Camp Friendship

I just got back from camp friendship and enjoyed all my time there definitely one of the best weeks of my life. I learned so many new things, met amazing friends who I can t wait to see next year Met the best counselors who I love so much. I made the mistake of going one week and not more!

Have triplets that we had to split do to a health concern, first 2 had a blast but 3rd child did not. Every activity she wanted to do she did not get to do. Showers, a huge concern. They are extremely limited and when she arrived at airport to fly back (in first class) passengers were complaining. When we arrived in Atlanta we got off checked into a hotel to let her clean up before flying home the next day. Supposedly they are limited to showering and only given 5 minutes before counselors are banging on the door to get out. Hygiene is important to me, needless to say she is covered in a rash from neck down. The first 2 of my children had a blast and there only concern was limited showering. But with the 3rd child it was all down hill. Jasmine the nurse on staff is the asset of Camp Friendship, she goes above and beyond for these children. We inquired about family camp because my first 2 children wanted to share in the experience with us, never got a follow up regarding this. This was my children's first experience but with limited showers that is a huge concern to me as 3rd child is waiting to see doctor as she is covered from neck down in an awful and itchy rash. Sadly we had planned to be lifetime members of this camp but after this experience, we will not be back. We are so disappointed how one week can can make and break an experience.

Makes me feel so happy and look forward to it every year. I cant put into words how much this place means to me.

Both of my kids did a week of summer camp and we did the Spring family camp. I could not rave more about this place. Beautiful camp facility and the staff are phenomenal. You can tell everyone loves their job and Camp Friendship. It s really the people that make this camp so special. All the staff are super friendly and you can see a genuine connection to the campers and their families.

There are a ton of activities and loads of special events. I highly recommend both the regular camp and family camp sessions. You will not be disappointed!

This camp stinks worse than a Porta potty in the hot summer sun.

An excellent summer camp experience for my daughter.

My daughter attended this camp last year and she will be returning this year as well. We come all the way from Indianapolis, IN to send her to Camp Friendship and we do this because she loves it here and it also allowed her the opportunity to experience camp life and other surroundings outside of the city we currently live in. I'm glad to have found this place. Its a great place to send your kids if you want them to be active, and make friends.

I have been going to this Camp for four years now and every year it has been an awesome experience. I did the equestrian part of the camp and it was amazing, they taught me so much about horses and riding. They brought me a very long way with my riding.

It was amazing. When I was homesick, the counselors helped me. I am literally counting the days until I go back. I made so many friends, campers, CITs, counselors.

Attended when I was younger for 4 consecutive years. The first two years were great, the third not as great, and the fourth horrible, leading me to never want to go back. The main issue was the counselors. The first ones were kind and well-equipped to handle kids, but they got progressively less so. By my last year, the counselors were incredibly mean and obviously did not want to be around children all day. When I discovered a host of flies in my jam on the final day, I told my counselor, thinking she would want to let the kitchen know to fix the health issue. Instead she just shrugged and told me to go away.

This camp grounded me for life and provided experiences I call my best memories of my life! Thank you!- happy 50 year anniversary Camp Friendship!

My recent visit to camp friendship was very negative. I feel like as if they do not know how to amuse kids of the 21st century. The campfire experience was just boring for older kids. The camp also needs to expand capacity of popular activities. Because many of the kids did not end up with either of their choices. The food was OK. International people didn't seem very happy.

My 14 year old son attended Camp Friendship for a week last June and had a wonderful time. In August he was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. In October I registered him for two weeks at Camp Friendship and paid in full to take advantage of the early registration discount. I wrote on the registration form that he had been diagnosed and asked the camp director or nurse to call me to discuss this. They cashed my check and confirmed his enrollment. I received no call. In March I emailed asking for a call from the director. She never called me. In May I registered him for a third week week, called at least twice, and asked to speak to the director. She was not available. The second time I called I was told the director was aware of my request and would be calling me back shortly. I received no call. I was annoyed with the lack of follow through, but attributed it to the camp being a summer program without full staffing during the school year, and that if his diabetes were an issue, I would have been notified.

