Many parents from the Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Spotsylvania areas send their children to Camp Silver Beach on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. You might know that this year they celebrated their 25th Anniversary! We asked guest writer, Gracelyn Taylor, to share a bit about Camp Silver Beach and the impact it has had on the campers it has served.
YMCA Camp Silver Beach marked its 25th summer, celebrating a legacy of friendship, confidence, and lasting memories created along the shimmering waters of Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
“Coming to camp was genuinely one of the best decisions I ever made. I have met some of my best friends and truly found a place that is my home away from home,” said Madilyn Jorja, a former CSB counselor.
Summer camp has a way of pulling people out of their comfort zones and into close-knit groups of strangers who quickly become companions. Campers rarely realize how meaningful those relationships will be—some lasting just the week, others stretching long into adulthood. Each summer, YMCA Camp Silver Beach, CSB, becomes this “home” to many.
This past summer, CSB celebrated its 25th anniversary, honoring friendships and memories. What was simply land full of trees and grass has become a place where kids come year after year. Campers conquer fears by climbing the Alpine Tower or setting sail on a Hobie, sometimes even capsizing the boat.
As CSB looks back on 25 rewarding summers, one thing has stayed the same: Everyone loves it. At its heart, the camp’s core values–-caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and faith—have not changed. They shine through in every activity campers participate in.
The 25th anniversary means much more than just a celebration. It represents generations of children and families coming to camp to experience the magic that only camp offers. It highlights the accomplishments and dreams that many campers bring to camp with.
CSB started as a dream in 1990 for former CEO of the YMCA of South Hampton Roads, Chuck Harris. He knew it would take a special property to make the vision come to life. With help from a local realtor on the Eastern Shore, beachfront property on the Chesapeake Bay, once a sparse French Canadian vacation site, was sold to the YMCA. Harris saw the beach and knew that it was going to be perfect for his vision.
“I always believed that every great YMCA had to have a great camp. If we were going to have a great YMCA in Hampton Roads, one of the most important things to do was to have a resident camp. The dream and the vision that we had have actually been more successful than we thought they would be. I feel like it has given more back to me, seeing how successful it’s become,” said Harris.
Over the years, CSB has expanded its activities to include a climbing tower, zipline, high ropes adventure course, and specialty water-sport activities such as sailing, water skiing, banana boating and paddleboarding. The camp also expanded into multiweek programs. Beyond the typical one-week camp programs, CSB provides a two-week program and a three-week program, including Teen Adventure Camp. A unique program the camp offers is the Leadership Development Program, which trains the next generation of counselors and helps campers make the transition to counselor.
Though CSB has changed over the years, the heart of camp remains the same. Past counselors voice that Camp Silver Beach “magic” is still alive, as it has been since the camp began. At the core, the camp experience isn’t about the cabins, the other buildings, or even the activities—it’s about the people at camp and the connections made.
“A good example is the number of counselors who were once campers themselves and grew up dreaming of joining the team because of the impact a counselor had on them. That legacy of influence is powerful; it creates a cycle of leadership, mentorship, and genuine care that you can feel throughout camp. And as you probably noticed during LDP, campers begin absorbing so much knowledge—camp lingo, culture, expectations—long before they ever step into a staff role. By the time they join the team, they’re already deeply rooted in what CSB stands for. I would have to say this was the best surprise, coming from a camp where most campers didn’t have the capability of ever becoming counselors, to here, seeing campers dream of becoming counselors and working toward that goal felt both refreshing and uplifting,” said Mackenzie Haefner, CSB’s operations director.
At the end of the day, the camp’s greatest legacy isn’t the camp itself, but the people whose lives are positively changed after their camp experience. CSB prides itself on its diverse staff who are hired each year, many of whom were once campers themselves. A large number of staff come from different countries, with some arriving knowing little to no English and leaving being able to speak very well.
Ask anyone who has spent time at Camp Silver Beach, and you’ll hear the same thing: camp changes you.
For some, that change could be as small as getting in the pool for the first time; for others, it could be as big as learning to sail a boat. The camp prides itself on creating a safe environment that fosters growth and serves as a place of belonging for every camper who comes through the gates. With the help and guidance of the counselors, there is no task or challenge that can’t be accomplished by the campers.
“I feel inspired every time I come to camp, and it’s a place where I thrive. I wouldn’t be the person that I am today if I didn’t go to camp as a camper, and I’m even luckier that I’m working as a counselor. I feel so fulfilled when I am working with campers, and they achieve the goals that they set at the beginning of the week. Working here has made me so much more grateful for everything and blessed that I’m able to have such an impact on these kids. I’m also so thankful for the people that I have met here. They honestly keep me coming back every year, and I’m so lucky to have lifelong friendships,” said Stella McDonald, a current CSB counselor.
Camp Silver Beach is built on friendship. Some of the most genuine connections are made with complete strangers met on the first night of camp. From the campers to counselors, everyone discovers someone with whom they click.
Counselors return to camp each year because the bonds they establish with other counselors and campers are so strong. It’s the blend of long days, emotional devotions shared each night and the sense of purpose that is gained from realizing the impact they have made on a camper’s life. Counselors return to take on different program roles or to accept an administrative role.
Campers tend to maintain their friendships for years, even decades, after their time at camp. Many grow up with each other during the summers and later return as counselors, other staff, or administrators. Some campers who attended camp years earlier are now sending their own children to camp, hoping to create similar friendships they once had.
“Camp Silver Beach has been an incredible blessing for my children and our family. Over the years at Camp Silver Beach, we have watched our children grow more independent, gain amazing social and leadership skills, have unique camp experiences and make memories that will last them a lifetime. My children have attended Camp Silver Beach since they were born, going to family camps and summer camp each year. They have gone on to higher camp experiences as they have grown older, such as the Leadership Development Program, adventure camp and becoming camp counselors. I think my kids would spend the entire summer at camp if they could. I’ll forever be grateful for the blessings and experiences that Camp Silver Beach has brought to my children’s lives,” exclaimed Emily Sheipe, a mother of three campers.
Just as campers come back year after year, the traditions continue. From House Day every Wednesday to chanting in the dining hall, CSB has annual traditions captured in various campaign videos that show CSB’s growth.
As the camp celebrates its silver anniversary, it is looking toward the future. CSB visualizes a future full of growth and expansion, all while maintaining beloved traditions that keep campers coming back year after year.
No matter how much the camp grows, the values and mission remain the same. The songs are tried-and-true, and the banana boat rides continue to be wild. Friendship bracelets will continue to be made and passed on, and watching the sun set over the bay will always be a core memory. The 25th anniversary isn’t just a milestone, but it is a reminder of all the memories that have been created and those yet to come.
“I hope to see Camp Silver Beach continue evolving, exploring new opportunities, expanding programs where possible, and finding ways to enhance the experiences and impact for all campers and staff in the years to come,” said Luis Grant, CSB’s program director.YMCA Camp Silver Beach has shown that the impact is clear; friendships last a lifetime, and memories are made. Twenty-five years in, Camp Silver Beach is much more than a camp. It’s a community, a tradition and for many, a home away from home.
Gracelyn Taylor is a sophomore at Virginia Tech where she is seeking dual degrees in Advertising and Fashion Merchandising & Design.
