Deer Mountain Day Camp (DMDC)
63 Call Hollow Road
Pomona, NY 10970
Phone: (845) 354-2727 Fax: (845) 354-5248
www.deermountaindaycamp.com
For those parents researching summer day camps for your children, Deer Mountain Day Camp has announced it will be servicing Hoboken starting this summer. This is great news for parents looking for a well-rounded, best-in-class day camp. Programs start at age 3 and scale up to young teen (counselor in training) levels. They are also offering a “First-Time Family” Discount for Hoboken families.
Here are some stats on the camp focusing on the younger, preschool ages:
General:
• One of the first-established and most respected day camps in the tri-state area, founded in 1956
• Best-in-class facilities, programs and instructors
• Beautiful setting: at the base of the Ramapo mountains, the camp has 25 acres which include a lake, 6 heated pools and 7 tennis courts, a 7,000 sq ft dining hall, air-conditioned specialty cabins, camper bunks and a newly renovated, air-conditioned Nursery Program building
• Specially developed, age-specific programs for each age group (3-4 year olds and K-1 year olds, 2-3 grade, etc.)
• 3-4 year olds have 3,4,& 5 day options
• Staff to camper ratio is 3:1
Programs:
• Red Cross Learn to Swim program with graded, heated pools. Note: they have 6 heated pools in total, but the younger groups have their own designated pools.
• Swim instruction starts with pre-swimmers and early swimmers, both with a 2:1 camper to pool staff ratio. Kids get to swim 2x/day and even more on hot days.
• Certified Early Childhood Teachers oversee the program for 3-4 year olds and Mommy Counselors offer extra support to Pre-K and Kindergarten groups
• Age-appropriate playing fields and playgrounds; lunch and crafts areas
• Activities include sports, arts, lake, outdoor adventure and awesome special events
• The lake has boating (including bumper boats!), fishing and swimming for the older kids
• The nature center even has a petting zoo and organic garden; campers love crayfishing in the stream that runs off of the beautiful lake
• Activities crafted age appropriately by certified teachers and educational professionals and campers can choose more of their favorite activities starting in Kindergarten
• As children get older, there are more advanced activities and a wider variety of programs, from all traditional sports to zip lines, mountain biking, forensic science; even fencing, scuba diving and cricket; film editing and acrylic painting; advanced sports leagues
• Four, six and eight week sessions
• DMDC is in its second generation of family ownership, founded by the Katz family and has been led for many years now by sisters/camp Directors Roberta and Carol Katz, who are hands-on and accessible. Warm, caring and true professionals.
Transportation/Logistics:
• Deer Mountain has large contingencies of campers coming from Manhattan as well as Bergen County for many years, so their transportation service is very well run and safe.
• Counselors are on each school van and keep everyone safe, happy and facilitate fun group activities, such as singing, etc. They are in constant contact with the main office via their Nextels.
• School vans are all air-conditioned and appointed with all required safety equipment including seat belts and five point safety harnesses for very young campers.
• The camp is ACA accredited.
In short, this is an incredibly well-run program. The camp directors are committed to creating an environment where campers feel connected and understood. This environment, coupled with best-in-class facilities and instructors facilitates learning and growth. Campers rave that they have “the best summers ever”. Deer Mountain campers as well as instructors return year after year. In fact, most of the division leaders were once DMDC campers as well.
Definitely a must to visit if you are considering day camps. Their website is www.deermountaindaycamp.com. The phone number for the year round camp office is (845) 354-2727. DMDC runs personal weekend tours during this time of year.