Parent Page
Safety/Security
We take the safety, security, health and well-being of your child very seriously.
We are located at the end of a one-mile road. We are, and always have been,
safe and secure. We have a registered nurse on duty 24 hours a day in the
event of a health issue and are 20 minutes from a hospital in case of an
emergency.
Food
The food we serve to our campers is not typical “camp food.” We contract
with Sodexho to deliver quality, variety (a 4-week rotation of lunches and
dinners) and nutrition. Our campers and parents will provide
strong confirmation. We also grow our own vegetables at our own Forest Lake
Farm, providing fresh vegetables in season.
View a
sample menu
Counselors
Of all the components of a summer
camp, this is the key ingredient. We have found, as is likely true for all
camps, that the most important aspect of a camper’s experience is the
relationship with the counselor. Second to this feature are the peer
friendships.
The staff structure at Forest Lake resembles
the hierarchy of a school. There is the camp director (principal),
assistant directors (vice principals), head counselors (guidance
counselors), department heads (department chairs), specialists (special
subject teachers), general counselors (homeroom teachers), nursing staff
(school nurse), and maintenance staff (custodial staff).
It is the general, cabin counselor who
carries the day. The friendship, support, and interest extended to the
campers – particularly the “new” campers, by the cabin counselor provides
the positive atmosphere in the cabin that makes all the anticipated
outcomes possible.
Prospective families inevitably ask, “Where
do you get your staff?” Forest Lake has over 80 employees about 60 of which
work directly with the campers. Due to college graduations, there is
usually some attrition among the staff. Those spaces are often filled by
former Forest Lakers who have reached the appropriate age. When the camp
does hire “outside the family”, there is an application process, reference
checks, personal interview, and background check. As with a new camper
prospect, it is vital that there is a “good fit” between the staff member
and the camp.
There are a variety of “ratios” that pertain
to supervision of individuals and groups in different activities but the
most important ratio is in the cabin living facility. In EVERY cabin, there
are at least two senior level counselors. Since most of the cabins at
Forest Lake house 12 campers, the ratio is never greater than six to one.
Perhaps the common thread that unites the
Forest Lake staff is the desire to “make a difference.”
Our
Character
Forest Lake Camp is not for everybody. We are not a country club. We have
no swimming pool, no lounge chairs, no televisions, laptops, cell phones,
or iPods. We do not have individual bedrooms. Rather, we have solid,
beautiful log and fieldstone cabins with bunk beds and a fireplace.
There is no maid service. Rather, our Campers make their own beds and keep
their own area and lockers neat.
In-Home
Visit
While not absolutely required, we strongly encourage an in-home visit with
a prospective camp family. This gives us the opportunity to fully answer
any and all questions in detail, and allows us the chance to assure
ourselves that we will be able to meet the expectations of the Camper and
the parents. It will also allow us to act more quickly and with more
certainty when an Enrollment Application is received.
To
Reserve a Space
It is important to reserve a space for your Camper as early as possible.
With around 70% of the previous summer’s eligible Campers returning each
year, and with most of our new Campers being referrals from current camper
or alumni families, we have only a limited number of openings for new
families.
References
Please examine our
Reference List which provides you with the names
and phone numbers of parents of some of our campers. We welcome you to
contact any of them to discuss their observations about Forest Lake Camp
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Transportation Form and
Meeting Place Directions
Accommodations and
Points of Interest
Unsolicited Parent Comments:
November 12: "Thank
you....see you in a few months........we may be bringing yet another
classmate this year........the word keeps spreading........camp is my girls'
FAVORITE thing, and they talk about it constantly and others get interested.
Thank you, Chris". Mrs. M.
October 15: "I began looking for camps that had a respectable
history, were family run, looked safe, and were more about being in a
natural environment and socializing than about technology and isolating
activities. I was also interested in above standard food.........I preferred
the Adirondacks because they are a little wilder and more elaborately
beautiful.......What surprised all of us was the unprecedented amount of fun
that was to be had. It wasn't just swimming and hiking. The canoes on the
rooftops and all sorts of age-appropriate silliness made for a memorable
summer of fun......it was certainly enjoyed and appreciated, and my son is
looking forward longingly to a chance to do it again next summer as a
CIT......We think very highly of the camp and are glad we chose it for our
son". J. F.
October 15: "I was looking for a camp in the Adirondacks and did a
Google search which led me to Forest Lake. By the way, C___ loved it and
will be back next year!" E. K.
October 15: "When we signed E____ up I had envisioned a camp where
he could expand his physical skills in a safe environment and gain the
confidence to take that first step closer to independence. Boy did he ever!
The change in him was remarkable. E____had an absolutely wonderful time and
his enthusiasm has sparked the interest of his two siblings. We hope that we
will be able to participate again next year. Thank you so much to you and
your staff for an absolutely unforgettable experience". E. C.
October 14: "We cannot thank you enough for the wonderful time
F____ had this summer. We were so thrilled with how he did and how he
managed to stay even longer than we originally planned for. We are planning
on having him return next summer for four weeks. I hope you are having a
wonderful fall". S. C.
August 18: "D___arrived perfectly yesterday, and we were there to
pick him up. D____ was very happy to see us, and he has been talking since
yesterday about how much fun he had at summer camp". Mr. G___.
August 15: "My daughters are having a great time. Thanks for
everything". Mr. C______.
August 12: "A___ has had a very good time at Forest Lake Camp.
Thank you all". Mrs. R___.
August 1: "Thank you for a great year.
Both M___ and B___. had a great time". Mr. H___ |
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