Virtual info sessions coming soon.
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 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, rock climbing, 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.




One hundred thirty three years is a long time to perfect the art of youth development. Formal metrics confirm what anecdotal reports have always shown us: building strong social and emotional foundations sets children up for true long-term success.
Every Trail Blazers program is designed with the same five building blocks – research-backed strategies, seamlessly woven into each day’s plan:
- GOAL SETTING: deciding upon daily, aspirational group and individual goals and planning paths towards them
- TEAM BUILDING and CHALLENGE: working together to solve problems and encouraging each other to persist when things get tough
- FREE PLAY and EXPLORATION: letting wonder and imagination guide the program experience
- SCIENCE and SKILL BUILDING: honing in on specific interests and developing a methodical approach to learning
- REFLECTION: reflecting on one’s performance, focusing on the day’s highs and lows, and getting excited about what tomorrow will bring
This approach – which looks different every day, within every program, and for every group – delivers a uniquely powerful youth development experience.


Though many kids will be at Trail Blazers each session, your camper will live in a smallcamp group with just 7 – 9 other campers. Along with their group leaders (who come from all over the world!), they’ll plan their programs and days based on their interests. We believe that this smallcamp approach leads to deeper and richer relationships among the group and connections that will last a lifetime.


Trail Blazers offers campers an immersive experience in nature, which includes where we live and sleep. Campers will sleep under the canvas in tents and teepees. They will learn how to use mosquito nets and latrines. The challenge and simplicity of this engagement with nature is a tradition that goes back to the very earliest days of Trail Blazers. It is one thing we love most about our program.


A true highlight of the Trail Blazers program, the Vagabond is a multi-day travel adventure or hiking and camping trip, determined by the program you select. Vagabond is your child’s opportunity to trek around our 55-acre lake, hike down the Appalachian trail, bike through Stokes State Forest, or canoe down the Delaware River. Campers will put their newly acquired outdoor skills to the test while developing their communication, collaboration, and decision-making skills. We provide all the equipment for the groups to take on these challenges!


No cell phones, no tablets, no video games – no problem! We’ve been unplugged for over 130 years. By signing up for Trail Blazers, you are committing to your child joining an electronics-free community for the duration of camp. Without their devices, our campers re-learn what it means to sit and enjoy getting to know someone, to have meaningful conversations, and to be present in the beautiful nature they are surrounded by. They will come home with a new appreciation for the world around them. It’s totally worth it!


Our classic camp program: participate in a wide variety of camp activities while preparing for an exciting hiking trip. Try everything camp has to offer while developing into a skilled hiker, backpacker, and overnight camper! Your vagabond will be a 1-4 night trip, based on your groups’ age and preparedness, and will take you around our 1000-acre camp property or along the Appalachian Trail.
Campers entering Grades 2 – 10
Duration: 2 weeks
Program offered for both girls and boys in all sessions.


One week of overnight adventure! This 6 day program is a great way to be introduced to overnight camp and is designed specifically for children who have attended our Brooklyn Day Camp. Each mini session of will have 3 dedicated staff members who are with your camper 24/7, along with additional support.
Campers entering Grades 1 – 3
Duration: 1 week
Program offered for both girls and boys in all sessions.
Note: boys and girls participate in this program together, with separate sleeping accommodations.


Trail Blazer Camps at an organic farm! This is the third summer of partnership between Trail Blazers and Stony Creek Farmstead in Walton, NY. Caring for animals, harvesting and cooking our own food, and stomping in the beautiful creek that winds through the farm land – we have so much to tell you about! Find out details by visiting our Farmstead program page here!
Campers entering Grades 3 – 7
Duration: 2 weeks
Available Sessions 1, 2, and 3
Program offered for both girls and boys in all three sessions.
Note: boys and girls will participate in this program together, with separate sleeping accommodations.


Our classic program with the added adventure of daily canoeing. Build your small craft skills together with your smallcamp team. Learn advanced canoe strokes and deep water canoe rescue techniques. Put your skills to the test during your 3 day vagabond trip down the Delaware River!
Campers entering Grades 7 – 10
Duration: 2 weeks
Girl’s program: Sessions 1 and 2
Boy’s program: Sessions 3 and 4


Our classic program with added hyper-speed courtesy of daily biking treks. Ride through camp on a TBC mountain bike that is all yours for the two weeks that you are here. Learn how to maintain control over challenging terrain and how to perform simple bike maintenance and repairs. Put your skills to the test on your 3 day vagabond through the trails of Stokes State Forest.
Campers entering Grades 7 – 10
Duration: 2 weeks
Boy’s program: Sessions 1 and 2
Girl’s program: Sessions 3 and 4
Program offered for both girls and boys in both sessions.
Note: boys and girls will participate in this program together, with separate sleeping accommodations.


Trail Blazers goes vertical in this edition of our classic program that incorporates indoor and outdoor rock climbing. You’ll spend a day at an indoor climbing gym building the skills you will take with you to Stone Mountain Farm for your 3 day hiking and rock climbing vagabond.
Campers entering Grades 3 – 5
Duration: 2 weeks
Available Session 4
Program offered for both girls and boys in both sessions.
Note: boys and girls will participate in this program together, with separate sleeping accommodations.


