From Fort Worth to Sweden: YMCA Leader Shares Camp Innovation on the Global Stage
YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth’s Eddie Norgard Selected for Prestigious International YMCA Campacity 2026 Exchange in Sweden
The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth is proud to announce that Eddie Norgard, District Executive Director of Youth Development, was selected to participate in YMCA Campacity 2026, an elite international professional exchange held April 13–20, 2026, at YMCA Camp Brevik in Sweden.
Campacity is one of the most selective professional development opportunities within the YMCA camping movement. Each year, only 20 YMCA professionals from the United States are chosen from more than 210 overnight camps and thousands of day camps nationwide. Norgard’s selection reflects both his professional expertise and the national recognition of YMCA Camp Carter and the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth for excellence in innovation and program outreach.
Campacity 2026 at YMCA Camp Brevik brought together YMCA camp leaders from across Europe and the United States for immersive learning, collaboration, and cultural exchange focused on strengthening camp programs and expanding their impact for youth and families worldwide. The program was initially created in response to the Ukraine / Russia War to insure peace building efforts across youth programs in Europe and worldwide.
As part of the international experience, Norgard and YMCA Camp Carter were recognized for exceptional marketing of camp programs. Norgard was invited to present to the European YMCA delegation of forty, sharing insights on marketing tactics, digital engagement philosophies, and sales mechanisms that effectively connect families with camp and youth development programs in today’s digital environment.
“It was an honor to represent YMCA Camp Carter and the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth on an international stage,” said Norgard. “Participating in Campacity allowed us to exchange ideas across cultures while reinforcing how strong, mission‑driven programming helps ensure more families can access life‑changing camp experiences as we strive to build a better world For All.”
In his role, Norgard provides strategic leadership for youth development across the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth, including:
- YMCA Camp Carter
- YMCA Youth Achievement Services, including 55 afterschool sites across six ISDs
- YMCA Youth and Government
- Reach & Rise® Mentoring Program
- Ella McFadden Early Learning Center
- 13 YMCA day campsoperating in schools and YMCA branch locations throughout the region
Collectively, these programs serve more than 30,000 youth annually, supporting working families throughout the greater Fort Worth area—from Alvarado and Godley in the south to Saginaw and Azle in the north.
Norgard brings more than 10 years of interdisciplinary YMCA experience and is an American Camp Association (ACA) accreditation visitor and licensed child care director, ensuring strong alignment with national best practices in quality, safety, and program excellence.
