Why SJYC
More Than Just Camp
Summer camp is one of those rare places where kids get to simply be kids.
They climb rocks instead of staring at screens. They laugh until their stomachs hurt. They make friends who feel like family. They discover that they really can paddle across the lake, hike to the top of the hill, perform a silly skit in front of a crowd, or spend a week away from home.
At SJYC, we believe those moments matter.
Yes, camp is full of horseback rides, campfires, crafts, songs, and adventures. But beneath all the fun, something even more important is happening. Campers are learning independence, building confidence, practicing kindness, and discovering who they are when they're surrounded by people who believe in them.
Whether your child is joining us for their very first Day Camp, spending a week at Overnight Camp, taking on the challenges of Teen Week, or preparing to become a leader through our Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program, our hope is the same: they head home with incredible memories, new friendships, and the confidence to take on whatever comes next.
THE SJYC SEVEN
SEVEN REASONS FAMILIES LOVE SJYC
School teaches math, science, and reading. Camp teaches something just as important.
It teaches kids how to make new friends. How to solve problems together. How to be responsible for themselves and thoughtful toward others. How to try something that feels a little scary and realize they can do it.
Every SJYC program is built with the same heart. Whether campers are spending the day exploring camp, staying overnight in a cabin, taking on Teen Week adventures, or growing through our CIT program, each experience is designed to help kids become a little more confident, capable, and connected than when they arrived.
At SJYC, every activity has a purpose, even if it just looks like fun. A hike becomes a lesson in perseverance. Cabin responsibilities become opportunities for responsibility. Team games teach communication. Campfires become places where friendships and community are built.
The best part? Most campers never realize they're learning these lessons—they're simply having the time of their lives.
A Summer with Purpose
MORE THAN JUST CAMP
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One of the first things families notice about SJYC is how welcoming it feels.
Most of our staff grew up here as campers and CITs themselves. They know exactly what it's like to arrive feeling excited, nervous, or unsure—and they remember the staff members who made them feel at home. Now they get to do the same for a new generation.
Because we're intentionally smaller than many camps, every camper and CIT is known by name. Cabin groups are close-knit. Activity groups stay small. Our staff notice when someone needs encouragement. Friendships form quickly because everyone is part of the same community.
That sense of belonging doesn't end with one summer. Many campers return year after year, growing from Day Camp to Overnight Camp, from Teen Week into our CIT program, and eventually back as staff themselves. Watching young people grow through each stage of camp is one of our greatest joys.
By the end of the week, camp doesn't just feel like a place. It feels like a second home.
Where Everyone Belongs
YOUR SUMMER FAMILY
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Unplug & Explore
ADVENTURE BEGINS OUTSIDE
There aren't many places left where kids can spend an entire day without a screen, and not miss it.
Whether they're spending the day discovering camp for the first time or settling into cabin life for the week, campers and CITs spend their time kayaking across the lake, riding horses through the pines, hiking portions of the Arizona Trail, creating something in arts and crafts, shooting their first archery bullseye, or simply lying in the grass looking up at the tallest ponderosa pines they've ever seen.
And sometimes? They get bored. We think that's one of the best things about camp.
Because boredom doesn't last very long. It turns into made-up games, imaginary adventures, fort building, card games on cabin porches, silly conversations, and the kind of creativity that only appears when kids have room to imagine.
At night, Overnight Camp comes alive with campfires, songs, and a sky filled with more stars than many have ever seen. Sometimes we'll even pull out the telescopes to explore the Milky Way overhead. Day Camp has its own magic too, giving younger campers a chance to experience the joy of camp while heading home each evening.
It's the kind of summer many parents remember from their own childhood, and one many kids are experiencing for the very first time.
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Confidence doesn't come from being told you're capable. It comes from discovering you are.
Maybe it's spending their very first day at camp. Maybe it's their first week away from home. Maybe it's climbing higher than they thought they could on the ropes course, leading a team challenge during Teen Week, or mentoring younger campers as a counselor.
For younger campers, confidence often begins with small victories—choosing what to wear, remembering their water bottle, trying a new activity, or making a new friend.
As campers grow, so do their opportunities. They take on greater challenges, learn to lead by example, and discover that they are capable of far more than they imagined.
GROWING ONE ADVENTURE AT A TIME
CONFIDENCE IN ACTION
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SMALL CAMP. BIG ADVENTURES.
EVERY DAY IS A NEW ADVENTURE
One of the things families love most about SJYC is that no two days look exactly alike.
One morning might begin with horseback riding through the pines. By afternoon, campers are learning archery, creating something in arts and crafts, or hiking a short trail. The next day could bring STEM projects, team games, cabin challenges, or a favorite free-choice activity.
Camp isn't something you watch. It's something you do!
Because we're intentionally a smaller camp, our campers spend less time waiting in line and more time participating. Activity groups stay small, our staff know every camper, and kids have more opportunities to try new things, ask questions, and jump right in.
Whether they're spending the day discovering camp for the first time, enjoying a week of Overnight Camp, tackling Teen Week challenges, or learning to lead as a CIT, every program is built around hands-on experiences that encourage curiosity, creativity, and confidence.
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TRADITIONS THEY’LL NEVER FORGET
THE MOMENTS THAT BECOME STORIES
Ask any SJYC alum what they remember most, and chances are it won't be just one activity. It will be the feeling.
Morning flagpole. Camp songs sung a little too loudly. Cabin cheers. Silly skits that somehow become legendary. Late-night laughter. Campfires that seem to last forever. Looking up at a sky so full of stars it hardly seems real.
Some traditions happen during Day Camp. Others can only happen after the sun goes down around a campfire. Together, they create the shared memories that connect generations of SJYC families. And the parents who once sang those same songs now send their own children to experience them.
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One of the things that makes SJYC special is that camp grows with your child. Every program is designed for a different stage of childhood, giving campers exactly the right amount of challenge, responsibility, and adventure along the way.
AGES 6–8: FIRST ADVENTURES
Whether they're joining us for Day Camp or spending their first nights away from home, our youngest campers build confidence through caring counselors and staff, simple routines, outdoor exploration, and plenty of encouragement. This is where many campers fall in love with camp for the very first time.
AGES 9-12: GROWING INDEPENDENCE
As campers grow, so do their adventures. They become more independent, deepen friendships, discover favorite activities, and begin making camp feel like a second home.
AGES 13-14: READY FOR MORE
Teen Week is designed specifically for this exciting stage of life. Our Teen Week campers tackle bigger adventures, strengthen communication skills, build resilience, and discover the confidence that comes from stepping outside their comfort zone alongside supportive peers.
AGES 15-17: LEADING WITH PURPOSE
Our Counselor-in-Training (CIT) program is more than leadership training—it's an opportunity to discover the kind of leader you want to become. CITs learn to mentor younger campers, work as a team, and solve problems. Many of the counselors who inspire campers each summer once stood in the exact same place.
EVERY AGE HAS ITS ADVENTURE
GROWING UP AT SJYC
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