OUR STORY

Camp Jamison: A Peace-Driven Overnight Summer Camp for Philadelphia Youth

Camp Jamison is a nonprofit overnight summer camp founded in 2011, built on the belief that camp can change a child’s life. What began with just nine campers has grown into a transformative program serving hundreds of youth each year.

We serve campers ages 8–16, primarily from Philadelphia, with a focus on expanding access for Black youth and families who have historically been excluded from traditional overnight camp experiences due to cost and systemic barriers.

Our program combines outdoor adventure, peacebuilding, and community. Campers hike, swim, boat, create, and participate in experiences designed to build confidence, emotional awareness, and the skills to navigate conflict and relationships in healthy ways. Many of our campers return as staff, creating a powerful pipeline of young people who model what it looks like to lead with peace.

Camp Jamison is located in Huguenot, New York, in the Catskill Mountains, just 30 minutes north of the Pennsylvania border. Our setting provides a safe, high-quality environment with strong facilities, nutritious meals, and access to nature—allowing campers to unplug, build relationships, and grow.

Beyond the summer, Camp Jamison provides year-round programming and mentorship opportunities that keep young people connected, supported, and growing. Through community events, leadership development, and ongoing relationships with staff, campers continue building skills and support systems that extend far beyond their time at camp.

Over the past 15+ years, Camp Jamison has built a community rooted in joy, nonviolence, and peace. As we continue to grow, we are expanding access, deepening our year-round impact, and creating more pathways for young people to show up for themselves, their communities, and the world around them.

Camp Jamison is more than a summer camp—it is a peace-driven community where young people build the skills, relationships, and confidence to navigate life with purpose.