How do I know if my child is ready for camp?
Camp should be something children want to do, and readiness for camp will vary from child to child. If your child is able to have successful sleepovers with friends and/or family, talks positively about camp or wants to attend with friends, you’re already half way there.
Please feel free to discuss any special circumstances with us: family issues or dynamics, medical, emotional, or behavioral concerns. We’re happy to listen and work with you. We truly see camp as a partnership. You’re entrusting your child to us...we want to make this a positive experience for all!!
If our camp isn’t the right match for your child, we’ll be able to suggest camps that might be or refer you to other resources.
What is the camp philosophy?
Our philosophy is to provide a safe and healthy atmosphere where campers will have access to and gain knowledge in a full range of activities; develop friendships within a supervised and supportive community, appreciate and value Jewish spiritual traditions and cultural heritage and forge a lifelong bond with Israel, and most of all, have fun!
We are one of a select number of camps nationwide accredited by the American Camp Association, a national organization dedicated to serving the needs of children in all camp settings. Ken Kornreich, our camp's director, is a long-time member of the ACA Board of Directors, is vice president of the New England section, and is active on the national and regional level.
How long are your sessions and what ages do you accept?
We offer two 3 and one-half week sessions, or campers can attend for all 7 weeks. We accept children completing grades 2-9, although generally our second graders are those who already have siblings in camp.
What is the cost?
Please refer to our Rates and Dates.
Do you offer tours?
You bet! We’d love to have you come up and visit during the camp season and see what camp is like in action! Tour reservations must be made in advance. Please click on Tours to schedule a tour (every day except Shabbat) or call our summer office at camp after June 15th (603-673-3710). If you’re touring other camps, we recommend no more than two camps tours in one day.
Where exactly are you located?
Camp Young Judaea is located on Baboosic Lake in Amherst, New Hampshire, about an hour from Boston. On a map, you’ll find us near Bedford, between Manchester and Nashua. See directions/bus information.
How do children get to camp? Is there a bus?
We provide a bus from the New York area on Opening Day of first session and Closing Day of camp in August. Some children arrive by plane (Manchester Airport is less than 10 minutes away); most are driven directly to camp by parents. (See Directions/Bus Info)
What are the bunks and other facilities like?
Campers live with their counselors in rustic yet comfortable wooden bunks equipped with bunk beds, drawers and cubbies. The 12 boys' cabins, set off in a wooded area, accommodate 12 to 18 campers. Shower, sink, and toilet facilities are located in two separate buildings located adjacent to the bunks. All bunks in girls area are equipped with toilet and sink facilities; some cabins also have showers. A separate shower house is also available. Girls' bunks range from 14 to 22 campers.
Other facilities include a modern dining hall, eight tennis courts, a rec hall/theater, arts and crafts studio, radio station, expansive indoor gym, several playing fields, basketball and volleyball courts, archery and riflery ranges, ropes course and park, lakefront beach and boating area, outdoor grove, tented campsite, and hiking trails.
What about food?
Campers eat together three times a day in our modern, kosher dining hall. An enticing and ever-changing salad bar is available at lunch; a vegetarian option is available. Fruit is served at two meals each day; snacks are offered in the afternoon and evening. Kid-friendly food, such as chicken fingers and fries, grilled cheese and pasta are typical entrees; desserts include home-baked goods and ice cream. We enjoy an outdoor cookout and a picnic every week in our park.
We do not allow children to receive food care packages or keep food or bottled water in the cabins.
Where do campers come from?
Although the majority of our campers come from the New England area, we also have campers from Florida, California, Texas, Maryland, Tennessee, New York, Arizona, New Jersey, Georgia, and Virginia. In past years, we welcomed campers from Canada, France, the Netherlands, Israel, Mexico, and England.
Can you tell me about your staff?
Many children start as campers and spend 10-13 summers with us, including stints as counselors. More than 70% of our bunk counselors are former campers who come back year after year to CYJ. Counselors are college-aged; we also have a Counselor Aide program for a limited number of seniors in high school.
