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Best Sleepaway Summer Camps in the Northeast

Sleep in the open-air Hive Camp. Photo courtesy of the Aloha Foundation
Sleep in the open-air Hive Camp. Photo courtesy of the Aloha Foundation
6/13/24 - By Rosalind Muggeridge
Camp Tuku
Camp Tuku is a traditional sleepaway camp with a mindful approach—integrating the mind, body, and heart to build resilience in campers. With locations in Arizona and New York, the nurturing and enriching camp welcomes kids ages 6-17 from all over the country. LEARN MORE

Enrolling in a sleepaway summer camp is an exciting prospect for kids and parents alike: Besides offering time spent communing with nature, overnight summer camps provide peer socialization, time away from home, and hours away from a screen.

We've scoured the region to round up the very best sleepaway summer camps throughout the Northeast. These summer camps offer everything from classic summer camp fun to specialty programs, including performing arts, circus arts, and even a spy program. Summer may seem a long way off, but now is the time to start planning your child's next sleepaway summer camp adventure. 

Looking for more summer camp options? Be sure to bookmark our Summer Camp Guide and peruse our full Camp Directory for more programs to fit any budget and interest.

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Every summer at Aloha Camps Lanakila Camp brings magic and adventure to participants. Photo courtesy of the Aloha Foundation
Every summer at Aloha Camps Lanakila Camp brings magic and adventure to participants. Photo courtesy of the Aloha Foundation

Sleepaway Summer Camps in the Northeast

William Lawrence Camp

New Hampshire
Ages 8-15
Nestled within New Hampshire's beautiful Lakes Region, William Lawrence welcomes boys ages 8 through 15. At this idyllic sleepaway camp, the focus is on fostering camaraderie and personal development through a range of activities—from traditional campfire sing-alongs and nature hikes to exhilarating water sports and team-building challenges. READ MORE

Camp Birch Hill

New Durham, New Hampshire
Ages 6-16
This camp includes an indoor gymnasium, horse stables with a riding ring and trails, ball fields, and four tennis courts. Campers as young as 6 are welcome to start with a 2-week session, which emphasizes choice through 50 different activity offerings. READ MORE

Camp Runoia

Belgrade, Maine
Ages 7-16
Highlights at this girls-only camp include a 40-foot climbing tower, on-site horseback riding, and a private lake and shoreline. The Harmony Land program is tailored to 7 and 8 year olds who want to try Runoia before committing to four-week or full-summer sessions. READ MORE

Aloha Camps

Fairlee, Vermont
Ages 6-13
Aloha Foundation runs three camps for boys and girls, separately, for ages 8-16, in beautiful Fairlee, Vermont. The camps focus on connecting with nature and disconnecting from technology, while building confidence and learning new skills.  READ MORE

Hosmer Point Camp

Craftsbury Common, Vermont
Ages 9-15
Craftsbury, Vermont, is home to this small, nature-based camp. 3-nights sessions are offered for girls 11-14. Campers set their own schedule daily and there is a sliding scale for tuition, making camp a possibility for all children. There are also family camps available. READ MORE
French Woods campers perform the final moment of The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-Time. Photo courtesy of the camp
French Woods campers perform the final moment of The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-Time. Photo courtesy of the camp

Sleepaway Summer Camps in New York

Camp Blue Bay Sleepaway Camp

East Hampton
Ages 8-16
Though run by the Girl Scouts, campers need not be Scouts to apply to this girls-only camp. Situated on 179 acres on Gardiners Bay in East Hampton, campers can stay in tent houses or dorms. Mini-sessions are available. Activities include swimming, boating, crafts, and more. READ MORE

Performing Arts Camp at French Woods

Hancock
Ages 7-17
Internationally recognized as a premier program in the performing arts, French Woods features options in music, art, theater, dance, circus, magic, and horseback riding. In addition to core activities, traditional summer camp programs are also offered. READ MORE

Frost Valley YMCA Camp

Claryville
Ages 7-15
Frost Valley YMCA offers day camps as well as sleepaway camps with specialty camps including horse and farm camps, teen adventure camps, and camps for kids with special needs. Activities at the standard day camp include arts and crafts, sports and games, hiking, climbing, swimming, and soaring on the flying squirrel zip line. Bus transportation is available from several locations in Sullivan and Ulster Counties.   READ MORE

