About

Excellence in Experiential Education since 1887

Did you know that Trail Blazers used to be called ‘Life Camps’ and has been in existence since 1887?  Check out this Time Magazine article from 1937.

In 1887, John Ames Mitchell, editor of Life magazine, raised $800 to send 266 children from New York City to the Life Fresh Air Farm in Branchville, Connecticut. Since that first summer, Trail Blazers has sponsored thousands of children to take part in outdoor adventures where learning happens experientially – by living and playing together, and experiencing the challenges and opportunities the natural environment offers. Today, Trail Blazers remains the second oldest summer program in existence in the United States, and the first to offer environmental education.

The Trail Blazers operates on 1100 acres of beautiful natural land, managed by the Nature Conservancy of New Jersey, and is known as the Mashipacong Bogs Preserve. The preserve is home to many endangered, rare and common species such as bobcat, black bear, beaver, waterfowl and songbirds. The Nature Conservancy manages the land to protect the fragile communities on the preserve.  Campers have traveled to this pristine environment since 1938, when Trail Blazers first began to operate from this site.

This upcoming summer, we will host over 400 children at our site for our 125th consecutive, a milestone that we are very proud of. In the meantime, we are preparing Trail Blazers for another 125 years. Enjoy learning about our offering of programs and we look forward to working with you.

Warmest Regards,

Riel Peerbooms, Executive Director

Our Mission - Environmental Adventure Programs Build Values for Life

Through outdoor experiential education and adventure programs, Trail Blazers helps people of all ages build the values and life skills essential for productive citizenship.

Trail Blazers is an award-winning youth development organization that, for 125 years, has touched the lives of thousands of young people from New York and New Jersey. Each summer, over 400 children attend Trail Blazers’ core program, the Outdoor Experiential Education Adventure, a unique sleep away and day camp program. Since 1887, Trail Blazers has sponsored thousands of children to take part in these outdoor adventures where learning happens experientially — by living and playing together, and experiencing the challenges and opportunities the natural environment offers. Today, Trail Blazers remains the second oldest summer program in existence in the United States, and the first to offer environmental education.

Important Downloads:

The Mashipacong Bog