The Barbara C. Harris Camp & Conference Center is a hospitality ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, helping people grow in faith and community.

The vision for the Barbara C. Harris Camp & Conference Center came out of a broader diocesan vision that was embraced in 1997. That vision focused on helping diocesan parishes to address issues in three key areas: youth ministry, leadership, and urban issues. The Camp & Conference Center was envisioned as a place that would be accessible to all, a place to nurture and form our youth and leaders in their Christian faith, and a place to bring together the diverse peoples and congregations of our diocese. It would also be a place that offers warm hospitality to other non-profit educational and religious institutions.

A Camp & Conference task force was convened in 1997 to explore the potential of this vision, and their recommendation to proceed with the development of the Camp & Conference Center was approved by the Diocesan Council in 1998. From 1999 to 2002, the development of the Camp & Conference Center was under the direction of diocesan staff. In addition, over 200 lay and clergy volunteers lent their time, energy, and expertise to the project, working in a variety of roles. An extensive fundraising Campaign also took place in order to finance the construction and to fund a scholarship endowment and an operating endowment. The Barbara C. Harris Camp & Conference Center welcomed its first summer campers in July 2003.

American Camp Association

Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center is accredited by the American Camp Association who collaborates with experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth-serving agencies to assure that current practices at your child’s camp reflect the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

The Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center is committed to engaging in equitable practices in all of our programming. Our work as a camping community is to acknowledge and resist systems that allow for oppression and disenfranchisement. Our goal is to honor the diverse backgrounds of our campers, staff, and other participants so that we may all find meaningful ways to participate, together, in community. People of all races, colors, religions, creeds, sexes, gender identities, national origins, abilities, and sexual orientations are welcome.