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7/5/24 |
For a camp that is expensive, the activities are lacking and the campus is run down. Compared with other camps in the area that are around the same price, this place comes in last. My son was a camper here for 2 years and then this summer was employed there as a junior counselor. His camp experience was ok. He said there wasn’t a lot to do so he was bored a lot. When he worked there, the staff was awful and my son was not treated well. He was paid a measly $8/hr, which is roughly half NJ’s minimum wage and half of what counselors at summer camps in NJ make. I’m not sure how they get away with this. My son was threatened with being fired after 1 week, with no comments on how he can improve or any guidance. It’s a truly awful place to work. Do yourself a favor and steer clear.
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7/10/17 |
This camp is quite expensive, but they offer a multitude of different electives that the kids (or parents) get to choose each week. This is my child's second year there and she comes home happy and excited from a fun day! They do have a lot of campers each year which may take away from a more "personalized" experience, but any concern I ever had was immediately addressed and resolved. We've found most all of the staff very friendly and warm. (this site should be rated more by family's experiences and perceptions, not so much a billboard for less-than-satisfied counselors)
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8/5/14 |
My daughter has attended this camp for the last 3 years. There are some good things about it:facilities are nice and some of the activites are decent. My daughter liked being able to choose her activites. My biggest issue with this camp is the food. They are buying the kids' loyalty and compliance by shoving junk food in their mouths all day long. The lunch which is provided is now in a food court style which means that your child will essentially be eating fast food fair every day. Every activity has some junk food associated with it. One day, my child had two donuts (group won a prize), hamburger/chips for lunch, smores (camping activity), and end of the day ice cream. Every day is an excuse to give more junk: movie outing, carnival day, BBL business day, group-mate's birthday.I complained and asked for the nutritional info of the lunches, but got no response.They have put their bottom line ahead of the health of the children. P.S. I'm a board certified pediatrician
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5/30/14 |
I worked at bbl as a jc for a while. I loved working there, all the counselors were super friendly and really cool. The kids were awesome! We always made sure to give each kid the proper amount of attention, I don't know what these other employees are saying, just do what you're told and you can still have plenty of fun. Some of the employes on here forget that it's not camp for us, it's all about the kids, if you don't like it than quit. I miss all my kids and can't wait until this summer!!!! Why does everyone say it's unorganized, we strictly enforce the schedule and there is always something to do even when it rains and we are under the tents there is always board games and activities like a dance party. Now for the complaints...the price is a bit high to attend, JC's are very under paid..800 for 8 weeks and only 600 if you want lunch. The make director is a complete **** and treats us like dirt but the female one is nice (no names) and I'll admit, we don't get enough sick days.
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2/18/14 |
If your a counselor its great because you don't have to work as hard here as other camps. They let campers roam around and not held to task. Not strict at all.Laid back,so its good to work there and get a tan or play with lanyard''
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8/2/13 |
WARNING PARENTS! DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILDREN HERE! If your child has an allergy, they do not take the right precautions! A camp council ate peanuts next to my children, when he is HIGHLY ALLERGIC and could possible die from them! THE OWNER told me to keep my child in a "bubble." He was disrespectful and insulted me as well as my children! PLEASE DO NOT PUT YOUR CHILDREN IN DANGER!
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8/7/12 |
WARNING PARENTS! DO NOT SEND YOUR KIDS HERE!!! I worked at this awful camp for one very long horrible summer. Since I worked there I got the inside look on how it's really run- don't be fooled- on rainy days kids stand under tents- no real activities are planned. the directors are a nightmare- we were told BY THEM that they only want your money- they look at your kids and see dollar signs! they could not care less about your kids!!! it is dirty and horribly run- try frogbridge instead- it's a little more money but a much better camp from what I'm told. Plus Marlboro/Manalapan has plenty of good camps. Counselors sit around- dont help kids with activities- kids wander around with no stablility or set schedule there- it's a free for all. they put on a great show for the parents but that's not reality.
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SYSTEM: 2 positive duplicate or disallowed ratings automatically removed |
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11/28/11 |
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I went to camp there for many years and it was okay. When you get older, it gets boring. I worked there this past summer as a JC and I couldn't wait until the summer was over. I won't go back ever. Not all employees follow the rules. I did and got tired of doing all the work.
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10/9/11 |
I'm going to this camp and it's the best camp I ever went to (I've tried lots) frogbridge was annoying and another just was bad. This is great for younger and older campers and has a lot of older kids something a lot of camps don't have. It's great to pick ur activities not have them chosen for you. This camp is SO MUCH FUN!
