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Parents' Pick: Best Camps In New York, New Jersey, Connecticut

As you evaluate what's important to you in choosing a summer camp for your child, consider some of these options for the best camps in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. By Kimberly Coleman and Nancy Johnson Horn.

Dorothy P. Flint Nassau County 4-H Camp


Riverhead, NY
Off Season: (516) 292-7990, Ext. 11.
dpf4hcamp.org

Operated by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County, .this popular camp is located on 140 acres of woodland, farmland and beachfront adjacent to the Long Island Sound. This co-educational, sleep-away camp for kids entering grades 4 - 10 receives great praise from parents and kids alike for offering a wide variety of fun, outdoor activities including canoeing and kayaking. This year they are also providing a "First Time Camper Weekend" to help new campers (and their parents!) adjust to the overnight separation.

Berkshire Hills Emanuel Camps


Copake, NY 12516
Off Season: (877) 543-4333
bhecamps.com

Located in the beautiful Berkshire mountains, this is a co-ed Jewish camp for kids ages 7 – 15. Parents agree that it lives up to its tagline: "Friends for Summer. Friends for Life." by encouraging friendships based on a shared Jewish culture and fun. Another thing that stands out about this kosher camp is their effort to make camp affordable…including offering special tuition discounts for both campers that are NY state residents as well as those who are from outside of New York.

Camp Vacamas


West Milford, NJ 07480
Off Season: (877) 428-8222, ext. 0942
vacamas.org/Sleepaway-Camps.htm

Camp Vacamas provides a great introduction to attending sleepaway camp for many reasons. The staff receives many compliments for their energy in keeping up with the boy and girl campers during a wide variety of exciting experiences. Since it is a non-profit organization, the rates are affordable so that more kids are able to join in on the friendships and fun. Another great thing is that the camp offers four different sleepaway programs in their Junior and Teen Adventure camps. There is something that will appeal to practically all campers ages 7 – 17.

Camp Louemma


Sussex, NJ 07461
Off Season: (973) 287-7264
camplouemma.com/

Located along the scenic Appalachian Trail in northern New Jersey, this kosher camp has been a top pick for Jewish families with kids ages 7 – 15 since 1941. Praised for providing a safe, fun summer camp experience for both boys and girls, Camp Louemma is known for building character in its campers. The schedules are filled with a wide variety of activities (including daily swimming) and tasty kosher meals.

KenMont and KenWood Camps


Kent, CT 06757
Off Season: (305) 673-3310
kenmontkenwood.com/

Located in the scenic foothills of the Southern Berkshire Mountains, these two and four week camps for kids ages 8 -14 are split by gender. Established in 1924, KenMont is for the boys and KenWood is for the girls. The attentive staff has the knack for fostering friendships among the kids that last way past the end of the activity-filled camp. This leads past campers to describe their experience in terms such as "amazing" and "my favorite place to be."

French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts

Hancock, NY
Off Season: (845) 887-5600
frenchwoods.com
A performing arts camp for kid ages 7 -17.

New York YMCA Camp

Huguenot, NY
Off Season: (877) 30-YCAMP
newyorkymcacamp.org/

Different themed camps for kids ages 6-15. Choose from environmental and conservation-based camps, gymnastics camps, volleyball camps and more!

Also See:

How To Choose The Right Summer Camp For Your Child

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Kimberly Coleman and Nancy Johnson Horn write at Mom in the City.
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