Bear Mountain Summer Camps

The YMCA of Greater Bergen County offer traditional, back to basics residential and day camps. Each camp offers an unplugged experience for children to reconnect with the outdoors while being introduced to a variety of activities. All our programs promote the YMCA’s core values of Caring, Respect, Responsibility and Honesty developing self confident and independent campers.
Our Site
All of our camps are nestled in the beautiful and scenic woods of Harriman State Park along Lake Kanawauke. Harriman State Park , New York’s second largest state park, provides 200 miles of hiking trails, 31 lakes and access to the Appalachian Trail among its 46,000 acres of wilderness. Thirty miles from Hackensack campers are bused to camp each day from the Y. Two waterfronts and a fleet of canoes, kayaks, rowboats and paddle boats offer a wide variety of waterfront activities.
Our Quality Staff
The YMCA of Greater Bergen County Camp Staff is dedicated to provide your child with an exceptional camping experience. We recruit our summer staff through local colleges and online camp job sites. All hired have experience working with children and many are seeking college degrees in education and outdoor education. In addition, we hire international staff for our residential camp in order to introduce campers to other cultures. Specialists are hired to provide your children with the best progressive and goal oriented instruction for activities such as: boating, arts and crafts, nature, rock climbing/challenge course and archery. All staff are given background checks and participate in an extensive 4-14 day orientation training.
Our Camp Programs
Our camps are traditional, back to basics summer camps. Each camp offers an unplugged experience for children to reconnect with the outdoors while being introduced to a variety of activities. All our programs promote the YMCA’s core values of Caring, Respect, Responsibility and Honesty developing self confident and independent campers.

For over 30 years Camp Michikamau has offered a high quality traditional overnight camp for both girls and boys aged 8-16. Campers are given the freedom to choose their activities such as: rock climbing, kayaking, outdoor skills, dance and much more! Campers aged 16 can participate in our new Counselor in Training program which is aimed to develop future camp staff members.

The Coalition for the Homeless seeks camp staff for its summer sleep-away camp designed specifically for homeless children in upstate New York. Founded in 1984, 'Camp Homeward Bound' was the first camp in the nation created to serve homeless children. Camp Homeward Bound provides a safe, predictable and highly structured environment for homeless children, which fosters the development of positive social and learning skills. Children, age seven to fifteen, are referred by parents, social service agencies, mental health professionals and special educators.

YMCA of Greater Bergen County Camp Programs
For the best in summer camping, look no further than the YMCA of Greater Bergen County. Whether you are looking for a day or overnight camping experience the Y has a program that will fit your needs, budget and interests.
Our Site
All of our camps are nestled in the beautiful and scenic woods of Harriman State Park along Lake Kanawauke. Harriman State Park , New York’s second largest state park, provides 200 miles of hiking trails, 31 lakes and access to the Appalachian Trail among its 46,000 acres of wilderness. Thirty miles from Hackensack campers are bused to camp each day from the Y. Two waterfronts and a fleet of canoes, kayaks, rowboats and paddle boats offer a wide variety of waterfront activities.
Our Quality Staff
The YMCA of Greater Bergen County Camp Staff is dedicated to provide your child with an exceptional camping experience. We recruit our summer staff through local colleges and online camp job sites. All hired have experience working with children and many are seeking college degrees in education and outdoor education. In addition, we hire international staff for our residential camp in order to introduce campers to other cultures. Specialists are hired to provide your children with the best progressive and goal oriented instruction for activities such as: boating, arts and crafts, nature, rock climbing/challenge course and archery. All staff are given background checks and participate in an extensive 4-14 day orientation training.
Our Camp Programs
Our camps are traditional, back to basics summer camps. Each camp offers an unplugged experience for children to reconnect with the outdoors while being introduced to a variety of activities. All our programs promote the YMCA’s core values of Caring, Respect, Responsibility and Honesty developing self confident and independent campers.
Day Camp Kahagon provides campers 5-6 years of age with their first peak at the natural world. Each session balances play, art, sensory exploration and hands-on learning. Campers will play games, participate in swim lessons, learn outdoor skills and explore in the local habitats.
Day Camp Kahagon introduces the little ones to the camp environment. The program balances play, art, sensory exploration and hands-on learning. Each camp group of six will explore, play counselor-led games, learn outdoor skills, go boating, receive swim lessons and have time to splash around on their own. Just like the other camps Kahagon campers will receive the highest quality swim lessons by qualified swim instructors who use the YMCA Progressive Swim Program.

Many of the activities and games will focus on nature and the outdoors. Campers will feel, touch, smell, see, hear and even taste their way around camp. Using their sense campers will discover the animals and plants that live at Harriman State Park. Frogs, snakes, insects and fish oh my!

