Camp Hazen YMCA

Last updated
Camp Hazen YMCA
Formation1920 (1920)
TypeSummer Camp
HeadquartersChester, Connecticut, USA
Coordinates 41°23′58″N72°29′44.35″W / 41.39944°N 72.4956528°W / 41.39944; -72.4956528
Executive Director
Denise Learned
Camp Director
Kath Davies
Affiliations
Website www.camphazenymca.org

Located on 150 acres on Cedar Lake in Chester, Connecticut, Camp Hazen YMCA provides youth camping for over 1500 boys and girls each year from throughout the state. Group camping includes over 6000 participants annually. Camp Hazen YMCA serves youth from throughout Connecticut, New England and many states around the country. Each summer, Camp Hazen YMCA is also home to campers and counselors from more than 25 different countries. Campers come from all socio-economic backgrounds, and range in age from 5 to 18. Over 800 campers were provided with financial assistance in 2009. These funds, over $205,000, were provided by individuals, foundations, businesses and service clubs.

Contents

Camp Hazen YMCA has a 27-member Board of Directors. In addition, there are seven standing committees including: Executive Committee; Marketing and Communications; Board Development; Resource Development; Program; Building and Facilities; and Alumni Development. Camp Hazen YMCA was recently listed as one of the best value camps in the northeast by the Boston Globe. [1]

History

In May 1919 The State YMCA voted that “Steps should be taken at once to secure a suitable site and equipment for the character development of the boys in Connecticut in connection with the advantages and favorable aspects of camp life”

Having grown up in the next town Senator Edward W. Hazen knew of a property, then known as the Stodt Farm, which would be a perfect place for a camp. In March 1920 he purchased the original 29 acres on Cedar Pond. The State YMCA honored him by naming the camp, Camp Hazen and in the summer of 1920, the first camping sessions were held. Pop Stanley was the first Camp Director. A building on the site, Stanley Lodge, was named after him. The first summer was a success with boys from 10 to 20 years of age from around the state attending. The boys built their own tents, did calisthenics drills in pajamas, swam, attended chapel, played sports, had tents inspection and siesta

In 1940 'Pop' Stanley retired after 20 years of service as the Camp Director and because of the uncertain times associated with the War and rebuilding, they didn't have another long-term Director until Archie Knowles in 1948. During World War II finding counselors was a tough assignment because so many of them had been drafted to fight. For some campers, it was not unusual to wake up and find their counselor packing their belongings and heading off to 'boot camp'. Quite often the only replacements for the staff were the older campers and sometimes this was thirteen-year-old boys. After the war ended in 1945, camp flourished under Archie Knowles' leadership. The introduction of a leadership program, which was based in Oskalee Village, as well as a permanent teen trip program were some of the most significant program changes of this era. In the seven years that Archie was the Camp Director he managed to restore many of the facilities, expand the program and stabilize their finances. He is honored today by Knowles Lodge.

Howard Bunting was appointed director in 1955 and, along with his wife, began the longest era of directorship in Camp Hazen history. Mr. and Mrs. 'B' were camp administrators for 22 years and were witness to major events such as the naming of Junianta, Mosakwa, Sachem and Tamarack Villages, the first night of the summer of 1967 when the Dining Hall burned to the ground, the replacement of the old cabins to the ones seen today and the Independence of Camp Hazen YMCA from the State YMCA of Connecticut

When Mr. 'B' retired in 1977 he was honored by having the Bunting Dining Hall named after him. His successor, Russ Gormley was instrumental in developing the horseback program, the ropes course program, the naming of Tamarack Village and the biggest change in Camp Hazen YMCA history, going co-ed. The first female Executive Director, Sue Edmonds, was appointed in 1988 followed by Tim Millbern in 1995 who started the popular day camp program. Since 1999 Denise Learned has led Camp Hazen YMCA with the same focus as all of her predecessors, to 'help youth develop valuable life skills through camping experiences that build healthy bodies, open minds, and awakened spirits.' During this time the co-ed Village Onandaga was formed, allowing 10th grade campers to keep coming back to camp. All of the cabins have been updated and a Post & Beam Maintenance Barn was added. [2]