An extended program offering challenging and rewarding leadership opportunities for high school students. High school students aspiring to become strong leaders at camp or in their communities come together for 4 weeks of leadership, personal growth, community service, and environmental stewardship activities. Prior Trail Blazers experience not required – all teens who love the outdoors and want to be immersed in nature while developing leadership skills are invited to join! For more detail about this program, please visit our Youth Leadership program page.
Campers entering Grades 10 – 12
Duration: 4 weeks
Program offered for both girls and boys in both sessions.
Note: boys and girls will participate in this program together, with separate sleeping accommodations.



One Week Program
Mini Camp 1: June 28 – July 3
Mini Camp 2: July 12 – July 17
Mini Camp 3: July 26 – July 31
Mini Camp 4: August 9 – August 14
Two Week Program
Session 1: June 28 – July 10
Session 2: July 12 – July 24
Session 3: July 26 – August 7
Session 4: August 9 – August 21
(Note: not all programs run each session. See individual program tabs for more info)
Four Week Program
Leaders-in-Training 1: June 28 – July 24
Leaders-in-Training 2: July 26 – August 21


Trail Blazers programs are offered on a tier basis, loosely linked to family income. Your tier is self-selected during the application process. If the price of the program remains out of reach for your family, even with your tier discount, please feel free to select the next tier level down. Additional scholarship funding is available to families for whom the Tier 1 price remains out of reach, for all programs excluding Mini Camp and Farmstead. This scholarship can be requested after registration. Our aim is to make summer camp possible for all kids who are excited about Trail Blazers. We look forward to working with you to make this happen!
TIER 1 (Family Income up to $30,000 annually)
Mini Camp: $200
Outdoor Adventure: $400
Canoeing/Biking: $500
Rock Climbing: $600
Farmstead: $800
Leaders in Training: $800
TIER 2 (Family Income $30,000-$60,000 annually)
Mini Camp: $300
Outdoor Adventure: $600
Canoeing/Biking: $700
Rock Climbing: $800
Farmstead: $1100
Leaders in Training: $1000
TIER 3 (Family Income $60,000-$90,000 annually)
Mini Camp: $450
Outdoor Adventure: $900
Canoeing/Biking: $1000
Rock Climbing: $1100
Farmstead: $1500
Leaders in Training: $1300
TIER 4 (Family Income over $90,000 annually)
Mini Camp: $650
Outdoor Adventure: $1300
Canoeing/Biking: $1400
Rock Climbing: $1500
Farmstead: $2000
Leaders in Training: $1700
FULL PRICE
Mini Camp: $750
Outdoor Adventure: $1600
Canoeing/Biking: $1700
Rock Climbing: $1800
Farmstead: $2500
Leaders in Training: $2000
Transportation is provided from Brooklyn NY and Newark, Elizabeth, and Paterson, NJ. A one-time annual fee of $50 per child will be added to each account during registration (not included above). If you are currently registered for a different Trail Blazers program, this fee may have already been paid.
Enrolling and Payment
You can sign your child up for camp with no payment required up front. We ask that payment is made within two weeks of registering in order to secure our child’s spot. Additional scholarship requests should be made by that time. Payment in full is due May 1.
During registration, you can set up an automatic payment plan or choose to make payments manually. Please email us at registration@trailblazers.org if you have questions or would like to discuss payment arrangements. If no payment is received within two weeks and we don’t receive communication from you within this time, we may move your child to the wait list. We’ll send you email reminders leading up to this point!


Program cancellation must be done 28 days prior to the first day of the program in order for a full refund to be considered. Program tuition may be refundable on a pro-rated basis, after the 28-day cancellation notice. During the busy summer months, please allow up to 3 months for refunds to be processed.
Please communicate with us if you have any needs or if extenuating circumstances arise. Whenever possible, we want to find a way to make things work as best we can for you.


Join us at camp to get a taste of summer! After a welcome introduction and some drinks and snacks, you’ll be invited to join our staff and leadership campers for a full tour of camp. See what a small camp looks like, visit our program areas, and discover how much beauty the forest has to offer.
After tours we’ll enjoy a lunch buffet in the Great Hall, where you will get a chance to sample some typical meal offerings. After lunch, our staff and leadership campers will lead games and activities on the Great Lawn while parents can settle in for an extensive Q&A session with the directing team. Our aim is to provide an enjoyable day for you and your family where you are able to get all of your questions answered.
The program runs from 10am – 3pm at camp. 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.
2020 Open House Dates:
Sunday, May 17 or Saturday, June 13
There is no cost to attend, and no limit to the number of family members who can come along. (We do charge $5 per person if you would like to travel up to camp with us by school bus.)
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, etc. If this is the case, let us know in advance and we will do our best to accommodate your camp visit.


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 2- and 4-week programs. Mini Campers will receive a modified packing list in their confirmation email upon registering!)
12 pairs of underwear
12 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
Flip flops, crocs, or shower shoes
1 laundry bag
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