My daughter had an amazing time and cannot wait to return next year!

We had a total of 6 kids attend camp with our two daughters this summer based on our recommendation!

I had 2 daughters there for Discovery week. They really liked certain daily activities but they were only offered once or maybe twice. Allowing them to do more activities that they enjoyed would make their feedback way more positive.

My boys had a great time as first-time sleepaway campers! They loved all of the activities, their counselors were great and they said the food was delicious. They are excited to return!

I liked the activities and the friends I met along the way

Great traditional camp vibes! Good Food, clean cabins, wonderful staff

We couldn’t be happier with our first sleepaway experience! Everyone was so kind, welcoming and supportive.

My son really enjoyed the camp. The counselors were fantastic. I think you will see Robert again next year!

My child just completed her first week at Farm Camp. This was the first time that she was away from home and I feel very grateful to the staff and folks at Fairview Lake YMCA Camps for creating an environment that felt nourishing and nurturing for her, such that she seldom thought about missing home. She was thrilled with the Farm program and the opportunity to develop deeper relationships with the animals, due to the size of the program and proximity allowed to the animals. She also enjoyed having opportunities to explore other facilities/centers at the camp, which ensured she had a well-rounded summer camp experience. She felt at ease with the counselors and made meaningful connections with friends, so I am certain we will be returning for more songs, adventures and relationships next year.

The beautiful nature and welcoming community

Everything was thought of, all the details, preparation and accommodation were there for the kids to enjoy

I would love to get more pictures, or at least pictures that are regularly updated. There were a few days of either no pictures or just a handful. The whole safety message in lieu of photos doesn't resonate. Seeing pictures helps reassure parents that things are going ok. To just post a handful of photos or no photos indicates laziness and/or disorganization, neither of which are reassuring qualities in a sleepaway camp where children are entrusted into the care of strangers. Also, more communication prior to camp would be great. The communications were very generic and sparse for an overnight camp. We didn't get a direct email about the specific camp until a few days before the camp started. This is not the type of communication that makes parents feel great about dropping their children off with strangers for a week. For every single day camp (ie 9am-3pm) my kids went to, I got more and frequent communication from the camp directors. It would be great if these two things improved.

My kid had an absolute blast. She just couldn't say enough how much fun her week of taste of tradition was!

My kids love Fairview Lake, and the Taste of Tradition program allowed my son to have the traditional camp experience even though he had a busy summer and couldn't have fit in three weeks of camp. Next year he wants to go for the full three weeks!

This was my daughter's first time away at sleep away camp. She absolutely loved it and wants to go back again for longer. I was also impressed with the comprehensive communication I was given by camp administration leading up to the experience! Highly recommended!

Organized,well run and great counselors!

Wanted to be able to open the window in the cabin, and didn't like there were bugs on the bunk

Our 11-year-old had the time of his life at Fairview Discovery. We have attended several Family Camps over the years and this was his first time doing a sleep-away camp. He came home with a huge smile on his face and couldn't stop talking about all of the fun he had. The counselors were fantastic and he loved all of the different activities to choose from each day. He went with a few friends but also made new ones. The first thing he said when we picked him up was, "Can I come back next year?" He'll be back - possibly for a second week! Thank you for giving him a home away from home.

This is my daughters second year attending discovery (she was 12 and 13yrs old). Some things she has pointed out: - The counselors are ALWAYS with them, there is no sense of "freedom" and at their age they want a little more respect for their age - There are no theme days to make it a little more exciting and fun - Lunch meals were not great -9 girls in their cabin and they had 3 counselors, again too much at their age -Their bedtime was 10pm where as she said younger cabins had their lights on later -I loaded up her account to be able to buy snacks but she said it was very limited on what they are allowed to buy at each time slot. I'd like to see way more pictures posted in a timely manner, someone has to take this up daily!

I like that it gives kids who are new to sleepaway camp a chance to try it out for just a week. My son loved the big swing, the mountain slide, and being able to spend time with friends. He also said he really liked all of his counselors. They were great with him when he was feeling homesick.

Family friendly safe atmosphere

My 9 year old, rising 5th grader was in Taste of Tradition, with the rest of the cabin 12 and 13 year olds. The age gap was difficult, and some of the cabinmates had known each other from the year before. She is a generally resilient and sociable kid, but she felt excluded and alienated. I could see when we picked her up that the other girls in the cabin completely ignored her. She came home withdrawn, and it took a few weeks for her to return to her usual open and exuberant self. She said she was given the option to switch cabins after the first week but it sounds like she felt resigned by that point. I don't understand why staff did not address the age-gap when cabin assignments were made, or contact us parents about the situation. This was the OPPOSITE experience from what we expected in the Taste of Tradition program, as a bridge to the longer sessions. She did not come away with eagerness to join Laurel Ridge, as those campers were even older, although she said they were nicer to her than her cabinmates. It was a stark contrast to her positive experience her first year in Minisink, when she bonded strongly with her cabinmates. When we are looking a summer camp options for next year, I would like to speak to Fairview camp leadership to make sure she is in a cabin and program with peers closer to her age.

FVL staff are terrific. Sent two kids to camp this year... the counselors, and leaders were proactive in making the kids feel comfortable, welcomed and heard.

Community, fun, safety.

My daughter was able to meet new people. She did ranch camp and farm camp. Next year she will just do ranch.. she really enjoyed it.