camp vacamas. New Jersey USA Reviews

My daughter loved it from the first day of drop off

Thanking Mr. Lee for excellent follow up! I appreciated his sincerity when following up about my concerns. The staff rocked last year!

Worked over two summers here. Fantastic place that does fantastic work! Saw kids really reap the benefits of experiencing the outdoors and camp environment. The staff that work here all do it out of sheer love and passion.

I attended the camp when I was a adolescent. The best times I ever had.... This camp is what intune me with nature and the beauty of it.

Camp Vacamas changes both the lives of campers and counsellors. I worked at camp for 2 summers and volunteered my time during a third summer. All of the staff at camp go above and beyond to make sure everyone on camp is happy, healthy and having fun. Camp taught me many things and gave me some of the most important people in my life. Camp Vacamas definitely helps make memories and change lives. I couldn t recommend a better camp for future campers and counsellors to attend.

I spent 2 summers working at this amazing camp and witnessed the incredible impact it has on young people s lives. The amazing work that HI4Y does every summer transforms the lives of many young people, providing them with invaluable life experiences and skills that allow them to achieve success and flourish as individuals.

AWESOME place! Amazing people helping youths to discover and develop their full potential. The impact on the children is even more important in the 21st century since they will face challenges requiring creativity, collaborative work and confidence. I worked in the camp for 2 summers and witnessed the kids leaving with all of those skills and more. Your kids will be grateful to you for the whole life if you sign them in :)

Spent a summer working at this camp. Great place, full of great people. Friendly and supportive environment to assist children in learning independence, self-confidence and social skills.

My daughter had an awesome time. Her confidence sky rocketed... she wants to go back every year.

It is safe to say that Camp Vacamas becomes a second home to campers and staff from all walks of life. This summer will be my fourth working, over this short time I have seen children develop and blossom into young adults. Young people leave not only with new skills and experiences but as part of the Vacamas family!

I went to CAMP VACAMAS back in the 60's (lower inter& upper inter) GREAT CAMP THEN!!!

Vacamas is the best camp in the world and I love it
-Chloe Swift spiners niece

So happy to have spent 8 summers here as both a camper and staff. Vacamas is truly a special place I can call a second home. I love being able to visit each summer and still see familiar faces (campers and staff) This type of retention over the years truly shows dedication to the cause and what makes Vacamas so one of a kind!

Although I don't like to give negative reviews - I feel a duty to be honest and informative to others.

We had been attending the camp for just under a decade. They have made small mistakes in the past, and always made up for them ten-fold with great service, service recoveries, and wonderful facilities.

This summer they changed hands completely. I was NEVER informed. Thank goodness, I emailed to confirm my reservation 2 weeks before attending...low and behold, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO I WAS OR HAVE ANY FILE ON RECORD!

To add insult to injury, the new camp director was rude at first. She calmed and attempted to be workable after. Nonetheless, her bosses declined to offer us anything that we had already agreed-upon with the previous company/ownership. They wanted to suddenly charge us $4300 more than we had planned because it "was their policy."

I experienced such an incredible lack of communication, responsibility, and workability...I would probably NEVER RETURN.

Believe it or not, it gets worse, but that just becomes a rant...

It used to be great. Changed companies/management/ownership, and now it's sadly lackluster and disheartening.

Need a camp for any activities? Look elsewhere, or message me and I'm happy to give you the rest of the details...

Best time of my life. I really enjoyed being a Counselor at Vacamas, Vacamas isn t just a summer camp, it s a second home, a second family.

Happy to say I ve been going to this camp for 10+ years (as staff and camper). It s a wonderful place with even better people and activities. The days are full of adventure and no matter if you re there for a weekend or a summer you build bonds you ll never forget!

Making Memories and Changing Lives, that camp slogan can't get any truer.
To start, my parents both attended camp in the 80's. They grew up with each other and both became counselors. They dated for a couple years then got married and had three kids. I'm the middle child.
But let me tell you about how magical this place was for parents, as well as for me. I started off at 6 years old in preps. I had the greatest time of my life. Running down the hill to the dining hall, singing camp songs late at night on our way back to the bunks, swimming in that sparkling lake, and most of all, Meeting some of the greatest people from all around the world.
I can't begin to sum up all the fond memories I've had while at camp. But what I can say to any parent who is looking for a place to send your child, This is it! You and your child will not regret it! Camp Vacamas is truly a magical gem!

As an international staff from England, Camp Vacamas has played a big role in my life and will always have a special place in my heart! I have had the privilege of working at Vacamas for 4 summers and visiting for another (if I could visit every summer I would). The slogan making memories, changing lives couldn't be more fitting. The relationships you build with not only staff but campers too is beautiful and seeing campers grow and develop summer after summer is what it is about! I would recommend Vacamas to anyone wanting to send their child or any staff wanting to work there.