In June I filled out his camper profile online and included the fact he had been diagnosed with diabetes and requested a call. I never received one. I also filled out his health history form and when I clicked the box for diabetes, a series of drop down lists and text boxes opened up prompting me to document his treatment, which I did. I received no call or follow up after submitting the forms.

In late June we packed his bags and drove 2 hours to bring him for what was supposed to be a 3 week stay. Upon checking in, we asked if there was any outstanding paperwork and were told no and directed to check in with the nurse. The line we ended up in was for the student nurse. She rattled off what it said on his health history form. We took him to his campsite and brought his bags to his cabin. He was in the exact same cabin last summer, so he felt right at home and was excited about the upcoming weeks. Before leaving, I went back to the nurse's station. I met the two full time RNs on staff. One told me she was a school nurse during year and had several diabetic kids under her care. She requested his correction ratios. When he was first diagnosed we were given a worksheet to calculate how much insulin he should take. After several months of consulting the sheet 3 times a day were were used to the routine and didn't need it anymore. I said I would email it as soon as I got home in 2 hours.

When I arrived home, I immediately got a call from the nurse asking for the worksheet. I emailed it immediately and asked her to call back if she didn't have it in 5 minutes. 5 minutes later, the phone rang again. This time it was the director, Sarah, finally calling me back. She said they were not equipped to manage my son's diabetes and that I had to come and pick him up immediately. She also said they didn't have the form giving permission to administer medicine, after I specifically asked if there was any outstanding paperwork upon checking in.

I said it would be at least 2 days until I could get time off of work to drive the 2 hours back to get him. She said that was unacceptable. I told her she could arrange transportation if he had to leave that night. At first she said they didn't offer that service, but then called me back saying someone would drive him back after evening campfire. A few hours later I get a call from my son. He's confused as to why he has to leave. I heard him calmly arguing his case to the director any asking if something could be worked out so he could stay. I was very proud of him, but ultimately it made no difference. At midnight he arrived back home with all the equipment and supplies we had just packed for his 3 week stay.

Thank you Sarah and Camp Friendship for taking what was supposed to be a fun and exciting adventure and turning it into a traumatic event in my adolescent son's life. He'll never forget his time at Camp Friendship, though we both wish he could.

My son had an amazing week at Camp Friendship! :) He tried many new activities and made new friends. The staff was extremely helpful and friendly. This is a wonderful place

Went to this camp once and will NEVER be back. Was cursed at by staff and when signing up for activities was not given many options. Russian kids in my cabin were mean and would run around naked harassing people. One week campers are not invested in and the international sports kids (tennis) were horrible.

Camp Friendship was my summer home for the past 7 years and contributed more to who I am today than any other aspect of my life. I am so grateful for the values and skills that I learned down in Palmyra. I cannot say enough good things about this place and I miss it dearly this summer.

I love Camp Friendship! They hosted an all adult weekend retreat for our group this spring. I work for a business that hosts weekend retreats at camps across the country, so I visit and collaborate with camps on a regular basis. Camp Friendship is top notch. We met with Sarah Ackenbom, the retreats director, twice before camp to plan every hour of the weekend. Her attention to detail is absolutely impressive, and all of our plans were executed precisely as we hoped. She (and her entire staff) went above and beyond for us on everything from a lovely menu, to planning an adventure race complete with an interactive online trail map, and even little touches like twinkle lights, cute table cloths, and tiki torches. Camp Friendship staff was zipping around camp attending to our every need from sunrise to well after sunset. They were up before 6 AM preparing for each day before our campers emerged from their cabins for sunrise yoga! We plan to return to Camp Friendship every year with our group. Camp Friendship has set the bar high for every camp we will work with in the future. After experiencing Camp Friendship as an adult, I have decided this will be the camp where I will send my own children in the future.

I was the 1st camper they ever had. They gave me many skills and confidence which has carried me through my life. I'm now 58 and still fall back on my experiences at the camp to help me handle life's challenges.