TRADITIONAL CAMP AND CIT

Cabin Placement & Bunk Requests: Campers are assigned to cabins based on their grade and gender identity. We know coming to camp is a big step, so we will gladly honor up to two reciprocal roommate requests (campers must be in the same village, session, and request each other during registration).

Questions about which session is right for your camper? Reach out to our Camp Director, Paul, at  CampGorham@Rochesterymca.org.  

• Dedicated Supervision: Cabins are staffed with trained counselors who live in-cabin with campers around the clock, prioritizing safety, mentorship, and inclusion.

• Cabin Dynamics: Campers share daily routines, care for their shared space, and participate in evening cabin chats that strengthen bonds and encourage reflection. 

Cabin Placement & Arrival
At YMCA Camp Gorham, we are committed to providing a living environment where every camper feels physically safe, emotionally affirmed, and respected. Rooted in YMCA core values and Praesidium child protection guidelines, our cabin life emphasizes active staff supervision, personal privacy, and intentional inclusion. We offer Girls+ and Boys+ village accommodations so families can choose the space where their child feels most supported and safe, paired with private shower stalls, fair bunk selections, and daily check-ins that foster genuine belonging.

• Gender-Specific Housing: Camp Gorham’s cabins are gender-specific:
• Girl+ Cabins: Designed for girls, trans, and non-binary campers  
• Boy+ Cabins: Designed for boys, trans, and non-binary campers  
• Bed Selection: To ensure equity, beds are chosen by campers together once all children in the cabin have arrived on Sunday check-in. 

For individual accommodation planning, medical or sensory considerations, or detailed questions regarding cabin placements, please contact our Camp Director at campgorham@rochesterymca.org or visit

• Archery: Campers learn and improve bow-and-arrow fundamentals, including parts of the bow, proper stance, and firing technique. Challenges take place on both our main and field archery ranges—including the chance to compete in our Archery Challenge to win the coveted Golden Arrow!

• Sports and Games: Active, high-energy games with an emphasis on teamwork and sportsmanship. Sessions begin with a group warm-up stretch followed by classics like kickball, ultimate frisbee, World Cup soccer, and pickleball.

• Mountain Biking: Campers learn bike anatomy, control, and trail safety. The progression starts on a small obstacle course to build confidence and bike handling, culminating in timed trail runs across camp.

• Rock Climbing and High Ropes: Designed to help campers set goals and step outside their comfort zones. Campers learn about safety equipment before taking on the rock wall, cargo net, flying squirrel, and zipline. (Sturdy, closed-toe shoes required.)

• ADK Life: A hands-on wilderness track celebrating the Adirondack outdoors. Campers hike to Lunar Falls, learn fire-building and survival shelter construction, and play wilderness awareness games like Camouflage. (Hiking boots recommended.)

• Horseback Riding (Add-on Elective): Camp Gorham is proud to be accredited by the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA). Campers (ages 10+) receive progressive instruction grouped by ability level (beginner, intermediate, advanced) tailored toward trail riding. (Campers must bring riding boots/shoes with a heel and long pants; helmets provided. Campers not enrolled in the elective can still enjoy scheduled cabin ring rides or barn care.)
   

WATER

• Arts & Crafts: A creative space for campers to express themselves and take home handmade camp memories. Projects include painting, drawing, nature crafts, tie-dye, and classic camp design projects.

• The Dart: The Dart specialty track is for writers and creators who want to share their love of Camp Gorham with the outside world! Every two weeks, we’ll publish an issue of The Dart and share it with families, friends and the world! Choose this specialty track if you like to write, draw, take photos and want to learn a little bit about assembling media

Traditions are the heartbeat of YMCA Camp Gorham. From time-honored all-camp games to meaningful closing ceremonies, these shared rituals connect generations of Gorham campers and create memories that last a lifetime.
 

• Morning Responsibilities: Campers start their day with pride, purpose, and energy through our traditional early-morning options before breakfast:

  • Polar Bear Dip: Take a crisp, refreshing morning plunge into the lake to wake up and earn the badge of a true Polar Bear.

  • Golden Horseshoe: Head up to the barn at dawn to help care for, groom and feed the Gorham herd.

  • Camp Garden: Get hands in the soil by watering, weeding and tending to the vegetables and plants in our camp garden.

  • Cardio Club: Lace up your sneakers for an invigorating morning run, zumba class or a stretch to kickstart the day.
     

• Flagpole: Gathering together each morning and evening at the flagpole to raise and lower the colors, share camp announcements and sing camp songs as an entire community.
   

• All-Camp Games & The Coliseum: High-energy, camp-wide traditions where all villages unite for epic games of strategy, teamwork and spirited competition:

  • The Coliseum: A legendary, spirited Gorham tradition where the entire camp gathers for friendly challenges, massive village pride and unforgettable camp-wide games.

  • Classic Camp Games: Signature favorites like Gold Rush, Wells Fargo, and Commando played across the property.
     

• Two-Week Camper Overnight Experience: Campers enrolled for a two-week session take part in a classic backcountry tradition—packing up gear, heading out with their cabin and counselors, and spending a night camping out under the Adirondack stars cooking over an open fire.
   

• Opening & Closing Campfires: Welcoming the session with skits, cheers, and traditions at the opening campfire, and coming together at the end of the week for a reflective closing ceremony under the Adirondack sky.
   

• Evening Embers: A quiet, reflective cabin tradition to close each day, where campers gather with their counselors to share daily highlights, lessons learned and words of encouragement before lights out.