Lake Wenatchee Camp

The Wenatchee Valley YMCA is thrilled to announce a transformative agreement that ensures the long-term future of Lake Wenatchee YMCA Camp. A major capital donor has stepped forward to purchase the camp property and will lease it back to the YMCA for $10 per year for 99 years, preserving this cherished community resource for generations to come.

In addition to securing the property, the donor is providing a $2 million endowed gift exclusively to support camp, providing financial stability and supporting sustainable programming well into the future, according to YMCA CEO Dorry Foster.

Earlier this year, the YMCA announced that the 25-acre camp property was going to be put up for sale. In average, the YMCA has been subsidizing the camp operations and capital maintenance $200,000 per year, while serving fewer local children, according to Foster. Once sold, the plan was that the YMCA was going to develop a localized outdoor recreation center on the new campus to expand access to outdoor equipment and outdoor programs.

Thanks to the generosity of Dean Weidner, CEO of Weidner Apartment Homes, the YMCA will be able to do both - continue operating the camp and also develop expanded outdoor recreation opportunities for members and the community as a whole.

As part of this strategic plan, traditional camp programming will pause in 2026. This intentional break will allow the YMCA to collaborate with Y-USA and Friends of Lake Wenatchee YMCA Camp to reimagine and strengthen the camp experience, ensuring greater impact and success for years ahead.