No Computers, No Video Games
No I-Pods, No Cell Phones
No Radios, No TVs

Just The Woods & The Lake

Camp Choconut For Boys 9-15
Building Confidence and Self-Reliance
Through Woodland Activities Since 1896

Camp Choconut is a residential boy's camp. It was founded in 1896. Our program is designed to grow the whole boy, establish a sense of self-awareness with one's surroundings, and develop character in a safe, secure environment - all while having fun.

This summer we will have no more than 55 boys attend Camp Choconut. This small number is conducive to allow for individual attention; while at the same time allows the boys to feel a sense of camaraderie between all. The boys are split-up by age group and the cabin sizes range anywhere from 4 – 12 boys in each cabin. The counselor to camper ratio is 5:1 or 6:1.

Our camp philosophy is to “grow the whole boy.”

We try to find creative and entertaining ways to educate and challenge each boy, every day. We accomplish this through our Leadership Development program intertwined with our daily program. Its aim is to instill in each boy a sense of who he is in relationship to others; how his actions effect himself and others; to find the inner strength and desire to better himself; to develop a sense of empathy; to become a unique individual while becoming a better social citizen.

The daily schedule is very structured, yet provides enough free time where the boys do not feel overwhelmed with always "having to do something". The boys get up at 7:30 and we keep them busy with scheduled activities throughout the day and evening. We get to bed at 8:30 and the boys either read to themselves or the counselor appointed to the cabin for the evening reads to them. Interjected within our daily routine are "Big Games". These are camp wide games that take up about a 4-hour block either in the morning or afternoon. The boys love these games. And, of course, there is the infamous "Villa Hunt" - a three-day game of hide-and-seek within the 800+ acres available to us. The boys get 3 meals a day - they never leave hungry - and Noon time milk shakes to tide them over until our main meal, lunch. Fruit is available throughout the day for those boys that require frequent snacks.

The boys partake in morning "details" or "periods" where, as a cabin, they attend scheduled activities. These scheduled activities include some sort of teaching. Our teaching is cumulative and the boys build upon the skills they previously were taught. This program even works well with returning boys as they get to improve upon their previously learned skills and incorporate them into even more complex activities.

The afternoon provides a 2+ hour block of “free-time.” At lunch, each counselor stands up and says what activity they have planned for the afternoon. The boys are encouraged to select one of these activities. There is always something scheduled the boy will enjoy doing – fishing, boating, hiking, wood-shop, a sport activity, etc… The older boys sometime choose to do something on their own. This is not encouraged; however, it is permitted and a counselor goes along.

Our counseling staff goes through a complete week and a half of training prior to the start of camp. In addition, each counselor is required to complete an extensive online training course developed by Dr. Chris Thurber, a board-certified clinical psychologist and father. (You can read more about Dr. Thurber and Expert online Training at its Web site www.expertonlinetraining.com)

Please feel free to call me direct at 651-338-3042. And, visit our web site at http://www.campchoconut.com

Universal Camping, Gilboa, NY

Nestled peacefully in the grandfathers of the Catskills are eighty rolling acres of a magical summer experience. A specialized faculty of educational professionals supervise all activities. In addition to recreation, academics, fine arts and sports, the schedule is filled with interesting workshops on forestry, backpacking, wilderness survival, frontier construction, first aid, and cooking, as well as peer counseling and creative writing. Credited academic courses are available under the auspices of Bay Ridge Preparatory School in New York City. The atmosphere is warm, positive, and professionally structured so that campers can achieve their potential and go home with fond memories.

Come visit Universal Camping!!

We have a family friendly first camper policy of open communication as needed and visitation. Children are provided with a supportive environment of careful supervision and vigilant counselors who are there to attend to their many concerns with positivityand optimism.

The sports program has met with continuous praise for being motivational, cooperative, having the thrill of individual competition, offering excellent skills training, promoting team spirit and good sportsmanship,and having such professional coaches.
The Martial Arts Program is one of the most comprehensive in the world. Black Belt instructors demonstrate the basics of the art of Tae Kwon Do as well as showing some incredible self-defense and boardbreaking exhibitions. Campers learn how to perform flying kicks and power bag work. Above all, they are taught a philosophy of self-control and judiscious restraint in the face of adversity.

If campers achieve the basic skills, they will be eligible for belt test promotions! They will be officially certified by the World Martial Arts Association, which has its headquarters in New York City.

