Camp Lakota is on the shores of Masten Lake in Wurtsboro, New York, in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. Camp is about 20 minutes from Middletown, NY, and about 90 minutes from New York City.
Camp Lakota is directed by Hannah Young and Danielle Goldspiel. Hannah is a second-generation camper who spent twelve summers at Lakota before returning as a full-time director. Danielle met her husband, Mike, at Lakota when they were both ten years old, and she has been part of the community ever since. Get to know our leadership team.
Yes, Camp Lakota is proudly accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). Accreditation means we meet more than 300 nationally recognized standards for health, safety, programming, and staff training.
We welcome 190 boys and 190 girls, for a total of 380 campers. No matter how many campers we see each summer, our goal is always to know every camper by name as an individual.
Yes, we offer private tours seven days a week, from 8 AM to 4 PM. We encourage families to book their visit before October. Tours include:
• a full walkthrough of camp
• a look inside the bunks
• stops at the activities your child is most curious about
Call (845) 888-5611 or schedule your visit on our website.
Summer camp is a program where children spend part of their summer doing outdoor, recreational, and social activities. At day camp, kids go home every evening. At a sleepaway camp (also called an overnight camp), children live at camp for several weeks, sleeping in cabins with bunkmates and counselors.
At Camp Lakota’s sleepaway camp, campers take part in structured daily activities, build friendships, and develop independence in a supportive, screen-free environment in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York.
Absolutely, and demand is growing. Screen time and social pressures on kids have increased. As a result, more families are looking for structured, in-person experiences where children can disconnect, build real friendships, and develop confidence away from home. Sleepaway camps like Camp Lakota offer exactly that: a close-knit community where kids thrive without devices and come home with lasting friendships and a stronger sense of self.
Summer camp helps children build confidence, independence, and social skills in ways that everyday routines rarely offer. Away from screens and familiar surroundings, kids are more willing to try new things. That might mean learning to waterski, riding a horse for the first time, or stepping into a leadership role. These experiences create a real sense of accomplishment that carries into school and everyday life long after summer ends.
Children are often ready for camp when they:
• are open to new experiences
• can follow basic routines
• show curiosity about being away from home
Many first-time campers thrive quickly with the right support and structure. Read more about how to decide if your child is ready for summer camp.
Most children are ready for sleepaway camp between ages 6 and 9, though readiness varies by child. Signs your child may be ready include:
• sleeping away from home comfortably, such as at a friend’s house or with grandparents
• showing curiosity about camp
• managing basic daily routines independently
Our youngest program, Braves, is designed for ages 6–9 and includes extra counselor support to help first-timers thrive. Our programs continue through age 16 with the Counselor in Training program, so campers can grow with us year after year.
Start by looking at a few key factors:
• the camp’s accreditation
• staff experience and screening
• the age range of its programs
• the activities offered
• how the camp supports first-time campers through homesickness and adjustment
Location matters too. Being closer to home can ease anxiety for younger kids, while a more immersive setting helps build independence.
Once you’ve narrowed your list, visit in person if you can. At Camp Lakota, families can tour camp to get a feel for what a summer with us is like. See why families choose Camp Lakota.
Preparation makes a big difference for first-time campers. In the weeks before camp, practice time apart with a sleepover at a friend’s or relative’s home. Talk openly about what to expect, including the schedule, bunkmates, and activities, so camp feels familiar before your child arrives.
Avoid promising to pick your child up early if they feel homesick, since this can make the adjustment harder. Instead, reassure them that the feeling is normal and usually fades within the first few days. Our counselors are trained to support first-time campers through the transition. Learn more about how our counselors help first-time campers settle in.
The 2027 season opens on June 27, 2027, for both the 6-week session and the first 3-week session. The second 3-week session begins on July 17, 2027. View all dates on our Dates & Tuition page.
For summer 2027, the first 3-week session ends on July 20, 2027. The second 3-week session and the full 6-week session both end on August 7, 2027.
Visiting Day for Summer 2027 is tentatively scheduled for July 17, 2027.
Summer camp sessions typically range from two to eight weeks, depending on the program. Shorter sessions are great for first-time campers testing the waters. Longer sessions allow children to fully settle in, build deeper friendships, and get the most from the experience.
