director
Cindy Buterbaugh, Administrative Assistant
Lena Schartiger, Food Service Director
Tim Hostetler, Facilities Director

 

Visit our Campsite for a complete list of our programs

Family Getaways, Women’s Programs, Outdoor Education, Retreats and Reunions & Much More!

 
About Us

The Today Show comes to camp!  Click here to watch the story.

Camp History

Forget the back decks, privacy fences, and locked doors, at Deer Valley you can relax, sit on the front porch and talk to people as they go by or invite them in and share your stories. Here, you can break down the fences and get to know your neighbors.

Nestled in the beautiful mountains of Pennsylvania and just minutes from Mount Davis, the highest point in the state, Camp Deer Valley offers 742 acres of magnificent scenery and a 125 acre lake. For over fifty years the camp has been offering quality programs and unique family experiences from generation to generation..

Experience the great outdoors in Deer Valley’s year round resident camp, where we serve families and organizations from around the world. Our family camp hospitality shines throughout all of our programs – family reunions, women’s only programs, environmental education, schools, team building, corporate retreats, older active adult trips, and church groups. Deer Valley always has a special experience for you and your family.

We’re closer than you think: Atop Mt. Davis. 35 min. south from exit 91 off the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Just 25 min north of Interstate 68.
2 hrs from Pittsburgh PA.
3.5 hrs from Baltimore, MD.
3 hrs from Washington D.C.
1 hr from Morgantown, WV.

 
What’s Coming Up

What’s Coming Up Next at Camp!

SPRING WORK WEEKEND (2011) PHOTOS

Join us for our annual Spring Work Weekend: See details below!

   

Spring Work Weekend April 13-15, 2012: Volunteer your time and talents to prepare Deer Valley for our Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons. Become part of a great tradition and group of volunteers dedicated to helping camp. Housing and meals are provided free of charge. Volunteers must be 21 or accompanied by a parent or guardian unless authorized by the Executive Director.
Quilter’s Weekend April 20-22, 2012: A whole weekend devoted to finishing that quilting project you have been working on. ($122.00 per person)
Adventure Weekend April 27-29, 2012: Sign up for an adventurous weekend navigating the Youghiogheny River. Register for one of our two experiences; the Pedal Paddle [biking and rafting] or the White Water [rafting]. ($63-$122 per person)
Equestrian Weekend May 4-6, 2012: Join us and other campers who share a strong passion for horses. Enjoy a whole weekend learning about and riding Deer Valley’s finest horses. ($135 per person)
Mother’s Day Weekend May 11-13, 2012: Bring Mom and the family to camp for a family style weekend. Enjoy all that camp has to offer, including boating, hiking, horseback riding, a massage for mom (hint, hint), and much more. Register four or more paying people and mom gets half off her fee! ($63-$122 per person)
Bike Weekend May 18-20, 2012: Dust your bike off and join us for a weekend full of rides through The Great Allegheny Passage and surrounding trails. ($63-$122 per person)
Memorial Day Weekend May 25-28, 2012: Experience an extended weekend in the mountains with your friends and family here at camp. Enjoy the great outdoors and camp programming with the ones you love most! ($104-$209 per person)
Summer Family Camping  June 9-August 25, 2012: For the past 50 years, Deer Valley has been offering unique family camping programs. Our week long summer family camp is packed with fun, relaxation and creativity plus athletic and spiritual programs. Call to register for what is sure to be a memorable family experience. ($281-$568)

Visit our Camp site for a complete list of our programs

Family Getaways, Women’s Programs, Outdoor Education, Retreats and Reunions & Much More!

Returning Summer Campers

Make sure to reserve your week of “Deer Valley fun in the mountains.” Please call for the current list of available weeks and housing types or for more information. 1-800-962-2386

 
Photos

INDIAN GUIDES & PRESIDENT’S DAY FAMILY WEEKEND PHOTOS       

 
Summer Opportunities

Deer Valley is looking for roughly forty summer staff members who are interested in helping offer our family campers the experience of a lifetime! You must be a high school graduate in order to be considered for summer staff employment; however we do offer two CIT (Counselor In Training) opportunities for high school students entering their junior or senior year. Below you will find information about Summer Employment and our two CIT programs; referred to as SALT and Clipper.

 SUMMER EMPLOYMENT

Don’t miss out on the best summer of your life! Being a staff member at Deer Valley YMCA Camp has often been referred to as ‘Living the Dream.’ If you grew up camping in the summer then you were probably just like us: idolizing the staff and hoping and dreaming of being just like them. Well now is your chance! Even if you have never been to Deer Valley before, you are still eligible.

There are two applications posted on the Camp’s website pertaining to two different applicants. If you have staffed at Deer Valley before, please use the application labeled ‘Returning Staff Application 2012,’ however if you have never staffed before, please use the application labeled ‘Summer Staff Application 2012;’ however, there is no specific deadline for applications, however we recommend returning your completed application as soon as possible. We begin to make selections in March after reviewing applications and completing interviews. Any applications received after that point for positions that have already been filled, will be put on standby.

You can find a printable application at www.deervalleyymca.org using the Summer Employment tab. Please note that the information posted on the actual webpage may be out-of-date; please look to the PDF applications posted on the right-hand side of the page for up-to-date information.

Contact David Riether, Assistant Director, for more information: driether@ymcapgh.org

CIT LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Along with having over forty staff members for our summer camping season, Deer Valley also selects a handful of individuals to volunteer in our CIT (Counselor in Training) programs, otherwise referred to as SALT and Clipper. Current sophomores entering their junior year in the Fall of 2012 are eligible to SALT and current juniors entering their senior year in the Fall of 2012 are eligible to Clipper. Each program offers high school students the opportunity to develop leadership skills by participation, instruction, and observation. In addition, candidates will focus on service oriented programs to improve the camp community as well as learning practical camp skills. Finally, the experience of being part of a highly motivated, value oriented, energetic staff is an opportunity unlike most.

SALT (SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING)

If you are interested in becoming a camp counselor or entering the service industry, then this program is right for you.  Participants volunteer for a two week session during our summer family camping season.  The program is designed to help participants get acquainted with the service industry as well as begin the learning process of becoming a future leader.

CLIPPER (CAMP LEADERSHIP INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM)

If you are thinking about applying to work on staff some day, then becoming a Clipper is right for you.  This program takes a brief look inside what it is like to work on summer staff.  Participants volunteer for a three week session during our summer season and get to experience working on the water front, with the program staff, at the horse barn, and craft shop.  You will also get a taste of all of our evening programs as well.

For more information on either Leadership Program, please visit the camp website using the information below. Unfortunately the information on the actual webpage is out of date for both Clippering and SALTing, please only view and use the information found in the PDF documents posted on the right-hand side of the screen.

www.deervalleyymca.org – Summer Employment – Clipper or SALT

Contact Andrew Forman, Program Director, for additional information: aforman@ymcapgh.org