Every year we turn away approximately 50 to 100 staff applicants. All of our applicants must go through an extensive screening and interview process. In addition, we hire a small number of experienced Jewish staff from Israel, Canada, England, France, South Africa, and Australia.
Our staff members are activity specialists who live in the bunks with children; each bunk is staffed by 3-5 counselors. All staff members must participate in a one-week orientation program prior to camp and be certified in their particular specialty.
We are so proud of our staff!! They are energetic, dedicated, caring, knowledgeable, and fun-loving.
Can you tell me about the Jewish programming at camp?
Please check out the Judaica section for specific information about our Judaica program and philosophy.
What’s a typical day like?
Take a look at an example of a typical day.
Do you have sports teams?
We do have an extensive sports program at camp, offering teams in girls and boys softball, volleyball, newcomb, basketball, soccer, tennis, swimming, riflery, archery, and even Ultimate Frisbee. We often create several teams for one age group so more children can participate. We host several tournaments and also play weekly intercamp games with nearby Jewish camps.
What is your creative arts program?
Campers can try out each month for one of our plays and get their chance to shine on stage! We also have a fully equipped Arts & Crafts studio with a woodworking shop, pottery wheels, and stations for tie-dying, batiking, jewelry-making and ceramics, beadwork, painting and drawing, sewing, and of course, gimp/lanyards. Music and dance are integral parts of our program; we also participate in a Jewish Arts Festival by presenting Israeli dances and Hebrew songs.
Can you describe your evening programs?
You name it, we play it! Outdoor games include Capture the Flag and Counselor Hunt, game shows such as Let’s Make a Deal and Double Dare, bunk nights, parties at the beach, Rock Pantomime (your whole bunk makes up an act together), carnivals, parades, Talent Show, Battle of the Sexes, plays, socials, and much much more! Evening programs are always exciting, entertaining, and unpredictable.
What about trips?
We offer one trip day each month and one trip night as well. Local amusement parks, water parks, movies, bowling, skating, miniature golf…no matter where we go, the children are carefully supervised at all times and have a great time. We pay for all admissions and expenses and give the children spending money or provide a snack there.
Do you offer an overnight camping program?
For our younger campers, we offer a one-night camping experience in our very own "Spooky Woods" on-site camping area. Older campers can sign up for a two-day, one-night camping trip to the White Mountains. Both of these programs are optional.
Can my child call home?
We do not allow any phone calls to or from children during the camping season.
How can I stay in touch with my child at camp?
Campers must write home three times a week, so you’ll definitely be hearing from them, although we can’t guarantee length or content! Parents and relatives can email campers and the emails are delivered the next day. It’s easy, low-cost and fun! Other than that, mail and occasional small packages are great ways to connect with your child. We do not allow phone calls or faxes to or from children during the camping season and no cell phones or other communication devices are permitted.
What if I want to know how my child is doing?
Please call our office. Whether you want to ask a question, follow up about a letter you received or simply check in and see how your child is doing, we’re available to provide you with specific information and reassurance!
How do you deal with homesickness?
Homesickness is a common and often brief phase that (some, but not all!!) children go through. We will send you information in advance to help you and your child deal with this sensitive topic!! You will fill out a confidential form prior to camp where you can share information with us about your child’s individual concerns or needs. Or feel free to call or email us.
Your camp sounds great. What’s the application procedure?
CYJ is a very popular camp: our return rate is more than 90% each year. While that’s wonderful, it does mean that "getting in" can be difficult, depending on your child’s grade level.
We send out applications for both returning and new campers the first week of November. We register returning campers first, and then on December 1st, begin to register new campers on a first-come, first-serve basis. That means when you get your application in November, you should immediately return it to our winter address with a deposit, which we will not cash until your child is accepted in December. Even a delay of a few days can be important. Applications are not available until November. Sorry, we do not accept credit cards.
How do I get my name added to your mailing list to receive an application or get more info?
Just click here, fill out the form and email it back to us. Or call us at our winter address (until June 1st) or our summer address (from June 1st to September 1st). You can also download an application after November 1st.
Do you have any spaces left for this summer?
If you’re reading this any time after December 5th, it’s best to contact us directly to find out about space availability, since at that point many of our age groups are often already filled.
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