Moving into your cabin at sleepaway camp is like moving into your college dorm.

You’re away from your parents for a stretch of time, and the first nights may feel scary. But once you head back home, you wish you were back at camp!

Gabriel Homes resident showing off his fresh spring style wit his Camp Jaycee shirt.

The Joy of Camp Jaycee

Every July and August, many of our residents pack their bags for Camp Jaycee. The two-week program has constant activities. Itineraries each day are as diverse as each camper’s interests.

“I go to Camp Jaycee every year because it’s the best place in the world,” says Gabe, a resident at Gabriel Homes. “Activities like the pool, nature walks, and dancing are fun because I don’t get to do them every day. Everyone should try sleepaway camp at least once!”

Camp Jaycee Highlights

Residents who love animals say their favorite part of camp is horseback riding.  Sam and Chris say the horses feel fast at first, but they quickly get used to the speed. John G. likes how far the horses trot because he can see more of the camp without walking. 

To cool off, some residents enjoy Camp Jaycee’s pool the most. The residents’ favorite part of the pool is the diving board. Residents who go to Jaycee say they don’t often use the diving boards at nearby pools, so some try to jump as much as possible at camp. 

Gabriel Homes resident (second to the left) at summer camp.
Gabriel Homes resident (second to the left) at a summer camp.
Gabriel Homes resident (center) at Camp Jaycee.

“Jumping is scary the first time you do it, but you want to get back on it as soon as you swim in the water. Remember to hold your nose and close your mouth when you jump off the diving board!”

Shelby, Gabriel Homes Resident
Gabriel Homes resident singing.

Music Nights

John H. and Rich are two residents who prefer singing to swimming at Camp Jaycee. Their favorite part of camp is the talent show. John H. says he spends weeks deciding which song to sing. Once he’s called to the stage, John H. jokes he often forgets his song and asks to sing along to ABBA. 

Caryn, another admirer of the arts, brightens her home with her artwork.

Often painting, she likes tie-dying shirts at camp. Caryn adds lots of colors to existing shirts and lets them soak in the paint. When she moves from blue to purple dye, she twists and turns the shirt so the colors don’t overlap. Rainbows appear on many of her tie-dyed clothes once she finishes. 

“The best days at camp are when it’s warm in the day and chilly at night,” Caryn says. “Camp Jaycee holds a fireworks show on one special night at camp. The sparks in the sky are beautiful. I like the ‘bang bang’ noises the fireworks make.”

Gabriel Homes resident holding art.
Gabriel Homes resident at Camp Jaycee.

Also during this summer, residents at Gabriel Homes celebrated their independence.

You can read all about it in July’s edition of our monthly newsletter, The Treehouse!
See the July 2025 Newsletter