YMCA Camp Kilworth Grand Reopening: A New Chapter Begins
Last updated: May 13, 2025, at 6:51 a.m. PT
Originally published: May 10, 2025, at 6:07 a.m. PT
After years of care, collaboration, and restoration, Camp Kilworth officially reopened on May 7, 2025—for the first time as a site for YMCA of Greater Seattle programming. At the kick-off event, the Y welcomed more than 150 community members, youth, families, and volunteers to a place that has meant so much to so many. Once a beloved destination for outdoor exploration, this 25-acre forested shoreline in Federal Way is entering a powerful new chapter for renewed discovery—and the community showed up in full force to celebrate.
The air buzzed with excitement as visitors mingled and explored the camp grounds. Laughter echoed through the trees as old and new friends shared their Camp Kilworth stories and swapped memories of campfires, hikes, and summers past.
This event marked the completion of Phase One in Camp Kilworth’s restoration—a major milestone that included the installation of critical utilities, a new caretaker house, an ADA accessible welcome center and restroom facilities, the restoration of an open-air theater facing Dumas Bay, a maintenance shop, and activity areas designed to support both camp programming and environmental learning. The upgrades ensure the camp is ready to safely and sustainably welcome youth back into nature, beginning with YMCA Day Camp this summer.
The afternoon program brought together partners and community leaders who shared what this land—and this moment—meant to them.
John F. Vynne, a YMCA of Greater Seattle Board Member and Eagle Scout, opened the program with reflections on his own journey through scouting and the outdoors. His message centered on the power of nature to build resilience and connection, especially for young people.
Dan Murdoch, Forterra’s Senior Director of Property Management, spoke about the importance of protecting land not just for its ecological value, but for the relationships it fosters between people and place. He acknowledged Forterra’s role in acquiring the land and ensuring the property’s sustainable future through a renewable 50-year lease to the Y—entrusting the camp’s stewardship to an organization rooted in youth development.
When Washington State Senator Claire Wilson stood to speak, she brought both policy perspective and personal experience. Senator Wilson championed state funding that supported acquisition and protection of Camp Kilworth, and continues to advocate for future investments to help bring the full vision for Camp Kilworth to life. In her remarks, she shared stories of her own children and the need for equitable access to green space—especially for young people living in apartments or neighborhoods without nearby parks or forests.
“Young people don’t necessarily have that opportunity when they live in places where there isn’t a green belt or a space to find bugs,” she said. “This place is incredibly important.”
Throughout the program, gratitude echoed. The Kilworth Environmental Education Preserve (KEEP) was honored for decades of advocacy to protect this land for community access. Among its many accomplishments, KEEP brought the case for historic landmark designation to the King County Landmarks Commission. This was achieved with the help of grants from 4Culture and the WA Trust for Historic Preservation.
The Greater Federal Way Chamber of Commerce was thanked for its warm welcome of the Y into its community, and ongoing partnership. Recognition was also given to GLY Construction and Miller Hayashi Architects, whose thoughtful work is helping reimagine what’s possible on site.
Dignitaries in attendance included King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer, Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, and City Councilmembers Susan Honda and Jack Walsh—each of whom came to support and celebrate this moment with the community.
Before inviting guests on guided tours, Loria Yeadon, YMCA of Greater Seattle President & CEO, captured the spirit of the day and the journey ahead:
“Camp Kilworth is about more than a place—it's about possibility. It’s about what happens when a community comes together to restore something meaningful, to make room for joy, growth, and connection. And now, we get to pass that gift on to the next generation.”
This summer, YMCA Day Camp will return to Kilworth. And thanks to so many hands and hearts, the next generation of campers will write new stories here—on land that’s now protected, restored, and alive with possibility.