Camp Countdown:
Tradewinds Lake was founded in 1989 and is accredited by the American Camping Association. Our philosophy encourages learning both educationally and experientially while enjoying the recreational opportunities available in our idyllic mountain retreat.
Tradewinds Lake encourages campers to express their individuality and to explore new activities. Camp strives to make young people excited about learning and attempting new challenges. The Three Rights Model is utilized in every element of camp to improve the campers minds, bodies and hearts/attitudes. Our healthy state-approved meals and continual exercise and movement through our packed daily schedules helps campers maintain fitness and health. Our creative writing, poetry slams and literacy components help prevent summer learning loss and our community awareness and social commitments to each other helps develop our right heart and attitude element.
At Tradewinds Lake, campers live, play and learn together in small groups called bunks, consisting of no more than eight campers placed together based on their gender, age and interests. Each bunk has its own counselor who attends all group activities and provides constant and consistent care and attention. There are four age group divisions at Tradewinds Lake-Mighty Might’s, Wildcats, Spirits and Titans. These groupings ensure that campers are placed with children of their own age and or grade and experience a program matched to their interests year after year.
Tradewinds Lake is located in the beautiful Catskill Mountains three hours from New York City and Rochester, 2 hours from Albany and 30 minutes from Binghamton. Our camp covers 231 wooded acres and is situated on a mountain top. With spectacular hills, meadows, woods and streams descending down onto our 30 acre spring fed lake that becomes the focal point for our all camp bar-b-ques, fishing, boating and swimming activities.
Our magnificent facility provides the perfect backdrop for the exciting Tradewinds Lake programs. Some of the facilities and programs available are indoor and outdoor basketball courts, tennis courts, ball fields for land sports, an archery range and learning center for educational programming which includes Literacy and creative writing, a small animal farm where children can collect eggs in the morning and learn about all domestic farm animals. We have a Theater building where the campers put on drama productions, skits, plays and dance performances. The Theater building houses the WTLC radio station operated by the campers and staff of Tradewinds Lake.
Schedule
At Tradewinds, the daily schedule is geared specifically to each age group and designed to introduce campers to new challenges and ensure cherished memories for a lifetime.
Activities
Camp Activities are led by cabin counselors or by specialized activity leaders. Typical Camp activities include: biking, basketball, softball, volleyball, soccer, arts and crafts, tennis, dance, drama, music, fishing, hiking, boating, nature, camp crafts, games, archery, camp-outs, farm and cook-outs. Each day, campers receive American Red Cross swim instruction and have an opportunity for recreational swim. Each group’s schedule is designed just for them and campers have the opportunity to contribute activity ideas and requests. Project nights allow campers to sign up for areas of their personal interest and gather more information before participating in the selected activities.
Highlights of Tradewinds are our theme days. Once a week we will present a Theme Day such as Summer Olympics, Native American Festival, Survivor Day or Amazing Race, Tribal Games, International Day etc. - campers are encouraged to dress up and get really involved.
Food and Snacks
The menu at Tradewinds is child-friendly, healthy and plentiful. Campers eat three full meals each day in our dining hall with their bunk group and counselor. Meals are served family-style with a kosher-style menu. Alternatives are available. A fruit snack is offered in the afternoon and it is traditional at camp to have Milk and Cookies before bed each night. Campers are offered canteen weekly with a choice of a sweet, salty and nutritious snacks to enjoy.
About Our Staff
Our staff members are chosen from hundreds of applicants for their maturity, skills and commitment to young people. They are carefully screened and closely supervised by trained camp professionals. The typical counselor at Tradewinds is 20 years old and has experience in working with children. Staff members come from the tri-state area, across the United States and throughout the world. All counselors take part in a week-long orientation to prepare for the most important job of looking after each child's physical and emotional safety. Each counselor has responsibility for between four and eight campers grouped by age and gender.
Contact Us
For more information about Trade Winds Lake Camp’s facilities and programs, please contact Vacamas Executive Director Sandi Friedman at sandi@vacamas.org or info@vacamas.org or call 973-838-1412.
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