About Us

Camp Wiyaka is a traditional summer camp in the beautiful hills of Richmond, New Hampshire. We offer a variety of activities for boys and girls to choose from. We use our waterfront for swimming, a variety of games, sailing, canoeing and kayaking. We have an art lodge that we use daily for a variety of craft projects as well as drama programs. Our Memory Lodge is used mostly for rainy day activities, and the occasional rainy night camp fire, but can also be used for basketball games, table tennis, or dancing. Most of our sports and games occur throughout the camp area, as well as in the field nearby. Hikes are taken to local areas, including the 100 foot ledges, Royalston Falls, and Mount Monadnock.

Campers stay in platform tents, with up to 6 other campers and 2 staff members. Meals are eaten family style in our dining hall.

 

The Goals and Objectives of Camp Wiyaka

  • To stimulate the development of each camper's self-esteem and provide opportunities for personal growth.
    • Each camper will choose at least three of their own activities per day.
    • Campers will participate in getting-to-know-you games during the first 24 hours of camp.
    • Staff will provide campers with positive reinforcement and encouragement throughout their time at camp.
    • Each camper will be responsible for the care, location, and state of their personal items.
  • To help each camper develop an appreciation and respect for their natural surroundings.
    • Each camper will attend nightly campfires.
    • Each camper will have the opportunity to participate in a nature walk daily.
    • At the beginning of each week, staff will discuss with campers the importance of taking care of their natural surroundings and how to do so, such as picking up litter, staying on the trails, conserving water, and respecting property.
  • To allow each camper to experience group living.
    • Campers will participate in meals served family style.
    • Campers will live in platform tents with other campers and staff. Each tent will be responsible for working as a group to keep their area clean, set their table and steward meals, and follow general camp procedures.
    • Each camper will participate in at least one activity daily with their tent mates.
    • Each camper will participate in at least one all-camp activity daily.
    • Campers will attend and participate in nightly campfires.

Meet the Camp Wiyaka Directors!

Camp Wiyaka is led by the sister-in-law team of Nekr and Mary Jenkins.

Nekr Jenkins is married (to Mary’s bother ) and has 3 children, who attend daily camp activities. She is a long time YMCA member, volunteer and employee, starting with Nursery School in Rochester NY, she has been a record holding swim team member, and volunteer for YMCAs in 3 states. She has attended YMCA summer camps in the Finger Lakes and the Adirondacks regions of NY, and BWCA and Quatico region of Minnesota/ Ontario Canada. Nekr is a graduate of Warren Wilson College, with a BA in Outdoor Leadership. She has 2 decades of experience working with children from a variety of backgrounds. She has worked in many different settings, including day camps, traditional residential camps, social work, ropes courses, swim instructor/ coach, after school programs, and adventure programs. During the school year Nekr can be found at the Athol Area YMCA, where she is the full time Aquatic Director.

Mary Jenkins is a fifth/sixth grade teacher in Barre, Massachusetts. She previously worked as a first grade and fourth grade teacher and with children for several years in a variety of capacities. Mary holds a Masters of Education in Elementary Education from the University of New Hampshire and a BS in Family Studies from the same school. Mary was a camper at Camp Wiyaka from 1990 to 1996 and worked there as the Art Director and Assistant Camp Director prior to being the Co-director. She has been a long time member of the Athol Area YMCA. Mary takes pride in providing campers with meaningful experiences similar to her own.

A note from the Directors:

As long time campers, we know that the memories that are created during a summer away at camp can last a lifetime. These are memories that will be with you forever. It is our goal to make these memories as happy for each camper as possible. Whether that means spending an extra moment with a home sick young camper, or teaching an older camper a new swimming activity, or helping any camper learn something new about themselves.


We know how important your child’s safety is to you. Not just physical safety, but social and emotional safety as well. It is our goal to keep each child entrusted to us safe in every way possible. This will include having medical staff at camp each day, as well as having all of our staff certified in basic CPR and first aid. This will also mean having staff trained in conflict mediation and resolution. We are available to campers, staff and parents 24 hours a day when they have a problem, or concern, as well as to join in their daily joys of being at camp.

Mary & Nekr Jenkins