Building Life Skills for the Future
Check-in and Check-out
Check-in – Sunday at 1pm
Check-out – FRIDAY EVENING at 6:30pm
Summer’s An Adventure!
Join us for our 100th summer of excellence in safe adventures and new experiences where building confidence, inspiring independence and fostering a spirit of acceptance and family is top priority. Registration Opens Soon!
YMCA Camp Cosby is a week long sleepaway camp experience for boys and girls ages 6 to 16 providing safe adventures on 135 acres nestled in foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in east Alabama. With our first rate staff, activity variety, beautiful landscape and amazing views on the shores of Lake Logan Martin, Camp Cosby is the perfect camp atmosphere to over 2,000 campers each summer.
Points of Interest
- Air Conditioned Cabins and Dining Hall.
- All staff go through an in-depth screening process including face to face interviews, references, drug screening and background checks.
- All staff attend an in-depth childcare and leadership training onsite before summer begins and are equipped to meet every Cosby camper’s needs.
- Camp leadership staff live onsite and are available to the staff and campers 24/7.
- Our highly trained staff members are focused on excellence in safety, growth and allowing children the opportunity to discover their strengths through Camp Cosby’s exciting activities and individual choice.
- Diversity – Our staff come from all over the world and our own backyard. Many staff are former campers who know exactly what it is like to be a child in the cabin.
- During sleepaway camp Certified Health Care professionals live onsite and are available to staff and campers 24/7.
- All Cosby employees are certified in CPR and First Aid.
- We are a Judeo-Christian organization promoting positive morals and the Y’s Four Core Values – Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.
- Staff to Camper ratios are 1 to 7.
- YMCA Camp Cosby is American Camping Association Accredited. Why is ACA Accreditation Important?
- Be sure to pack a MASK!!!
Camp Cosby Villages
At YMCA Camp Cosby, we bunk campers with their same age group and gender. We call a group of cabins of similar age a Village. Campers participate in activities with their Village and all Villages have a Head Counselor who leads them in songs, cheers and much more fun. Learn more about each Village below.
Buckaroo Village (Rising 1st Grade, Ages 6 – 7)
For rising 1st grade this program is an excellent 3-day introduction to Sleepaway Camp for our youngest campers.
Buckaroos get a lot of extra attention and are led to activities as a village by their activity counselors and Head Counselor. Banana Boat, horseback rides, the pool, waterfront and archery are just a sample of the activities your Buckaroo will experience.
On Tuesday, during your Buckaroo’s session, your camper will be asked if they are having fun at Camp Cosby and if they would like to stay the remainder of the week! There is no pressure on them in this process at all. This is part of our programming to allow even our youngest campers a chance to make good choices based on their feelings and their decisions are respected and embraced. All parents are contacted to report your Buckaroo’s decision, giving parents the opportunity to have the final say. If your camper extends to stay the remainder of the session, the balance of the full week tuition price would be due at that time.
NOTE: should your camper elect not to stay, or if it’s not convenient for them to stay, check out is at 1:00 pm on Wednesday. If they do remain at camp for the week, check out is at 6:30 pm on FRIDAY.
Buckaroo Full Week — (Rising 2nd Grade – Ages 6 and 7)
We received so many requests for this age group to stay a full week at camp that we are now offering this option! Rising 2nd grade Buckaroos will follow the same programming as their 3 day Buckaroo peers, but will stay an entire week at camp! They will participate in age-appropriate Cosby activities as well as a few activities just for Buckaroos. Our Buckaroo counselors are caring and compassionate, and focused on the needs of younger children, assuring your child has a safe week filled with wonderful adventures, memories and new friendships.
Pathfinder Village (Rising 3rd Grade, Ages 7 – 8)
Pathfinders get to experience a full week of adventures at Sleepaway Camp. Pathfinders have endless energy so their schedule is packed full of fun and adventure. Pathfinders get to experience their activities as a village led by their activity counselors and Head Counselor. They participate in age-appropriate Cosby activities and have a few activities just for Pathfinders. Our Pathfinder counselors are second to none, assuring your child has a safe week filled with lots of fun, great memories and new friendships.
Blazer Village (Rising 4th and 5th Grade, Ages 9 – 10)
Ready to create your own thrilling week full of fun and adventure? Blazers begin to gain independence by designing their own activity schedule. Our caring staff help Blazers manage their schedule by encouraging them to try new activities and assuring they get to participate in their favorites too. Blazers experience tremendous growth of self-esteem as they choose five activity periods each day. They also experience the Cosby Spirit through cabin team-building, daily cabin devotions led by their counselors and living in peace with the other children while learning about the camp motto, “I Am Third.”
Blazers are old enough to register for Specialty Camps! Blazers may participate in Mini Bikes, Waterski/Wake Surf/Wakeboarding, and Horseback Riding Specialty Camps. Specialty Camp campers spend half a day every day with a small group of campers focusing on individual attention for skill development and comprehension in their chosen Specialty Camp.
