YMCA and Voyageur Brewing Company Host Pints for a Purpose: LEGO Edition

Alex Gugala recently celebrated his first year in the role of Execu­tive Director for the Cook Coun­ty YMCA, but his connection to the organization spans more than a decade. After five years with the Y in Duluth, Gugala now lives in Lutsen—though he’s excited to be moving to Grand Marais this June after signing a new lease.

But what excites Gugala most is how naturally the YMCA threads itself into the fabric of Cook Coun­ty life.

“We’re so intertwined with com­munity,” he said. “It’s getting to work with the county and the school, and we have so many com­munity partners. It just feels super easy to make things happen here if you have the right people at the ta­ble.”

In Cook County, getting the right people to the table isn’t a challenge.

“People are so willing to help and so willing to play a role in creat­ing some sort of change or accom­plish something,” Gugala said. “It’s working with different people here that I find so enjoyable.”

Among those quick to lend a hand is Ritalee Walters, co-own­er of Voyageur Brewing Compa­ny, who came to Gugala hoping to help Cook County kids experience Camp Miller this summer.

“Ritalee Walters reached out to us and said, ‘Hey, I want to try to send kids from Cook County to YMCA Camp Miller,’” he ex­plained . “Her kid­do had such a great time and great experi­ence, she just wanted to send more people from Cook County, which is great!”

Gugala’s response? “Let’s try to fill a bus.”

YMCA’s Camp Miller, es­tablished in Ely in 1898, is the sixth-oldest camp in the nation, according to the Duluth YMCA website. In 1913, it was moved to Sturgeon Lake, where a 54-acre site was purchased for just $1,000. To­day, the camp welcomes over 600 campers of all ages each summer to its 342 wooded acres along a crys­tal-clear lake.

Campers can enjoy a variety of adventure activities, including rope courses, rock climbing, and horse­back riding. The camp also makes the most of its lake, offering swim­ming, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, and fishing. Additionally, there are hiking trails, environmental educa­tion programs, arts and crafts, and team sports.

At the heart of Camp Miller is its mission: “To provide positive, life-enhancing experiences for youth t h r o u g h activities that teach Y M C A core val­ues, de­velop life skills, and build char­acter in a safe, fun, and supportive outdoor setting.”

Aiming to send 30 campers to Camp Miller for an exclusive Cook County week, the YMCA has part­nered with Voyageur Brewing Company and Camp Miller’s Ex­ecutive Director, Ricky Wright, to make it happen.

“He’s amazing,” Gugala said of Wright. “He’s got 20 plus years of YMCA camp experience under his belt and has been a major driver in raising funds for kids to attend camp.”

Inspired by fundraising efforts in Duluth, like the “Pints for a Pur­pose: Lego Edition” event that sup­ports after-school care and financial assistance, Gugala is working to bring a similar—but uniquely lo­cal—event to Cook County.

“We thought, let’s try and do that here,” he said, emphasizing the goal of bringing a fun, community-driv­en event to Cook County.

In addition to enjoying pints at Voyageur Brewing to support the cause, attendees of the Cook Coun­ty YMCA’s Pints for Purpose event will also have the chance to partici­pate in a LEGO challenge.

“We’re going to have a LEGO challenge where you buy a cup of LEGOs and can buy more cups if you need extra pieces,” Gugala ex­plained. “We’ll scoop a random bin of LEGOs, and then participants will try to create some Cook Coun­ty features.”

The features include iconic lo­cal landmarks, such as the Spirit Tree, the Old Gunflint Sign, and the Headless Voyageur.

With something for everyone, the event promises fun for all ages. “Who doesn’t enjoy playing with LEGOs? Adults and kids can join in, while the adults relax after work. I think it’ll be a really fun event for everybody,” Gugala said.

Expressing his gratitude to Voya­geur Brewing Company and every­one helping with the event, Guga­la is confident it will be a success. “It’s not just the Y that’s making it happen. It’s the community,” Gu­gala said. “We have such a special community up here.

Put your LEGO skills to the test on Wednesday, May 7, starting at 5 p.m. for a good cause. Arriving ear­ly will give you a head start on your creations!

For more information visit duluthymca.org.