Camp Vacamas — 100-year mission and founding story
In 1924 a group of teachers, social workers, and businesspeople recognized that children living in poverty in a NYC neighborhood needed a respite. In response, they formed East Side Vacation Camp Association and began providing summer camp opportunities for children from working poor families so that they could benefit from the fresh air, sun, exercise, and healthy lakeside environment. For 100 years, Hands In 4 Youth, Home of Camp Vacamas, has been lifting up at risk and underserved children, giving them experiences they never dreamed were even possible.
Belonging and inclusion — Brenda Miller Hurley testimonial
I not only met children of different races and from different walks of life, but children who actually had two parents that dwelled within the same household. For the first time in my life, I met children who did not care or laugh about my worn and very wrinkled clothing. I was never separated from the other campers because of being nobody and coming through the Newark Children's Aid Society. I was included at Camp Vacamas.
Setting — 230 wooded acres next to Norvin Green State Forest with private lake
Camp Vacamas is situated on 230 wooded acres of private land, surrounded by New Jersey's 4,500-acre Norvin Green State Forest, with a private 50-acre lake. Campers have the feeling of being in the wilderness yet the camp is conveniently located on the border of Bloomingdale and West Milford, less than one mile from Hamburg Turnpike and Route 23.
Meals — family-style dining with vegetarian, vegan, and dietary options; no pork or shellfish
The menu at Hands In 4 Youth is child-friendly, healthy, and plentiful. Campers eat three full meals each day in our dining hall with their bunk group and counselor. Meals are served family-style and vegetarian and vegan alternatives are available. We offer a salad bar rich in fresh vegetables and fruits as well as non-meat proteins such as beans and dairy products, at lunch and dinner. We do not serve pork or shellfish. We can accommodate some dietary restrictions (call for more information). A fruit snack and cold beverages are offered in the afternoon and it is a beloved camp tradition to have milk and cookies before bed each night.
Challenge Course — ropes course design, elements, and facilitation
Vacamas' Challenge Ropes Course and Team Building Programs are designed to bring your group closer together and allow every person to discover new strengths and a greater, more positive sense of self. The Challenge Course experience is facilitated by our trained and certified staff focusing on safety first. With 12 elements in our low ropes course and 6 elements in our high ropes course, along with dozens of games and 230 beautiful wooded acres, we can tailor our program design to your group's special goals and needs.
HI4Y mission and vision — serving all children regardless of background
HI4Y VISION: A world where all children, regardless of their economic and cultural environment, have opportunities and choices to pursue their dreams. Hands In 4 Youth understood in 1924, and continues to understand today that exposure to experiences outside of the classroom, including sleepaway camp, can be just as important as learning calculus or memorizing time tables.
Affordability — sliding fee scale and income-based pricing for sleepaway camp
As a non-profit organization, HI4Y's aim is to make sure that summer camp is affordable for all children. Each child's fee is set individually, taking into account family income and size, using a sliding fee scale. Our fees are a great deal less than other summer programs, and sibling discounts are available. Transportation to camp is provided from NYC, Westchester and selected locations in New Jersey at no additional cost.
Parent communication — Guidance Counselor, Facebook photo groups, letters home
Each year, we hire an experienced Guidance Counselor who acts as a line of communication between our campers and their parents/guardians. This offers the chance for you to call us to check on your children, pass on email messages or even send care packages while the children are at camp. In addition, we have Facebook groups for parents where photos of campers at their activities are shared daily. We encourage campers to write letters home to share their camp experience with their parent/guardian.
Safety — ACA accreditation, onsite medical team, Red Cross waterfront staff
Our number one priority is the safety of your child. We maintain a high staff-to-camper ratio, and our experienced staff members are background-checked, fully trained and carefully supervised. Camp Vacamas is accredited by the American Camp Association, as well as local and state Health Departments. We have an onsite medical team, and there is a hospital just minutes away. All waterfront activities are conducted by certified American Red Cross Swim Instructors, Lifeguards, and a Waterfront Director.
