Boys Club of New York

For generations, The Boys' Club of New York (BCNY) has been a cornerstone of youth development, and their summer camp, located in Southfields, NY, stands as a testament to their enduring commitment. Situated within the sprawling and picturesque Harriman State Park, this sleepaway camp, known as Harriman Basecamp, offers an unparalleled opportunity for boys and young men from New York City to experience the transformative power of nature. As one grateful alumnus and volunteer shared, "As an alumni and a volunteer for the boys clubs of New York I take a great honor in providing my services at the boys club camp, as I too was served by those who came before me! Thank you boys clubs of New York! 🇺🇸" This heartfelt sentiment truly encapsulates the deep-rooted impact and community spirit that defines BCNY's camp experience.

Building on over 120 years of experience offering sleepaway camp, Harriman Basecamp is far more than just a place to spend the summer; it's an environment designed to foster critical life skills, emotional growth, and physical development. The camp’s mission is to empower boys and young men through engaging and diverse programming in a supportive community, and their camp facility in Harriman State Park is integral to this vision. Surrounded by the pristine forests and lakes of Harriman State Park, the site is ideally isolated from commercial and private land use, creating a true wilderness immersion. This strategic location provides easy access to all Harriman State Park amenities, such as hiking on the extensive network of trails, canoeing through adjacent lakes, and even camping out at park sites for more advanced wilderness experiences.

Harriman Basecamp offers a rich tapestry of activities that blend traditional camp fun with vital educational and developmental programming. While members are familiar with sports, ping-pong, chess, board games, arts and crafts, and photography from BCNY's clubhouses, the camp introduces them to a new realm of outdoor adventures. These include swimming, canoeing, and fishing in a freshwater lake, exploring vast trail networks, pitching camping tents, lighting campfires, and roasting marshmallows. Beyond recreation, campers engage in team-building through a challenge course, learn practical skills in a professional woodshop, and safely handle bows and arrows at an archery range. They participate actively in daily camp life, including cooking, evening shows, and reflective circles. Accommodations are in rustic wooden cabins with shared bunk rooms, fostering a sense of community, while shared bathrooms and showers are conveniently located in separate buildings. A professional kitchen serves hearty and healthy meals, catering to various dietary needs.

The camp staff at Harriman Basecamp are a dedicated blend of youth development professionals, mental health professionals, activity specialists, and BCNY alumni, many of whom, like the reviewer, were once campers themselves. All staff undergo extensive training focused on safety, health, wellness, and promoting a fun, experiential, and exciting program. With a commendable camp staff-to-camper ratio of 1:6, BCNY ensures a high level of supervision and individualized attention. For New York parents seeking a safe, impactful, and memorable summer experience that builds character and confidence in a natural setting, The Boys' Club of New York's Harriman Basecamp is an exceptional choice.

The Boys' Club of New York's Harriman Basecamp is strategically located at Southfields, NY 10975, USA, placing it deep within the expansive and beautiful Harriman State Park. This location is a significant advantage for families in the New York metropolitan area, including New York City, Westchester, and other parts of the Hudson Valley, as it provides a true wilderness experience that is still within a manageable travel distance.

For day visitors, or parents dropping off/picking up campers, driving is the primary mode of transportation. Harriman State Park is well-served by major roadways. From New York City, routes typically involve taking the George Washington Bridge to the Palisades Interstate Parkway North, connecting to the New York State Thruway (I-87 North), and then utilizing exits that lead to local roads like NY-17, which provides access to the Southfields area and Arden Valley Road, where the camp is situated. While the exact driving instructions to the specific camp entrance on Arden Valley Road may be provided by BCNY directly upon registration, the general accessibility to Harriman State Park is excellent. Parking at the camp facility is typically managed for drop-off and pick-up events, and is not a public parking area for general day use by hikers.

For campers, BCNY typically organizes transportation from their clubhouses in New York City. As mentioned in program details, "Juniors will travel to camp by van or bus. Members will depart on Sunday morning from their clubhouse and return to their clubhouse on Friday afternoon." This organized transportation significantly enhances accessibility for city-based youth, removing the burden of individual travel arrangements for families. This system ensures that even those without private vehicles can access the invaluable outdoor experience provided by the camp. The isolated nature of the camp within Harriman State Park means it's not directly accessible via public transportation like local buses or trains that stop at every trailhead, but the organized transportation from BCNY clubhouses addresses this. The beautiful natural setting, nestled between two lakes and surrounded by forest, underscores the camp's commitment to providing an immersive natural environment away from urban distractions.

• Sleepaway Camp Programs: Offers week-long (and potentially multi-week) traditional sleepaway camp experiences for boys and young men, typically aged 12 to 21 years old (specific age ranges for Juniors and Teens apply per session).
• Diverse Activity Programming: Includes a wide array of activities such as swimming, canoeing, fishing, hiking, sports (basketball, baseball), ping-pong, chess, board games, arts and crafts, photography, woodshop, archery, and a challenge course.
• Outdoor & Wilderness Education: Provides opportunities for members to connect with nature, explore trails, pitch tents, light campfires, and learn basic wilderness survival skills.
• Youth Development & Life Skills: Focuses on fostering critical life skills, emotional growth, and physical development through team-building activities, reflective circles, and structured programming.
• Nutritious Meals: A professional kitchen serves hearty and healthy meals for all campers, with consideration for dietary needs.
• Rustic Cabin Accommodation: Campers lodge in rustic wooden cabins in shared bunk rooms with camp counselors and other campers.
• Supervised Environment: Features a high camp staff-to-camper ratio (e.g., 1:6) and professional staff including youth development and mental health professionals.
• Organized Transportation: Typically provides organized bus or van transportation for campers from BCNY clubhouses in NYC to the camp and back.
• Health & Wellness Support: Staff complete extensive training focused on safety, health, and wellness; an EMT is on staff for emergency care.
• Parent Communication Protocol: Implements a parent check-in schedule and a homesickness protocol to support campers and families.
• Alumni Engagement: Fosters a strong community with opportunities for alumni to volunteer and support current campers.

