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.

My son had a wonderful time and he gave us a tour of the facilities at pick up. It looked lovely!

Maddie had a wonderful time in Discovery camp, overall. She had a hard time sleeping with other kids who have a different body clock, so we'll send earplugs next year and hopefully teach her how to use them before she goes.

My son had a great time! His first time at sleepaway and he had all positive feedback. From my point of view, it's very well-run / organized. My son will likely return!

This was my daughter's first experience with an overnight camp. She said she was so busy, that she didn't think of her iPad at all. She loved trying new activities and she is very excited about all the friends she made. She attended for one week, but is already asking that we send her back for three weeks next year. She loved her time at Fairview! As parents, we found the entire process, from registration, to drop off, to pick up, very well organized and manageable. Overall, we are extremely happy with the experience!

The last day of camp pick up time is TOO early, can it be late morning or early afternoon instead. Otherwise, it was a fun camp!

Our kids come home every year more confident, with new friends and memories. It is such a special community and we look forward to their adventures every summer! We especially love the notes from their counselors with their impressions of how the weeks went. It's always insightful to see your child through another's eyes!

my daughter (12) absolutely loved it!

This was our son's first sleepaway camp experience. Although he didn't get all the activities he wanted to try, he had an awesome time.

My son really enjoyed his 2-week camp experience. The highlight of camp was all the time spent on the lake -- he really loved sailing and felt a sense of accomplishment for learning this new skill. I think there was a misunderstanding about one particular meal, but that was cleared up well.

My son was at camp, he doesn't eat pork, occasionally he had no alternatives to eat as main course. He also told me that for a water park trip they took prepared sandwiches and somehow even after asking for an alternative he only was given a ham sandwich which he couldn't eat, so basically he only had chips to eat all day long, which is completely unacceptable!!! Need to do better. I can't send him back because of this.

Feedback from camper: Food can be improved - the number of times chicken was served can be reduced, and the eggs were in need of improvement. Feedback from parent: As mentioned before, I was surprised to learn that CITs and counselors were allowed to have their phones.

My son had a great time and wants to return next year!

My kids love coming to Fairview. The staff are great, activities are well organized, and my son comes homes happy and exhausted from a week of fun. We really enjoyed Taste of Tradition camp as he wanted to try a longer stay this year. Keep up the great work, Fairview!

My son had an amazing time as always.

The counsellors, the overall way the camp is run, & the variety of choices

Overall my daughter had lots of fun a great first week during the discovery program! She did not enjoy tennis and said the instruction for that was not good. She also said none of the girls in her cabin liked one of the counselors. From her description of the interactions between said counselor and the girls, I wonder whether she might be better suited to a different line of work where she does not have to interact with young children. She had hair that was dyed blue and was in cabin 15. My daughter really liked Sweetness in her cabin. She loved the lake, the food and the games and activities.

Both of my kids loved the camp. Everything about the camp is amazing. From friendly and caring CITs, food, activities especially when they learn while having fun and the fact that they make new friends. The cabins and area are clean and scenic as well. What else can one ask for to let your kid make the best out of their summer. I have recommended this camp to many of them and they have sent their kids too. It says it all when your kid comes back home and says he wants to go again next year.

My girls love this camp and already plan for the next summer at pick up, so that is a good sign.

variety of camps, ease of signing up adn that my child had fun

My son enjoyed the camp for the first time. He loved the food, activities, and nature. He wants to come back next year)

I like how there is many different activities available from rifles to kayaking. The meals were great and the staff were friendly. I decently recommend going because it's a lot of fun.

Our kids had a great week. It was the first time that went to sleep away camp and both came back wanting to go again next year

My girls loved everything about it. They raved when they returned home and want to stay longer next year. Have nothing but positive things to say.

I didn't know I could call my kids and found out when I picked them up that they were disappointed I never called. The food was just okay, I heard flies were in the milk and that was reported but nothing done about it. The screens in my daughters cabins had a lot of big holes and bugs were always flying in the cabin which made it difficult for sleeping. Not much done to ease homesickness which one of my girls experienced.

Wonderful experience for my teenage daughter, who (sometimes) is impossible to please. She came home filled with stories and great experiences, and cannot wait to head back to camp next year.