YMCA of Greater Bergen County Camp Programs
For the best in summer camping, look no further than the YMCA of Greater Bergen County. Whether you are looking for a day or overnight camping experience the Y has a program that will fit your needs, budget and interests.
Our Site
All of our camps are nestled in the beautiful and scenic woods of Harriman State Park along Lake Kanawauke. Harriman State Park , New York’s second largest state park, provides 200 miles of hiking trails, 31 lakes and access to the Appalachian Trail among its 46,000 acres of wilderness. Thirty miles from Hackensack campers are bused to camp each day from the Y. Two waterfronts and a fleet of canoes, kayaks, rowboats and paddle boats offer a wide variety of waterfront activities.
Our Quality Staff
The YMCA of Greater Bergen County Camp Staff is dedicated to provide your child with an exceptional camping experience. We recruit our summer staff through local colleges and online camp job sites. All hired have experience working with children and many are seeking college degrees in education and outdoor education. In addition, we hire international staff for our residential camp in order to introduce campers to other cultures. Specialists are hired to provide your children with the best progressive and goal oriented instruction for activities such as: boating, arts and crafts, nature, rock climbing/challenge course and archery. All staff are given background checks and participate in an extensive 4-14 day orientation training.
Our Camp Programs
Our camps are traditional, back to basics summer camps. Each camp offers an unplugged experience for children to reconnect with the outdoors while being introduced to a variety of activities. All our programs promote the YMCA’s core values of Caring, Respect, Responsibility and Honesty developing self confident and independent campers.
Each day at Day Camp Oratam is filled with new experiences and fun. Each camper is placed in a camp group with his or her peers of the same age and sex. Oratam counselors and specialty staff create a safe and nurturing environment for campers while providing them with the highest quality instruction and guidance during play and activities. Campers receive personalized swim instruction based on the YMCA Progressive Swim Program taught by certified instructors along with time for free swim every day.

In addition to the daily variety of activities, each week contains a special event such as Olympics, color wars, predator/prey and egg drop. Even in rain the fun continues with interactive indoor games, arts and crafts, counselor led activities and just down time for the group to get to know each other.

The challenge course, a series of obstacles, is always a camp favorite. Some elements test individual skills; others promote teamwork and leadership. New this year is our Zip Line through the forest! This is a cable that is run across an incline to allow campers to traverse through the forest. The course and zip line is run by a trained staff member who teaches proper methods and ensures safety and most of all fun!

Many of our campers take advantage of the overnight offered for the 9-12 year olds once a session. Campers cook-out, participate in a special program like dance, night hike or carnival night, and get to sleep in our cabins receiving a taste of the overnight experience.

YMCA of Greater Bergen County Camp Programs
For the best in summer camping, look no further than the YMCA of Greater Bergen County. Whether you are looking for a day or overnight camping experience the Y has a program that will fit your needs, budget and interests.
Our Site
All of our camps are nestled in the beautiful and scenic woods of Harriman State Park along Lake Kanawauke. Harriman State Park , New York’s second largest state park, provides 200 miles of hiking trails, 31 lakes and access to the Appalachian Trail among its 46,000 acres of wilderness. Thirty miles from Hackensack campers are bused to camp each day from the Y. Two waterfronts and a fleet of canoes, kayaks, rowboats and paddle boats offer a wide variety of waterfront activities.
Our Quality Staff
The YMCA of Greater Bergen County Camp Staff is dedicated to provide your child with an exceptional camping experience. We recruit our summer staff through local colleges and online camp job sites. All hired have experience working with children and many are seeking college degrees in education and outdoor education. In addition, we hire international staff for our residential camp in order to introduce campers to other cultures. Specialists are hired to provide your children with the best progressive and goal oriented instruction for activities such as: boating, arts and crafts, nature, rock climbing/challenge course and archery. All staff are given background checks and participate in an extensive 4-14 day orientation training.
Our Camp Programs
Our camps are traditional, back to basics summer camps. Each camp offers an unplugged experience for children to reconnect with the outdoors while being introduced to a variety of activities. All our programs promote the YMCA’s core values of Caring, Respect, Responsibility and Honesty developing self confident and independent campers.
With success last year of this new program we decided to not only offer it again but to make it even better! This special program for 13 and 14 year olds offers all the fun of camp with added activities such as rock climbing, all day hiking adventures, kayaking, low ropes course and zip line. Added new this year is an off-site day trip per session. Day trip activities may include: visit to Trailside Nature Center, a hike on the Appalachian trail, or repelling a ravine.

TeenVenture campers will also begin to develop their leadership skills. Teen counselors will focus on small group dynamics, team work and values. Each session the group will be given a service project that gives back to the camp. Projects may include: clearing a trail, leading an all camp activity or repairing a cabin.

Finally, teens can choose to participate in an overnight offered once a session. Leaders will guide the group to an offsite spot where teens will learn how to build a fire, cook over an open flame, pitch a tent and sleep under the stars.