YMCA Camp Cory is one of the oldest camps in the State of New York; however, its predecessor was a Rochester YMCA camp called Camp Iola. Since Camp Iola was founded in 1892, including this as a part of Camp Cory's history places it among the oldest continually running resident camps in the nation. At current, it would appear that Camp Cory is the seventh-oldest camp in the world. Camp Cory's sailing program utilizes mainly JY15s, which have all but replaced the much older Wright-built K-Boats acquired by the camp in the 1950s. K-Boats, named after the famous Kohinoor Diamond, are no longer manufactured. Although its fleet has been significantly reduced in recent years, Camp Cory once had – and possibly continues to have – the largest fleet of K-Boats in the world. In 2008, the camp received a donation of two J-24 boats. The camp draws its attendance predominantly from Rochester and its suburbs, although campers often come from Syracuse, Buffalo and other towns in New York. In the past, campers have come from such places as Missouri, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia, Florida, Columbia, Sweden, Brazil, Spain, and Japan. Camp Cory uses a significant amount of new media and social media in its advertising and in keeping in contact with parents and alumni. For example, photos of all-camp games and evening programs are sent out via Twitter, as they occur.
Summer camp
Villages
Campers are both male and female, and may be anywhere between 7 and 15 years of age. 7-10-year-olds are predominantly assigned to Craig Village, 11-12-year-olds to Wells Village, and 13-15-year-olds to Walmsley Village. 11-15-year-olds who wish to participate in an intensive sailing program live in Maijgren Village, on the waterfront. All of the villages are named after persons who once attended or who significantly affected the camp. In addition to the resident camp program, Camp Cory recently added a Day Camp for children ages 5–12, drawn from the local community and from families vacationing on Keuka Lake. Villages are to help campers get to know children their age.
Leadership program
16- to 17-year-olds can participate in a 3-week Counselor-in-Training program. CITs live for two weeks in the Mangurian Leadership Lodge, a 32-bed, fully winterized building built in 2005. During that time, CITs shadow counselors, learn valuable leadership and childcare skills, and participate in a team-building work project. For the second two weeks of the CIT session, the CITs are placed in cabins or in Day Camp, essentially acting as apprentice counselors. Exceptional CITs are sometimes invited to remain at camp for the summer as unpaid Interns.
Capacity and facilities
Camp Cory has a capacity of over 220 beds. In recent summers, there have been around 1300 camper-weeks registered per summer. Camp Cory's facilities are expansive, including three waterfronts, a three faced climbing wall with a zip-line, an archery range, an outdoor amphitheatre, tennis courts, open fields for athletics, and outdoor basketball courts. Camp Cory also owns a sizable amount of land in Guyanoga, a hamlet north of Branchport, New York, and purchased additional land at the site in 2010. A parcel of land, directly to the south and adjacent to the camp, was added in 2014.
Renovations
The summer of 2008 saw renovations of the Leroy Health Lodge as well as the addition of a high ropes course. In 2009 the camp built additional staff housing along the northern edge of the camp, as well as an alumni-overnight cabin in Junior Village. In 2009 and 2010, the camp office – one of the oldest buildings on the property, dating back to the early 1920s – was renovated extensively.
Notable alumni
Teddy Geiger – Musician
A.J. Kitt – Olympic downhill skier
Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. – Former owner of the Boston Celtics
