Camp Mar-Y-Mac was a summer residence camp along Dinkey Creek in the Sierra Mountains east of Fresno, California, which functioned from 1951 until 1981. The camp was established by the YWCA of Fresno and named after Marian McKee, who was instrumental in its development."YWCA Dinkey Creek Camp is Named For Mrs. F. E. McKee", The Fresno Bee McClatchy. February 22, 1951, p. 8A
History In the late 1940s, the Fresno YWCA raised funds through Christmas bazaars and other fundraisers. The camp opened in July 1951 with four cabins, costing $300 each, donated by Fresno clubs."First 4 Cabins Are Completed at YWCA Camp", The Fresno Bee. McClatchy. December 3, 1949 The camp expanded over the years and eventually served 80 campers during each of six summer sessions. Typical camp activities were swimming, horseback riding, archery, arts and crafts, folk dancing, camp craft, camp lore, sports, music and drama. Camp brochures also list riflery, canoeing, world fellowship, conservation and astronomy.Camp Mar-Y-Mac brochure, 1968 Campers could elect to take a day hike to Bald Mountain, an overnight in the meadow north of camp, and a 3-day wilderness outing."Wild Names are back at Camp Mar-Y-Mac", The Fresno Guide. July 16, 1969 p. 10C During the 70s, the camp program expanded to include a coed Macateer session for younger children and a 9-day Dinkey Lakes Back Pack trip for older campers. Mar-Y-Mac added Labor Day weekend camping for family groups."WCA Camp: Fun Capital For Valley Youngsters", The Fresno Bee. McClatchy. August 24, 1971, p. E1 Churches and other organizations could also rent the camp for retreats or conferences.
In 1982, the almost certain prospect that a dam would be constructed led the YWCA to sell its buildings to the Kings River Conservation District.Nancy Benton, YWCA Executive Director, in letter dated January 7, 1986, to US Forest Service (on file at High Sierra Ranger Station) KRCD had plans to build a hydroelectric power-generating dam which would inundate over two miles (3 km) along the popular Dinkey Creek area with a lake, drowning not only Camp Mar-Y-Mac but the Girl Scout Camp, Camp Fresno, and a public campground at Dinkey Creek.Joint Study by Bureau of Reclamation and California Department of Water Resources “Dinkey Creek Reservoir Surface Storage Option Investigation Report “ October 2003 Legal challenges by environmental groups, especially SAFE (Sierra Association For the Environment), caused delays, but the dam progress was halted in the end by the lack of a buyer for the proposed electricity.“Hydro Projects Resurface”, The Fresno Bee. McClatchy May 19. 2001 The district had planned to use the Mar-Y-Mac cabins as housing for dam construction workers, but when the project fell through, all the buildings were bulldozed and the camp area was restored to its original primitive condition.Nancy Benton, YWCA Executive Director, in letter dated July 7, 1987, to US Forest Service (on file at High Sierra Ranger Station)
Since then, KRCD has given consideration to pursuing the planned dam on Dinkey Creek to provide electricity, but presently considers the project as "infeasible".KRCD website http://www.krcd.org/power/other_power_studies/dinkey_creek.html An environmental group, Friends of the River, has been lobbying to have Dinkey Creek designated as a Wild and Scenic River, which would forever protect the area from damming.Friends of the River website http://www.friendsoftheriver.org/site/PageServer?pagename=FORCalRiversDinkeyCreek KRCD opposes this designation.KRCD Position Paper, http://www.krcd.org/_pdf/pp_CaliforniaWildHeritageAct_rev2008-09.pdf Today, the only evidence that remains at Dinkey Creek of Camp Mar-Y-Mac is a triangle of rocks placed in the camp flagpole area and the outdoor chapel rock monument. (See links in References.) http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=140704130755&ref=nf
See also Hanshill YWCA Camp Davern List of summer camps
References
External links Dinkey Creek Friends of the River Video of Camp