MIDDLEBORO — Not much has changed at Camp Yomechas since it was founded in 1922. Tisquapin Pond still borders the edge of the camp, cabins still dot the treeline, and most importantly, campers still spend their summers there.

Camp Yomechas is associated with the Old Colony YMCA. This year, about 350 campers, ages 4 to 15, have spent the past nine weeks horseback riding, swimming, climbing, crafting, playing sports and learning. With only a few weeks left until school starts, most are now fully immersed in summer fun — guided by 86 camp counselors.

“It's the best job,” said Camp Director Morgan Pritchard. “You get to play like a kid. I tell the counselors, if you're on basketball with your kids, you're playing basketball with them. If you're on art, you're making the project with them. You are in the mix too.”

Pritchard knows the experience well — she’s been coming to Camp Yomechas nearly her whole life.

“I started at camp when I was eight, and literally, I haven't missed a summer since. So if that says anything,” she said with a laugh.

She’s not alone. Many counselors at Camp Yomechas were once campers themselves.

Jackie, 17, now counsels a group of campers in the East Village, an inclusive program for children with physical or emotional disabilities.

“I was so excited to come back, because I just loved it when I was a kid,” Jackie said.

Zach Stark, 20, also attended Camp Yomechas as a child and now leads the Sioux Village, which includes 7 and 8-year-olds.

“They're at an age where they can do a lot of things by themselves, but they're also at an age where, like, everything's fun,” he said. “The 9 and 10-year-olds are a little bit older, so they're a little bit cooler,” he said, adding that his younger campers will still have dance parties with him. 

East Village is just one of several unique offerings at Camp Yomechas. Though the inclusive program began in 2016, the camp has seen recent upgrades, including a refurbished basketball court — courtesy of the Boston Celtics.

“We've definitely had some improvements from partnerships,” said Executive Director Julie Kennedy. “Our basketball court was done right after COVID, through a partnership with Arabella Insurance and the Celtics.”

The court now features a full-color Celtics logo at center court.

Another standout feature is horseback riding — a favorite among campers and, for some, the main reason they attend.

“You start at the basics,” said Jen Ketcham, who oversees the stables and riding program. “That starts with cleaning up the poop in the paddocks. They brush them, and then they put all their equipment on.”

After grooming and tacking up, it’s time to ride — usually a loop that takes campers past the ropes course and archery stands before circling back to the stables.

But it’s not all climbing, riding and swimming. Camp Yomechas also offers activities more similar to traditional school, including a science program introduced four years ago. Led by a “science performer,” the class has a playful, “mad scientist” vibe, according to Pritchard.

Campers conduct hands-on experiments and visit the frog pond to identify local wildlife — an academic addition that still aligns with the camp’s mission.

“We've tried hard to keep things traditional, but also move with the times and what the needs of the community are,” Pritchard said. “To watch the students thrive is pretty awesome. And archery — who gets to shoot an arrow all the time?”