Go Outside and Grow Within!
At Trail Blazers, exploration and adventure take center stage in a 1000 acre forest wonderland. Supported by a caring staff and an inclusive welcoming community, campers develop a love for the outdoors while trying new activities, making friends, and creating memories to last a lifetime. Campers are encouraged to swim, hike, garden, laugh, sing, play games, and be their best, most joyous selves.
At Trail Blazers, our focus is on trying hard and being kind to others. With support from other campers and staff, children build resilience and confidence through challenging themselves and building connections with others. Campers join our incredible Trail Blazers’s community and become part of a 140 year tradition.
Trail Blazers is a co-ed overnight camp set in Stokes State Forest/ High Point State Park. We offer traditional outdoor adventure activities including swimming and boating in our pristine 55 acre lake, ropes course, hiking on the Appalachian Trail, wilderness skills, mountain biking, and much more! Trail Blazers is a 100% electronics free experience.
Transportation is provided from Brooklyn, NY, Elizabeth, NJ, and Paterson, NJ.
‘Mini Camp’, ages 8-10 yrs: (Session 2, July 19th – 24th 2026)
A 6-day adventure for first-time campers! Mini Camp is specifically designed to introduce younger children to the exciting world of overnight camp.
‘Outdoor Adventure’, ages 8-11 yrs:
The classic camp program. Campers take part in everything we have to offer on site: waterfront activities, biking, boating, high-ropes, archery, arts and crafts, teambuilding, community games and MORE!
‘Outdoor Adventure’, ages 12-14 yrs:
Enjoy all the main elements of the Outdoor Adventure program and take part in the big highlight of the session: Vagabond! An overnight trail trip.
‘Teen Leaders’ ages 15-16 yrs:
Take the spotlight as a future leader at camp! Learn important leadership skills to help and support others, while enjoying an adventure of your own!
Together Tier
(Family Income of $140,001 and above)
Belonging Tier
(Family Income $60,001-$140,000 )
Community Tier
(Family Income up to $60,000 )
All programs require a non-refundable deposit at time of registration. See the Terms and Conditions for full cancellation and refund policies.
Trail Blazers is able to provide camp at an accessible rate thanks to the generous partnerships and contributions from our funders, doners and federal support programs. As part of this process, all families receiving a Tier discount are required to complete some supplemental forms. If you would like to support the Trail Blazers scholarship fund, please visit our donations page.
Go Outside and Grow Within!
No Trail Blazer returns home the same as when they left.
Situated on 1,000 virtually untouched acres, everything that makes Trail Blazers life-changing, memorable, and fun begins and ends with an immersive experience in nature.
By the end of camp, sunsets feel a little more vibrant, friendships seem more authentic, and the most important things come into sharper focus.
We’ve helped over 140 years of young children develop into young leaders.
Click to learn more about our history and our community values.
If you’ve already experienced Trail Blazers’ camp magic, join our Alumni group.
Transportation is provided from Brooklyn NY, Elizabeth, NJ, and Paterson, NJ.
Develop your leadership skills
Teen leaders push past their limits by taking part in personal development sessions designed to bring out their inner-leader, such as public speaking, service projects and taking center stage at our all-camp events!
Topped off with an extended vagabond and specialty classes with our neighbors at the NJSOC, watch your confidence grow!
Grab your helmet!
8-11yrs: Learn safe biking skills and explore the local trails.
12-14yrs: Learn to repair a flat tire, reset your chain and fully personalize your bike to the rider.
Conquer lakes and rivers!
8-11yrs: Increase your water confidence. Or grab a lifejacket and explore the lake by paddleboards, by canoe and by row boat.
12-14yrs: Trained lifeguards teach you more advanced skills, from how to right a tipped canoe to coordinating different strokes with your team.
Plant, Grow & Harvest!
Trail Blazers has a thriving on-site garden and we partner with local farms for teaching workshops.
Campers get to work hands-on to tend the garden, harvest the crops and learn about where your food comes from, and do a spot of cooking too!
At our 55 acre lake
Campers can develop their swimming skills under the supervision of our qualified lifeguards.
Fun Fact: Our lake is officially the cleanest body of water in all of NJ!
Take adventure to new heights!
Challenge yourself on our newest adventure elements at the High-Ropes course and build your team working skills at our Low-Ropes course.
Our camp is located in 1000 pristine acres within Stokes State Forest
Campers take guided walks around the trails which are home to many diverse local plants and wildlife.
Learn outdoor hardskills, like knot-tying, firebuilding and orienteering.
Create nature crafts, or nurture the plants in our teaching garden and harvest the vegetables for a cooking class before dinner.
