Camps in Tepoztlán, Part One: Camohmila

This is the story of my experiences living as an ex-pat in Mexico since 2003. It's to culminate in a published book. With your help, I'll be editing, selecting a title, and cover art: a participatory project. Your comments encouraged!

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Don Karp

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September 5, 2022

Camps in TepoztlánPart one: Camohmila

Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. The most used feature at Camomela is the swimming pool. Here we see children on the way there. Photo by author

Camps are one kind of park, or outdoor recreation area. In Tepoztlán, there are two major ones within the city limits. This article is about the YMCA camp, Camohmila. It is located towards the eastern end of a major street leading out of town, about a ten minute drive from the center. It encompasses a major tract of land.

Its most popular feature is a large swimming pool that anyone can use for a very small daily fee. It has a wide variety of other features that we will explore here.

Layout

Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. The entrance to Camp Camohmila. Clockwise from upper left: the gate, guard house, the path going in, list of rules, parking area. Photo by author

Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. This is the map on a sign at the incoming path to the camp. Photo by author

Infrastructure

Here are some of the buildings on the site:

Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. A sampling of some of the buildings at Camp Camohmila. Photo by author

This is an important place for any camp: the infirmary.

Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. The infirmary at Camp Camohmila. Photo by author

Signs and Artwork

Camohmila has signs for different purposes: to welcome people and tell them what's available at the camp, to help locate different areas, provide rules, and plaques designating donors.

Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Different types of signs posted at Camp Camohmila. Photo by author

Here are some murals cleverly executed by campers on the walls of a building.

Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Murals on the walls of a building at Camp Camohmila. Photo by author

Activities

Aside from the swimming, mentioned earlier, Camp Camohmila provides many activities. These include rides for the younger children, and an obstacle course and climbing wall for the older ones.

Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Colorful rides delight younger children at Camp Camohmila. Photo by author

Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. A challenging obstacle course for the older children. Photo by author

Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Climbing wall at Camp Camohmila. Photo by author

Nature

What would a camp be without nature and opportunities to celebrate it?

Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Magnificent trees at Camp Camohmila. Photos by author

Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Facilities for cookouts and water at Camp Camohmila. Photo by author

More to Come

Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. An arch separating two areas at Camp Camohmila. Photo by author

We've come to the end of our exploration of Camp Camohmila. But this is not the end of this series of articles on outdoor recreation facilities in Tepoztlán. The previous blog displayed parks in Tepoztlán. Part Two, covering camps within the town borders, will feature a boy scout camp. This camp is one of the major ones in Mexico, hosting international jamborees. Don't miss it!

And don't forget to pick up your clothes after swimming:

Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Clothes left by swimmers at Camp Camohmila. Photo by author

.Comments

Please email me your comments: [email protected]

I will post them here with your name unless you ask to be anon.

Interesting article and good photos. Can anyone use the swimming pool... a casual adult, not a member, during the day? Special hours? What is the fee?

--Maria Espinosa

Thanks, Maria for your comments/questions. Yes, any adult can use the pool without membership. I can find the specific answers for you if/when you plan to come here. The cost is very low and there is an almost all day schedule for adults. Since I do not use the pool, I do not have that information, but can easily obtain it for you.

--Don

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