Surprise Lake Camp

Surprise Lake Camp is a special place, a home away from home for generations of young people ages 5-17. Our Jewish values and identity shape our days and our connection to nature. We’re dedicated to helping young people unplug, grow, and develop values, confidence, and skills to last a lifetime.

Surprise Lake Camp (SLC) is a coed Jewish sleepaway camp located just 60 miles from NYC. Since 1902, we have helped young people to grow & develop. Campers get  to pick a Speciality elective for 3 times/week and explore more than 50 Choice options. As campers grow, their amount of Choice also grows. We’re always adding special experiences, too, such as Balloon Animal Making, Juggling, or Young Scientists. With so many options, campers will find lots to love!

Surprise Lake Camp is blessed with incredible natural beauty. Located only 60 miles from New York City, what an oasis! Our camp sits on 460 beautiful wooded acres surrounded by an enormous expanse of undeveloped state parkland. Our sparkling, 30-acre lake is nestled between two rugged mountain ridges. It creates a vision of rustic beauty that dances in the heads of visitors years after they've been to camp. Additionally, we have miles and miles of gorgeous hiking trails with breathtaking views of the Hudson River, and beautiful campsites for cookouts and overnights. You won't believe how inspiring and exciting our woods activities are! Camp is a supportive, caring community with an upbeat Jewish flavor. We sing a lot and we cheer a lot, and we make the most of the unique opportunity camp affords to create a model of the world as it should be—joyous and at peace, achieving the human potential for successful group living.