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Comments
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6/30/23 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Absolute blast with plenty of activities for any and all kids! Beautiful setting, cabins and dining area are well maintained. My child had an absolute blast and cannot wait to return. Camp director is accessible and extremely responsive. Very highly recommended.
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2/22/21 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
The camp is amazing. There may be some reviews about how the rules are extremely unreasonable but they are not. I have gone for 3 years and I absolutely love it. The facilities may not be the best, but what do you expect it's off the grid. I think if you are thinking about sending your kids there, I would absolutely do it. The waterfront is amazing and there are so many things you can do. I absolutely love this camp and would love to keep coming here as long as I can. The staff is very nice and everyone goes through background checks. I will want to send my kids here when I'm older. Currently, I'm 13 and I have been going since I was 9 I skipped my years 11 and 12 because of moving and corona. I would recommend this camp as a first choice. it is one of the best and most fun camps I've been to. As for the experience, I learned a lot and the evenings are very fun. I hope you choose Independent Lake Camp for your kids. It truly is the best camp ever. -ruby(3rd-year camper)
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11/14/19 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
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8/11/19 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
I have nothing but positive and wonderful things to say about this camp! The owners are terrific and really care about the kids. My tow sons both went to this camp. On the second summer one came home early due to a medical concern. The owners refunded his experience and allowed me to apply it as a discount for his bother on summer number 3. The facilities are well maintained and money is clearly put right back into the camp for the kids every year. My one son enjoys it so much he wants to be a counselor next summer! The kids pick their favorite activities for primes which gives them a lot of choice to master skills in areas they enjoy. This camp is very artsy! The skateboard park is perfect for all learners with safety maintained at all times. The camp is very multicultural for staff and kids which we love. The boys have friends now from all over the world! All religions are welcomed and feel accepted. We are Jewish and I like that everyone here is accepting of everyone.
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4/5/17 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Lots of reviews complain about the facilities being dirty. What do you expect? It's exactly what camp should be. The whole smoking thing died out a while ago. The drug policies are strictly enforced now. This camp is absolutely amazing. It's my second home. Yeah, the food sucks. But that's what makes it camp. The staff change a lot every year, but overall they are great, and really know how to connect with the kids. The camp is expensive, but really worth the money. I look forward to the drive through the Poconos every year, I couldn't imagine a summer without this amazing place. -LF
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8/30/16 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
The facilities are shabby and dirty. The directors and staff do not return calls or emails. They did not address the issue with the aggressive behavior of a camper properly. The parents had to wait more than 3 hours to pick up their kids in the city and no one even bothered to tell them the change in ETA. If you can't be assured that your kids are safe and having fun, why bother?
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"Former camp counselor sentenced for sex abuse" - http://wnep.com/2013/12/05/former-cam...
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6/3/13 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
my kids have been going here for 6 years and they absolutely love it. the head camper nigel is great with kids and even has one of his own. everyone there becomes almost like a family with eachother and my kids talk all year about how excited they are to go back. they accept everyone for who they are. they also have great managment and know how to keep kids in order without making them feel like a prisoner! they have so much to do so its never boring. i HIGHLY reccomend sending your kids to this camp.
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2/8/13 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
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11/14/11 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
My 2 sons loved this camp so much! As a parent I would have liked to see more counselor management of the kids surrounding keeping the bunks CLEANER and more organized. My son lost so many of his clothes at camp--he was only 9 and a first timer. Counselor's need to give more guidance to campers about hygiene and keeping their personal effects organized. Also I wish this camp did not allow so many computer devices. Many kids as young as 9 had IPhones although they are told to turn off the internet--you know that when the lights are off--many kids will disobey (Especially if they are spoiled enough to have an IPhone in the first place!) Kid's have iPod's with all sorts of TV shows on them, etc. I just hope that counselors will monitor screen content pretty tightly in the future to avoid inappropriate content being shown to kids. My kids are still pretty young (10) (11) but I really don't send them to camp to stare at bunk mate's IPhones all day! . Otherwise, this is a great camp!!!!
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11/10/11 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
This is not a summer camp I want to send my kids to. Facilities are generally run down, and while I have encountered some great counselors, there are also those you wouldn't want your kids around. Drug use and drinking are regular among staff, including management. This camp overcharges parents, especially because the quality of the camp certainly does not match the elaborate descriptions found on the website.
