As thousands of kids enjoy our summer day camps and we celebrate the Y’s 165th anniversary, we take a moment to reflect on the long legacy of camping at the Y.
The YMCA of Greater Kansas City began offering overnight camps in the 1890s at temporary sites, aiming to give children a wholesome experience in nature. Activities included sports, canoe trips, hiking and swimming in an atmosphere of “Christian fellowship.”
In 1921, the Y established Camp Gravois. Located 120 miles southeast of Kansas City near Versailles, Mo., it was named for the Little Gravois Creek that flowed through it.
The first campers stayed two weeks in 1923 with limited amenities. Tent houses, a campfire circle, a dam to form a lake, a lake pavilion and a dining porch were added in the following years. While the camp initially served only white boys, girls began attending occasionally in the 1930s, and by 1950, Black children were also welcomed.
The success of Camp Gravois inspired the launch of summer day camps in 1950. To provide younger kids with an outdoor experience with the comfort of returning home in the evening, kids traveled by bus from local Ys to rural sites near the city.
Camp Gravois closed in 1988 because of declining enrollment and rising costs. Today, Y summer day camps across the metro continue the tradition—providing safe, enriching experiences for kids while supporting working families throughout the summer.