At Camp Lakota, we offer a 3-week session for first-time campers in grades 1–5 and a 6-week session for all ages. Read more about choosing the right summer camp length for your child.
Yes, if they’re a first-time camper in grades 1–5. The 3-week session gives younger campers a chance to ease into camp life. Families can extend to the full 6 weeks during the first summer, or return for the full session the following year. Campers in grades 6–10 attend the 6-week session
Yes, and that’s exactly what our 6-week session is designed to deliver. Six weeks gives campers time to settle in, build real friendships, and take part in camp-wide events like Color War, camp trips, and theater shows. It also leaves room in the summer for family vacations, sports, and other plans. Our schedule is built to fit school calendars from across the country.
Sleepaway camp tuition varies widely depending on session length, location, and what’s included. At Camp Lakota, Summer 2027 tuition is as follows (based on grade level as of September 1, 2027):
• Grades 1st–5th: $5,850 for the 3-week session; $9,200 Early Bird or $10,150 regular for the 6-week session
• Grades 6th–10th: 6-week session only — $10,500 Early Bird or $11,500 regular
• CIT (11th grade): 6-week session only — $11,100, including the CIT West Coast Trip (airfare billed separately)
See full details on our Dates & Tuition page.
Camp Lakota’s tuition is all-inclusive. It covers:
• meals
• chartered bus transportation
• day trips
• the canteen
• laundry
• all special events
• all specialty activities, including horseback riding, waterskiing, and go-karts
Billed separately are airfare, baggage transport through Camp Trunk Delivery, private lessons, and 7th–10th grade trips..
Yes, eligible families can use one of two discounts: early bird pricing or a 5% sibling discount for each additional child. Discounts can’t be combined. When both apply, we automatically use the one that saves your family more. To talk through your family’s situation, call us at 845-888-5611.
Enrollment for Summer 2027 is open now, and spots fill as returning families re-enroll. Registration is completed online through our secure enrollment portal. As part of enrollment, you’ll also complete a Bus Choice Form for each camper.
Campers explore a wide range of activities across our programs:
• water sports on Masten Lake
• waterskiing
• horseback riding
• athletics
• golf
• gymnastics
• outdoor adventure
• art
• special activities
Explore all activities to see what Camp Lakota has in store for our campers.
Yes, each day includes a daily elective period, and each week includes a weekly elective, where campers pick something they’re excited to try. The rest of the schedule is planned by division, so every camper gets a well-rounded mix of waterfront, athletics, arts, and outdoor adventure.
No, both are included in tuition, along with go-karts and all other specialty activities. Private lessons are available for an additional fee.
No, new riders start in a dedicated corral, learning the basics before moving on to trail rides, and our instructors teach both Western and English riding. Beginning waterskiers work one-on-one with an instructor to learn how to get up on two skis.
Camp Lakota’s emphasis is on fun and learning. For campers who want a more competitive atmosphere, we play inter-camp games several times a week through the Sullivan County Camp Athletic League. Every camper who wants to join an inter-camp team is guaranteed a spot.
The Counselor in Training (CIT) program is for 16-year-olds and serves as the bridge between being a camper and becoming a counselor. CITs help lead activities, mentor younger campers, and build real leadership skills. CIT tuition includes an 8-day West Coast trip to California, Las Vegas, and Arizona, with airfare billed separately. Learn more about the CIT program.
Camp Lakota provides all the equipment campers need, but campers are welcome to bring personal favorites, like a baseball glove or tennis racket. Campers who want to rollerblade or skateboard must bring their own equipment, along with an approved helmet and elbow and knee pads. These activities are allowed only in supervised areas.
Each day begins with Reveille at 7:45 AM, followed by breakfast and morning line-up at 9:30 AM, when the whole camp comes together.
The rest of the day includes:
• six activity periods, including a daily elective and a weekly elective
• rest hour after lunch
• an afternoon snack break
• shower hour at 5:15 PM
• dinner
See the overview of our full daily schedule for more information.
Evenings bring the whole camp together:
1. Evening line-up is at 6:30 PM, after dinner.
2. Evening activity begins at 7:45 PM. It might be a campfire, a talent show, a themed night, a dance social, or a camp-wide tradition.