Camp fun with everyone!
From community games in the evening to our all-camp events like Movie Night Under the Stars to Carnival and Talent Show, there’s lots of opportunities during your stay to come together and make new friends!
Trail Blazers offers a well-rounded, diverse and exciting program of activities in a safe and supportive environment. Campers have the opportunity to participate in a large variety of activities and events they already enjoy, as well as activities they may be attempting for the first time.
Campers are encouraged to try everything with the support of our hands-on group leaders and experienced specialists. Our program is structured to help campers develop and improve skills, build confidence and have a whole lot of fun along the way!
Trail Blazers recognizes the importance of both the community experience and personal discovery, by combining a healthy mix of group and individually selected activities. Each day, campers participate in group-centered activities with their smallcamps, developing and strengthening friendships and connections and also have the opportunity to choose electives and clubs to deepen their interests.
Having some choice in their schedule gives campers a sense of independence and empowerment doing what they may want to try for the first time or love the most.
SUNRISE– Each small camp comes together to set daily group and individual goals and intentions the day
BREAKFAST– Hearty breakfasts are served to provide campers with fuel for each day
MORNING PROGRAMS– Each morning, campers rotate between classic camp activities, skill-building and make time for swimming & showers
LUNCH – Campers have a variety of healthy options for lunch which will be eaten in the dining hall or as a bag lunch on a hike. At least once in each session, campers will also have the opportunity to make their own lunches over a fire at a cookout site. .
SOLO TIME– Thirty minutes of reading, writing, drawing, or any quiet reflection
VOICE & CHOICE ACTIVITIES– Campers have the opportunity to choose as a group the activities they like the best.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES– Campers can choose from a variety of team-building activities and games and participate in mixed-age groups.
COMMUNITY CHORES & DINNER– Campers actively participate in camp clean up and celebrate their accomplishments with a filling dinner
EVENING ACTIVITIES– The evenings are a chance for the entire camp community to gather together to sing songs, play games, and enjoy the sunset as a community
SUNSET– Small camps end their day with a campfire and time to reflect on successes and challenges from the day
Situated on 1000 beautiful acres of private property, Trail Blazers offers campers an immersive experience in nature.
Campers live in small camps with 10 to 12 campers their age and 2 group leaders. Each small camp has its own campfire circle and traditional canvas platform tents called hogans where 3 to 4 campers sleep in comfortable beds with their friends. Every bed has a mosquito net. There are 4 or 5 hogans in each small camp. It is important to note that we do not have cabins.
Staff sleep in a separate hogan in the small camp where they can see and hear all of the camper tents.
Running water is available throughout the camp with showers and flush toilets located in our bathhouses. Laundry is done once during each camp session.
Younger campers (ages 8 to 11) sleep in hogans with the same gender but live in mixed gender small camps. Campers over 12 years old live in separate small camps by their self-identified gender.
Trail Blazers serves healthy, home-cooked meals each day. We do not order pre-prepared or frozen meals and we do not have a deep fryer! Our menu is kid-friendly, while honoring the diversity of our camp by offering foods through the session that will always be familiar to some and always be brand new to someone else.
Meals are served family style in the dining hall with campers eating together with their small camps. Lunch alternates between the dining hall, bag lunches for picnics and hikes, or cooking their own meals over a fire at one of our cook sites.
Typical breakfasts may include pancakes, eggs, waffles, bagels, toast, fruit, yogurt, and cereal. Lunches may include hummus, cold cut wraps or sandwiches, bean salads, fruit, vegetables, or soy butter and jelly. Dinner might include bbq chicken, three-bean chili, baked potatoes, tacos, salad and always two vegetables. The last dinner of each session is our banquet feast which is traditionally Thanksgiving in the summer!
Snacks such as pretzels, granola bars, or fruit are available throughout the day. Milk is served at every meal.
Every meal includes a vegetarian option. We are a peanut-free camp and can accommodate most dietary needs and restrictions. Please be sure to note your child’s dietary needs when you complete your registration.
Pack old clothing for your child, and label everything.
Please do not bring anything valuable, or that you do not want to risk getting lost or dirty.
Laundry is done for campers once per 2-week session.
If you are having trouble finding items on this list, please reach out to us – we are happy to help.
(Please note: this packing list is suggested for two week programs. Mini-Campers will receive a modified packing list.)
