Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Nature Center

10/13/2026

🌲 Our October Newsletter Is Here!

This month we are sharing stories from across camp as we move into fall during our 75th anniversary year. Inside you will find details about HalloWoods later this month, updates from our school field trips and volunteer educators, information about Mustaches for Kids Lynchburg, and an invitation to hear Doug Tallamy speak in November.

We are grateful for the strength of this community and hope you enjoy reading this month’s reflections and opportunities.

Read the full newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/ckby/october-2026

10/12/2026

We are so grateful to our friends at Moore & Giles for making service at Camp Kum‑Ba‑Yah Nature Center part of their 4th Annual Community Giveback Day last month. Their team took the day to volunteer across Lynchburg, and we were honored to be one of the nonprofits they supported.

The Moore & Giles crew completed a number of projects that make a real difference for our campers and visitors, including garden cleanup, weeding the pollinator garden, pressure washing campsite boxes and the pool deck, taking down and storing campsite tarps, and sanding and staining picnic tables. Their hard work has helped us prepare our spaces for the seasons ahead.

We are thankful for their commitment to our community and for choosing to spend their Giveback Day with us at camp.

10/05/2026

🌲 Happy Birthday, Gage!

Today we are celebrating our Programs Director, Gage McAngus, and wishing him a very happy birthday. Before joining us at Camp Kum‑Ba‑Yah Nature Center, Gage was an educator, and for the past five years he has led our summer programs along with the many year round activities that make camp such a special place.

How lucky we are to have someone with Gage’s warmth, passion for education, and years of experience working with children here at camp. His leadership continues to shape the experiences our campers carry with them long after their time at CKBY.

Join us in wishing Gage a wonderful birthday.

09/11/2026

🌲 Thank You to Our Pollinator Garden Partners!

We are excited to share a few photos from the CKBY Pollinator Gardens this week. New signs arrived from our friends at Wild Ones Greater Lynchburg Area Chapter, who installed these pollinator friendly species at camp this spring as one of their garden design templates. Their plans are available on their website, and model installations around Lynchburg like the ones at CKBY offer a ready to plant design for anyone hoping to support pollinators in their own yards and gardens. You can find more information on their website.

We also want to thank our friend Kelly, a member of the Virginia Master Naturalists - Central Virginia Chapter, who has been so diligent in watering our beds throughout the summer. Her care helped this spring’s plantings get established and survive such a dry season. The Master Naturalist program is a wonderful way to learn more about the plants, animals, and ecosystems in our area and to get involved. We are grateful for their partnership and service at camp.

Thank you to everyone who helps these gardens grow.

09/09/2026

We are excited to share that Camp Kum‑Ba‑Yah Nature Center is one of the nonprofit beneficiaries of the Kiwanis Club of Lynchburg Shrimpfest on Saturday, October 3 along with our friends at Amazement Square and Miriam's House!

The Kiwanis Club of Lynchburg has been a longtime friend at camp. Their past projects include the shed that now houses our ropes and climbing wall equipment as well as improvements at the camp garden. Their support continues to make a meaningful difference for the children and families we serve.

Shrimpfest features all you can eat shrimp, delivered fresh that day from the North Carolina docks. Tickets can be purchased online at:
https://events.humanitix.com/11th-annual-kiwanis-club-of-lynchburg-shrimpfest

Thank you to the Kiwanis Club of Lynchburg for your long history at camp and your partnership in serving the children of our community.

09/08/2026

🌲Our September newsletter is now live!

This month we are sharing photos and the student film from August’s Ripple of Inclusion gathering, scenes from our 75th summer of camp, and opportunities to get involved this fall.

It has been a milestone year at Camp Kum‑Ba‑Yah Nature Center, and we are grateful to walk through it with our camp families and friends. We hope you enjoy this month’s stories and reflections.

You can read the full newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/ckby/september-2026

09/07/2026

🌲 Happy Labor Day from Camp Kum‑Ba‑Yah

Wishing all our camp families and friends a happy Labor Day. We hope you enjoy a fun and restful holiday weekend and find a little time to get outdoors.

The camp office is closed today for the holiday, and we will be back on site tomorrow.

09/04/2026

🌲 We have a small but meaningful update to share about our Keepers of the Woods Membership program. Every Keepers member receives two sticker decals to proudly show their support for Camp Kum‑Ba‑Yah Nature Center on a bumper or window. In the past, these stickers have always displayed the year of membership, which has been tricky since membership lasts for 365 days from the date of joining rather than by calendar year. For example, this time of year, we sometimes do not know whether to send a 2026 or a 2027 sticker.

To make things simpler and to avoid anyone feeling like their membership was cut short by a sticker that appears to “expire” before their renewal date, we are piloting a new design. The updated sticker celebrates CKBY’s long history by reading “est. 1950” instead of listing a specific year.

We hope this small change helps everyone feel fully recognized and appreciated throughout their entire membership period. Let us know what you think in the comments or reach out if you have any questions.

09/03/2026

We are thankful to The News & Advance for covering Saturday’s Ripple of Inclusion gathering at the Academy Warehouse Theater. Their article helps share this important local history with our wider community and lifts up the ongoing mission and legacy of Camp Kum‑Ba‑Yah Nature Center.

Ripple of Inclusion brought together three meaningful milestones in one place: Bev Cosby’s 100th birthday, the 75th summer of camp, and the 65th anniversary of the integration of the camp pools in 1961. We are grateful for the chance to honor these stories and for the support of local partners who help keep this history alive.

Article Link 🔗: https://newsadvance.com/news/local/education/k-12/article_03f0c208-8a51-450c-a951-ae6585a3ed70.html -source=home-top-story

Thank you to the News & Advance for helping our community celebrate the courage, welcome, and connection that continue to shape camp today.

Linkhorne Middle School students Sydney Huffman and Adalyn Sheaffer were recognized this past weekend for their award-winning short documentary on the 1961 integration of pools at Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Nature Center.

08/31/2026

We are excited to share even more photos from Ripple of Inclusion at the Academy Warehouse Theater. There were too many meaningful moments to fit into one post, so today we are sharing another set of images from this special afternoon.

Speakers for the event included former camper and former Lynchburg City Council Member Randy Nelson, former Lynchburg mayor Rev. Carl B. Hutcherson, and current Lynchburg mayor Larry Taylor, who presented a proclamation from the city celebrating the day.

We are grateful to our friends at the Lynchburg City Schools Education Foundation for making this gathering possible. Their support helped bring our community together to celebrate Bev Cosby’s 100th birthday, the 75th summer of camp, and the 65th anniversary of the integration of the camp pools in 1961.

We also want to thank Andrew Wilds Photography for capturing the heart of the day. His photos reflect the joy, connection, and history shared in the room.

More photos will be shared throughout the week as we continue to honor this milestone moment in camp’s story.