BLACKHAWKSAhwahnee · Ecke YMCA
Ahwahnee Father/Son Adventure Club · Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA

More than father & son camping.

Making lifelong memories and friendships.

New dad? Start hereSee the campouts
Blackhawks hawk logo
01

The tribe

Welcome to the Blackhawks, proud father & son camping tribe of Magdalena Ecke YMCA Adventure Clubs, Ahwahnee Nation. We're a group of dads and sons who get together throughout the year for campouts, outdoor adventures, and a lot of time around the fire.

But camping is really just the excuse. The important part is creating dedicated time for dads and sons to do things together that they'll remember. Our boys get to explore, take a few risks, learn new things, make friends, get dirty, stay up a little too late, and experience the outdoors alongside their dads. No camping expertise required.

Adventure

Getting our boys outside, trying new things, and giving them experiences they don't get every day.

Friendship

Building relationships between the boys, and between the dads.

Dad + Son Time

Creating dedicated time away from the normal schedule to actually do things together.

Traditions

Campfires, ceremonies, campouts, stories, and the little traditions our boys will hopefully remember for years.
ChiefJohn Cox
Home baseCarmel Valley
SchoolsBarnard Elementary, Design 39, Ada Harris, Pacific Trails, Rancho Bernardo Middle, Meadowbrook Middle
MottoOnce you go Blackhawk, you'll never regret it.
Zip codes92130, 92037, 92122, 92127, 92007, 92128, 92064, 92109

Greetings from the Chief

My name is John Cox and my son Hudson and I have the privilege of leading the Blackhawks this season as Chief and Mini-Chief. This will be our fourth year camping with the tribe and it is by far our favorite activity to do together. It has been amazing to see Hudson learn independence, responsibility, and friendship over these past few years and I'm excited to make more incredible memories with everyone in our group.

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How a Blackhawks campout works

With 10-15 dads at each campout pitching in, setup, cleanup and cooking is honestly a breeze.

01

The trailer brings the kitchen

Plates, cups, silverware, grills, cleaning supplies: it's all in the tribe trailer. You bring your own camp setup.
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We divvy it up

The week before each campout we get together to talk weather, activities and jobs: Water Warrior, Drink Warrior (welcome drink for dads), and meals (Fri dinner, Sat/Sun breakfast, Sat lunch).
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Midnight meat

We always fire up a late-night grill on Friday and Saturday. It's award-winning. Just ask us.
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Braves, patches & beads

The boys are called "braves" and earn more patches than anyone can remember. And bead trading: a small tackle box of trinkets the boys swap all weekend. Even the older ones who swear they're done still do it.

What to pack

Tent (we're in cabins at Marston and Camp Surf) · sleeping bag · sleeping pad · headlamps · camp chairs
Nerf guns for the kids · bikes when the site allows · a bead box for your brave
A dad cup. Adult beverages aren't "permitted," so keep anything grown-up out of sight and in your cup. The Y sends a rep to each campout.

Tribe dues

$200"Wampum," once per dad: our shared account for plates, cups, silverware, propane and more. You can wait until your second campout to get a feel for it first.
$15Trailer fee per campout you attend, saved up so we can buy a new trailer every few years.

Buying something for a tribe meal? Hang onto the receipt (a photo works) for the tribe treasurer.

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2026-27 season

Come to as many as you like: attendance is optional, and coming for just one night is fine too (the Y charges the full rate either way).

Official Adventure Clubs pageAhwahnee club site

04

New dad? Start here

The registration process is awkward as hell (the Y website makes the DMV feel like a breeze), but once you're through it you learn the quirks.

Step 1

Log in to the Y

Register or log in at the YMCA registration site and create profiles for you and your kids.
Step 2

Annual Ahwahnee registration

Register for the Ahwahnee club for yourself and your boy(s). Pick Blackhawks as your tribe.
Step 3

Pick your campouts

Register and pay for each campout you want. The Y's cancellation policy is forgiving: cancel before the start date for a credit or refund.
Step 4

Say hi to the chief

Get in touch with John and he'll add you to the tribe group chat and get your brave set up with beads.
Is there a season pass?Yes. The season pass is 15% off the combined cost of all campouts. Register for the club first, then buy the pass. It doesn't include Sweetheart Ball, and there are no refunds for missed events.
What does annual registration cost?Per the Y: $0 for Y-member adults and $100 for non-member adults. Kids are $0.
Can I bring an RV or camper?Depends on the site, but usually yes. Hookups vary from camp to camp.
Can I come for just one night?Yes, plenty of dads do when they have a daytime conflict. The Y charges the full rate regardless.
What's family camp?The last campout of the year (Vail Lake) is open to families, so bring siblings, wives, partners and anyone else.
Where do I get a vest?Most dads and sons buy a leather vest to show off their patches. You can buy them at Camp Marston in February.
Need help with costs?The Y's Patrick Sullivan Dream Catcher Fund and ACCESS Financial Assistance help families attend. See the Adventure Clubs page.
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Blackhawks swag

Rep the tribe. Click any item for current pricing and details.

Blackhawks T-ShirtT-ShirtAmazon Blackhawks Long-Sleeve ShirtLong-Sleeve ShirtAmazon Blackhawks Adult HoodieAdult HoodieAmazon Blackhawks Youth HoodieYouth HoodiePrintify · $62.82 Blackhawks Retro HatRetro HatPrintify · $30.56 Blackhawks Trucker HatTrucker HatPrintify · $20.68 Blackhawks BeanieBeaniePrintify · $25.43

See more at the Blackhawks shop

Printify prices as listed on Oct 14, 2026 and may change. Amazon pricing is shown on Amazon.

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Contact the chief

Questions about the tribe, gear, or whether to haul something to the next campout that we already have? Ask first. Message, call or text the chief anytime.

Email the Chief
blackhawkschiefsd@gmail.com

Hoya Hoya! (You will hear this chant. A lot.)