Why Campfires Still Matter

In a world that moves fast—where notifications never stop and screens often sit between us—something simple still has the power to bring us closer: a campfire.

It is not the fire itself that matters most. It is what happens when people gather around it.

For many, that feeling starts with a memory.

“Some of my strongest memories of belonging at the Y happened around a campfire,” said Curtis Lemieux, Director of Youth Development Strategy at YMCA of the USA (Y-USA). “I remember sitting side by side with my campers and fellow counselors, looking out over the lake while a campfire crackled in front of us. It felt quiet and powerful at the same time, like this was exactly where I belonged.”

Where everyone belongs

At the Y, belonging is something people truly feel.

For Laura Mahan, Director of Summer Camp Strategy at Y-USA, that feeling started on day one.

“I showed up at camp not knowing anyone,” she shared. “The minute I got out of the car, the returning staff greeted me. They welcomed me, knew my name, and showed me to my cabin.”

From that moment on, she said, “I’ve always felt like I was part of the team.”

That same sense of belonging shows up around the campfire.

“When someone says, ‘you’re welcome at my campfire,’ it means something,” Mahan added. “It means you belong. It means you matter. I want everyone in America to know they’re welcome at our campfire, because they matter.”

A natural place to connect

There is something about sitting around a fire that changes the way we interact. The glow draws people in, conversations slow down, and distractions fade.

“The whole idea of a campfire is about community,” Lemieux explained. “It’s a shared moment that’s both deeply local and part of something bigger. Each campfire is unique to its community, but together they tell a powerful national story about who the Y is and what we stand for.”

A tradition that still brings us together

Campfires are one of the oldest ways people have gathered, and the reason we return to them has not changed.

On July 22, Campfire Across America brings that tradition into the present moment. Ys in communities across the country—at overnight camps, day camps, and local branches—will gather on the same night, creating a shared experience rooted in connection, reflection, and belonging. Each campfire may look different, but together they form one national moment.

When Ys across the country come together on the same night, whether at an overnight camp, a day camp, or a local branch, that tradition comes to life in a new way.

“Ys all over the country, joining together to tell stories and sing songs and do all the things that bring people together—that’s building connected communities,” said Mahan.

“I hope it reminds people how meaningful it can be to gather with intention, slow down, and create space for belonging. And most of all, I hope it reinforces how the Y has always been, and will always be, a place where everyone is welcome,” Lemieux added.

Find a campfire near you at ymca.org/campfire