Cornell 4H Camp - Peconic Dunes

Southold
Ages 8-15
This sleepaway/day camp in Southold is located on the Long Island Sound. Accommodations are screened cabins. Activities include archery, arts and crafts, farm-to-table cooking, and more.  READ MORE
Camp Cayuga is a jam-packed Pennsylvania summer camp offering sports, circus arts, creative activities, and more. Photo courtesy of the camp
Camp Cayuga is a jam-packed Pennsylvania summer camp offering sports, circus arts, creative activities, and more. Photo courtesy of the camp

Sleepaway Summer Camps in Pennsylvania

Camp Lindenmere

Henryville
Ages 7-19
Located on 200 acres in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, Lindenmere is a private, coed sleepaway camp with more than 50 activities for campers to choose from, including circus arts, extreme sports, and media studies. READ MORE

Camp Saginaw

Oxford
Ages 6-17
Campers enjoy a traditional summer camp experience at Camp Saginaw. Campers are grouped into grade-level divisions and given a wide variety of activities to choose from, including traditional and action sports, plus arts programming and more.  READ MORE

Camp Kweebec

Schwenksville
Ages 6-16
Located on 200 acres in Pennsylvania’s picturesque Perkiomen Valley, this small-scale camp has been owned and operated by the same family for more than 45 years. Highlights include its twin lakes, performing arts programs, and a diverse sports curriculum.  READ MORE

Camp Cayuga

Honesdale
Ages 6-16
Head to the heart of the Pocono Mountains for this camp, which is surrounded by wooded trails and a stream-fed lake. There are more than 60 activities for kids to enjoy, including tennis, paintball, horseback riding, trapeze, ziplines, and water sports.  READ MORE

Camp Lohikan

Lake Como
Ages 6-15
Situated in beautiful Lake Como, this camp offers more than 65 activities, including paintball, sailing, circus arts, scuba, and spy camp. Kids appreciate the warm community and supportive counselors who encourage campers to try new things and challenge their comfort zone. One-week rookie sessions are offered during the first and last weeks of the regular eight-week summer camp season. Boys and girls of all ages are welcome. Rookie Week is limited to first-time Lohikan campers. READ MORE
The all-boys Camp Awosting sits on Bantam Lake and offers 40+activities to enjoy daily. Photo courtesy of the camp
The all-boys Camp Awosting sits on Bantam Lake and offers 40+activities to enjoy daily. Photo courtesy of the camp

Sleepaway Summer Camps in Connecticut

Camp Awosting

Morris
Ages 6-15
Located on Bantam Lake, this boutique traditional overnight camp emphasizes individual attention for boys ages 6-16. Activities offered include sports, waterskiing, extreme adventure, arts and crafts, ceramics, laser tag, and outdoor camping. READ MORE

Camp Hazen YMCA

Chester
Ages 7-16
This long-running camp—90+ years—ensures that its counselors focus on teaching life-long skills in a fun, enriching environment. For kids entering second through eighth grades there is a one-week "sampler" camp, featuring all the activities of traditional two-week programs. READ MORE

Greenwood Trails

Winsted
Ages 8-16
This family-owned coed camp offers two- to seven-week sessions. First-timers can attend a one-week session in August. Located on more than 100 acres in the foothills of the Berkshires, campers enjoy a pool, lake, theater, ball fields, ropes courses, a skate park, and a climbing tower. READ MORE

Camp Washington

Lakeside
Ages 5-16
Children of all faith traditions are welcome at Camp Washington, the official camp and retreat center of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. Campers explore the 300-acre campus, relax, learn, have fun, and foster friendships that last a lifetime.  READ MORE

Camp Laurelwood

Madison
Ages 7-15
This co-ed Jewish summer camp provides an all-around summer experience for day and overnight campers including access to two pools, instructional swim, sports, dance, cooking, nature, woodworking, archery, high and low ropes courses, boating, robotics, martial arts, music, and arts and crafts. A one-week rookie camp explores Jewish identity and values, nature appreciation, and friendship. Campers can choose from many different session lengths. READ MORE

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