YOU MUST PACK A LAUNDRY BAG
14 pairs of underwear
14 pairs of socks
3 pairs of pajamas
8 t-shirts
2 long sleeve shirts
3 sweaters or sweatshirts
4-5 pairs of shorts
3-4 pairs of long pants
2 bathing suits
2 pairs boots/sturdy shoes
1 high-quality rain jacket
1 hat or cap
Required Items
Day pack (small backpack)
Water bottle
Sunscreen
Insect Repellent
Flashlight
Shower shoes/FlipFlops
2 towels
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Soap and shampoo
Sanitary supplies
Comb or brush
Stationary and stamps
Suggested
Photos of family
Book to read
Do NOT pack:
Food
Phones, tablets, or electronic games
Anything requiring a plug
Knives
Jewelry, money, or valuables
Lost and Found: Your child will be fully responsible for their own property while they are at camp. Their group leaders will remind them throughout the program and on final cleanup to ensure they have everything that they arrived with, however we all know that sometimes items accidentally get left behind or misplaced.
In the event that your child is missing their belongings, please contact the overnight team with a description of the item and your child’s name and we will do our best to locate it.
Any lost property still unclaimed 2 weeks after the end of camp, will be donated to a local shelter.
Where is Trail Blazers?
Trail Blazers’s Overnight Camp is nestled in beautiful Stokes State Forest/ High Point State Park in Northwestern New Jersey. We are a 2 hour drive from NYC and 1 hour from Paterson, NJ.
Our mailing address is 210 Deckertown Road Montague, NJ
What is a smallcamp?
A Small Camp is both the small campsite where campers live and also refers to the group of campers who live together during each camp session. Small camp groups do almost everything together, including eating, showering, swimming, hiking, crafts, games, and activities around camp.
Small camps have between 10 and 12 campers and 2 dedicated group leaders, plus additional group leaders and support staff members who may not spend the entirety of the day with the small camp group, but are there to join in and support as needed.
Where will my child sleep?
Everyone at Trail Blazers lives in canvas-covered shelters – we do not have cabins. Your child will sleep in a slightly-smaller-than-twin-sized bed with sheets, blankets, and a pillow in a shelter that they share with 2 or 3 other campers. Each night, their counselors will make sure that their mosquito net is securely tucked in.
What about bathrooms and showers?
Every small camp has a non-flushing latrine toilet as well as running water for washing hands/faces, drinking, and brushing teeth. Campers have hot showers daily in one of our two shower houses.
My child wants to attend camp with their friend – is this possible?
As long as they are both eligible for the same program, yes! Make sure that during registration, both your child and your child’s friend sign up for the same session and the same program (ie. Outdoor Adventure Younger Camp). There is also a space on the registration form for you to write in your buddy request.
Can you accommodate my child’s special needs?
Please reach out to our Camp Director to discuss your child’s individual needs and determine if Trail Blazers is a good fit.
Though our small staff-to-camper ratio allows for a significant amount of caring and individual attention, we are not able to support individualized programming or one-to-one supervision. In addition due to the rustic and outdoor environment and uneven terrain, individuals with limited mobility may have difficulty fully participating in our program.
What kinds of wildlife is there at camp?
Due to our location in the woods of New Jersey, we are surrounded by a wonderful, diverse population of wildlife, ranging from chipmunks and raccoons to deer and black bears, as well as insects like caterpillars, mosquitos and ticks.
While we peacefully share the woods with them, there are strict safety precautions we take. For example, tick checks are performed regularly, and absolutely no food is allowed in living areas. As part of our comprehensive staff training, we invite the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife to teach our staff on how to safely deal with wildlife encounters.
What is Vagabond?
A Vagabond is a 1 to 4 night trip off camp that provides the perfect opportunity for campers to use their new wilderness skills, increase their love of nature, and bond with their small camp friends. Campers carry their hiking and camping gear in backpacks and pitch tents in designated camping areas. The length and location of each Vagabond is based on age and skill level; as campers get older, their wilderness and camping skills also progress. Older campers have the opportunity to choose between traditional hiking Vagabonds on the Appalachian Trail, canoeing Vagabonds on the Delaware River, or mountain biking vagabonds on trails in Stokes State Forest.
Vagabond duration and location varies based on the age, skill level, and program of the group. Our Vagabond locations are as follows:
Trail Blazer Camps
Our youngest camper groups typically embark on a 1-night Vagabond excursion to a camping site on the Trail Blazers property.
Appalachian Trail
Most of our small camp groups head to the Appalachian Trail for Vagabonds for 2-4 nights, carrying their personal and group gear along with them, and sleeping in the designated camping areas along the trail.
Delaware River
Campers in our canoeing intensive program take off on 2-4 night excursions down the Delaware River, bringing their boats to shore every evening and camping at designated sites along the river.
