The Boothbay Region YMCA is proud to announce the completion of Phase One improvements to the connecting trail between Camp Knickerbocker and the Baldwin Center. The trail is a long-established part of Camp Knickerbocker and we have been fortunate to be able to partner with the Boothbay Region Water District (BRWD) and the Kennebec Trail Company to fund an upgraded trail that:

Is more accessible to our youngest and differently-abled program participants * Improves circulation between the Baldwin Center and Camp Knickerbocker, reducing the need to bus our children back and forth from Baldwin and Camp Knickerbocker * Creates formal emergency access and egress in support of our Emergency Action Plan * Protects Knickerbocker Lake by installing structures and practices that reduce erosion and runoff * Incorporates environmentally sensitive wetland crossings and features to protect sensitive areas of the natural environment.

This project, to be completed in four phases, is being implemented in a way that honors Knickerbocker Lake through innovative and conservation-minded construction methods provided by the Kennebec Trail Company. Based in Bath, the Kennebec Trail Company is a professional trail-building firm specializing in the design and construction of accessible trails and stone and timber structures to connect local communities to the lands and waters around them.

This project is another successful collaboration the YMCA and BRWD have made possible by BRWD’s Lake Friendly Grant Program, supported by the Maine Drinking Water Program’s Source Water Protection Grant Program. Since 2015, the YMCA has collaborated with the BRWD at Camp Knickerbocker on several projects to improve our campers' experiences while enhancing the protection of Knickerbocker Lake. Phase Two of the trail project, to be completed in 2024, will create a boardwalk crossing over a wetland, which is the most challenging section of the trail for construction and our program participants

Rose Mooney, the Y’s Director of Facilities is thrilled with this news. “We have been wanting to improve this trail for our campers for 10 years. I’m really happy about the construction of this bridge because the kids are going to love exploring the woods and trails around Camp Knickerbocker. I am so excited to continue working on the next phases of the project so we can realize our vision.”

If anyone is interested in partnering with the Y to provide needed funding for the next phase of this conservation project, please contact Allyson Goodwin, YMCA Director of Development, at agoodwin@brymca.org.