With the help of a $4,981 grant from the Winona Community Foundation, the Winona Family YMCA has successfully revitalized its youth ropes course at Camp Wenonah. Helping fill an unexpected funding gap, the grant ensured the safe and continued operation of the course by completing a third-party safety inspection and certifying its staff in time for the opening of the 2025 camp season. Both the certification and the staff trainings ensured the course remained safe for the 220 campers who registered from across Winona County.
“Thanks to [the Winona Community Foundation’s] generous support, we were proud to introduce the ropes course to an entirely new audience this year: our preschool campers. For many of these 3- to 5-year-olds, it was their very first camp experience — and the ropes course and zipline stole the show,” shared Suzanne Redepenning, Grants & Fundraising Director at the Winona Family YMCA. Parents shared how their children came home beaming with pride and excitement, bubbling over with stories from their two unforgettable mornings at Camp Wenonah.
Another unexpected but welcomed outcome was a reported boost in staff confidence and readiness, thanks to the high-quality training experience. Staff reported feeling more prepared and capable during pre-season orientation. Based on the season’s overall success, Camp Wenonah has now integrated the certification and training into its annual budget to ensure the ropes course’s continuation for years to come.
An important part of the Winona Community Foundation’s mission is realized though awarding community grants to meet the ever-changing needs of the community. Funding for this program comes from generous people, like you, who invest in the community and the Foundation. Whether through direct donations, establishing endowments, or holding charitable funds at the Foundation, these diverse sources of funding are instrumental in supporting the community grant program. As a result, local nonprofits in the Winona area greatly benefit from this program, which has become an essential asset in meeting the needs of the community.
