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Comments
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1/3/22 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Skylake Yosemite Camp gives our kids a home away from home where they feel safe and free to be themselves! They rave about the food, the waterfront, the fun staff and their friendships. Skylake is the best!
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*
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7/12/20 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
As the old saying goes..."Skylake is the Place to be!" As a former camper and counselor over 20 years ago, I was pretty excited to send my boys to this unbelievable overnight camp near Yosemite. My boys had a blast for their first summer last year. The staff is top notch -- a lot of work goes into recruiting and hiring the right people. As a family run business, I feel like my boys are in very good hands with the owner and directors. They keep some of the old aspects of camp very alive at Skylake: campfire, singing songs and mix that with tons of cool activities from Ropes Course to Archery, to SuPs. Love this place and my boys will go back next summer.
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*
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7/9/20 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Skylake is an amazing place, with and amazing staff. Loving, caring, nurturing. I feel like the 2 weeks my kids get at the camp each year are among the most important growth experiences they will have as children.
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*
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7/8/20 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
I cannot say enough about this camp, on a lake near Yosemite. My two daughters attended Skylake one month every summer as children, then spent the entire summer there for a couple of years as camp counselors. Now they have children of their own attending the camp. Since WWII, generations of families have embraced the Skylake magic. The current owner/operators for 25 years are professional, caring, and exemplary.
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*
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7/8/20 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Skylake is an absolutely outstanding camp. Their care for its campers and families is top notch. The staff are trained to provide the right amount of structure for kids to allow for their safety while allowing them to grow from their experience. The facilities and quintessential summer camp with rustic but clean and sturdy cabins, clean and spacious bath houses and dining areas, and a postcard perfect lake front access with private docks. While other camps may provide a fancier, cushy environment, what you are paying for is the Skylake “magic” - the sense of community, friendship, and connection to others that is so critical in today’s world. Stop your search now; Skylake’s the place to be!
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*
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7/8/20 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Skylake magic! One of my favorite places in the world. Changed my life and thousands before and after me. Great staff, tons of activities, welcoming, unbelievably great food, downtime, kid time, being free time.
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*
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7/8/20 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
My boys have gone to Skylake since they were 7 years old and love it! The sense of family and tradition are strong. They love the activities! We love the daily newsletters and photos that are posted during camp. We are sad not to be there this summer!
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7/10/19 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Hey-Just picked up my daughter a week early. I wish I read all the review earlier. My fault. My duaghter had a misarable time. Bullied by others in the cabin, ignored by counselors, and counselors are inexperienced, yell at children, ifnore questions from children. poor communicaiton with parents. if something happens, don't expect a call untile days later. Really disappointed. Never sending my child here again.
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*
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9/15/15 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Skylake Camp is a wonderful place to send your children. I spent three summers at Skylake as a child and 28 years later I still remember the fun I had. I was thrilled to send my own son for a month this past summer. He had a blast, met new friends, tried new things, and came home resilient and confident. Skylake's no electronics policy lets kids unplug and unwind. The food is homemade and locally sourced. The counselors and staff love the kids. The camp is safe and has a 24 hour registered nurse on site for any cuts or bruises that occur. Their are plenty of activities for all personality types and the owners provide daily updates and pictures of camp life. Skylake is worth the money and your kids will be sad when they have to leave.
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*
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7/7/14 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
This was a phenomenal experience for my 11 and 13 year old kids this summer. It was their first year at Skylake and definitely won't be their last. There were tears when we picked them up because they didn't want to come home. I asked if they wanted two weeks next summer. They said no, it had to be 4 weeks. I was so impressed with the staff. What great college students they employ. The kids are tired, dirty and happy. Just what a camp should do to a kid. My son told me he was sad we hadn't found Skylake sooner. Me too! I will be signing them up as soon as we are allowed to for next summer to guarantee a spot. It's worth every penny.