New Construction! Several new buildings are in completion now. A beautiful, spacious log cabin dormitory has an infirmary and gorgeous views of field and forest. The new bath house has spacious shower rooms with radiant heated floors. There is a newly constructed storm shelter, game room and computer lab. A new 1000 sq ft pavilion has been completed. These are complemented by yellow pine decks for late afternoon reading and enthusiastic conversation about the day's events.

NEW: Big Swimming Pool for the summer of 2012!

A nature pond near our stream bed enhances the science program with plenty of specimens for slides and microscope. Another, much larger pond on the hillside, is reserved for canoeing and kayaking. Just across the road is the dairy farm where we obtain maple syrup and fire wood, as well as tour the barn to learn the old fashioned dairy farming practices.

Then there is the incredible back-to-nature hiking, campfire building, and singing camp songs while toasting marshmallows! In the evening, we have story readings and the goodnight song.

Give us a call anytime, take a look at our Universal Camping website, drop us an email, or come visit us in the Catskill Mountains!

Want to learn to milk goats and make feta cheese? Snack on cherry tomatoes and raspberries from your bunk-side garden? Hand-harvest wheat from our on-site organic farm, collect eggs, make a clay oven... and bake truly home-made challah? Live in a thriving, inspired, down-to-earth Jewish community and make friends who also get excited at learning to play guitar and drums, getting to know local wild edibles, botany, ecology, geology, animal-tracking and more, building fires and fort villages in the woods, creating homegrown art, dance and music, sailing, boating, swimming, sports and so much more?

Want to spend the summer having a blast while creating positive change in the world?

Eden Village Camp is a unique non-profit Jewish environmental overnight camp, supporting 3rd-12th-grade girls and boys in gaining leadership and outdoor living skills, and awakening their sense of connectedness, purpose and joy.

Located 50 miles north of NYC and touching the Appalachian Trail, the beautiful 248-acre camp brings an innovative environmental program to the best of traditional camp. The experience includes organic farming, outstanding organic Kosher food, animal care, wilderness adventure, natural science, a zero-waste goal, pool & lake, biking, climbing, music, arts, sports, service projects, amazing staff, culture of kindness... all in a vibrant Jewish community!

Our campers have fun while deepening their understanding and appreciation for themselves, their communities, their Judaism, and the natural systems that sustain us.

Eden Village Camp aims to be a living model of a thriving, sustainable Jewish community, grounded in social responsibility and inspired Jewish spiritual life. By bringing the wisdom of our tradition to the environmental, social, and personal issues important to today’s young people, we practice a Judaism that is substantive and relevant. Through our Jewish environmental and service-learning curricula, joyful Shabbat observance, pluralistic Jewish expression, and inspiring, diverse staff role models, we foster our campers’ positive Jewish identity and genuine commitment to tikkun olam (healing the world).

Our 1:3 staff:camper ratio and gifted, kid-specialist bunk counselors ensure focus on the needs of each camper. Our specialists are professionals in their field. Eden Village Camp adheres to, and often exceeds, industry standards for health, safety and hygiene, and Directors Yoni and Vivian Stadlin bring a wealth of camp experience to Eden Village Camp.

Great scholarships and incentives are available. Yoni and Vivian would love to hear from you at (877) 397-3336 (EDEN)!

Peconic Dunes Summer Camp provides 2 programs to meet the needs of our campers. Our 4-H overnight and day programs include basketball, kayaking, soccer, softball, swimming, canoeing, archery, campfires and cookouts. The E.C.O. program gives campers a chance to work on a variety of projects including, pond study, marine science, forest and woodlands. Training in outdoor survival skills as well as fishing and environmental crafts are part of both programs. Peconic Dunes Camp is co-educational, offering sleep away or day camp experiences for children ages 7-17.

Great Camp Sagamore, once a Vanderbilt retreat in 1897,is now a non-profit organization and National Historic Landmark that holds 2-10 day environmental and educational programs for adults and families. Great Camp Sagamore is open to the public May-October, and conducts tours as well as programs and courses such as: Grandparent/Grandchild Camps, Fly Fishing, Adirondack History, Women Cancer/Chronic Illness Retreats, Boat Building, Wood Carving, Mountain Music & Dance. Guests are housed in historic buildings dating back to 1897, and meals are provided.