Awards & Recognitions

As a part of NEYCC, we would like to recognize those camps and individuals who are helping to innovate, lead, and inspire our movement. Please nominate a fellow Camp Professional or program for a 2026 award.

Program Innovation Award

Awarded to a camp or individual responsible for creating excellent programming in correlation with any part of the YMCA mission: Healthy Living, Youth Development, or Social Responsibility. The program should be enduring and replicable to further the cause of the YMCA and show ingenuity and creativity in camp programming.

2016 – YMCA Camp Sloper, Southington-Cheshire Community YMCA

2017 – Lindsay Hutchinson, Frost Valley YMCA & Y-Knot Accessible Sailing, YMCA Camp Chingachgook

2018 – Zach Eigenbrodt, Frost Valley YMCA

2019 - YMCA Camp Sloper, Southington-Cheshire YMCA

2020 - Pat Gizinski, YMCA Camp Tockwogh

2023 - Gabrielle Lazarte, Camp Star at Hillsborough YMCA

2024 - Britney Bruno, Valley Shore YMCA

2025- Kate Russ & Eddie Norgard, Camp Dragonfly- Somerset Hills YMCA

Social Responsibility Award

Awarded to a camp or individual that demonstrates a commitment to Social Services, Global Services, Volunteerism & Giving, and/or Advocacy. This camp or individual has created a program, or, whose program as a whole, addresses the specific needs of their local or extended community; whose initiatives have a substantial impact with a small investment; or have undertaken a long term project that is continuously supported by the camp and/or YMCA association.

2017 - Claudia Soo Hoo, Merrimack Valley YMCA Camps

2018 - Trisha Kline, YMCA Camp Zehnder, The Community YMCA

2019 - Antonio Thornton, Bear Glasgow Family YMCA

2020 - Jessie Emmons, Frost Valley YMCA

2024- Camp Hazen YMCA

2025- Dave Leveille, Camp Rise

Rising Star Award

Awarded to an emerging leader in the camping industry who brings new ideas, creative approaches, a desire to learn, and a passion to the Y camping movement. Candidates will have not yet reached a senior-level position (no higher than camp director), but whose track-record reflects passion, success, maintenance of the YMCA core values and the potential for appointment to the highest levels of the profession. This individual should be a camp professional for no less than 2 years and no more than 5 years.

2017 - Zac Broomfield, Camp Frank A. Day, West Suburban YMCA

2018 - Heather Hayes, YMCA of Greater Rochester

2019 - Sarah Mikiewicz, YMCA of Greater Rochester

2020 - Cara Apsley, YMCA Camp Bernie

2023 - Ru Foster, Camp Sloane YMCA

2024- Shannon Sullivan, Camp Combe YMCA

2025- Sarah Dowd, Children’s Island Day Camp- North Shore YMCA

Legend In Camping

This award is a “capstone” award, recognizing an individual who has dedicated a lifetime of service in support of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility for the betterment of the camping profession. This person does not necessarily have to be in direct service or function at a programmatic level, for example, career marketers, registrars, human resources or other support role professionals who have had a lasting impact on the success of their respective camps are eligible for this award as well.  Please note that this is a rolling nomination process, and submissions will be considered for future conferences rather than being specifically tied to the upcoming event. Nominees should be either retired or approaching the later stages of their career, having already made substantial contributions over an extended period. .

2016 - Gary Forster

2018 - John Snowden

2019 - Debbie Parker

2020 - Philip Connor

2023 - Jerry Huncosky, Frost Valley YMCA

2024 - Dave DeLuca

2025- Jody Skelton

2026 - John Myers

In John’s words: "I had an incredible 37-year career in the Y movement.  What a blessing it was to have a career that matched my passion and values."

John’s first Y camping experience was being part of a team that created Camp Thunder Moon in 1982 with the Berlin-Kensington YMCA.  It was a lightning bolt of energy that developed a career long love of camping.

As good luck would have it, John moved on to the Southington YMCA as its Youth, Family and Outdoor Center Director with the opportunity to oversee the camping operations of the Sloper Outdoor Center.  With a phenomenal 143-acre property coupled with a fun and dedicated staff, inspiring volunteers and very generous donors John helped develop YMCA Camp Sloper into one of the most dynamic day camps in the northeast.

The day camp experience provided John with unique opportunities to thrive.  He was invited to be on the ICCP (International Camp Counselor Program) Advisory Board to recruit international counselors from around the world to serve in our local Y camps. This involvement was highlighted with a visit to Denmark, Estonia, and Latvia to conduct in-person interviews with prospective counselors to work at Y camps.  

Other highlights, in addition to witnessing the magic of Y day camping on a daily basis included helping to create Camp Yankee, (an annual training that brings over 300 counselors together to prepare for the upcoming season) and creating the CIT Jamboree: bringing our future leaders together for fun and lifetime learning.

John’s career continued within the Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs where he became the Executive Director and served in that role for 22 years before retiring at the end of 2018. Supported by over six hundred staff and eight hundred volunteers, the Y flourished during John’s tenure including the successful execution of three capital campaigns along with lots of programmatic growth in the Southington and Cheshire communities.

During his career, John served as Yankeee Cluster Coordinator for family programming, East Field Coordinator for family programming, mentor/coach for the YMCA Executive Director Institute, Faculty Trainer for Y Family Programs, Treasurer for the CT Alliance, and Chair of Cities Group Conference.

John was honored to be recruited and join other impactful community agencies including being a founder of STEPS (Southington’s Town-wide Efforts to Promote Success) a founder of Activate Southington and involvement in the Southington Interfaith Clergy Association, Southington Chamber of Commerce, Farm Heritage Committee, Juvenile Review Board, Lions Club, St. Paul's Housing Board, Southington CARES, Southington Renaissance, and Parking Authority Commission.

In retirement John has served on the CMAK Advisory Board honoring Chase Kowalski who lost his life in the Sandy Hook tragedy in 2012

John recently celebrated his 40th wedding anniversary with his wife Moira.  John and Moi have two children: Jack (age 29 and living in NY City) and Catherine (age 27 and living in Boston).  He enjoyed his time coaching his children in various youth sports and serving as president of the highschool cross country booster club.

Keeping busy in retirement has not been an issue for John.  Living in Ocean Park, Maine, John bought a push mower, weed whacker and a leaf blower, and started up a small landscaping business.  John is an avid runner and has completed 102 marathons and currently on a 5,029-day running streak. 

John is a big sports fan!  He is a huge supporter of the UCONN Huskies basketball teams (women and men), the Yankees, the Phillies and the Eagles (Fly Eagles Fly!)

And finally a shout out to John's mom who always encouraged everyone to live by the Golden Rule and to 'follow your dreams and enjoy the trip!'