Letters From Camp Magazine – Fall 2026

Letter from the Editor

The weight behind the magic.

Being a camp director is not just a job; it’s a lifestyle.

Of course, it requires your physical presence. I lived onsite and was on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If a toilet overflowed in the middle of the night and our property manager wasn’t available, you’d find me with a plunger. When staff members were not getting along, you’d find me mediating tough conversations. I helped out in the kitchen, the art barn, and everywhere in between.

It also requires extraordinary emotional presence.

Everyone has an opinion about programming, logistics, staffing, meals, weather, and just about everything else. You learn to listen, respond thoughtfully, act when you can, and let go of what you can’t control.

The staff needs you. The parents need you. The campers need you. The board needs you. Everyone believes their need is the most urgent. Your decisions are questioned because most people can’t see the full scope of what you’re balancing. And often, there isn’t a clearly right or wrong answer. You simply do your best, guided by policy, experience, judgment, and a deep commitment to doing what’s right for the community you’ve been entrusted to lead.

As I was writing our main feature article for this issue, I found myself thinking often about life as a camp director and just how much energy it takes.

July 2026 was a doozy of a month across YMCA of the North camps. Camp leaders found themselves navigating forest fires, hazardous air quality, shifting plans by the hour, and the enormous responsibility of keeping campers and staff safe while also protecting places that generations have come to love.

I watched with deep admiration as they led with grace, professionalism, and remarkable steadiness under extraordinary pressure. They made difficult decisions that weren’t always visible to the families arriving at camp each week, but they made them with the same care and commitment that has always defined great camp leadership.

That is the thing about camp directors.

Much of what they do happens behind the scenes, often unnoticed, because when they are doing their jobs well, camp still feels like camp. Children still race to the waterfront. Campfires are still lit. Laughter echoes through the trees. Friendships are formed. Traditions continue. The magic remains intact because someone is carrying the weight that allows everyone else to simply experience the joy.

Having lived that life, I know how heavy that responsibility can be. I also know what an exceptional privilege it is to carry it.

Their stories could fill a hundred magazines, and I hope this issue offers just a glimpse into the dedication, resilience, and heart that make our camps so special. More than anything, I hope it leaves you with an even deeper appreciation for the people who quietly make camp possible, summer after summer, year after year, generation after generation.

Natalie King
Director of Alumni Philanthropy and Editor and Lead Writer- 'Letters From Camp Magazine'