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10/29/11 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
This camp is so amazing. There is always something for everyone, even if that something involved sitting on a hill, cloud watching with your fav counselor! I'm going back this year for my 5th year, and I can barely wait. Summer can never come soon enough. :)
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9/26/11 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
I went to the camp a couple years ago in middle school, now I'm in college. That camp was full of drug users and other illicit activities, campers bullied me for not joining in those activities. I was so depressed I avoided showering for the whole two weeks so my parents would never send me back. Good news is that now this camp is a good inspiration for a college paper I have to write on disappointment.
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SYSTEM: 2 negative duplicate or disallowed ratings automatically removed |
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SYSTEM: 2 positive duplicate or disallowed ratings automatically removed |
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7/17/10 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Our two sons, ages 9 and 11, absolutely love Independent Lake Camp. You will not find a camp with a more beautiful lake / mountain view. I've read some reviews that I believe unfairly characterize the cabin cleanliness. Granted, they are wooden structures that resemble large sheds but they appear freshly painted and in decent shape. Each has a bathroom with three sets of facilites and electricity. Our sons' bunks each had less than 8 campers and two counselors. They particularly liked the Water Skiing and Model Rocketry. There are so many activities to try that the only way to not have a good time is to hide in the bunk. The staff were very friendly and helpful on both the drop off and pick-up days. When our oldest had a medical issue, the infirmary staff took great care of him and kept us up to speed on the situation. While the food wasn't gourmet, it was standard camp food and even our picky eater found something to enjoy at every meal. Overall, our kids had a terrific experience.
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SYSTEM: 3 positive duplicate or disallowed ratings automatically removed |
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8/23/08 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
This camp is amazing. this was my first year and i had such a good time! i feel like ive been there forever. the activities are great and you have so many choices. the people there are super nice and everyone has a friend. i learned so much there and i made some really good friends. i really recomend this camp. it is an amazing place to be.
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8/15/08 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
THIS CAMP ROCKS!I AM WRITING THIS FROM THE CAMP CUZ THE HAVE COMPUTERS! THIS IS BY FAR THE GREATEST CAMP. I HAVE MADE SOME OF THE GREATEST FRIENDS AND I WILL COME BACK EVERY YEAR UNTIL I DIE. OK MAYBE NOT THAT LONG...
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7/13/08 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
ILC offers more than I had ever thought possible. It has a phenomenal wealth of activities available & campers have the chance to do things they never even knew existed. ILC clearly sets out their boundaries. Their policy re. smoking is black & white: if you smoke on camp then you're out, no exceptions. The situation is dealt with in a way that is least disruptive to the camp community. ILC provides a very enriching experience allowing campers to grow as individuals. One thing that cannot be worked with, however, is smoking. It is made clear to all right from the outset that the policy is one of zero tolerance. The kids know the risks & consequences. How else can you draw the line in a place that deals with 600 kids?
ILC is an amazing place which allows everyone to fit in and belong. It truly does celebrate diversity and provide a fantastic summer experience which can be carried on in other areas of life. If a few don't see or appreciate that, I say good luck finding a better camp.
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7/4/08 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
This camp has rules that are unreasonable and insane! Campers are extracted and exiled from the camp for taking a drag of a cigarette or even for standing next to someone who is caught smoking a cig!There are no 2nd chances , no nurturing or supportive conversations to the camper to see why they made that wrong choice and never given a chance to redeem themselves! They are instructed to pack up their things and from that point on they are treated like prisoners and drug dealers by not allowing them talk to their fellow campers or eat meals with them. They stay for hours in the infirmary alone with their luggage. Parents are called and not told of how the campers are being treated and that they are literally quarantined from the rest of the camp, and they are told to pick up their child ASAP no matter the costs or distance they are from the camp. Reasoning is not even a possibility, and worse the thousands of dollars spent on your child's tuition for camp is not refunded! INSANE!!!
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3/13/08 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Fabulous camp!! One of my son's has now attended the camp for six years. This year he will be a counselor there. He can't wait to get to camp. My other son will be attending his fourth summer at ILC. He learned to play the electric bass last summer and plays well now! Both of my boys have taken advantage of all the different things they can do at camp. Each year they come back saying how great counselors are at ILC.
