As we prepare for this coming summer, I am so incredibly excited to meet all the new members of the Kabeyun community who will get to experience this place for the first time in 2025, and to see again all those will be renewing their connection to camp this year, be it as a returning camper or counselor, at Family Camp, or by joining us at one of our regional alumni events.

Kabeyun is saddened to announce the death of Bill French, a pillar of our community whose impact on camp cannot be overstated. Bill passed away on February 10, 2025, in Cambridge, MA, after a series of illnesses. He was 83.

Some of the most meaningful growth we experience at camp comes from enduring periods of discomfort, whether that’s getting on stage with a serious case of jitters, jumping in a cold lake for a morning swim lesson, or hiking farther than you thought you ever could. This applies to cabin life, too.

Meet Jason Knight. He's helping develop the next generation of Kabeyun counselors. In 2023, he'll be back to lead a small group of 16 year-olds through our counseling intern program.

Have you checked out the photos from our most recent camp sessions yet? It is an amazing collection of images that capture something special about the opportunities Kabeyun provides, and the overarching opportunity for each camper to “choose your own adventure.”

Summer camp provides a screen-free summer experience where children can go on adventures, learn in nature’s classroom, and make life-long friends. At Kabeyun, boys grow in social maturity and emotional intelligence. What are the specific psychological benefits of sending your son to an overnight camp? Here are four we have observed.

Our discussions from last summer have helped me not only frame what camp means to me, but have inspired a call to action I will continue to ask as long as I am a member of this community: “What can I do to help make sure that Kabeyun truly is a place where all are welcome and feel free from the fear of failure and the fear of judgment?” 

We asked eight parents of returning campers and alumni to share suggestions for families who are sending boys to camp for the first time. Their advice ranged from the utterly practical to the philosophical. All of it is valuable, although some suggestions may “ring true” for your family more than others – you know your son best. Here are their tips, organized by topics.