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As part of the YMCA of Greater Hartford, Camp Jewell has a long and proud history of working with the community to address the important issues related to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The YMCA strives to improve the lives of everyone in the Greater Hartford Community and has done so since 1852. The new cabin had to continue the traditions of the last 65 years and look forward to the next 65 years.

The cabin replaced a dated and worn existing cabin on a sloping site and had to accommodate 2 separate groups of 12 campers plus 1 chaperone. Each group required their own bathroom. A common living room, separate from the sleeping areas, was a necessity since the cabins are not only used by boys and girls aged 9-16 but also by families, as well as corporate and community groups.

In addition to serving the groups noted above, Camp Jewell also hosts Camp Rising Sun. Camp Rising Sun welcomes any child aged 5-17 who has faced a diagnosis of cancer for a week of fun and friendship at no cost. The new cabin had to be fully accessible and inclusive to allow for equally shared experiences for all campers.

Because the YMCA and Camp Rising Sun rely on donations to fund many of their operations, the budget for this project was extremely tight. The original design concept was almost twice the allocated budget. Working with a dedicated team of professionals, we were able to provide a building that meets the program needs along with the budget constraints to provide an updated facility that should serve the community needs for many years to come.