My daughter’s experience at this camp has changed drastically over the past 2 summers since the change in leadership, with this year being the worst experience she has had. After attending this camp for the past 5+ years, she will not be returning next summer. We paid for virtually every week, and she did not attend many of those days because she was unhappy. Very few activities were planned, as well as a significant reduction in swim time. 30 minutes of swim during an 8 hour day is ridiculous. We also heard about “meditation” time, which seems like the counselors basically stuck their campers in a room for “quiet” time for what was hours a day so they did not need to engage with the children. We are very disappointed with the direction of the camp and the negative changes that have occurred.

Love it

The counselors where knowledgeable, professional and kind. It was a pleasure to see them interact with the children. Our granddaughter enjoyed the program and came away with improved social skills that will help her as she enters Pre-K this fall. I could not have been happier with our experience.

My kids love coming to Summer Camp at the Sussex YMCA, and overall, we have had a positive experience. My only concern is regarding the nut-safe environment noted in the camp portal.

I have a daughter with Celiac Disease, which can make finding a lunch option that she enjoys and can safely bring to camp more challenging. She brought a sandwich with hazelnut spread one day and was told by a counselor to stop eating it and walk down the hill inside to finish her sandwich. This greatly upset her, and she has since refused to bring that lunch again because she felt embarrassed or uncomfortable after the interaction and comments from other children.

My concern is less about the policy itself and more about how it was handled. If the camp has a nut-free policy, I would have expected that to be clearly communicated to parents in advance, rather than addressing it in a way that made my daughter feel singled out. It also gave me the impression that there may be an environment where children are encouraged to report on one another rather than simply allowing counselors to handle policy concerns appropriately and confidentially.

Aside from this experience, my kids really enjoy camp and will absolutely be returning for Summer 2027. I would just hope that the nut-free policy is clearly stated in the camp portal and registration information for next year so parents can plan appropriately and avoid situations like this.

Camp kept my very active son busy and engaged. He also became a more confident swimmer. I watched as he formed friendships with other campers and counselors throughout the summer.

my son loves the camp here, he has a great time each summer he’s attended

This is our 3rd year attending Sussex County YMCA summer camp and it was the least joyful experience we have ever had. Something has shifted at the camp between last summer and this summer.

We are not adverse to kids getting dirty or wet however they have repeatedly come home with clothes ruined due to mud stains and their socks and shoes soaked to the point of their feet being in pain from being in wet sneakers for 10 hours. This did not happen at all in prior summers.
My kids came home telling stories about how they were hit and kicked by other campers with counselors nearby with little to no intervention from them unless my kid approached the counselor. Even after telling them, they were hit or kicked by the camper a second time.
My son's shirt was stolen from the locker room and threw in the upper field the first day. We understand kids will be kids, and we do not believe our kids are 100% innocent in all things however, the lack of supervision and/or physical outbursts from children have never been to this level.
I was optimistic about the app that was used this summer however, was shocked that the lived experience of using the app resulted in less communication from the YMCA. Access to the app wasn't provided until after the start of the first day so i had to contact the YMCA before camp started to get conformation on before camp information. Each week received notification of document update regarding information for the following week yet there was never anything there.
We are extremely disappointed in the camp and if it wasn't for the astronomical amount of money we paid and the limited access to alternative child care, we would have pulled our kids out.
We are appalled by how this summer has turned out and will not be sending our kids back to the camp, let alone recommend it to others.

Counselors are negligent and untrained kids

Overall, my kids enjoy attending YMCA summer camp and have fun with the activities and staff. However, there are a couple of issues that have been disappointing.

It’s frustrating to repeatedly find personalized items in the lost and found. When belongings are clearly labeled with a child’s name, I would expect more effort to return them to the correct family instead of leaving parents to search for them.

My biggest concern is that my child was left two times in a swim suit for the entire day. This is both unsanitary and uncomfortable, especially when a change of clothes was packed. Children should be encouraged and assisted, when needed

I am not happy with how Corey Brown handled the situation. Nor am I happy with with the "support" this scam of an operation provides.

Summer sports camp i expected to be a better variety of sports. Additionally the availability to choose the sport or activities. If a child doesn't like the sport there should be more options. Basic sports should be basketball, baseball, flag football, volleyball, etc. Once the child is at a green level for swimming would be better if there is more advance swimming or taught other strokes. Maybe get college or high-school captains of teams to properly show the rules, guidelines, and basic of the sport before playing to avoid children getting hurt.

My kids love going to camp. The swim lessons and activities are fun. Getting to meet new friends, hang out with friends from previous years, and seeing friends from school that they otherwise wouldn’t have seen over the summer. Miss Melissa and the other counselors are great with the kids. I love picking them up and hearing about the different activities they did, new friends they made, and memories they created. It’s a great camp!

Easy to communicate with. Answer all questions. Friendly and kind.

My son comes home excited about the activities he participated in and he is exhausted from being so active all day.

I love this camps counselors and staff! They are always friendly, responsive and organized. My kids enjoy going to camp and always have fun!

I have not received the sibling discount for my children and the lady who is in charge of billing has not responded to my emails requesting it be corrected.

Coaches are great, well organized, everybody is nice and helpful, Im so happy my son learned how to swim so fast

The staff, convenience, and activities all make it a great camp.

There are alot of activities for my kiddos to do.

My son is loving sports camp.

My daughter loves going and see her friends she has made and the staff she loves everyone who works at the Y. She is always excited to go. And she squeals every the staff opens her door to get out. We are very happy with the Y and the we love the staff.

The staff, the having the kids outside as much as possible. The continuous activities

The camp counselors are great from what I hear from my daughter. The people behind the scenes and organizing everything do not return calls or emails and just asssume a question asked is confirmation that your child is doing something. Communication with the parents is a fail and I would not recommend anyone to a place where emails and calls go unanswered or returned for more than 3 to 4 days. Let a lone 18 to 20 days.

its very stressful when items are missing and they are labeled. I sent an email that an item was missing told it was nowhere to be found i asked to check the lost and found and there is the labeled bathing suit I asked for a copy of schedule of what does on during the day. No response Alot a hiccups persay this year

My kids have had a great time since their first day. This is there first summer at camp and it has been very easy for us as parents. Thank you!