History of YMCA Camp Jones Gulch
Former
Mary Perkins2007 to 2009
Peter Jones2004 to 2007 Ann Wingert2003 to 2004
Elizabeth Jordan2001 to 2003 David Palmer1998 to 2000 David Hartmire1994 to 1998 Luke Austenfeld1990 to 1994 Gerry Morse1974 to 1990 Lou Albrecht1963 to 1974 Robert Simcock1947 to 1962 Richard R. Perkins1934 to 1946
info@campjonesgulch.org
History of YMCA Camp Jones Gulch
The YMCA has provided camping, outdoor recreation and environmental education since the 1860s. Building on this time-honored foundation, the YMCA of San Francisco is positioned as the premier youth development organization connecting young people, their schools and their families to nature and environmental education in the Bay Area. Through Camp Jones Gulch, the YMCA of San Francisco is committed to providing experiences and inspiration in the outdoors that excite youth and help them realize their role as future stewards of the earth.
When YMCA Camp Jones Gulch began 77 years ago in 1934, it served a total Bay Area population of about 1.6 million. In 2008, the total population was about 7 million. The need for outdoor camps—immersions in nature—only continues to expand. At the same time, there are only a handful of camps serving our region. Among those, YMCA Camp Jones Gulch is the largest camp by far, has the largest forest, opens its gate to the most diversity, and is the most engaged in actively stewarding its priceless assets.
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Some quotes from past directors: Richard R. Perkins, Jones Gulch Director-1934 to 1946: |
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"The story of the development of Jones Gulch is an interesting story in that it began bravely during a deep, distressing depression, grew rapidly from a spark to a flame which still burns, and perhaps proved to the Association (YMCA of San Francisco) the breadth of the spread of its forces and their depth and power at a distracting time when survival and the present overshadowed growth and the greater future. Jones Gulch was more than an episode, it was and is a spirit. It has also made the opportunity for re-thinking camping futures. Fortunately there was, between the first light dream and the final awakened realization of success, time to ponder past camping, examine much recent general camping experience and forecast the place of these wide open spaces on the total program." |
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Lou Albrecht, Camp Executive-1963 to 1974: "The early 1960's were years of unrest in society. The Vietnam war, student unrest, drug experimentation, search for self identity-all these factors, among others, encouraged weekend groups of considerable variety and sponsorship to seek a place for exploration of ideas in a removed, relaxed setting. The Camp provided such a place." |
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The search for camp sites by the San Francisco YMCA was continuous from 1897. The first camp was held during that year. There were apparently no interruptions of camping except during the Spanish War. Even during the first World War there was a working camp; the boys "enlisted for defense service" by picking berries near
The YMCA required isolation, accessibility, water in quantities, play spaces, hiking territory and so many other requisites that it took years to find the ideal site. During all of those years dozens of sites were looked at. Some were offered for sale, others as a gift. All lacked some essential.
The route to YuMiCiA led by a pleasant green valley about three miles short of YuMiCiA. The boys could, for nearly a mile, look down into a deep ravine broadening at its southern end into a settlement built on a flat, with an abandoned saw mill and cabins, pastures and trees. On looking into its ownership in 1931 the YMCA learned that it was in the possession of Mrs. S.M. Black of Red Bluff,
Late in 1931 Mrs. Black offered the 400 acres for sale at $15,000. By this time however, discouraged by the blackness of the depression, the YMCA had decided not to attempt camp development and had embarked upon a considerable development of
On November 22, 1932 Mrs. Black wrote offering the 400 acre mill site, all her property east of the "ridge road" for $15,000 on easy terms at 6%, the other 527 acres to go with the purchase as a present from me to the purchaser." The offer was deemed to expensive at the time. Just one year later, November 24, 1933 Mr. Perkins reopened the matter with Mrs. Black. A quick reply noted that her 1932 offer was still open. "I certainly would like," she wrote, "to see the boys scampering over those hills... Here's hoping we get a boys' camp or a girls' camp or both."
Subsequently, (1934) the money was raised, primarily from pledges from Mrs. Drexler and Miss. MacCallum and the property of 927 acres became the YMCA Camp. The present dining halls and kitchen were formerly a mill and were converted to the present use over a period of several years. The post-depression years saw many improvements - mostly from small contributions of money and hundreds of persons involved in specific work projects. Thus, the development has continued through the years.