Resident Camp

Hazen offers a traditional overnight camp for kids who entering grades 3 through 10. The resident campers are split into five villages by both gender and age. A typical day of camp includes breakfast, cabin cleanup, activity periods one, two, and three, lunch, siesta, activity periods four and five, free time called Beach Party, dinner, an evening activity and cabin chat. At the beginning of each session, the campers get to preference their activities the allowing each child to tailor their experience to their liking. Activities include but are not limited to Rock Climbing, Ropes Course, Hiking, Drama, Radio, Archery, Tennis, Basketball, Soccer, Softball, General Water Sports, Instructional Swimming, Recreational Swimming, Arts and Crafts, Mountain Biking [3] The staff to camper ratio is 1:4. Overnight camp is offered in one or two week sessions. [4]

Day Camp

Campers participate in: Creative Arts - crazy critters, clay models, dream catchers, face painting, nature art and more Land Sports - Basketball, kickball, volleyball, archery, capture the flag & parachute games Outdoor Pursuits - fishing, outdoor cooking, shelter building, climbing the wall Water Sports - Swimming lessons, canoeing (for all), kayaking (for older campers)[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

The Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA consists of Camp Becket, Camp Chimney, and Becket Day Camp, all of which take place in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts during summer. Camp Becket and Camp Chimney identify as boys-plus and girls-plus, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Dudley, YMCA</span>

Founded in 1885 by Sumner F. Dudley, Camp Dudley is the oldest continually running boys camp in the United States. It is located in Westport, New York, on the shores of Lake Champlain. In 1993, it was included within the Camp Dudley Road Historic District when listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Camp Timanous is a summer camp in Raymond, Maine. It offers a traditional program of land and water activities, aimed at developing "Body, Mind, and Spirit". Camp Timanous is both a progenitor of the Maine sleepaway camping tradition and industry and is one of the oldest continually operating summer camps in America. In a typical summer, some 40,000 children participate in youth summer programs, mostly at one of Maine's 200 licensed summer camps, such as Camp Timanous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">YMCA Camp Cory</span> Summer camp in New York State, U.S.

YMCA Camp Lawrence Cory, better known as "YMCA Camp Cory" or simply "Camp Cory," is a resident-style summer camp in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. It was founded in 1892 and established at its current location in 1921. The name comes from Lt. H. Lawrence Cory, an American World War I soldier who was killed in action.

Frost Valley YMCA is a camping, environmental education, and conferencing center located in Claryville, New York, part of the Catskill Mountains. Founded in 1901 as Camp Wawayanda, the camp moved to its present location in 1958.

Camp Tousey was a YMCA summer camp located about two miles (3 km) from the village of Redwood in Jefferson County, New York in the United States, and about eight miles (13 km) from Alexandria Bay, New York, a small resort town on the St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands area. The camp was operated by the Syracuse, New York YMCA for many decades during the twentieth century. Non-Christians were not excluded from the camp and many attended. The camp comprised 500 acres (2.0 km2) wooded on the shores of Millsite Lake and of Sixberry Lake and also included Royale Island on Millsite Lake, just offshore from the main camp. The terrain was rugged, with a tall rocky cliff backing the buildings of the main camp, clustered along Millsite Lake. Standing atop the cliffs provided an expansive view of the camp and of Millsite Lake.

Raquette Lake Camps is a pair of summer camps located in the center of the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, west of Lake George and south of Lake Placid. Raquette Lake Girls Camp and Raquette Lake Boys Camp are two of the oldest, continuously-operating summer camps in existence. Widely regarded as one of the premier summer camps in the United States, Raquette Lake Camps enroll around 400 campers each summer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Cove YMCA Camp</span>

Big Cove YMCA Camp or Big Cove, is a residential camp for children aged 6–16 located in Sutherlands River, Nova Scotia. The camp is the oldest residential camp in Canada, founded by what is now called the YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth in 1889. It is located on a 100-acre peninsula on Merigomish Harbour in Pictou County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">YMCA Camp Fitch on Lake Erie</span>

YMCA Camp Fitch is a year-round camp in North Springfield, Pennsylvania, owned and operated by the YMCA of Youngstown, Ohio. Prior to 1914, all summer camps operated by the YMCA of Youngstown were experimental and temporary in nature. Since its founding in 1914, Camp Fitch has hosted campers every year to date. Originally a program of the YMCA's downtown branch, Camp Fitch now exists as a YMCA branch owned by the YMCA of Youngstown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Billings</span> United States historic place

Camp Billings is a co-ed, summer camp on Lake Fairlee in West Fairlee and Thetford, Vermont, United States. Accredited by the American Camp Association, it was established in 1906, and is open by boys and girls between the ages of eight and sixteen. In 2006, it was listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.

