Camp Hazen YMCA

Directors: Denise Learned, Kath Davies, Alex Learned

Camp Hazen YMCA is a classic overnight and day camp in Connecticut where kids build friendships, confidence, and independence through outdoor adventure and community living on the shores of Cedar Lake. Located on 170 wooded acres in Chester, Camp Hazen has been creating meaningful summer experiences for more than 100 years. Campers live in small cabin groups with caring counselors who guide them through daily activities, challenges, and camp traditions while helping them feel supported and part of a close-knit community. During the day, campers participate in skill-based activities across four program areas: Creative Arts, Outdoor Pursuits, Land Sports, and Water Sports. They can explore crafts like candle making and wood burning, performing arts like guitar, radio, and drama, outdoor skills like cooking and survival, sports like tennis, basketball, archery, and skate park, and waterfront activities including swimming, sailing, windsurfing, and a water trampoline.

Our two-week sessions allow campers to sign up for classes and build skills over time, while one-week sessions use activity bundles that introduce campers to a variety of programs. Cabin groups also participate in team-building programs on our high ropes course and zipline. Camp-wide traditions are a highlight of the Hazen experience. Events like the Hazen Series, Hazen Bowl, Olympics, and World Cup bring the entire camp together in energetic, color-wars-style competitions that campers look forward to every session. As part of the YMCA, Camp Hazen is committed to accessibility through tiered pricing and financial assistance so that more young people can experience the benefits of camp.

• Accreditation:
  ACA, Praesidium
• Camp size:
  285
• Cost, 1 week:
  $1,625
• Cost, 2 weeks:
  $3,095
• Directors:
  Denise Learned, Kath Davies, Alex Learned

• Founded:
  1920
• Gender:
  Coed
• Maximum age:
  15
• Minimum age:
  8
• Nearest city:
  New Haven

• Season opens:
  June 28, 2026
• Season closes:
  August 28, 2026

Activities

• Sailing
• Windsurfing
• Canoeing
• Kayaking
• Water Trampoline
• Swimming
• High Ropes
• Zipline
• Climbing Wall
• Archery
• Tennis
• Basketball
• Skate Park
• Outdoor Cooking
• Outdoor Survival
• Mountain Biking
• Fishing
• Candle Making
• Wood Burning
• Drama

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