Sleep Away Camp

The Ultimate in Outdoor Adventure

Living Environment – At our Sleep Away Camp, children live in family-like groups of nine children and three group leaders at each campsite, for 2 or 4 weeks. Campsites include five canvas-covered shelters, a covered table for rainy day projects, a latrine that is cleaned daily and a campfire circle. These rustic living conditions are part of the excitement and challenge at Trail Blazers.

Staff – To ensure that your child’s camp experience is a safe one from beginning to end, our Health Center is staffed by trained health professionals, our Waterfront is staffed with trained American Red Cross Lifeguards and we meet all local and state health department standards as well as those of the American Camp Association, where we are accredited.

All Trail Blazers staff are college age or older and posses a love for children and a desire to make a difference. They also know how to have fun! Our worldwide recruitment efforts ensure that we attract young adults with extensive outdoor education experience, who are also up to the challenge of working with groups of all ages and skill levels. Each staff member undergoes an intensive interview and reference check. Before children arrive, staff complete a thorough training, covering all aspects of the Trail Blazers program, to prepare for the important job of looking after your child’s physical and emotional safety.

Programming – All campers participate in a wide variety of outdoor and adventure based activities and prepare for a final expedition on the Appalachian Trail or the Delaware River, called “Vagabond.” The Vagabond is a trip by foot, bike or canoe and a chance for campers to use the wilderness, survival and group skills they have developed, test the bonds they have formed with their group members and achieve a sense of pride and accomplishment. These trips vary in length depending on the age of the campers and for most campers are the highlight of the Trail Blazers experience.

Throughout the day, most activities are experienced as a group and group members cooperatively design their schedule. Groups dedicate time each week to developing outdoor living skills through environmental education, outdoor cooking, backpacking, and nature craft. Almost every day, campers receive swim instruction and free swim time at our 55-acre lake. They also participate in boating, canoeing, and fishing, biking, archery and more, all supervised by certified and trained counselors.

Specialty Programs – Campers age 12 and up can choose from various specialty programs (biking, climbing, canoeing and an advanced program); campers age 14 and up can choose to join one of the leadership programs.

For more information please download our handbook.

Tuition and Fees

It is Trail Blazers’s mission to make camp affordable for everyone. We realize that families have different needs and abilities to pay and we want to make sure we are fair to all. Although it costs $1500 per child for two weeks of camp, we offer scholarships at four tuition levels, ranging from $500 to $1500. In addition there is ‘campership’ support available to further reduce cost for you and your family. With these support systems in place, your total cost may be as little as $100 per camper. A registration combo fee of $100 (consisting of $50 registration fee, $25 materials fee and $25 transport fee) is required from everyone. For details, please download the Fees and Registration description.

Summer 2013 Dates and Programs

• Session 1: June 27 – July 10 (2 weeks)
• Session 2: July 12 – July 25 (2 weeks)
• Session 3: July 28 – August 10 (2 weeks)
• Session 4: August 12 – August 25 (2 weeks)
• Advanced Session 5: July 12 – August 10 (4 weeks, combines Sessions 2 and 3)

A number of specialty summer programs are offered. You can sign up for these programs during registration.

Ready to Sign Up?

Visit the Sign Up for Camp page.

Important Downloads

Sleep Away Camp Brochure

Sleep Away Parent Handbook