Frost Valley YMCA Wins Sustainability Award

04/30/2015

Frost Valley YMCA became the first in New York State to receive Hospitality Green’s “Green Concierge: Silver Tier” award for its commitment to sustainability during the second annual Green Tourism Conference, on April 15, 2015. The conference aimed to promote eco-tourism throughout the Catskill and Pocono Mountain Regions, and Frost Valley’s CEO Jerry Huncosky was a keynote speaker.

By implementing new strategies for a greener future, Frost Valley has graduated from a Bronze Tier — achieved in 2011 — to Silver Tier, the second highest honor in the Green Concierge (GC) Project conceived by Hospitality Green, a New York-based consulting firm specializing in environmental and operations consulting services.

“Green living is an integral part of our mission at Frost Valley YMCA, and we offer several programs that teach children and families about water conservation, home energy audits, environmental protection, food sustainability — both through choosing ethically sourced food and by composting, and much more,” says Frost Valley CEO Jerry Huncosky. “We are honored and privileged to receive this recognition as we continue our path to a more sustainable future.”

To attain a Silver Tier certification, Frost Valley has included new achievements to its list of green policies, such as facility energy audits, staff training on sustainable practices, better water conservation, and more, in addition to its current standards, which include:

Energy-efficient LED and CFL light bulbs throughout camp, with motion sensors in most low traffic areas
Recycling and composting
Practicing forestry conservation
Using Green Seal-certified, nontoxic cleaning products, as well as EcoLogo soft tissues and paper towels made from recycled content.
Sourcing local produce whenever possible, offering food that contains zero trans-fats, and using ethically sourced food whenever possible, including rBGH-free milk, Fair Trade coffee, and poultry and meats without antibiotics.

To learn more about Frost Valley YMCA’s green efforts and achievements, please visit our Sustainable Practices page.

In photo, from left: Two members of Hospitality Green provide Director of Operations Tom Holsapple and CEO Jerry Huncosky with the Silver Tier award.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Frost Valley YMCA

Frost Valley YMCA is a 5,500-acre, year-round camp - There's something for everyone here in the Valley. From group and family retreats to overnight camps to horse camps to teambuilding, we've got you covered. School groups love taking a three-night field trip to explore the natural world and learn about the environment and their classmates. Family weekends are the perfect getaway for the young and the young at heart. Teambuilding retreats afford corporate, collegiate, religious, and other groups the opportunity to challenge themselves and effectively work toward common goals. In the summertime we're where kids and teens gain independence, explore the world, and make lifelong friends through various camps such as traditional sleepaway camp, farm camp, horse camp, adventure trips, and day camp. Call (845)985-2291 or email info@frostvalley.org to learn more today!