Redwoods and Racoons: Pescadero Creek provides a “cool” setting for campers
by Gwen O’Neill
© Mirafilm | Dreamstime.com
Imagine getting on a school bus, leaving the hot city streets behind, and heading past the ocean to a winding road leading through the redwoods. Thousands of children from all over the Bay Area have followed this route to attend YMCA Camp Loma Mar. The beautiful, natural setting with 105 acres is nestled in the small, unincorporated community of Loma Mar on Pescadero Road.
The camp is owned and operated by the YMCA of the East Bay, formerly known as the Oakland YMCA. The Oakland YMCA was one of the first organizations in the West to have a summer camp for young children. In the early years, camp sessions were held wherever available places could be found. In 1937, a San Francisco family that had been using the property as a summer residence gifted the Loma Mar acreage to the YMCA.
Wood cabins replaced the tents and in 1949 a main lodge, kitchen and dining room were constructed. Campers used to swim in “the old swimming hole” on Pescadero Creek until a beautiful swimming pool, 75 feet by 30 feet, was constructed in 1951.
The YMCA staff has always focused on creating a safe and caring environment and providing positive role models for the campers. The “rag tradition” that started many years ago symbolizes the importance placed on ways of challenging youth to grow during their summer camp experience. In the summer of 1914, the first “rags” —actually blue bandanas — were presented to 25 campers who had achieved excellence in health habits, promptness, cheerfulness and other character-building traits.
The tradition continues, with the bandanas serving as symbols that encourage campers to accept responsibility, learn new skills and develop spirituality. “We refer to the rags as rags because that is exactly what they are — worthless pieces of cloth. You could not sell your rag; it is not worth much money; your rag has only the meaning you give it,” said current staff member Gail Chalios.
Many memories have been created along the banks of the Pescadero Creek throughout the camp’s history. One adventure occurred in the winter of 1998 during a severe storm. Four boys decided to “borrow” the camp canoe for a quick trip down the raging creek, headed toward the ocean. They made it about three miles downstream to Memorial Park before they were captured by a camp supervisor, Bill Chase.
Anyone who has camped or hiked in Memorial Park knows how many raccoons inhabit the redwoods along Pescadero Road. “Raccoons have been devoted fans of Camp Loma Mar, particularly when one person happens to accidentally leave the camp kitchen door open a crack. Hard to imagine cleaning up a 40- by 30-foot kitchen spilled and spattered (by hungry raccoons) with every imaginable edible item left on counters and under cupboards,” said Chalios.
YMCA Camp Loma Mar has also been a conference and retreat site for many groups, ranging from the Young Actors’ Theatre Camp to Camp Kesem, a program for children with parents who are cancer patients. Many other drama, art, music, college, high school, business and spiritual groups have scheduled camps and Camp Loma Mar is also used for weddings. Family Camp on Labor Day weekend has been a popular tradition for over 25 years, when groups of families and friends get together to share camp experiences.
For information about summer youth camp, teen camp, teen leadership camp or family camp, visit the camp’s Web site. Information about the conference and retreat center is also available on the site.
On the Web:
Small but mighty, he made good at camp. Photo courtesy of Camp Loma Mar archives.
Leaving on the train for Y camp. Photo courtesy of Camp Loma Mar archives.
