Our Impact

We close the opportunity gap. We prepare young people for life’s journey.

Our Purpose

Agassiz Village exists for one purpose: to ensure that every young person — regardless of circumstance, income, or background — has access to the experiences, relationships, and opportunities that build confidence, character, and a clear path forward.

For more than 90 years, we’ve welcomed youth from under‑resourced communities into a safe, joyful, and transformative overnight camp experience where they discover their strengths, practice leadership, and learn to believe in themselves.

Our campers don’t just have fun. They grow. They stretch. They thrive.

Our Values

At Agassiz Village, our values shape every moment of the camp experience. They guide how we build community, how we support young people, and how we help campers grow into confident, capable, compassionate leaders.

These values aren’t just words — they are lived daily in cabins, on the waterfront, during meals, and in every shared challenge and celebration.

Together, they create a culture where youth feel safe, supported, and inspired to discover who they are and who they can become.

Explore

Exploration builds curiosity, confidence, and courage. Whether trying a new activity, stepping into leadership, or navigating cabin life, campers learn to take healthy risks and embrace the unknown. Exploration helps young people see what’s possible — in camp and in their future.

Collaborate

Collaboration teaches communication, empathy, and shared responsibility. Campers work together in cabins, on teams, and in community challenges, learning how to listen, support one another, and solve problems collectively. These skills strengthen relationships and prepare youth for success in school, work, and life.

Have Fun

Joy is the foundation of learning. At Agassiz Village, fun isn’t just an activity — it’s a catalyst for growth. When campers laugh, play, and feel safe being themselves, they open up to new experiences, build friendships, and discover strengths they didn’t know they had.

CampAgassiz_Navadise-45 - Copy - Copy.jpg

Thrive

Thriving means growing socially, emotionally, and personally. At Agassiz Village, campers build resilience, develop positive identity, and gain the tools to navigate challenges with confidence. When young people thrive, they carry those strengths home, into their communities, and into adulthood.

A Proven Model for Social & Emotional Growth

Agassiz Village’s program is built on nationally recognized youth‑development practices and measured through Hello Insight, a leading SEL evaluation platform used by nonprofits across the country. Our campers show statistically significant growth in the skills that matter most for long‑term success:

Confidence

Young people leave camp believing in their abilities, their voice, and their future. Hello Insight Outcome: Campers show measurable increases in self‑confidence and positive identity.

Perseverance

Campers learn to try new things, push through challenges, and build resilience. Outcome: Growth in grit, problem‑solving, and the ability to persist when things get hard.

Character & Responsibility

Through cabin life, teamwork, and leadership roles, campers practice responsibility, empathy, and integrity. Outcome: Increased responsibility, empathy, and prosocial behavior.

Connection & Belonging

Campers build strong relationships with peers and caring adult mentors — a protective factor proven to improve academic and life outcomes. Outcome: Significant increases in sense of belonging and supportive adult relationships.

Leadership

From LITs to teen programs, youth learn to lead, collaborate, and contribute to their community. Outcome: Growth in leadership readiness and contribution mindset.

Prepared for Life's Journey

Decades of youth‑development research show that young people who have access to enriching experiences, caring adult relationships, and opportunities to lead are more likely to graduate high school, pursue higher education, and succeed in the workforce.