YMCA camps in Hudson Valley sell for $7 million
Philanthropic group pays $2 million over original asking price
The YMCA of Greater NYC has found a buyer for its three camps in the Hudson Valley.
The Wend Collective, a philanthropic organization, purchased the camps for $7 million — $2 million over the original asking price. Plans for the property have not yet been developed.
About 1,200 campers a year attended the three camps — Talcott, McAlister and Greenkill — before they were shuttered and put on the market last March to help fill the giant hole blown in the YMCA of Greater NYC’s budget by the coronavirus pandemic.
The sale was announced exclusively to Times Union: Hudson Valley late Thursday.
The Wend Collective plans to undertake a yearlong engagement process, reaching out to “the communities that historically attended the camps, the communities in which the camps are located, and the broader youth camp sector” to plan what to do with the property, according to a statement by the Collective.
Though the end result is unknown, the Collective wants to continue to serve disadvantaged youth.
President and CEO of YMCA of Greater NYC Sharon Greenberger expressed satisfaction with the sale.
“From the very start of this process, our hope has been to see this property continue as a place where New York City children can enjoy nature, play outdoors, and make lifelong memories,” she said in a statement. “We are delighted that Wend will be the next steward of this beloved property. We received many thoughtful offers for our camp properties, and we selected Wend Collective because of their integrity, commitment and vision to continue serving the interests of the community.”
Members of the board of managers for the camps were fearful the property would be sold to a private camp operator or a resort. The three camps are on nearly 1,000 acres in the town of Huguenot, about two hours northwest of New York City.
Board of managers members were sad the property was no longer in YMCA hands — they were hoping donors would contribute money so the camps could continue — but expressed hope about the purchaser.
Member Monica Bermiss noted the Wend Collective reached out to the board and camp alumni for ideas about the property.
“I look forward to hopefully working with a group that has the same interests and the same values that the board members had about this property,” she said.
Board member Amina Kennedy expressed frustration at the way the board was informed of the purchase. Members were contacted early Thursday afternoon to request a meeting at 3 p.m. where they were told of the sale, she said.
“The way that the whole thing went down was not preferred — that’s the most political way to put it,” she said. Board members had complained about a lack of communication from the YMCA of Greater NYC since they were abruptly told in late March the property would be sold. However, Kennedy was hopeful about the purchaser, calling the sale “bittersweet.”
“We’re losing the camp, but based on the info we have on the Wend Collective, it seems that they are very much in alignment with the dynamics we wanted to maintain at the camp,” she said.
The Wend Collective, which focuses on education, arts and culture, and the environment, became interested in the property because of its history of serving communities that don’t traditionally have access to nature.
Tuition for the sleepaway camp at the three sites was offered on a sliding scale to New York’s youth, with about 750 of the 1,200 campers com
—Times Union, Aug. 8, 1971 Looking Back is compiled by C.J. Lais and Azra Haqqie. For questions about this feature or to submit information about historic events, contact
Tim Blydenburgh, 518-454-5421 or tblydenburgh@timesunion.com county residents and 70.1 percent of all county residents have received at least one dose of vaccine.
“This level of vaccine coverage has prevented a surge in severe COVID-19 disease and hospitalizations in our community. Those who are unvaccinated remain at the highest risk of infection, severe illness, and hospitalization” the county advisory said. The agency recommends testing for those with signs or symptoms of COVID-19 and for those who have been exposed to a person infected, regardless of whether they are experiencing signs or symptoms or have been fully vaccinated.
In Rensselaer County, 43 new cases Thursday were confirmed to the county Health Department, the highest single-day total for daily new cases in months, the county said late Friday.
McCoy said following the CDC guidelines, it is also recommended that all Albany County residents wear masks when indoors in public areas. More than a third of the county’s population has received at least the first dose, and 62.3 percent has been fully vaccinated.
ing from New York City, according to the YMCA of Greater NYC.
The Wend Collective, co-led by Walmart scion James Walton, is both an impact investing fund — an organization that invests in philanthropic causes — and a grantmaking foundation, according to the Collective.
As well as purchasing the camp, the Wend Collective granted $500,000 to the YMCA of Greater NYC.