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2/17/08 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
Too much focus on sports for a camp that claims to have everything. Facilities and grounds are dirty. Staff was helpful, but could probably just have been doing it to get a tip. Huge camp, but my kids did not get much help or improve in what they went to focus on. More of a relaxed camp, everyone is there to hangout more than excel.
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1/25/08 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
ILC is amazing this past summer was one i will never forget thanks to the amazing staff and friends you will make. its all about individuality which is great, everyone is accepted in every department. go to ilc and have a summer that you will never forget
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10/18/07 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
ILC is amazing. Memories for a life time are made there. Best friends are made. It is a blast!!!! The activities are amazing!! I love ILC.
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9/7/07 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
I went there and was a camper there for almost a decade, and I had a pretty good experience. It has come a long way from what it used to be. Although in th process they have lost some of that personal touch which they claim that they specialize in, they still do a fair share of keeping up with all the new and crazy activities that young shildren like to do. Overall I would still recommend this camp to future campers who are looking to branch out and make new friends from all walks of life. Thanks ILC for eveything you have done, even though I came from the other ILC, you are still the only camp that I hold fond memories of.
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6/14/07 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
okay, let's just clear some things up. ILC is THE best camp EVER. i love ILC! This will be my third summer there, and I have many summer yet to spend in the beautiful Pocono mountains of Independent Lake. The counselors are nothing but top notch, the activities...what can I say? They have everything from flying trapeze to piano lessons to go karting to soccer to many different types of art. And the best thing is that you design your own schedule. Your never stuck doing anything you don't want to. You have so much access to home, you can call whenever you want! You also have many times where you can choose to email home or just surf the web. I LOVE THIS CAMP SO MUCH!
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3/31/07 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
OOOOOMMMMMMGGGGGGG!!! i LOVE this place. The best place i've ever been too. This summer (2007) will be my second and my best friends third. UM.....................SEND YOUR CHILD THERE
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3/15/07 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
this camp should be called the independent dump. the cabins are extremely dirty and disgusting. there is no attention from the staff, and the food tastes like garbage. I sent my kid here two summers ago and he came back and he had not showered in three weeks! THREE WEEKS! i was highly dissapointed in this camp and when I think about it, the owner's shaggy long hair makes him look like a schlump and is completely unproffessional
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1/20/07 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
I had 2 kids go here. It expanded the last year they went, and unfortunately, the expansion meant less personal attention, more chaos, less supervision. It has great activities, but got too big for personal attention.
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1/1/07 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
ILC is the best possible camp ever! I have been to many camps(most day but w/e) and this is my favorite by far. Everyone fits in and the atmosphere is amazing. There are so many people and activities that mostly everyone has friends. The atmosphere there is just the best and I LOVE this camp. If there is someone that isnt your type then just dont hang with them, there are plenty of other choices of people. The activity range is spectacular..........wow all i have to say is this camp is AMAZING!
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11/1/06 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
Great camp! Was sad that i was unable to return this year due to family matters. I had a great experience my first time at a sleepaway camp! They had tons of activities every day to choose from.
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9/11/06 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
best camp ever! i loved it and i think its amazing. just bring some of your own food.. anyone would love this camp. its big on diversity and has a huge range of activities. you'll love it
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8/31/06 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
2007 will be my seventh year attending ILC. I was a camper, cit, and am now a conselor. I loved every aspect of camp and still remember what activities I did each year. I have kept in touch with people from all over the world during my time there and have made some of my best friends at camp. Most children fall in love with the outdoors enviornment so much that many don't even think about television or videogames during their stay. Who needs a gameboy when you can go waterskiing, horseback riding, or swing on a giant trapeze? Kids make friends quicky because new and old campers come every year and no one is excluded because there is a department for everyone. The staff is from both the United States and abroad (mainly England, Australia, and New Zealand). They are skilled in the activities they teach and provide for another perspective of the world. The camp is also a great way to get in shape without even realizing it. I would highly recommend it to campers of all ages.
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8/18/06 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
horrible my children hated it. faculty did not pay attention at all to the kids. it is more a buissness then a camp. DONT GO horrible
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