MORE THAN 60 WORKERS TO TRANSFORM CAMP THOMPSON IN ONE DAY AS PART OF CHARTER HOMES’ MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY

Community Partnership Will Bring a Team of Skilled Team Members to Carlisle Family YMCA’s Historic Camp as It Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary

[CARLISLE, PA – SEPTEMBER 1, 2026] – Camp Thompson is getting a major makeover—and it’s happening in just one day.

On Friday, September 11, more than 60 team members and trade partners from Charter Homes & Neighborhoods will descend on Carlisle Family YMCA’s historic Camp Thompson as part of Charter’s 2026 Make A Difference Day. The team will take on dozens of improvement projects throughout the 100-year-old camp, completing work that could otherwise take the Y years to accomplish on its own.

With skilled workers, equipment and plenty of elbow grease, the day will have the feel of an “extreme makeover” for Camp Thompson, transforming cabins, trails, gathering spaces and program areas while helping prepare the camp for its next century of serving local children and families.

“This is an incredible gift to Camp Thompson as we celebrate 100 years of creating memories and building stronger kids,” said Brittany Rose, Camping Services Director of the Carlisle Family YMCA. “There are projects around camp that we know need to be done, but with the day-to-day demands of operating a summer camp, it can take years to get to all of them. To have more than 60 skilled professionals come together in one day to tackle so much work is truly remarkable. We are incredibly grateful to Charter Homes & Neighborhoods and their trade partners for helping us get Camp Thompson ready for its next 100 years.”

The projects planned for the day include:
• Improving roads and drainage
• Creating a new 22-by-22-foot concrete pad for pickleball, games and other activities
• Refreshing the Nurse’s Station with new paint and flooring
• Painting and refreshing camp signage
• Clearing and trimming trails and roadways
• Repairing fence posts
• Power washing and sealing campfire benches
• Adding climate-control units to the Dining Hall and kitchen/pantry
• Deep cleaning the Dining Hall and Program Building
• Tuning up camp bikes
• Refreshing cabins, including new ceiling lighting, enclosed ceilings and more
• Digging out and rebuilding fire rings
• Installing new counters in the bathhouse, along with power washing and cleaning

The work comes at a particularly meaningful time for Camp Thompson, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026. For a century, generations of children have spent summers at Camp Thompson learning new skills, making friends, trying new adventures and building memories that last a lifetime.

Charter Homes & Neighborhoods selected Camp Thompson as its 2026 Make A Difference Day community partner for Central Pennsylvania, recognizing the camp’s lasting impact on the community.

“We are honored to partner with Camp Thompson as it celebrates its 100th Anniversary,” said Greg Hodecker, President at Charter Homes & Neighborhoods. “Camp Thompson represents the kind of lasting community impact that Make A Difference Day was created to support. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the next chapter of the camp’s impact.”

A Day Worth Seeing

The scale of the project—and the transformation that will take place in a single day—will make September 11 a unique opportunity for local media to see community partnership in action.

More than 60 skilled Charter team members will be spread throughout the camp tackling projects simultaneously, creating a before-and-after transformation across the property. From construction and repair work to landscaping, cleaning, painting and facility improvements, the day will offer numerous opportunities for photos, video and interviews.

WHAT: Charter Homes & Neighborhoods Make A Difference Day at Camp Thompson
WHEN: Friday, September 11, 2026 beginning at 8am
WHERE: Carlisle Family YMCA’s Camp Thompson – 800 Pine Grove Road, Gardners PA 17324
WHO: More than 60 Charter Homes team members and trade partners, working alongside Carlisle Family YMCA staff
RAIN DATE: Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Media interested in covering the project are encouraged to contact Vice President of Marketing & Community Engagement Michelle Bell at 717-243-2525 ext 220 or mbell@carlislefamilyymca.org to coordinate a visit and interview opportunities.

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About Camp Thompson
Camp Thompson, operated by the Carlisle Family YMCA, has been a summer tradition in the Carlisle community since 1926. For 100 years, the camp has provided children with opportunities to explore the outdoors, build confidence, develop friendships and create lasting memories. As Camp Thompson celebrates its centennial in 2026, the Carlisle Family YMCA is committed to preserving its legacy while preparing the camp to serve generations of campers to come.

About Charter Homes & Neighborhoods
Charter Homes & Neighborhoods is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where its teammates live and work. Through Make A Difference Day and other community partnerships, Charter brings together its team members and trade partners to invest their time, talents and resources in organizations that strengthen Central Pennsylvania communities.