YMCA Camp Belknap is an all-boys summer resident camp in Tuftonboro, New Hampshire, on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. Founded in 1903, on Winnipesaukee's Timber Island, in the shadow of Belknap Mountain, its likely namesake. Relocated to Tuftonboro in 1907, this boys' camp was owned and operated by the New Hampshire YMCA until the demise of the state Y in 1996. It is now an independent non-profit affiliated with the national Y. Belknap celebrated its 100th year in operation in 2003, making it one of the oldest continuously operating camps in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Airy</span> Boys Jewish sleep away summer camp

Camp Airy is a Jewish sleep away summer camp located in Thurmont, Maryland at the edge of the Catoctin Mountain Park. Boys between the ages of 7 and 17 attend for one to seven weeks, depending on their age and interest. Airy is a fully accredited member of the American Camp Association. Camp Airy is the brother camp to Camp Louise.

YMCA Camp Tecumseh Outdoor Center is located in Indiana near the towns of Brookston, Indiana and Delphi, Indiana on the Tippecanoe River. The closest large city to Camp Tecumseh is Lafayette, Indiana, which is just across the Wabash River from West Lafayette. Camp Tecumseh was established in 1924 when citizens of Delphi raised $3000 to purchase the land which lies on a bend on the Tippecanoe river. The camp is named after Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief. Camp Tecumseh is fully accredited by the American Camping Association and currently serves over 4,000 campers every summer from throughout the midwest USA and the world. Camp Tecumseh is also open throughout the year, providing an Outdoor Education service for schools and a facility for retreats and conferences of all kinds. The facility serves over 30,000 people per year. It is an independent YMCA branch and is operated independently of other metro YMCAs.

Camp Greystone is a Christian summer camp for girls located near Tuxedo, North Carolina in the Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina. The camp offers sessions ranging in length from 1 week to 5 weeks for girls ages 5–17. Sessions begin in late May and continue through mid-August.

Camp Watonka was a residential summer camp for boys aged seven to sixteen in Wayne County, Pennsylvania from 1963 to 2019. It was the only science camp for boys accredited by the American Camp Association in the United States. Accommodation was in traditional cabins with modern bathrooms and electricity. Campers could stay for two, four, six or eight weeks.

Camp Anokijig is a residential youth summer camp located in Plymouth, Wisconsin on Little Elkhart Lake. Founded in 1926 by the Racine YMCA, Camp Anokijig is now independently owned and operated by the non-profit group Friends of Camp Anokijig, and operates year-round. Camp Anokijig is accredited by the American Camping Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Wekeela</span>

Camp Wekeela is a 293-acre sleep-away summer camp on Little Bear Pond in Hartford, Maine. It is a traditional resident summer camp for boys and girls ages 7–16, in season from June to August with an estimated 280 campers and 135 employees each summer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Ralph S. Mason</span> Summer camp

YMCA Camp Mason is a YMCA summer camp located in Hardwick Township, New Jersey. The 650-acre site is located next to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Camp Mason annually serves approximately 800 campers in its summer camp programs, and 7,000 participants at its outdoor center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">YMCA Camp Wanakita</span>

YMCA Wanakita is a camp located on Koshlong Lake near Haliburton in central Ontario, Canada. It is run by the YMCA of Hamilton, Burlington and Brantford and attracts campers from throughout Ontario and sometimes internationally. The name "Wanakita" comes from a legend of the Wendat people.

Incarnation Camp is a non-profit, traditional year-round camp, retreat and education center located in Essex, Connecticut. The camp was established in 1886. It is the oldest co-ed, continually operated camp in the United States. Each year, Incarnation hosts thousands of children and adults from across the US and around the world.

References

  1. ↑ O'Leary, Janice. "Value Camps - The Boston Globe". Boston.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ "QuickMenu Save Document". Archived from the original on 2011-11-13. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
  3. ↑ "Summer Camps & Programs on CampChannel.com". Summer Camps & Programs on CampChannel.com.
  4. ↑ "Choose a Camp > Summer Camps > Camp Hazen YMCA". Archived from the original on 2011-09-12. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.