• Historic Program: Over 120 years of experience offering sleepaway camp, showcasing a deep tradition and expertise in youth outdoor education.
• Immersive Natural Setting: Located between two lakes and surrounded by the forests of Harriman State Park, providing an isolated and true wilderness experience.
• Access to Harriman State Park Amenities: Campers can utilize the vast trail network for hiking and adjacent lakes for canoeing and fishing within the larger park.
• Comprehensive Skill Development: Programs designed to develop "critical life skills," fostering "emotional and physical growth" in young men.
• Diverse Recreational Opportunities: Features a basketball court, ball field, low-ropes challenge course, arts and crafts pavilion, swimming pool crib, private 11-acre lake with canoes, game pavilion, professional woodshop, and archery range.
• Dedicated & Professional Staff: A team of youth development and mental health professionals, activity specialists, and BCNY alumni, ensuring high-quality guidance and support.
• Community Building: Focus on shared experiences, team challenges, and reflective circles to foster a strong sense of community and belonging among campers.
• Character Development: Programs instill strong character attributes, teach positive decision-making, encourage leadership, and support transition into adulthood.
• Focus on NYC Youth: Specifically designed to give boys and young men from New York City the opportunity to experience sleepaway camp and nature.

The Boys' Club of New York (BCNY) is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering boys and young men, and its Harriman Basecamp summer program operates within this philanthropic framework. Therefore, traditional "promotions or special offers" in a commercial sense are not applicable. Instead, BCNY focuses on providing high-quality, impactful programming, often at little to no direct cost to the families it serves.

Key aspects related to affordability and access that could be considered "offers" for eligible families include:

• No Cost to Members: BCNY membership, which grants access to their clubhouses and summer camp programs, is often free of charge to ensure access and easy entry for all boys and young men, addressing the critical needs of the community.
• Financial Aid & Support: While not explicitly stated as "financial aid" for the camp in the provided information, BCNY generally offers programming at no cost or on a highly subsidized basis for its members. Parents interested in the camp program should inquire about eligibility criteria and any associated costs or sponsorships directly with BCNY.
• Included Services: The camp fee (if any, as programs are often no-cost for members) typically includes comprehensive services such as accommodation in rustic cabins, three hearty and healthy meals daily, participation in a wide range of activities, professional supervision, and often organized transportation from BCNY clubhouses. These inclusions represent significant value.

For specific details on eligibility, program costs (if applicable for non-members or specific programs), and how to apply, interested New York families should directly contact The Boys' Club of New York using the provided contact information. Information is also typically available on the "Summers at BCNY" section of their official website.

Address: Southfields, NY 10975, USA

The Boys' Club of New York operates multiple clubhouses and programs in New York City, with the Harriman Basecamp located in Southfields, NY. For specific inquiries regarding the summer camp program at Harriman Basecamp, it is best to contact BCNY directly.

• Primary Phone Number for BCNY (General Inquiries and Camp Information): (845) 915-3638 (This number is provided as the main camp phone number in some contexts).
• Mobile Phone (alternate/direct camp contact): +1 845-915-3638
• General BCNY Website: For comprehensive information about all BCNY programs, including the summer camp, visit their official website (e.g., bcny.org). Look for sections on "Summers at BCNY" or "Harriman Basecamp."
• Clubhouse Contacts: For enrollment or program-specific questions related to their NYC clubhouses (e.g., Abbe Clubhouse in Queens, Gerry Clubhouse in East Harlem), contact information would be available on the BCNY website. These clubhouses often serve as departure points for campers.

It is always recommended to check the official BCNY website for the most up-to-date information on program schedules, application processes, and any specific contact details for the Harriman Basecamp during the summer season.

The Boys' Club of New York's Harriman Basecamp is an exceptionally suitable and invaluable resource for New York locals, particularly for families seeking enriching and safe summer experiences for boys and young men. This historic camp, nestled in the heart of Harriman State Park, offers a unique blend of natural immersion, personal development, and community support that is perfectly tailored to the needs of urban youth.

Firstly, the camp’s location in Southfields, NY, within Harriman State Park, provides an ideal escape from the intense "ny/nj craziness!!" of city life. This proximity means that a genuine wilderness experience, complete with lakes, forests, and hiking trails, is within a manageable distance. The organized transportation from BCNY's city clubhouses further enhances accessibility, making it possible for boys from all backgrounds to access this transformative outdoor environment without transportation barriers.

Secondly, the comprehensive and diverse programming offered by Harriman Basecamp is a major highlight. It's not merely a recreational camp; it's a youth development program focused on building "critical life skills" and fostering "emotional and physical growth." Activities ranging from traditional camp fun like swimming, canoeing, and sports to more structured learning in a woodshop and on a challenge course ensure that campers are constantly engaged and learning. The opportunity to pitch tents, light campfires, and explore trails offers a vital connection to nature that many city kids might not otherwise experience.

Finally, the enduring legacy and dedicated staff of The Boys' Club of New York ensure a nurturing and supportive environment. The high staff-to-camper ratio, the presence of mental health professionals, and the commitment to safety underscore the organization's professionalism and care. The alumni engagement, as highlighted by the glowing review, speaks volumes about the lasting positive impact the camp has on its participants. For New York parents seeking a structured, safe, and profoundly enriching summer camp that equips their sons with confidence, character, and a love for the outdoors, The Boys' Club of New York's Harriman Basecamp is an exceptional local institution.

Boys Club of New York

Southfields, NY 10975, USA