Dutchess County Summer Camp in New York
Camp Kinder Ring, a Dutchess County summer camp, is a miraculous place. Dutchess County, NY, located in the Hudson Valley area, offers activities that never cease. There are nature trails, museums, historic buildings to tour, SplashDown Beach, and more!
Camp Kinder Ring is a top-rated co-ed camp for children and teens ages 7 to 16. The camp has been caring for summer campers since 1927 and packs wonder and joy into every summer.
Camp Kinder Ring in Dutchess County
Founded in 1927 by The Workmen’s Circle, now known as The Workers Circle, the camp provides a home away from home for campers. The Workers Circle empowers Jewish identity through activism as a social justice organization.
Camp Kinder Ring is an independent nonprofit offering a Jewish community atmosphere. The camp’s goals are to help make the world a better place by teaching values, leadership, and community in a safe, fun, and adventure-filled environment.
Typical Day at Camp
A typical day at camp will keep your child busy from 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM (a little later for the older campers). Each day begins with all camp line-up at the flagpole, followed by breakfast in the dining room to fuel up for the morning activities. There is time for routine chores, too, so your child will also be learning responsibility.
The morning includes three activity periods with various age-appropriate projects, lessons, and fun activities. After lunch, campers get a rest period to return to their bunks or relax in their cabin before the afternoon activities.
Afternoon activity periods include swimming time if the weather permits and additional camp activities. An afternoon break for milk and a snack break up the day to recharge campers. Following the final activity period, campers head to the showers before dinner, free play time, and an evening activity.
Camp Kinder Ring Activities
Camp activities are divided into categories. Your child may not do all the listed activities, but they can try quite a few!
Adventure Activities allow individual and team participation to build confidence and coordination.
- Low and High Ropes Course
- Archery
- Mountain Biking
- Rock Wall
- Zip Lining
- Fitness Training
- Overnight Camping
Athletic Activities build team spirit, teach sportsmanship, strategy, confidence, and coordination. You can see the entire list of athletic activities on our Sports and Fitness page, but here is a small sample:
- Baseball and Softball
- Beach Volleyball
- Flag Football
- Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Track and Field
Creative Arts Activities include individual creative projects and team performance art projects that present shows to the other campers. The All-Camp Show and the Talent Show are favorites. These activities teach attention to detail, cooperation, presentation, and an appreciation of the arts.
- Ceramics
- Dance
- Fabric Arts
- Drama
- Arts and Crafts
- Cooking
- Woodworking
- Photography
If your child likes water, they will love the Waterfront Activities. These activities stimulate active children and encourage teamwork, courtesy, sportsmanship, and competition. For the complete list, please see our Waterfront Activities page.
- Canoes
- Kayaks
- General Swim
- Endurance Swim
- Water Basketball
- Lifeguarding Course
- Sailboats
No matter what activities your children enjoy, Camp Kinder Ring has something that will brighten their summer.
On-Site Fun and Games
During camp, we have some activities that have become traditions. Our Fourth of July celebration brings a carnival atmosphere to the day, complete with cotton candy and hot dogs. Special guests visit the camp to interact with the campers, do special activities, and offer discussions and presentations on meaningful topics.
Fridays are a special day as campers gather at the flagpole for “Shtiller Ovnt” wearing white. This special evening includes dance, songs, discussion, and a traditional Shabbos meal. The evening unites our campers, instilling a feeling of pride.
Our camp BBQ chefs get busy preparing an excellent BBQ repast twice a week. Campers enjoy outdoor dining, music, and great food with our beautiful Sylvan Lake as a backdrop.
Off-Site and Overnight Trips
Camp Kinder Ring offers several opportunities for old campers to attend overnight outings. The schedule changes every year. Some previous trips included:
- Three days and two nights in Boston for our rising 8th graders.
- Three days and two nights in Washington DC for rising 11th graders.
- Overnight at Camp Getaway for rising 7th graders
These age-appropriate trips allow campers to experience places and events and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Camp Food is Pretty Awesome
Campers get three square meals a day, served family-style in our air-conditioned dining room. Our kitchen professionals prepare carefully developed menus to offer a wide variety of top-quality food. Vegetarian preferences and special dietary needs are easily fulfilled.
Healthy snacks are available all day, and there are plenty of water stations available throughout the camp. For campfires and social activities, appropriate food is available to satisfy everyone.
Bunking It in Style
Kinder Ring divisions are based on the grade your child will be entering in the fall. This allows us to keep campers in cabins with campers in the same age range. It also will enable campers returning year after year to form bonds and lifelong friendships with their campmates.
Each camper’s area includes plenty of room to keep them comfortable. There are cubbies, shelves, and window fans to keep the bunks (cabins) comfortable. Bunks house 8 to 12 campers and 2 to 4 staff members living in the bunkhouse. This is the home base for your child while they are at Camp Kinder Ring. The bunks are clustered into divisions, and each decision has a Group Leader.
Peace of Mind for Parents
Camp Kinder Ring offers peace of mind for parents. A great staff of camp personnel monitors all camp activities. Outside activities are chaperoned, keeping our campers safe during off-site activities. The safety of our campers is essential and a top priority for us.
Reserve a Spot for Your Child Today
Camp Kinder Ring Dutchess County summer camp cares about your children, our environment, and the larger world in which we live. Camp Kinder Ring Dutchess County summer camp in New York reflects this in every message and every experience we offer our campers.
If you are looking for a top summer camp for your child, Camp Kinder Ring is an excellent choice for the summer of their life.
Camp Kinder Ring schedules tours throughout the year. If you want to schedule a tour at Camp Kinder Ring, please contact us at (845) 221-2771.
