In 1928, Willard L. Wade (leader of the Covington, KY YMCA) was looking for a way to provide a positive summer experience for the young people of Greater Cincinnati. He shared his vision with United States Senator Richard P. Ernst, who donated funds for the first 80 acres of Camp Ernst located in Burlington, KY.
On Wednesday, June 27, 1928, 40 boys from the Covington YMCA arrived at Camp Big Bone (in the area which later became Big Bone Lick State Park) to begin their summer adventure. Three groups spent a total of five weeks there under the leadership of Willard L. Wade and his staff.
After two summers, former Senator Richard P. Ernst purchased 80 acres near Burlington, KY so the Covington YMCA could have a permanent home for its camp. Renamed Camp Ernst, it welcomed the first campers to the new site on June 25, 1930.
Daily Schedule (from 1928)
6:15 “Reveille”, Setting Up Exercise, Morning Dip
6:30 Flag Raising
7:00 Breakfast
7:30 Chapel Service
8:00 Camp Work, Tent Cleaning
9:00 Morning Activities (Hiking, Fishing, Nature Study, Archery, Etc.)
11:00 Morning Swim
12:00 Dinner
1:00 Tent Inspection
1:15 Rest Period
2:00 Recreation, Athletic Programs
4:30 Afternoon Swimming Period
5:30 Supper
6:30 Campus Games
6:45 Flag Lowering (“Retreat”)
7:30 Campfire: Stunts, Songs, Etc.
9:00 “Taps”, Lights Out and Quiet for a Good Night’s Rest
“On Wednesday June 27, 1928, about 40 boys aged 14-18 were transported by truck to Camp Big Bone. They slept in six white canvas platform tents with seven boys and one leader per tent. All camp activities were done in tent groups and “the boys and their tent leader grew to become a real camp family” by the end of the session.
Wade was assisted by “a number of clean-cut Christian young men worthy of serving as leaders of boys.” Local ministers and business men were invited to spend time at camp to provide additional leadership. Also, each session, the boys would select a junior council to assist Wade and to help keep standards high.
In addition to the platform tents, the facilities included a council ring, a baseball field, tennis courts, and a swimming area. The high school boys who attended that first session helped to complete all of these, plus a few bridges around camp. According to a 1929 article in The Kentucky Post, they worked in “such an unselfish way that Camp Big Bone was able to offer the nearly 150 boys who followed a camp program that could not be excelled by any camp in the state of Kentucky. Every one of those lads is loyal to the camp they built and dedicated in such a glorious way to the boys of Covington.” ”
– excerpt from The Memories We Shared: A History of YMCA Camp Ernst by our Camp Historian, Bryan McIntyre
ORDER YOUR COPY OF BRYAN’S BOOK HERE
Today, two swimming pools, a 28-horse ranch, and 40 cabins and other buildings accommodate more than 400 boys and girls ages 5-15 each week of summer camp; in addition to seasonal family camp sessions, assorted programs, and weekend events throughout the school year.
A quote from a 2018 article by Steve Flairty in the Northern Kentucky Tribune:
“Though camp life has evolved during the 90 years at the camp, Bryan [McIntyre] is somewhat philosophical about that certain magic that’s a bit hard to explain. “I believe the spirit or the essence or whatever you want to call it has remained a constant,” he said. “Visitors, some from quite long ago, note the changes; however, they also acknowledge that it is still camp—still home—still so full of memories. While there have been many serve on staff over the 90 years, there is just something about the kind of person who is drawn to work at a summer camp—people who understand what summer camping is all about—people who want to pass on the kind of childhood experiences they had at camp.” ”
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