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Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA

Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA

Chimney Corners Camp Life

Life at Chimney Corners

Since 1931, campers have come to Chimney Corners seeking fun, challenge, and friendship. Our traditions and values extend over 90 years and are foundational to our camp spirit. Singing in the dining hall, cabin chat, campfires, our candle lighting ceremony, and the final banquet and awards presentation are all important parts of every camper’s experience at Chimney Corners.

CABIN LIFE

Chimney Corners is made up of three groups of about 12 cabins called Units, which are grouped by camper grade level. At Chimney, the cabin group is a camper’s “family,” their Unit is their “neighborhood,” and the full camp is their community. These camp structures have been intentionally developed over time to support campers throughout their experience with us. Each cabin houses eight campers and one to two counselors who work, eat, and play together for four weeks. Campers participate in cabin activities in the mornings and evenings, planned sometimes by staff and sometimes by the campers themselves. These might include a game of gaga ball against a neighboring cabin or an evening walk around Smith Pond. Afternoons allow campers a choice of activities based on their individual preferences, with three 50-minute activity periods six days a week and two hour-long free period blocks. This schedule allows your camper to work on relationship-building, problem-solving, and independence as a member of the camp community and as an individual.

Typical Day at Chimney Corners

  • 7:30 am Rise and Shine!
  • 8:15 am Breakfast followed by cabin clean-up
  • 9:15 am Morning Activities. Cabin groups (with counselors) participate together in an activity. These activities will vary throughout the session.
  • 11:15 am Free Time - waterfront, camp store, program areas open
  • 12:00 Lunch followed by Siesta (Rest period)
  • 1:50-2:50 pm: Activity period 1
  • 2:50-3:50 pm: Activity period 2
  • 3:50-4:50 pm: Activity period 3
  • 5:00 pm: Free time
  • 6:00 pm Dinner
  • 7:30 pm Evening Activities - Cabin, Village or full camp depending on the night
  • 9:00 pm Cabin chats and lights out

CCC Values & Goals

Lining the walls of the Chimney Corners Dining Hall are our Values and Goals. These values, while adjusted over time, have been a part of camp life since 1931. Campers will find that these values and goals are woven into the fabric of camp — from showing good sportsmanship and caring for others in your cabin groups, the mottoes are at the core of who we are.

CCC Goals

  • Healthy Living
  • Empowering Ourselves and Others
  • Leading & Learning
  • Positive Relationships
  • Social Responsibility

CCC Values

  • PACE — Positive Attitude Changes Everything
  • Open Circle — Everyone Welcome
  • Agape — Living a life of unconditional love for all

Cabin Chat

Cabin chat is a central part of the daily rhythm at Chimney Corners. Each night before bed campers gather in their cabins by candlelight and reflect on a question as a way to unwind and connect more deeply with each other. From silly questions about favorite fictional characters to deeper questions about campers’ hopes and dreams, cabin chat offers campers space to reflect and connect.

LOOK INSIDE

Our spaces are intentionally rustic and comfortable. Take a look at our spaces to get a feel for what life is like at Chimney Corners Camp.

Trips & Special Events

Hikes & Overnights

The two youngest units as Chimney Corners participate in on-camp overnights at one of our lean-tos around the lake, complete with campfire cooking and s’mores.

 

All units enjoy a day hike as well, with our oldest two units hiking local trails in the Berkshires and our youngest unit doing a hike on one of the trail systems across our 1,400 acres.

Events

Each session, cabins put on an a capella dance routine for the entire camp in an event called Wiff ‘N Poof (first session) and Song ‘N Sign (second session.

 

Other events include: talent shows, 5k color runs, carnivals, musical performances, “spirit wars,” dance parties, and more.

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Thomas Moore

Elected 2026

Tom Moore is Global Head of High Yield at Invesco, where he has worked since 2016, with responsibility for the firm’s high yield fixed income strategies in Europe and North America. Prior to Invesco, he was a managing director in Morgan Stanley’s Fixed Income Division, which he joined in 2004 in New York before relocating to London in 2007. He holds an AB in history from Harvard, a master’s degree in modern history from Oxford, and an MBA in finance and economics from Columbia; he attended high school at Hopkins School in New Haven, CT. He serves on the boards of Harvard’s Signet Society and St. Marylebone Parish Church in London.

A former Becket camper himself, Tom has two children and a niece who are current participants at Becket and Chimney.

Emily Gunn

Emily has joined the year-round team after five years of being a seasonal summer staff member. A local resident, Emily enjoys the changes of pace that the seasons bring to the Berkshires. In the colder months, she enjoys crocheting, cooking, and baking. In the warmer months, she enjoys hiking and exploring with her husband and three kids (when they aren’t at Chimney!) You can also find her reading or painting whenever she finds the time. In the workplace, she prides herself on her organization and drive for efficiency. Her favorite part about camp is making connections with so many friends from all over the world. Emily looks forward to getting to know more camp families and colleagues in her new role!