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Volunteer Programs/International Programs

Volunteer Opportunities at Camp Jewell
Camp Jewell serves over 20,000 people annually on a 540 acre site that continually needs to be updated, renovated, and repaired. As a volunteer you get to join a family of Camp Jewell supporters who give their time to make camp even better!

Each year camp hosts two volunteer weekends open to anyone who wants to lend a hand to help camp.  Of course the weekend isn’t all work, we play as well! Several program areas are open for the whole family to enjoy, including a host of special evening activities. While adults are out working on their volunteer projects during the day, children between 3-12 years of age are supervised by Camp Jewell staff members and enjoy special activities and fun! There is no charge for the weekend and spaces fill quickly.

Spring Work Weekend 2012
April 13th-15th
Friday 6pm to Sunday 1pm

Fall Woodcutter's Weekend 2012
November 9th-11th
Friday 6pm to Sunday 1pm

To download a registration form, please click here.

International Staff Hosting Program
Camp Jewell YMCA employs over 20 international staff each summer to help campers gain a new perspective on the broader world. Internationals have the opportunity to travel, live in a new culture, and gain valuable experience working with children in an outdoor setting. Campers gain a greater understanding of the world by enjoying songs, stories, food and games from other countries.

To ensure that our international staff feel welcomed and appreciated, we have a Host Family Program that pairs a staff member with a Camp Jewell family. Host family responsibilities are very simple. On a day off from summer camp, families can arrange to take their staff member to a local event, attraction, or family engagement.

Examples of activities:


•  Dinner
•  Movies
•  Day trip to New York City, Providence, or Boston
•  Shopping in Great Barrington
•  Parades
•  Fairs
•  Sporting Events
•  Hiking/Biking
•  Birthday Parties

We also ask that host families provide a welcome package for the international staff members to be given at the Camp Jewell International Banquet.

International Staff Banquet
International Staff Banquet is an event for host families to meet their staff member and enjoy authentic foods from around the world. During the evening, each international staff member performs a short presentation about their country using items they brought from home, such as a flag, traditional clothing, a song or musical instrument.

This year the banquet will be held Friday, June 22, 2012, starting at 5:15pm, at Camp Jewell. The evening begins with our Annual World Service Silent Auction. All proceeds go to help support our international program and our sister YMCA’s in Novosibirsk, Siberia, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Cape Flats, South Africa and the Jerusalem YMCA.

To RSVP for the international banquet or to become a host family please contact Jodi Gove, International Staff Coordinator, at 1-888-412-2267 or jodi.gove@ghymca.org


The 2011 camp staff are from all over the world
 South Africa
 Poland
 Sweden
 Australia
 Venezuela
 Ireland
 England
 Mexico
 Germany
 Columbia
 Scotland
 Iceland
 Pakistan
 Wales
 Austria
 New Zealand