3. After evening activity, campers stop by the canteen for a nightly snack.
4. Taps is at 9:15 PM.
Curfew varies by division, and older campers get free time before heading back to their bunks. Explore our events and night activities.
Every summer, the whole camp shares long-standing traditions:
• Opening Campfire: on the first night, at the lakeside fire circle
• College Olympics: an all-camp competition
• Battle of the Campuses: the boys’ and girls’ camps face off
• Cabin cheers: each bunk creates its own
• Burning of the Numbers: the closing-night tradition that has marked the end of summer for generations of Lakota families
Read more about why camp traditions are important for making a memorable summer.
We have a pre-planned rainy day schedule that we can switch to at a moment’s notice. Camp Lakota has many indoor facilities for rainy day activities, including indoor sports, arts and crafts, board games, and movies, so there’s plenty to do, rain or shine.
Our bunks are classic wooden cabins with electricity and hot water. College-age counselors live in each cabin alongside campers for the entire session. Learn more about bunk life at Camp Lakota.
Boys’ bunks house 10–15 campers, and most girls’ bunks house 8–10 campers. Our Chiefs live together in their own dorm-style building, and a few divisions share a single building.
Our camp mattresses are 73 inches long and 30 inches wide, so standard twin bedding fits.
Campers are placed by division, which is based on age and grade. If your child has a bunk request, please reach out before the summer. We can’t guarantee every request, but we do our best to give every camper the strongest possible start.
Campers sit at assigned tables with their bunkmates and counselors, and meals are served buffet style. Meals are well balanced and plentiful. Every meal includes a main entrée, a secondary entrée, and fresh fruit, and every lunch and dinner also includes a make-your-own salad bar and pasta bar.
We are not a peanut-free camp, but we are very peanut-conscious and can accommodate most dietary concerns. One of our chefs is dedicated to making sure campers with dietary restrictions have safe and satisfying options at every meal. Please contact us before the summer so our kitchen team can prepare.
Camp Lakota has its own on-premises laundry service. Your camper’s laundry is picked up once a week, washed, dried, and folded, then returned within 24 hours.
Official Camp Lakota gear is available through Amerasport, our exclusive apparel provider. We ask families to purchase a short list of logo items, which you can find on our Camp Store page. Every enrolled camper also receives a free Camp Lakota T-shirt.
Our bunk counselors are college-age young adults who live in the cabin with campers for the entire session.
Our counselors come from across the U.S., and many of them were once Lakota campers themselves. We also welcome counselors from countries all over the world. Alongside bunk counselors, adult instructors and coaches bring professional expertise to activities across campus.
Every staff member is thoroughly screened before being hired. The process includes an application, extensive reference checks, and a criminal background check. Your child’s safety and personal welfare are our top concern.
Before the summer begins, every staff member also completes training in safety protocols, child development, and real-world scenarios.
College-age counselors live in every bunk, and the same counselors stay with the same group of campers all summer. Our youngest division, the Braves, has a higher counselor-to-camper ratio than other divisions. Activity instructors, division leaders, and medical staff add more layers of supervision throughout the day.
Braves (ages 6–9) have a higher counselor-to-camper ratio and the support of our Camp Moms, who are experienced, parent-aged staff living on campus. Camp Moms help with daily routines like brushing teeth, shampooing hair, applying sunscreen, keeping clothes clean, and staying hydrated.
Safety is built into every part of camp life:
• on-site medical staff, with a hospital and urgent care nearby
• certified lifeguards at both the pool and the lake
• structured supervision throughout the day
• a gated campus with security systems
• thorough screening for every staff member
Camp Lakota is also accredited by the American Camp Association. Learn more about wellness at Camp Lakota.
Our fully equipped Health Center is staffed by registered nurses and an on-site doctor, available day and night. If a camper needs anything more than a band-aid, some AC time, or a Gatorade, our medical staff will notify you right away. Garnet Health Medical Center in Middletown, NY, is 20 minutes from camp. Crystal Run Urgent Care in Rock Hill, NY, is 10 minutes away.