Stokes State Forest
Campers in our biking intensive program take a 2-4 night tour of Stokes State Forest via mountain bike, breaking each evening at pre-selected campsites.
How will I be able to communicate with my child?
To promote your child’s independence and to maintain the flow of the program, it is not our camp policy to provide routine phone calls with your child. However, if you would like to schedule a phone call (typically around meals) you can reach out to our camp director to make arrangements for a short call, for a limited duration.
Each camper will write a letter or postcard home during the first 3 days of camp. To aid your child writing home, please send them with pre-stamped, pre-addressed postcards or envelopes. If not, we supply group leaders with a list of parent contacts and home addresses for their campers, taken directly from your camp registration – please make sure this information is correct!
Please send encouraging letters to your child often! You can send letters in advance of your child’s arrival so they are there on day one. You can also send a package of numbered letters for us to give out throughout the week.
You can also email our camper inbox to have a letter printed out and delivered with the mail that day. Please include your child’s name in the subject line.
If you have questions about how the session is going or any concerns at all, you can also call our camp office and speak to a member of our leadership team. We are a small program and our directors cross paths with groups daily, and our group leaders write daily reports that are turned in each evening – so we typically have very up to date information about how your child is doing at our fingertips. If not, we will be happy to find the answer to your question and call you back.
Can I Send a Package?
With the exception of birthday packages (which must not contain food items), we do not accept any packages at camp. This is to avoid competition, jealousy, and clutter in the small camps. Any packages received will be opened in the office (to ensure there is no food) and returned to the parent at pick up.
Are Electronics or Phones Allowed?
Trail Blazers is an electronics free camp. By being unplugged from devices, campers are able to connect to the natural environment and to each other. Please do not send cell phones or any internet connected devices with your child to camp. Any devices that are found, will be held in the camp office and returned to parents at pick up on the last day of camp.
Can We Visit?
While we do not allow families to visit during the session, Trail Blazers does offer a number of opportunities to check out camp out before and after our summer sessions. Please reach out to our camp director to discuss.
Join us at camp to get a taste of summer! After a welcome introduction and refreshments, you’ll be invited to join our staff for a full tour of camp.
You will see what a smallcamp looks like, visit our program areas, and ask questions about the camp experience. Our aim is to provide an enjoyable day for you and your family where you are able to get all of your questions answered.
There will be a lunch buffet in the Great Hall, a chance to sample some typical meal offerings. After lunch, we will lead games and activities on the Great Lawn for your campers while you settle in for an extensive Q&A session with the Leadership Team.
The Open House runs from 10am – 3pm, please plan to be there the entire time. You are welcome to drive up to camp on your own, or we will have a school bus leaving from our Brooklyn office that departs at 8am and returns by 6pm. You are welcome to drive up to camp on your own as well.
2026 Open House Dates:
There is no cost to attend and no limit to the number of family members who can come along.
Please note – Camp is a rustic, outdoor environment. Getting around the trails and walkways of camp can be challenging for anyone who may be using crutches, a cane, a wheelchair, strollers etc. If this is the case, let us know in advance and we will do our best to accommodate your camp visit.
To view enrollment instructions in English click the video on the LEFT
Para ver las instrucciones de inscripción en Español haga clic en el video de la DERECHA
Trail Blazers camp is 1000 beautifully forested acres on Lake Mashipacong in northern New Jersey. Camp features 14 campsites, dozens of activity areas, and a private 55-acre lake.
Join us for our classic Outdoor Adventure program, where campers will develop the skills of a true backpacker and learn all about the nature that surrounds them.
Or choose one of our specialty programs to hone biking, canoeing, farm and garden, or leadership skills. Whatever path you choose, Trail Blazers is an adventure unlike any other; open to campers of every background and all experience levels.
Our overnight camp program helps your camper develop an appreciation for nature, a collaborative and self-determined spirit, and the ability to set and reach goals for themselves and with a group.
Days are filled with small group adventures driven by a schedule that each group tailors to its interests – as such, no two sessions are ever the same.
Every day brings your camper opportunities to develop care and respect for themselves, their friends, our community, and the environment.
“Trail Blazers gave my daughter life long tools and independence that I really wanted her to gain. She enjoyed all the aspects of swimming and paddle boarding. I loved the pictures.”
~ Parent
“He has been very energized and is proud to call himself a Trailblazer! He has come home with exciting new navigation skills and an enhanced love of the earth and environment.”
~ Parent
info@trailblazers.org
(212)-529-5113
School Programs: ext.2
Day Camp: ext.3
Overnight Camp: ext4
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