125th anniversary

For almost 125 years, Camp Jewell YMCA has brought people together, creating connections that span generations. On August 29-30, 2026, we’ll celebrate Camp Jewell’s 125th anniversary with a special weekend here in Colebrook, CT.

 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, then the Hartford Y’s president, in part because he was the first to contribute $150 toward those supplies for the inaugural year of camp. By 1903, 75 boys attended the camp and its now long-standing history was literally in the making. In later years Jewell was moved to a larger site in Swanzey, NH where many of the boys took the train and then biked, hiked or rode horseback to the lakeside camp.

 Our history is rich, but it’s the people who have truly made Camp Jewell what it is today. Please mark your calendars and join us for a weekend filled with fun, friendship, and celebration!