Frost Valley YMCA in the Catskills has Something For Everyone

OneGoodDad

1 year ago

Soon after introducing myself to someone, I share I am a dad to 4 kids. Then I explain that two of them are adults and two are still young (13 & 9). When my older two were little, I was that young dad full of life and found fun and interesting things to do. My younger two get an older dad (50) that hurts getting out of bed in the morning. It bothers me they don’t get the young dad that’s full of life and vigor.

I’m on a mission to bring back that youthful side to me. The side that was always on the hunt for fun things to do that will make a memory that lasts a lifetime. When a friend asked if I was interested in visiting Frost Valley YMCA during their Renaissance style weekend, I jumped at the chance.

My son and I drove up late on a Friday night along the winding and dark roads in the Catskills. The GPS went out, so I had to find Frost Valley the old-fashioned way, with a map. We pulled into the road that led us to the Welcome Center and that was when I first got a taste of the massive scale of Frost Valley YMCA. The place is enormous. I have visited several YMCA resorts but have never seen one as big as Frost Valley. We picked up our keys to our room and unloaded for the night.

When we woke up the next morning, we made a short walk to the cafeteria. The place was buzzing with groups and families ready for the Legends and Labyrinth weekend. Everyone was assigned to one of 4 groups. We were placed on the yellow team. Teams received points by completing tasks or taking part in activities.

One competition was finding Excalibur, a sword that was placed within the YMCA grounds. Before breakfast was over, the boys ran off to find the sword. Throughout the day, the boys were off and looking for the sword, participating in activities throughout the day. Shortly after lunch, they found the sword, providing a lot of points for the yellow team.

Besides looking for a sword, we also participated in scaling a rock wall, baked soda bread from scratch, cooked flatbreads over a fire, made candles and wands, hiked, traversed over a rope bridge, participated in a fantasy trivia night, and played a role-playing game. And we still didn’t do everything.

There was a lot that I appreciated about Frost Valley, but the main thing I took away was how amazing the staff are. Everywhere we went, the staff were kind and professional, making sure everyone they encountered had a magical experience. Those that helped us with crafts walked us through our tasks with patience and joy. The bakers helped us create tasty foods and answered all our questions. Those in charge of activities, like rock climbing and tea making, were incredibly kind. It’s that kind of hosting that makes me want to be a regular visitor.

The cafeteria food was delicious and everyone’s dietary needs were met. There was a wide variety, so nobody left the table hungry. The quality of the food impressed me. Like I said before, I’ve been to several YMCA resorts, and Frost Valley’s food beats them all.

The rain kept us from fully experiencing Frost Valley, but we still had a fantastic time. I would love to go back soon on a dry day to experience zip lining, the outdoor rock wall, and pony rides. Now that I know about all the things Frost Valley offers, I’m ready to make another trip, cementing myself as the fun dad my kids need.

Frost Valley has a wide variety of programs. Kids can stay for a week during summer camp, or people can drop in for a day or for a weekend. Check Frost Valley’s website to see if there is a week and a program for you. I highly recommend doing so.