FIRST TIME CAMPERS
Choosing the right camp for a first‑time camper sets the tone for their entire experience, shaping how confident, comfortable, and excited they feel about being away from home. When a family finds a camp that aligns with their child’s needs and personality, it creates the foundation for a positive first step into independence, friendship, and lifelong memories.
Should you send your child to Camp Hazen YMCA?
Yes, definitely!
Why? Because kids return from camp more confident and inspired to try new things, be better friends, and take pride in what they do.
As a result of being with counselors who are such positive role models, your camper will better understand what is right and what is wrong, and have the skills to cope with various school and life situations.
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The Camp Hazen Experience encourages kids to be themselves, live with integrity, and achieve their full potential.
Cabin Life is Fun
Where friends are made
Each cabin group is a family with eight campers and two counselors who ensure that everyone is respected and involved. Counselors guide campers through cabin clean-up, meals, and decision –making regarding activities. Evenings are spent with the cabin group, or village of cabins, in a variety of exciting games, campfires, and all-camp events.
At the end of each day, campers enjoy one of the great traditions of Hazen; a counselor-led “cabin chat” that covers daily reflections, personal values, and future dreams.
SENSE OF BELONGING
Village Life
Cabins are assigned based on gender identity, grade, and cabin mate requests. We also take in to account new/returner, age, home town and additional needs. Families can rank their preference in type of cabin from Girls+, Boys+ and All Gender.
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Juniper & Maple: younger campers, entering grades 3-7
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Spruce & Tamarack: older campers, entering grades 8-9
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Oak: teen campers, entering grades 9-10 (2 Week Sessions only)
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Campers may request having a friend in their cabin when they register. Request must be mutual and of the same grade. As returning campers know how easy it is to make friends with kids in other cabins, we do give preference to request from first time campers.
Do Campers Miss Home?
Missing home is a natural feeling and our counselors and staff are here to help. Camp is a safe place, and getting over homesickness is an important part of the camp experience. It helps campers build their self-esteem and develop a sense of independence. Our caring staff help campers understand it is possible to feel two different things at once, and that it is okay to miss home while enjoying all the fun new activities they are trying and friends they are making.
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The staff will work with each individual child throughout their stay at camp and will keep you informed of any concerns that they have about the overall health & wellbeing of your child.
Health Care At Camp
There is a Registered Nurse in the camp Health Lodge at all times throughout the summer. All of our healthcare staff provide care for campers under orders from the camp physician. In case of emergencies, campers and staff are taken to the camp physician or the local emergency treatment facility. Parents will always be contacted should there be an urgent medical concern.
Behavior At Camp
As a close-knit community, Camp Hazen expects each camper to respect themselves and others at camp, as well as the staff and facilities. Everyone in the Hazen community, including campers and staff, are expected to behave responsibly and appropriately at all times.
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The staff will work with individual campers to modify inappropriate behaviors and will notify parents when necessary. The Camp Director may choose to dismiss a camper if inappropriate behavior does not improve.
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Behaviors that may result in discipline or dismissal from camp include, but are not limited to: bullying, bad language, threats or fighting and possession of tobacco, drugs or alcohol.
Safety At Camp
Have fun, be safe.
Safety is always a top priority at Camp Hazen YMCA. In fact, our first two rules at Hazen are 1. Have fun and 2. Be safe! We work tirelessly to provide the safest programs, facilities and staff that we possibly can. We have a long history of running an extraordinarily safe camp, and we will continue to do so this summer. It’s important for your child to know who the trusted adults at camp are if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable. We encourage you to talk to your child and explain that they should feel comfortable coming to their counselors with anything that is bothering them, just like they would to you at home. Their Village Director is also someone that they can come to with questions while they are at camp.
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Camp Hazen YMCA is considered a Pioneer in Camping with the American Camp Association for its long history of dedication to youth development. The American Camp Association (ACA) is the leading authority for summer camps and youth development. They work to preserve, promote, and improve the camp experience. Camp Hazen YMCA is an accredited member of the ACA, and as part of our membership, Hazen must adhere to strict guidelines which include the successful completion of both on-site visits and paperwork reviews.
Gender Inclusive Cabin Options
Our goal is to create living spaces where every camper feels safe, comfortable, and part of a supportive community. During registration, families are asked to share their preference for cabin type. Options include Girls+, Boys+, and All Gender cabins. The “+” reflects our commitment to inclusion—these spaces welcome cisgender, trans*, and non-binary youth who feel most comfortable in that environment.
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All Gender cabins are intentionally designed for campers who feel most safe, supported, and themselves outside of a gendered space. These cabins bring together a mix of campers of different gender identities, as well as allies and friends who choose to be part of that community. Many campers select this option because they value being in a space that is inclusive, affirming, and rooted in respect for one another.
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At the same time, All Gender cabins can also be a practical and familiar choice—they allow campers to live with friends or family members of different genders, just as they might at home or in their everyday lives. Siblings, cousins, and close friends who want to share the camp experience together can request to be in the same cabin, creating a comfortable and supportive starting point for their time at camp.
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With staff trained to support inclusive community living, we place a strong emphasis on the safety, dignity, and privacy of every camper. Cabins are actively supervised by trained staff at all times, with clear expectations around behavior, boundaries, and respect. Private spaces for changing are always provided, and routines are structured to ensure campers have appropriate privacy. Staff are intentional about how they set up cabin life—creating norms early on, checking in regularly, and addressing any concerns quickly and thoughtfully.
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We understand that families may have questions or uncertainties about gender-inclusive housing. Our approach is rooted in creating an environment where all campers feel secure—physically and emotionally. Clear supervision, thoughtful structure, and strong staff training allow us to maintain a cabin culture that is safe, respectful, and supportive for everyone.
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We recognize that every camper is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Some campers may strongly prefer a specific type of cabin, while others may feel comfortable in multiple settings. Our team takes all preferences into account, along with the overall cabin community, to create groups that are respectful, balanced, and aligned with each camper’s needs.
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If you have questions or would like to talk through options, we’re always happy to connect. Our priority is ensuring that every camper has a place where they can be themselves and fully enjoy their camp experience.
