CLARYVILLE — Frost Valley YMCA has been awarded a $300,000 Implementation Grant through the American Camp Association’s national Character at Camp initiative, supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. The competitive grant provides $100,000 annually over the next three years and recognizes Frost Valley’s leadership in youth development. 

The funding will enable Frost Valley to intentionally integrate character education, fine arts, and nature-based experiences across its day and overnight camp programs, serving more than 4,000 youth each year. The initiative focuses on cultivating Responsibility, Compassion, and Perseverance through structured arts programming paired with reflection, mentorship, and measurable outcomes. 

Specifically, the grant supports the development of a formal arts-based character curriculum, expanded staff training, implementation of research-backed evaluation tools, and cross-department collaboration to ensure character development is embedded consistently across programs. It will also fund the hiring of a Fine Arts Coordinator/Director to guide long-term implementation and sustainability. 

“At a time when young people are facing increased social and emotional challenges, camps offer a powerful environment for growth. This grant allows us to be more intentional and data-informed in how we connect arts, nature, and character development,” said Katie Taylor, Executive Director of Youth Development. Frost Valley joins a national cohort of camps selected for the Character at Camp initiative, contributing to a broader effort to strengthen research-informed character development nationwide. 

For more information about Frost Valley YMCA and its programs, visit frostvalley.org. To learn more about the American Camp Association’s Character at Camp initiative, visit ACAcamps.org.