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7/24/11 |
The owners fired my son's group leader. Employees are allowed three days off for the eight week summer session. The group leader had his high school graduation/senoir activity during the first two days of camp. During the third week of camp, he had a noncontagious skin infection and called out of work. Two days later he had a reaction to the antibiotic. He had a total of four days off in the first three weeks of camp so they fired him. How can he not be given off for his high school graduation? This is absurd. Due to the fact that the owners were unfair to this group leader, my son was heartbroken when he was fired. He said this group leader was "the best counselor I ever had". My son was so upset. I called the camp and they didn't care what my son was going through. My son doesn't want to go to the camp anymore. He has four weeks left. This camp doesn't care about their staff, the parents (who pay the expensive camp fee), and the kids who go to their camp. I am so upset.
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1/13/11 |
The best summer my three kids had. They have so many activities the kids never got bored. Most activities are electives so they did things they enjoyed. Food was great and in an air-conditioned dining hall. All the buildings are air-conditioned. Air-conditioning is nice on very hot days. The owners are very nice and seem to care about the kids. Great parent communication all summer. The Family night is the best with lots of people, great food and fun things for parents and kids.
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7/25/10 |
I am very unhappy with Black Bear Lake. This is my second summer as a counselor, and can not wait for summer to be over. The director treats the staff very unfairly. The kids do not seem happy because of all the new rules. Parents, look elsewhere to send your children over the summer.
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12/12/08 |
It is a good camp but u dont always get the activities you want and u dont always get to be with your friends but the good thing is that the camp tries and you are most of the time. I like the staff most of the time they are very helpful and supportive. Facilities or ok...kind of hard to change after you go swimming with the bunks they give you. Activities are fun and lunch is good
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1/24/08 |
This camp is dirty and run down. It always smells like sh*t here on rainy days and it is boring. WARNING DO NOT ENTER.
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1/19/08 |
I loved it because it has SO many activities to choose from. There's something for everyone.
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1/15/08 |
Black Bear Lake was not that much fun the last time I went. I've been attending for 4 years and this summer, after 3 years of fun, the camp became very over crowded,and the staff only focuses on younger and newer campers. Half the time, chosen electives were not recieved, and rainy days were scheduled as follows: Arrive, sit under a tent and do nothing but play cards, bingo, and watch outdated, boring movies. Though most of the staff were nice, some were very rude, and didn't care whether you participated, or not. This camp has pretty good food, with a variety of selections. Whenever parents visted the facilities, the director and staff would put on a song and dance to impress the easily fooled parents. The camp used to be great, but now it's pretty boring. I'm not going back there again!
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1/13/08 |
I worked at this camp and it was a horrible experience. Staff isn't even treated nicely. A lot of the division leaders were cruel, especially Cubs division leader Michelle who was constantly yelling at LITTLE KIDS, staff, et cetera. The camp isn't organized at all, and I always saw kids wandering, not knowing where they're supposed to be. They put on a great show for parents- when parents come around, everyone just becomes something else. Counselors get more involved, specialists do what they need to do, etc...but when there's no parents or directors around, these counselors and specialists just sit there and yell at the kids to sit and do nothing.
Some camp.
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9/21/07 |
WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE!!! Since when did they tell you that they only want money? I had gone to a different camp for 6 years and needed a change. This camp was the perfect change, though I see how people who have gone here for a long time are getting bored because there's only so much you can do. I think that the staff is focused on the kids (well, maybe not always the JCs) and tries their best to make it a fun summer. Just because you didn't enjoy it doesn't give you the right to tell other people not to go there! Anyone looking for a camp with more variety, this is the place you are looking for!!
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5/9/07 |
This camp was horrible. i dont know why my parents send me to this camp. this is my 5th year! Stay away from it. BBL=BAD
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6/25/06 |
Wow!! This is the best camp ever. Especially if this is where you have some friends. Even if you don't, it's easy to make them her. Whether if it's the staff, the campers, or even the directors, you are garunteed to meet great people and have an out of this world time!
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6/12/06 |
WARNING PARENTS! DO NOT SEND YOUR KIDS HERE!!! I worked at this awful camp for one very long horrible summer. Since I worked there I got the inside look on how it's really run- don't be fooled- on rainy days kids stand under tents- no real activities are planned. the directors are a nightmare- we were told BY THEM that they only want your money- they look at your kids and see dollar signs! they could not care less about your kids!!! it is dirty and horribly run- try frogbridge instead- it's a little more money but a much better camp from what I'm told. Plus Marlboro/Manalapan has plenty of good camps. Counselors sit around- dont help kids with activities- kids wander around with no stablility or set schedule there- it's a free for all. they put on a great show for the parents but that's not reality.
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6/12/06 |
Black Bear Camp is really fun! I live in MIllstone which is the township where BBC is located. They are the perfect mix of outdoors and modern luxury. However, they could possibly clean the cafeteria and bathrooms a little better. A good thing is the staff there are really nice and treat you like old friends.
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