For nearly 125 years Camp Jewell has brought people together and created connections that span generations. August 28-30, 2026 we will celebrate our 125th anniversary with a special reunion weekend here in Colebrook. It will be an opportunity for alumni and friends of Jewell to reconnect, rekindle old friendships and relive the camp spirit.

Camp Jewell was founded by the Hartford YMCA in 1901 on the shores of Tunxis Island in Long Island Sound with three tents, cooking utensils and a pair of rowboats. It was named after Colonel Charles A. Jewell, the president of the Hartford Y at the time, because he contributed $150 toward those supplies for that inaugural year of camp. By 1903, 75 boys attended and its now long-standing history was in the making. In later years Jewell moved to a larger site in Swanzey, NH where many of the boys took the train from Hartford and then biked, hiked or rode horseback for the last few miles to the camp. Jewell eventually outgrew its lakeside site in Swanzey and moved to Colebrook in 1955 where it has thrived ever since.

Our history is rich, but it’s the people who truly make Camp Jewell what it is today. Please mark your calendars and join us for a family camp styled weekend filled with fun, friendship and celebration. This will surely be another epic milestone in Jewell’s treasured history!