Fall into Fun at YMCA of the Ozarks

As kids head back to class and summer becomes a distant memory, time for fun and family is often harder and harder to come by. Between work, school, and extracurricular activities, fall is a busy season for St. Louis families – making it an excellent time to escape for a relaxing weekend getaway.

YMCA Trout Lodge and Camp Lakewood, collectively known as YMCA of the Ozarks, is the perfect place to do just that. Nestled on 5,000 acres of rolling, tree-covered hills in Potosi, and situated on a private 360-acre lake, the year-round, not-for-profit family resort, conference center, outdoor education center, and summer residential camp is a peaceful destination for families in need of some quality time together.     

“Because of our beautiful surroundings, visitors to YMCA Trout Lodge and Camp Lakewood feel like they are vacationing a world away, even though we’re located only 90 minutes south of St. Louis,” says Executive Director Nelson Bagnardi.

Even more enticing for parents, both Trout Lodge and Camp Lakewood offer a variety programs that are jam-packed with family-friendly activities, as well as indoor and outdoor entertainment.

“The property is home to a working horse ranch and more than 40 recreational and high-adventure activities,” Bagnardi continues. “With all of this and per person rates that include lodging, three meals a day, and most activities, YMCA of the Ozarks is a very unique destination for families.”

One of the more unique programs offered at YMCA of the Ozarks this fall is Family Camp at Camp Lakewood. Usually, it’s only the kids who get to enjoy all that Camp Lakewood has to offer, but over Labor Day Weekend (from August 30 – September 2), parents are invited to get a taste of summer camp too.

During the three-day program, families will have the opportunity to swim, ride horses, sing songs around the campfire, play games, get crafty together, and more. All food, activities, and events are planned, and there’s even the option of bunking with other participating families in the camp cabins.           

“Family Camp is really great for parents who never went to camp and want to see what it’s all about before sending their kids,” suggests Bagnardi. “It’s also great for parents who went to Camp Lakewood as a kid and would love to relive those childhood memories,” he adds.

Another fun option – particularly for horse enthusiasts – is the Horse Overnight program at the property’s Triangle Y Ranch. Guests ages 10 and over can spend an evening with the cowboys and cowgirls, where they will enjoy a two-hour trail ride on a trusty steed, dinner and breakfast cooked over an open campfire, and rustic cabin lodging. Upcoming Horse Overnight dates are September 7-8, September 28-29, and October 5-6. Horse Overnights can also be scheduled upon request.      

For families looking for lots of fun but less of a schedule, weekly theme programs at Trout Lodge offer plenty of planned activities – all of which can be enjoyed at your own pace. Visitors get to choose between hotel-style accommodations in the cozy lakefront lodge or a private family cabin, and lodging, buffet-style meals, and most activities are included in the per person daily rate.   

Fall 2013 theme programs at Trout Lodge include:
• Endless Summer (September 6-15) – Enjoy summer a little bit longer with sunshine, boat rides, and a Saturday evening Luau on the beach.
• Pirate Adventures (September 20-29) – Map making, a pirate costume contest, and a gold rush are just a few of the week’s adventurous activities.
• Wacky Science (October 4-13) - Build beach volcanoes, discover what happens when you mix Mentos with Diet Coke, and enjoy lots of other science-themed fun.
• Great Pumpkin Jamboree (October 18-20) – New this year, guests are invited to celebrate the fall season jamboree-style, with pumpkin carving, live music and square dancing, carnival games, and more.
• Halloween Weekend (October 25-27) – Trout Lodge gets spooky with Haunted Hayrides, trick-or-treating, and other hair-raising family fun.
• Wild, Wild West (November 1-10) – Try your hand at leather branding, roping, and prairie cooking, take a pony or trail ride, and kick up your heels at one of the nightly barn dances.
• The Great Outdoors (November 15-24) – Nature hikes, trail rides, and tower climbs are perfect outdoor activities in the crisp fall air (especially when there is hot chocolate waiting at the end.)
• Thanksgiving in the Ozarks (November 27-December 1) – Don’t feel like cooking? Join the many families who have made Thanksgiving at Trout Lodge an annual holiday tradition.

With so much to see and do, YMCA of the Ozarks is one of the most family-friendly destinations in our area. And in addition to its various planned programs, pleasant fall weather means there are still many more outdoor activities for parents and kids to enjoy while visiting.      

“Fall is such a beautiful season at Trout Lodge,” says Bagnardi. “Beyond all the extra themed-activities, guests can still enjoy our year-round activities like archery, riflery, mini-golf, tennis, sand volleyball, trap and skeet, tower climbs, zip line, and horseback riding. Pontoons and other boat rides are seasonal, but still running though the fall depending on the temperatures.”

“Whatever the season, whatever the reason,” he concludes, “YMCA Trout Lodge and Camp Lakewood is the all-out fun place for memorable family vacations, reunions, retreats, and more.”

To learn more about the programs offered at YMCA Trout Lodge and Camp Lakewood, visit www.ymcaoftheozarks.org or call 314-241-9622.

Photo courtesy of YMCA Trout Lodge.