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.
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