Yes, all of our swim and waterfront instructors at both the pool and the lake are American Red Cross-certified lifeguards. We have clear safety rules that are enforced at all times. Every camper participates in our Red Cross swim program and receives a certification card.
No, all campers take a swim test on arrival and are placed in ability groups. Some activities, such as waterskiing, require basic swimming ability. Life vests are worn at all times on the water.
Some homesickness is completely normal, especially in the first few days. Our counselors are trained to notice when a camper is struggling. They help by keeping the camper engaged, connected to bunkmates, and focused on what’s next in their day. Our screen-free campus and first-week pause on phone calls also help campers settle in faster. Read our tips for managing homesickness.
Camp Lakota is a fully screen-free campus. The following are not permitted during the session:
• phones
• tablets
• laptops
• iPods with screens
• all other internet-connected devices
Campers may keep their phones for the bus ride. All devices are handed in on arrival, labeled, stored safely in the camp office, and returned at the end of the session. Music-only players that can’t connect to the internet are allowed at select times in the cabin.
To help campers make a smooth transition from home life to camp life, we ask that campers hold off on calls home during the first week. After the first week, campers can schedule one phone call home per week. If you have an urgent concern at any time, our office is always reachable at 845-888-5611. Read our full communication guidelines.
Yes, parents can send unlimited Bunk Notes through their Bunk1 account. Bunk Notes are printed, folded, and delivered to campers with the daily mail. Notes received before 9:00 AM arrive that same day. Campers can’t send email, so their replies come by letter.
Yes, you can set up a Bunk1 Guest Account so grandparents, aunts, uncles, and family friends can send Bunk Notes directly to your camper.
Call our summer camp office at (845) 888-5611. After hours, the greeting will give you a 24-hour contact number for one of our directors.
During the summer, send mail for campers, staff, or the camp office to:
Camp Lakota
56 Park Road
Wurtsboro, NY 12790
Be sure to include your camper’s name. Mail is delivered daily. We recommend packing stamps and envelopes so your camper can write back.
Food is not allowed in the bunks, so any food sent in a care package will not be delivered to your camper.
Great care package items include:
• puzzles and games
• magazines and books
• photos from home
• letters
• stamps and envelopes
Envelopes and packages must be no larger than 9″ x 12″. Oversized packages will be returned to the sender.
Yes, just be sure to write “Birthday Package” clearly on the outside, and we’ll hold it in the office until your camper’s big day. Please keep birthday packages for non-food items, and avoid gifts intended for the whole bunk.
A small amount of cash is useful for batteries and stamps from the Camp Store, and for souvenirs on camp trips. Cash is kept securely in the camp office in each camper’s individual envelope.
No, all cash, passports, and other important items must be kept in the camp safe in the office. Each camper has a daily opportunity to access their envelope. Camp Lakota cannot take responsibility for money or valuables kept in the bunk.
A few tips make packing simple:
• Label everything with your camper’s full name.
• Pack comfortable, machine-washable clothing.
• Pack one to one-and-a-half weeks of clothing. That’s enough, even for six weeks, because laundry is done weekly.
• Include one or two nicer outfits for dances and the end-of-summer banquet.
• Bring boots with at least a 1″ heel, which are required for horseback riding.
• Bring twin bedding.
See our full packing list.
Yes, chartered bus transportation is included in tuition, and we ask all campers to take the bus to and from camp.
Buses run on the first and last day of camp from three locations:
• Long Island: Macy’s parking lot, 1100 Northern Blvd, Manhasset, NY
• Northern New Jersey: Montvale Park & Ride at the Garden State Parkway rest stop, Montvale, NJ
• Westchester: office complex parking lot, 200 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, NY
Vehicles are not allowed on campus during the summer. If none of these stops work for your family, please call us and we’ll help arrange transportation. Learn more about getting to camp.
All trunks and duffels are shipped through Camp Trunk Delivery, which picks up bags from your home the Friday before camp. Bags arrive and are placed in your camper’s bunk before opening day. Only carry-on backpacks are allowed on the bus. Baggage transport is billed separately from tuition. Learn more about our baggage service.
Call us at (845) 888-5611 or email info@camplakota.com. Our director, Hannah Young, is happy to answer all of your questions, no matter how small. We look forward to introducing your family to our family.