Ranger Village (Rising 6th and 7th Grade, Ages 11 – 12)
Rangers can participate in every activity Camp Cosby has to offer! Our Ranger counselors help your child acquire a greater sense of responsibility, build leadership skills and discover an increase in self-reliance. Many Ranger activities encourage campers to set goals to achieve a higher level than their perceived capability. Climbing the Alpine Tower blindfolded or at a faster pace, traversing the High Ropes Course as a team and challenging themselves to stay up on Waterskis just a little bit longer are a few examples of the ways Rangers challenge themselves. They will rave about their successes all year long!
Rangers are old enough to register for Specialty Camps! Rangers can participate in Mini Bikes, Waterski/Wake/Surf/Wakeboarding, and Horseback Riding Specialty Camps. Specialty Camp campers spend half a day every day focusing on individual attention for skill development and comprehension in their chosen Specialty Camp.
Adventure Village (Rising 8th – 10th GRADE, Ages 13 – 15)
Adventure Village holds a special place in the hearts of our teens and is often cited as the place where their best memories and deepest friendships were made. Adventure Village, affectionately referred to as “The Point,” or “ADV” offers teen campers the opportunity to have a camp community of their own. Cosby teens eat all meals provided by our food service staff at the beautiful Virginia Markle Pavilion* and enjoy many evening campfires in the center of their village. A few activity periods are set aside each week for leadership development and teamwork activities called Cosby Leadership Experience (CLE). Through CLE, teen campers have the opportunity to grow in character and develop life skills which prepares them to move into the LIT and CIT Programs (CIT/LIT Page). Along with CLE, Adventurers will also have the opportunity to sign up for their favorite activities and participate in the exclusive Adventure Village waterfront party on Fridays. You will Check-in and Check-out your camper at ADV. It is simple and easy. During Check-in parents will need to visit the dining hall in main camp to see the nurse should your camper have any medications for the week.
Adventurers are old enough to register for Specialty Camps! Adventurers can participate in Mini Bikes, Waterski/Wake Surf/Wakeboarding, and Wrangler Specialty Camps. Specialty Camp campers spend half a day every day focusing on individual attention for skill development and comprehension in their chosen Specialty Camp.
WHAT’S SO AWESOME ABOUT ADV?
- A sense of community where teens can interact and have fun.
- Cabins with Air Conditioning (Cabins do not have bathroom/showers)
- Meals are provided by our food service staff at the ADV open air Pavilion*
- ADV Bathhouse located close by to the cabins for bathrooms and showers
- Teen based programming and Leadership skill building
- ADV Store with drinks and snacks
- Supervised chill/hangout time that Teens enjoy
- High expectations for ADV teen campers to interact with each other with the greatest respect, openness, caring and understanding. Inappropriate actions and or conversations will not be tolerated.
*Virginia Markle Adventure Village was dedicated on May 26, 2006 to the memory of Virginia Talbot Markle, 1993 – 2004. Camp Cosby was Virginia’s favorite place to be in the whole world! She and her brother made it a family tradition to attend the first session of camp each summer. Her last summer was 2004. Tragically, Virginia died in her sleep from an unknown aneurysm a week after returning from camp. Her mother found an un-mailed letter in her camp trunk, that still had not been fully unpacked. Virginia wrote, “I wish our family could move to Camp so I can come whenever I want. I can’t wait to see you, but I don’t want to leave if you know what I mean.” Virginia will never have to leave again, and the Virginia Markle Adventure Village will be part of Camp Cosby forever. Virginia is missed, loved and remembered.
Cosby Specialty Camps (RISING 4th – 10th GRADE, Ages 9 – 15)
Campers age 9 to 15 can enhance their stay by registering for a Specialty Camp. Specialty Camps options are Mini Bikes, Wakeboard/WakeSurf/Waterski, and Wrangler. Specialty Camp campers stay onsite with campers their age and participate in all regular camp activities with a special emphasis on their chosen specialty. Half of their activity periods for the week will be reserved for their chosen Specialty Camp. For an additional fee, this is a great way to focus on skill development in some of Cosby’s favorite programs. Learn More! Mini Bikes, Wrangler, Wakeboard/WakeSurf/Waterski,
Leader in Training “LIT” (RISING 10th GRADE, Age 15 BY MAY 20th)
This two-week program is specifically designed for campers who show potential to someday be a Camp Cosby counselor, a positive role model for children and a leader among peers. This introductory program teaches these young adults the first steps of how to be responsible for others. Learn More
Counselor in Training “CIT” (RISING 11th GRADE, Age 16 BY MAY 20th)
This two-week program is specifically designed for young adults who show potential and are interested in someday being a Camp Cosby counselor, a positive role model for children, a child care professional and a leader. This advanced program teaches these young adults all aspects of being responsible for others in a camp setting. Learn More
Weekend Stayover Camp – NOT A STAND ALONE PROGRAM
Campers staying at Camp Cosby for back to back sessions don’t have to go home! Campers have the option to go home and return between back to back sessions but if you would rather stay with us then Weekend Camp is an option. Enjoy the weekend with us in smaller groups, doing activities only available during this time and re-energize for the next session. Stayover weekend is only for campers staying for back to back sessions and is NOT offered as a stand-alone program. NOTE: PLEASE PACK ENOUGH CLOTHES FOR TWO WEEKS IF PARTICIPATING IN A STAYOVER SESSION!