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YMCA Camp Cosby
2290 Paul Bear Bryant Road
Alpine, AL 35014
1-800-85-COSBY
256.268.2007
FAX: (256) 268-2003

 

Ages 13 - 15

When I am a teenager, am I too old for Camp?

No way! Not at Camp Cosby!

We have two very popular options for teenagers at Camp Cosby. One is to take our Cosby Expeditions for week-long outdoor adventures around the southeast. Click here to learn more about the Cosby Expeditions.



The other is to come to our “teen camp” at the Virginia Markle Adventure Village*. “The Point,” as it is often called, offers Adventurers the opportunity to have a camp community all of their own, with more bonding time and special non-stop activities geared towards teens. The teenagers eat breakfast and dinner at the beautiful Virginia Markle Pavilion and enjoy a camp fire in the center of their campus each evening. Each teen selects a theme for his or her activities to revolve around: “outdoor adventures,” “developing leadership skills,” or “specialty camp,” in horseback riding, minibike riding, or wakeboarding/water-skiing. More about how to make that choice is below. For now, know that the Virginia Markle Adventure Village is a place to make friends and have fun in a safe exciting, age-appropriate camp for teens!

Virginia Markle Adventure Village activities are arranged around three themes. Each Adventurer must choose one of the three activities themes below:

Theme One: Developing Leadership
This program will introduce Adventurers to the world of leadership. They will understand, practice and learn leadership skills in small groups with other Adventurers. Developing Leadership campers are divided into various small groups to solve unique problems at the Camp Cosby Low Ropes course. The sessions are lead by well-trained Adventure Village Developing Leadership counselors. Adventurers learn the importance of the YMCA core values of honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility, as they develop trust in one another, and learn to observe themselves in communication with others. Each week the Developing Leadership teens will also give back to camp through a Service Learning Project. Previous projects have included making signs for activity areas, painting inspirational quotes that were placed around camp, and planting an organic garden in retired canoes at the "Point." The Developing Leadership program is not all work though. Not only do the Leadership campers get to participate in the most exciting Camp Cosby activities, they have a “Leadership Boat Party” all to themselves at the end of the week!



Theme Two: Outdoor Adventures
If a challenging outdoor setting is your thing, the Outdoor Adventures program is for you! Campers sleep in regular cabins at the "Point" but spend most days exploring the outdoors. Some days they will remain at camp to enjoy regular outdoor camp activities. The Outdoor Adventurers experience day trips to lakes, rivers, caves, and forests within an hour or so of Camp Cosby. Trips may include hiking, rock climbing, canoeing/ funyakking, swimming, and caving. Each trip is lead by our Climbing/Caving Director and our college-aged Outdoor Adventure counselors. The trips allow campers the opportunity to build skills in these areas so they will be able to pursue these activities as young adults. They all will enjoy the outdoors while they learn more about themselves, others, and the natural world around them!



Theme Three: Specialty Camps
Adventures in Specialty Camps will spend one half of each day in a specialty area of their choice: Horseback Riding, Minibikes, or Wakeboarding/Water-skiing. For the other half of the day, they will join the Adventurers in the Leadership Development program. Click here to find out more about our three Specialty Camps for teens!



*Virginia Markle Adventure Village was dedicated on May 26, 2006 to the memory of Virginia Talbot Markle, 1993 – 2004.

Camp Cosby was Virginia’s favorite place to be in the whole world. She and her brother made it a family tradition to attend the first session of camp each summer. Her last summer was 2004. Tragically, Virginia died in her sleep from an unknown aneurysm a week after returning from camp. Her mother found an un-mailed letter in her camp trunk, that still had not been fully unpacked. Virginia wrote, “I wish our family could move to Camp so I can come whenever I want. I can’t wait to see you, but I don’t want to leave if you know what I mean.” Camper, friend and family to Camp Cosby…Virginia, Virginia will never have to leave again; and the Virginia Markle Adventure Village will be part of Camp Cosby forever. Virginia is missed, loved and remembered.


 

 

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