YMCA Camp Ravencliff — Local services in Fortuna

I went to Ravencliff in 1975,1976,1977,1978. I had a very good time there. I would ask my mom to book me 2 weeks each summer. Made a lot of friends. I loved swimming in the south fork river. We used to jump off the cliff on the other side of the river. We use to jump from the highest part of the cliff to show off to the girls, it was 25 feet high. I bet they wouldn’t allow it today. They had a speaker horn on the main building and would blast rock music and fun music like monster mash music while swimming. When done swimming you would go to the water Fountain and drink the ice cold fresh spring water from the well. The food back then was good coming out of the old kitchen, especially breakfast every morning, all you can eat with hot chocolate, milk or kool-Aid. After dinner you would clean up for the night and after we would all go to the camp fire pit and sing. There was always someone playing guitar. The counselors would tell spooky stories and by then it was dark. Great times! Friends and I went up two times to help build new cabins and maintenance for YMCA in the spring 1979-1980 before camp open. Those cabins are probably...

This camp now in it's centennial year of operation is an overnighter week long YMCA camp in the redwoods that offers the experience of a lifetime for children and teens. There is a program for leadership training as teens take on cabin counselor roles. The spirit of community, music, self reflection, and nature immersion provide personal growth and values that help create caring and well rounded little citizens of your kids!! Sending your children and teens to Camp Ravencliff is the best decision you may make as a parent. Food is great. Camp staff highly professional and...

Great memories of my summer there in 1962. Even the bus ride from the Richmond YMCA was a blast. I attended because my father also had attended Camp Ravencliff in 1940. No tennis courts or lawn, and no swimming pool, we swam in the river, even had swim lessons in the river. It was all outdoor activities, swimming, hiking, archery, crafts, even had a rifle range where with parent permission we could shoot 22’s to qualify for a Jr Marksman badge. Times change. The camp session concluded with a 26 mile hike to the ocean and camping out for a night or two on the...