The Moody Foundation awarded YMCA Camp Moody, an 85-acre outdoor adventure preserve and summer day camp located along Onion Creek in Buda, $10 million to fund infrastructure development and support Phase Two of the camp’s master plan.
The Moody Foundation is a Galveston-based charitable organization dedicated to empowering Texas communities, according to its website.
The overview
The Greater Austin YMCA announced the Moody Foundation’s gift on Nov. 10. The grant will fund the development of a new central dining hall and utility infrastructure needed to expand operations and support future facilities, according to a news release.
Since opening in 2020, YMCA Camp Moody has welcomed over 4,000 summer day campers, said Shaq Brown, Greater Austin YMCA chief operations officer. The grant funding will help support major developments, allowing the camp to serve 150 more day campers, a 75% increase.
“Ultimately, our goal is to provide as many outdoor camp experiences as we can for our kids in the summer to ensure that the working parent has access to high-quality, affordable childcare in the Central Texas area,” Brown said.
The Moody Foundation’s grant will fund the construction of a nearly 15,000-square-foot dining hall and electrical, plumbing, water and wastewater systems to support overnight cabins, community gathering spaces and leadership facilities planned in Phase Two of the camp’s master plan, according to the release.
“Our long-term vision for YMCA Camp Moody is to become a comprehensive outdoor adventure destination,” Brown said. “A lot of campers are looking for an overnight camp experience that's not too far away from home, but gives the kids a chance to unplug, have a different experience and build their confidence.”
Phase One of the master plan made year-round programming possible for YMCA Camp Moody, according to the release, including:
Day camps
Outdoor education
Archery
Climbing
Team building
Community events
Looking forward
Over the next two months, YMCA Camp Moody will be working through the planning and development process for Phase Two of the master plan and the development projects funded by the $10 million grant, Brown said.
"The Moody Foundation has been an incredible partner from the very beginning, and everything they have contributed has helped make YMCA Camp Moody possible, from their 2018 landmark grant to this additional gift, which will allow us to move into Phase Two of our master plan,” Brown said. “We’re so grateful for their contribution."
The camp will share construction milestones as it moves through the Request for Proposal, or RFP, process with different vendors, Brown said.
“There is a need in the greater Central Texas area to have more overnight camps, and our families have pushed for that,” Brown said.
