Camp Jewell YMCA
Since 1901, Camp Jewell YMCA has facilitated lasting and meaningful relationships between campers, families, guests, staff and members of our camp community.
Our Summer Camp program gives young people an opportunity to learn independence, build self-esteem, and develop critical social skills that will lead them to future success.
Family Camps provide opportunities for families to spend quality time with one another, away from the distractions of technology and the rigors of everyday life.
School groups improve school climate through teambuilding, enhance classroom lessons through practical experiences, and raise achievement by adding a novel outdoor camp experience to their curriculum.
Countless community groups such as scout groups, churches and synagogues, mentorship programs, and the United Way use camp for a recreational escape. A recreational experience at camp allows participants to learn new skills, build relationships with others, and recharge in a relaxed and comfortable setting.
Set on 540 acres of majestic woodlands, our spacious facilities, lake with various waterfront activities, high and low ropes courses and cabins can accommodate groups of 10 to 500.
As a branch of the YMCA of Greater Hartford, all of our programs are intended to foster an appreciation for each other and the world around us through the YMCA core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility.
SUMMER CAMP
Summer camp gives kids the opportunity to gain independence and confidence as well as learn new life skills. Often kids at Camp Jewell discover that making new friends is easier than they may have thought and the friendships that come out of the experience, both peers and staff, are some of the strongest allies they will have as they take on adolescence. Campers realize that the perceptions of the kids at school are actually not what defines them as a person. If you ask a camper what they like about camp, 95% of them will say something about being allowed to “be themselves”. This is not by happy accident, this is a result of a culture that is accepting of all, diverse in nature, and built on the values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
Our nationally-known resident camp program provides youths ages 7-16 with an opportunity to feel a part of something bigger than themselves. To many kids, the world of today can seem overwhelmingly complicated to navigate. Camp Jewell reminds them all that success boils down to surrounding yourself with good people who actively show caring toward one another. Campers learn that every challenge is easier when you are confident in who you are as a person, and that this confidence comes from knowing you are truly cared about.
Camp can sometimes be a challenge to children who are new to the experience. Being in a brand new location, surrounded by hundreds of new faces and living with a brand new group of people for the next two weeks, who wouldn’t find that a little overwhelming? Our staff are expertly trained to not only assist our new campers in this adjustment, but ensure your child’s well-being and support them in their activities, and in making new friends. Parents tell us all the time “my child came home a different person”. We hear countless stories about how their kids have a renewed sense of self, that they are more willing to take on responsibilities, new challenges, and are genuinely happier both at school and at home.
Nothing will do more for a young person’s self esteem than allowing them to discover a love for something that they wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity to try at home. Our clinic instructors are chosen for their passion surrounding the activity and their desire to share that passion with others. Your child will have the opportunity to choose from over 40 different classes! Examples include; Arts and Crafts, boating, climbing, field sports, basketball, mountain boarding, mini-farm, outdoor cooking, fishing, guitar, drama, dance, outdoor survival, and many many more!
Kids leave Camp Jewell with more self-confidence, more resiliency, and with more of an understanding of themselves. We have been doing it for well over a hundred years, and we will be doing it for the next hundred years too..