Went here over night with my school. Had a blast. The councilors are amazing so nice funny friendly etc! I wish I could've stayed longer. Mind you I'm 19 years old :)

I went to this camp in the summers of 1997 through 1999. I have moved to a different part of the country since then but I would certainly have my own children go there if I could. It is a great place and I think back fondly of it from time to time all these years later.

Constant phone tag and cant get a straight answer for anything. No one returns calls. If my child attends this camp it will be the last.

I attended Vacamas as a camper (3 summers)!and then staff (6 summers!) and it was a no brainer that I d send my kids one day.
So this summer, I did just that. I sent my daughter for the 1st session, 12 days. She s going in to second grade, and although young, very independent. I knew she d be good... and she was. She had an amazing time. She s been missing it so much since she returned. My daughter was well cared for by her counselors, and won t stop talking about Rachel and Simba, the guidance counselor was great and responded to my messages when she had a chance, and there as an assistant director that would post pics on a private page every evening so that parents could may a glimpse of their child. I didn t receive any letters, but that is a sign of a great time and that she was busy, having fun, and making memories.

Overall great experience. I was worried that something would change in the... 15+ years that I was last there, and all that s changed are faces of the leadership, and they ve managed to maintain the magic and tradition that makes Vacamas (HI4Y) special.

She ll be back next year, without hesitation (aside from my own separation anxiety :D), for a longer session.

Nice camp in northern New Jersey, formerly known as Camp Vacamas. Lots of scholarships and financial aid available, otherwise prices are quite reasonable. Staff is awesome. The kiddos had a great time! Beautiful campus.

I spent the summer of 2016 working at vacamas. It was the best experience ever. It became my second home. All the staff and campers were so genuine. Looking forward to be able to volunteer this year and see some familiar faces. Camp has a lot of life lessons to teach to both campers and staff. Can t wait to make 2019 a summer to remember

I remember back in the 80's with Mike and Sandy. Miss those years.

Please give my love to all. We're the Preps of the Summer 88 singing Doo Whadidi Da Didi Do.

Sincerely,
Solomon Baker

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of my 6 summers at Camp Vacamas in the 90s. It was lots of fun. I learned so much, including about myself, my personal strength and to have better self-confidence and self-esteem. I always made such amazing friends that kept in touch with. Every summer I never wanted it to end.

HI4Y his is an amazing organization running both summer camps and youth programs throughout the year. Last summer, in spite of COVID, they were able to get their day camp at Vacamas up and running and put a lot of safety protocols in place so that kids could have a nice and safe summer. The property is beautiful and my son really enjoyed himself there. They also run a program during the year where the staff help look after kids enrolled in virtual learning. I give kudos to the team working there, they love the kids and put them first.

Hi my name is chef joel Mejia. Being a chef at this camp is a amazing experience the kids the counselors. The way we get to inter act with everyone is amazing. This camp has been a true blessing for me and my family we love vacamas so much and everyone who works there as well .

This was a great experience for me the staff there was professional, friendly and fun

Camp Vacamas is the only place to spend your summer! I was a camper for 10 summers and this upcoming June I will be working for my 4th consecutive summer. This camp has genuinely changed my life and it is a second home for me. From swimming in the lake and hiking the various trails, to creating arts and crafts projects and friendship bracelets, nothing beats camp Vacamas. So grateful to be part of the magical experience and to give back after having such an incredible time as a camper. Camp has made be the person I am today and it will continue to transform the lives of many children; making them more independent, kind, and hard working.

I m been attending camp for the past 8 years. I love this camp and everything it has to offer. It has truly been a second home for me when I was a camper to an LIT and a counselor. I m sad I couldn t come back these past 2 years due to work but I still love this camp and love to see all the campers happy faces during swimming hours and just in the cabins. This place really shows kids the meaning of nature and life without electronics and it gives them so much to help them grow. Camp Vacamas will always be my second home and I hope parents can see what this camp truly is and how amazing it is. I ve made so many memories and they will stay with me forever as some of the best summers. Camp rocks and I will always love it there.

For my experience at Vacamas Programs For Youth it was by far the best sleep away camp i ever bin. For three week we had lots of fun activities such as recreational swim, instructional swim at the private lake,arts and craft,archery and much more from my point of view i would recommend anyone to go to Vacamas to have a fun summer and more outdoor lining style.

Hey is mamie form camp vacamas iam telling you something about camp vacamas perent please live your kids to go their i was camping home i was craying saying that i wonna stay at the camp i call my cousin riyo my counseler perent if you live your kids go their you well have fun so please let your kids go their thanks you.