South Mountain YMCA Camps

Located 12 miles west of Reading, PA, South Mountain YMCA is the perfect setting for a valuable and enjoyable school outdoor educational experience or retreat. Situated on 650 mountaintop acres, programs combine sensitivity toward, awareness of, and respect for all living things. South Mountain YMCA offers a variety of different environmental education and history programs as well as recreational activities such as horseback riding, zipling, and more. Lodging is available for overnight stays. Meals are served family style in our charming dining hall and all allergies and preferences can be catered to.

Schools
Environmental science and history programs for students focus on topics such as ecology, predator/prey relationships, watersheds, archaeology, the Lenape Indians, and more. Activities include observing amphibian specimens, digging for artifacts, making Native American crafts, and much more. Students can also enjoy Adventure Program activities such as rock climbing, team building, low ropes course, trap shooting, archery, canoeing, zorb balls, and more. Team building opportunities on the facility’s challenge course are also available. Learn more about school programs. (https://www.smymca.org/year-round-camp-programs/school-trips/programs/)

 
Scouts
Scouts can enjoy South Mountain Adventures while working on Horse, Canoeing, Kayaking, and other badges at South Mountain YMCA. Adventure programs allow scouts to learn how to ride a horse and provide canoeing, kayaking, and sailing lessons. Other activities include mountain boarding, trap shooting, zip lining, and more. Signed waivers are required for all Adventure Programs. Learn more about South Mountain Adventures. (https://www.smymca.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/South-Mountain-Adventures-1.pdf)
 

From points South or East via PA Turnpike:

• Take the PA Turnpike to Exit 286 (Reading/Ephrata).
• Follow exit road and turn RIGHT on Hwy-272N.
• Proceed about 2 miles to the first stop light. Turn LEFT onto Hwy-897N at Weavers Market.
• Proceed 3 miles to the first stop sign and turn RIGHT onto Ridge Road (there is a convenience store on the opposite corner).
• Proceed 3 miles (Ridge Road becomes Fritztown Road) to E. Galen Hall Road and turn on LEFT (look for Galen Hall Golf Course & Hillside Church signs).
• Proceed just over 1 mile to Cushion Peak Road and turn RIGHT.
• Proceed up Cushion Peak Road to the top of hill. The main entrance to camp is on the LEFT.

From Points North or East via I-78:

• Take I-78W to PA-100S (Trexlertown).
• Continue on PA-100S for 0.5 mile to the turnoff for Reading and Hwy-222 (Schantz Road). Continue on Rte-222 for 15 miles.
• Follow Rte-222 towards Reading/Lancaster exiting to the RIGHT and proceed along a divided highway for 4 miles.
• Take the Spring Ridge Drive exit and turn RIGHT onto Spring Ridge Dr.
• Proceed to 5th stop light and turn RIGHT onto Hwy-422W (Penn Ave).
• Go to 1st stop light and take a LEFT onto Columbia Avenue.
• Proceed 3.4 miles and turn RIGHT onto E. Galen Hall Road (look for Galen Hall Golf Course & Hillside Church signs).
• Proceed just over 1 mile to Cushion Peak Road and turn RIGHT.
• Proceed up

From points West - Route 422 from Harrisburg:

• Take Hwy-422E to Wernersville.
• Turn RIGHT onto Werner Street at the stop light by Hoover Motors.
• Proceed two blocks to stop sign and turn RIGHT onto Lincoln Drive.
• Proceed one block to stop sign and turn LEFT onto Hill Road.
• Proceed 0.7 mile to fork in road and bear RIGHT onto Galen Hall Road.
• Proceed to the top of the hill and turn LEFT onto Grandview Drive.
• Proceed about 1 mile and turn RIGHT onto Cushion Peak Rd. The main entrance to camp is on the RIGHT at the top of the hill.

From the Washington D.C./Baltimore area:

• Take I-95N to Baltimore.
• Take Exit 49B onto I-695W (towards I-70 & I-83, Towson).
• Take Exit 24 onto I-83N (toward Timonium & York).
• Continue on I-83N and take Exit 21A onto Hwy-30E.
• Continue on Hwy-30E to Lancaster, PA.
• Take Hwy-222N toward Ephrata/Reading.
• Proceed about 10 miles on Hwy-222N. Take the Denver/PA Turnpike exit.
• Turn LEFT at the bottom of the exit ramp, then RIGHT onto Hwy-272N.
• Proceed about 2 miles to the first stop light. Turn LEFT onto Hwy-897N at Weavers Market.
• Proceed 3 miles to the first stop sign and turn RIGHT onto Ridge Road (there is a convenience store on the opposite corner).
• Proceed 3 miles (Ridge Road becomes Fritztown Road) to E. Galen Hall Road and turn on LEFT (look for Galen Hall Golf Course & Hillside Church signs).
• Proceed just over 1 mile to Cushion Peak Road and turn RIGHT.
• Proceed up Cushion Peak Road to the top of hill. The main entrance to camp is on the LEFT.

The mission of the South Mountain YMCA is to provide a camping experience, educational and other programs that build personal leadership, character and life skills while developing caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility in young people, families and communities

We welcome you to the mountain and invite you to share in our Fire of Friendship, determined in our belief that every person shares the potential to grow in wisdom, to discover their unique and independent voice, to nurture others and to engage their communities.

The fun and challenging programs we offer foster communication, trust, problem-solving and deeper spiritual connections while preparing young people to lead and be led.

The South Mountain YMCA Camps are more than a series of camping and retreat programs on the mountaintop, they are a way of life - a philosophy - that are exciting to explore and easy to embrace. Keep the Fires Burning!

"We have been coming to SMYMCA since 2008 for the purposes of running our LINK program. Each time, we are treated with the utmost care, concern and attentiveness to our needs. For 9 years, we have been impressed with your staff's ability to somehow intuitively know what we will need and when we will need it. Each weekend, without fail, they are available and willing to happily do whatever we need to ensure the success of our program. Given all of the changing variables, they continually and graciously accommodated us at every turn. Their consistently calming, reassuring attitude and demeanor puts us at ease so we can concentrate on delivering our program." Tracy Jacobson Marple Newton High School

The history of the South Mountain and its resort-era begin in the last half of the 19th century. Homes used as retreats by the wealthy, and several large mountain resorts were constructed on the mountain to take advantage of the curative water, the charming natural setting, and clean, cool air. The 600 acres currently owned by the South Mountain YMCA Camps were gifted to, or acquired, by the organization over the past 70 years.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/smymcacamps

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/smymcacamps?ob=0&feature=results_main

Instagram: @smymcacamps