Camp Lanowa and Camp Wakonda are officially open, kicking off another exciting season of HFH Summer Camps! From gymnastics and sports to swimming and arts & crafts, campers are diving into a week full of adventure, creativity, and connection.

Sleepaway campers arrived at Camp Lanowa earlier this week and are already settling into the rhythm of camp life. At the waterfront, kids jumped into swim lessons and free swim, learning new skills and cooling off with games, floating, and splashing under the guidance of the waterfront staff.

Meanwhile, the arts & crafts cabin has been buzzing with creativity. Campers are mastering rubber band jewelry—some making bracelets for loved ones, others experimenting with rings and chatting with new friends as they worked.

At Camp Wakonda, families from Clinton arrived today and jumped straight into the fun. After enjoying swim time and a hearty meal, campers joined staff for a colorful session of sand art.

We’re thrilled to see campers enjoying every moment—and can’t wait to welcome even more throughout the summer!

Our latest session at Camp Wakonda was packed with excitement and creativity. From action-packed sports and captivating nature explorations to lively evening activities, the campers experienced it all. Take a dive into the highlights!

Action was the name of the game at the sports station! Campers embraced the spirit of friendly competition with hula hooping, basketball, and riveting relay games. The potato sack race was a major hit, with campers hopping to victory and cheering each other on.

Creativity was in full swing at the art and music stations. Campers crafted colorful paper lanterns, built their very own birdhouses, and experimented with various musical instruments.

This year, we introduced pioneering, where campers learned essential outdoor skills. On this day, they mastered the art of setting up a tent, preparing them for future wilderness adventures. The campers showed teamwork and enthusiasm as they pitched tents and learned the ropes of outdoor living.

At the nature station, the kids delved into the wonders of the natural world around Camp Wakonda. They learned to identify safe plants and steer clear of poison ivy, becoming little nature experts. A highlight was the nature hike to Twin Lakes Regional Nature Museum, where they interacted with wildlife and deepened their appreciation for the environment.

Lake swimming is always a favorite! Some campers brushed up on their swimming techniques while others tread water for the first time with the help of our dedicated waterfront staff. During free swim, the lake transformed into a bustling playground, filled with spirited water games and moments of relaxation on floaties.

Evenings at camp were just as exciting, with after-dinner programming keeping the fun going. One memorable night featured a color run, where campers raced across the lawn showering each other with bright powdered paint.

The grand finale of the session was the much-anticipated carnival! Campers reveled in an afternoon of traditional carnival games like ring toss, dunking their counselors in the dunk tank, and gliding down inflatable water slides. They celebrated with new and old friends as they won plush prizes, got adorned with fun face paint designs, danced to the tunes of a live DJ, and savored delicious carnival treats, including Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and fluffy cotton candy.

Stage Left Children’s Theater, a local theater organization in Rockland County, generously donated a collection of costumes and props to HFH Summer Camps. These donations will enhance our performing arts programming—including dance, drama, and music—which provides an emotional and creative outlet and is a favorite pastime among campers. We can’t wait to see them shine on stage in these wonderful costumes!

Campers arrived at Camp Wakonda and were greeted by excited staff. The campers mingled and got to know one another (or reconnected!) as they participated in arts & crafts and outdoor activities.

After breakfast, campers do 15 minutes of “community service” where they work together to clean up and maintain the campgrounds. This morning, the boys were assigned plant watering.

The campers took a hike to Twin Lakes Regional Nature Museum where they learned about the wildlife that they are sharing the surrounding nature with for the week. They loved to look for the animals in their tanks.

Swimming in the lake was a favorite all around. The groups practiced their swimming skills and learned new ones before having free time in the water.

The campers rotate through various activity stations. One of these is “Nature” where they took a hike with the Nature Specialist Brianna. They used binoculars to identify wildlife and different plants. The girls were thrilled to come across a wild blueberry bush!

Members of the Rockland Conservation Corps recently volunteered at HFH Summer Camps to revamp Camp Wakonda before the upcoming season. The crew transformed the space by installing a new fire pit, adding updated benches to accommodate campers for campfires, building a beautiful stone staircase leading to the pit, clearing the trails in the surrounding area, and re-painting the barn—the hub for performing arts activities. We are so grateful for their hard work and dedication in creating a welcoming space for this year’s campers, the first of which will be arriving on July 5^th.

To register your kids for camp, ages 7-11, click here.

The summer camp prep continues at Camp Wakonda! The camp clean-up crew recently spent the day updating the furniture, organizing the staff office, and maintaining the lawn that will host outdoor activities and Carnivals—which take place on the last day of each camp session— throughout the summer.

Families residing at any of the five HFH family residences can register their kids, ages 7-11, for the following sessions:

Session 1: July 5 – July 12

Session 2: July 19 – July 26

Session 3: August 2 – August 8

To register, click here.

Our dedicated team has been hard at work transforming the Dining Hall at Camp Wakonda into a welcoming hub for campers to gather and sing camp songs before refueling for activity-packed days. Behind the scenes, staff made cabin repairs, put in new Dining Hall screens, and set up new tables.

Families residing at any of the five HFH family residences can register their kids, ages 7-11, for the upcoming season here.

We are gearing up for a great summer in the great outdoors! During their most recent trip north, the maintenance crew stocked the cabins with mattresses and cleared the outdoor paths while the programs team organized the Trading Post with camp essentials from our generous donors—everything from swimsuits to PJs.

Families residing at any of the five HFH family residences can register their kids, ages 7-11, for the following sessions:

Session 1: July 5 – July 12

Session 2: July 19 – July 26

Session 3: August 2 – August 8

Register here!