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7/22/13 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
My child just came back and had a wonderful time, he loved his counselor, and wishes he could have stayed longer. Yosemite is stunning and beautiful, very different from home. He said the food was also very good. If you child is active, and likes to have fun, this is a great choice.
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5/23/13 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
This is a love it or hate it camp. It was not for us. Before you drop your child off, take a look at the bunks - they are *covered* in obscene graffiti, which is apparently some kind of camp tradition. Not cool for a 10, 11, or 12 year old kid. Take heed of the many reports of counselors not rounding up kids to get them to activities. That could be fine for older kids, but younger ones - especially first time campers - need help with that kind of thing. Be VERY concerned if your child's picture never shows up in the daily newsletters - s/he probably isn't getting to activities. The good news is that you can get a 50% refund if your child didn't get the activities you paid for, at least that was our experience. That said - I know parents who love this camp, and obviously there are plenty of kids who do, too. Just check out those bunks before you make a decision - they really reflect the Skylake ethos.
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6/19/12 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
I have attended this camp for a total of 9 years and plan on becoming a councilor after my first year of college (my dream job). Just wanted to say that without Skylake my life would have so much less meaning than it does now. I have truly found myself during my years at Skylake and surrounded myself with people who I know love and care about me. I fit in fine at home but when I come to Skylake it is so much more than fitting in. Everyone I have met here is like my siblings, including councilors, and I would do absolutely anything for them. The camp experience is not about having amazing facilities. That's the point! The experience of rustic cabins and dirty dirt roads is what makes camp what it is. I wouldn't trade Skylake for any one thing in the whole world and I hope this commentary has been very insightful.
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5/18/12 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
this camp has changed my life like i bet many camp do for many other kids but the location, counselors, food, and lodging are top notch and above every other camp ive been to
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SYSTEM: 2 positive duplicate or disallowed ratings automatically removed |
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4/13/11 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
I spent six years as a camper and two years as a counselor at Skylake. I can honestly say it changed who I became. I attribute my confidence in who I am as an adult to Skylake. I was ten my first year and I did every activity at least once. I was 16 my last year as a camper and I snuck out of activities to socialize (and got in trouble for it). As a counselor I tracked down teenagers and confiscated hidden cell phones, but I also stayed up all night talking to campers, sang "back to our home" and cried on closing night. I can't say enough about Skylake. The structure is such that you are always busy, but feel completely free. I think camp should be mandatory for all children. It creates confidence and independence, it is the one opportunity a year to reinvent yourself, to put yourself out there, to participate in traditions none of your school friends understand. My children will spend their summers at Skylake, just as I did, as my parents did and yes...as my grandmother did.
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2/25/11 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
My son was sick his entire time at the camp. He FAINTED at Flag and had to be carried out. No one ever contacted me about his health. This camp is dangerous.
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SYSTEM: 3 negative duplicate or disallowed ratings automatically removed |
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5/31/10 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
for all those people who say "oh the faculties are disgusting,they dont have to do the activities they signedd up for,etc." you or your kid dont under stand the magic of skylake if you watch the video, it is a place to get away from school and there normal life then let them sit around like slugs. i have been to skylake for 5 years and in all of them i have pretty much only seen about 7 cars. And skylake has a closed off swimming area they aren't alowed to step one space out off it without a counsler. Maybe your kid was just homesick. And if you asign him/her to do stuff, guess what? They might not want to do that suff, personally I adore skylake :)
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9/2/09 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
My two daughters have attended this camp for over 6 years and have always been well supervised and cared for while at camp. The camp director is very attentive to the needs of his campers. He takes his responsibilities very seriously and does not tolerate any trouble amongst the campers or his staff. I attended this camp for 10 years as a camper, staff member and now as a parent. There is no other camp I would trust to care for my children. This says alot when I do not allow my kids to attend sleepovers. My girls always come home with tears in their eyes which means they have had a great time. They are always so sad to say goodbye to the friends and memories they have made. Skylake offers plenty of activies for your children to attend. My girls have a blast each year and are looking forward to attending next summer as well. You can not go wrong by sending your children to Skylake. Thanks to the staff and Jeff Portnoy!
