Dates & FAQs

Need more information about tuition? Contact us below.
 

Camp Sessions

• What’s the duration of your camp sessions?
  
  Your child can attend camp for 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 week sessions. These weeks don’t have to be consecutive, but we do recommend it—especially for shorter sessions—to amplify your child’s camp experience.
  
  
• What are Deer Mountain’s camp hours?
  
  Camp runs from approximately 9am to 4pm.  Pick up and drop off times will vary based on your location.
  
  If you’re a working parent, consider our pre-/post-camp care programs. We provide supervision and special programming from 7am-6:30pm, including breakfast and afternoon snacks.

Registering for Camp

• How do I reserve my child’s spot at Deer Mountain for the upcoming summer?
  
  You can register your child for the upcoming summer online, here.
  
  You’ll first have to log in or create an account in our CampMinder database system. Then, fill out the Camper Application. Reservations require an initial deposit and full payment is due by April 1st before the upcoming summer.

Schedule Changes

• I want to send my child to Deer Mountain, but I don’t know our summer schedule yet. What should I do?
  
  Our suggestion: make your best guess, and register now. We make it easy to accommodate schedule changes later on, if necessary.
  
  
• Can I change my child’s camp session after I’ve already registered?
  
  Yes, session weeks can be changed through the spring. Just call our office and let us know your schedule change or conflict. We’ll make the adjustment as seamless as possible, based on our availability.
  
  
• Can I add weeks to extend my child’s stay at Deer Mountain?
  
  It’s best to extend your child’s schedule before the summer starts. If your child is having a blast and wants to stay at camp longer, we do our best to accommodate extensions based on availability.

Other Services & Daily Items Needed for Camp

• What do I need to send with my child each day?
  
  We try to make things easy for you!  We provide a DMDC backpack.  At the beginning of the season, you just need to send 3-5 bathing suits, pool shoes, bottle of sunscreen, extra change of clothes, a jacket as well as any other items your child might need such as a swim shirt, swim goggles or hat.  We will keep all items at camp M-F and send home the backpack on Friday afternoon only with what needs to be laundered (typically the bathing suits).
  
  We have a towel service, so your child will get a fresh towel for each swim. If we need an additional item of clothing or a refill bottle of sunscreen throughout the course of the summer, we will let you know.
  
  If it’s not a Monday morning or Friday afternoon, you won’t see a backpack.  We take care of everything in between!
  
  
• Do I need to send my child with a water bottle?
  
  No, because we have iced water available throughout camp and in every building with cups.
  
  
• How often do you apply sunscreen?
  
  We make sure the sunscreen you sent with your child is properly applied before and after each swim period. We recommend you apply the first layer before he or she gets on our camp bus each morning. For campers who are particularly sensitive to the sun, additional sunscreen can also be applied during the camp day.

Logistics

• What ages does Deer Mountain serve?
  
  Deer Mountain serves children ages 3-15. We group children by the grade they’re entering after the summer, with specific programming that offers the full Deer Mountain experience at their developmental levels. Our nursery program is specifically designed for pre-school aged children with age-specific facilities.
  
  
• Where is Deer Mountain located?
  
  Deer Mountain is located within easy driving distance of NYC, in Pomona, Rockland County, New York. Nestled in the mountains with a natural, spring-fed lake, it’s a true camp setting.
  
  
• What areas does Deer Mountain serve?
  
  For children in NYC, Brooklyn, Hoboken, Jersey City, Rockland County, Bergen County, Westchester County, and Orange County, Deer Mountain is a great place to spend the summer. We’re just 25 minutes from the George Washington Bridge, 20 minutes from the Tappan Zee Bridge, and neighbors to families in Rockland and Bergen Counties.
  
  
• How will my child get to and from camp?
  
  Each day, we send private, air-conditioned vans into Manhattan, Brooklyn, Hoboken, Jersey City, and Westchester, Bergen, Rockland, and Orange Counties, to pick up and drop off your child. A dedicated van counselor staffs each van and serves as another point of contact for you throughout the summer. Your child is familiar with both his or her van counselor as well as fellow van campers, and has fun traveling to and from camp participating in van games and activities.
  
  Most of our pick-ups and drop offs are door-to-door. However, we may ask you to meet us on a convenient street corner in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Jersey City, or Hoboken if it significantly shortens our route.
  
  
• How do I schedule a tour?
  
  Call our office at 845-354-2727 (or click here) to schedule your tour. We can’t wait to show you around!

Camper Safety

• What are the camper-to-counselor supervision ratios within each group at Deer Mountain?
  
  At Deer Mountain we keep our supervision ratios small, at 3:1 maximum. Ratios for our nursery camp are even smaller, at 2:1. We make sure your child is safe and cared for while having the summer of his or her life.
  
  
• What happens if the weather is very hot or inclement?
  
  There are tons of hot summer days at Deer Mountain, and we’re fully prepared for all of them. All of our activity cabins are air-conditioned. We have giant coolers of ice water set up around camp, as well as running water in all of the camper and activity cabins. Children cool off in our 6 pools twice each day during instructional and recreational swim periods. On extremely hot days, we may include an extra swim period or water sports games to keep everyone comfortable.
  
  On rainy days, campers enjoy a rich array of activities inside our numerous enclosed buildings and air-conditioned cabins. We make sure to keep our programming creative and special, no matter what—avoiding movies or other activities children can enjoy at home. We believe camp should be special, and we make every effort to keep the experience creative, curated, and customized!