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7/21/09 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
This camp was truly a home away from home. I enjoy spending every minute there and i loved every bit of it. I cant wait to go back next year. i LOVED the big swing and horse back riding. i rode every day cause i wanted to not because i had to and my mom wanted me to
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7/11/09 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Skylake is the best camp ever invented. If you wrote a bad rating, I know its your opinion and all, but Skylake rocks! Don't even think about the bad ratings.
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6/27/09 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
Nice Weather but is very hard to get into, you have to sign up very early
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1/13/09 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
I am very sorry to hear some negative reviews of this camp. If your child did not have a good time they were simply not ready to be at a sleep away camp. Skylake provides children the unique opportunity to grow and mature into young adults capable of taking care of themselves. As for the cabins. I'm sorry that they are not your ten million dollar homes but THAT IS WHAT CAMP IS ABOUT. Breaking out of the norms of society and cutting loose. The amazing history and traditions that this camp holds are second to none. The fact that sessions sell out six months before camp starts is a true testament to the amazing place that it is. Don't listen to the crazy LA moms that don't want their dear little baby to be exposed to the real world and if you have the opportunity send your child to SKYLAKE
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9/7/08 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Our 10 year old son attended this summer and had a miserable experience. He was never offered to go on the activities he signed up for on his form, many of our emails never got to him, his photo rarely appeared on the website, and the daily newsletter telling of the activities that the kids participated in was inaccurate. The facilities are old and are in desperate need of an update. The lake is public, and the campers have to cross a busy road to access it. The lack of supervision allows the campers to spend much of each day sitting around.We never saw the large field the camp refers to on its website and suspect it does not exist.
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7/22/08 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
I just got back from a session and it was the best summer i have ever had. You get to choose the activities, unlike other camps where you are given a schedule. There are over 70 activities and over 4 "special" days each session. This camp has been my home away from home. You can expierence the "skylake magic" if you go. AMAZING CAMP!! pros: many activities cons; a LITTLE expensive
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SYSTEM: 3 positive duplicate or disallowed ratings automatically removed |
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3/22/08 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
I have been attendind Skylake for 5 years and it is literally my home away from home. I met my best friend at Skylake and even though we live far away we still talk eveyday! The staff are absolutely amazing and so supportive. Activities are awesome and the facilities couldnt be better. Skylake is my favorite place in the world and if I could give every child the opportunities that I have had I would in a second!
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2/4/08 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
I absolutley love this camp. I wish i could go back again this year but i cant cuz i am too old. The activities are all really fun, the food is good for an overnight camp, and the friends you make are ones that will last a lifetime and a half. The couselors are all chill and helpfull. The cabins have years and years of memories written on their walls and it is just soooo fuunnnnn
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10/2/07 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
The camp looked awesome in the video but looks can be deceiving. It looks like they will be busy doing fun stuff most of the time The staff was unattentive and burned out and sometimes didn't show up to their activities. my daughter had a lot of "down time" when it was supposed to be an activity. Horseback riding was her 1st choice activity and she rode a total of 90 minutes during the entire 2 week session. The food was lousy.
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9/12/07 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
This place is my second home!!! The summers you spend there will change your life. I would give anything to go back. -- former camper and counselor
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8/1/07 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
Daughter had a terrible time. She was hit by a camper in her cabin in front of witnesses and the cabin was verbally abused by the same camper. The camper in question was not removed from the cabin for a week and ruined the cabin's time at camp. The camp needs better policing policies.
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9/4/06 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
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8/20/06 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
I WOULD NEVER EVER EVER EVER GO ANYWHERE ELSE. THIS PLACE IS MY HOME. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. I WILL NEVER LEAVE MY HEART. I LOVE SYC!!!!
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