Frost Valley YMCA is a camp, retreat destination, & environmental education center
offering people of all ages and abilities enriching, even life-altering, outdoor experiences. Located on over 5,500 acres in the heart of the Catskill Mountains – just 2 hours north of New York City – we provide year-round access to nature, adventure, growth, and fun.
What We Do:
Each summer,
Frost Valley YMCA provides exceptional outdoor experiences for over 4,000 children through day and overnight camp programs that include but are not limited to: equestrian camp, farm camp, adventure trips, a “Kidney Camp” for children with kidney disease or transplants, and of course the traditional overnight camp that Frost Valley has provided since 1885.
During the school year,
Frost Valley serves more than 35,000 school children, college groups, families, scouts, religious organizations, corporate teams, and others on its 5,500-acre property. Educational school field trips bring science lessons to life in the most natural of learning environments – the great outdoors. Team building retreats strengthen bonds while challenging participants to move out of their comfort zones and into their growth zones. Weekend retreats and family reunions provide the foundation for lifelong memories and traditions that span generations. Community programs such as after-school care, seasonal free events, daycare, outdoor sporting programs, and so much more ensure that our neighbors have ample opportunity for experiences and resources that make living in the Catskills the best choice for families.
Guided by a mission to serve all, Frost Valley provides financial assistance and full scholarships to thousands of children and families who otherwise might not experience the great outdoors. As can often be heard in the dining hall or on the scenic trails of this exceptional camp, “There’s something for everyone in the Valley.”
Frost Valley YMCA is a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization, and as such we rely on the support of our donor community to help provide financial assistance and to continue to advance our programs and services. For more information or to make a gift, please visit www.frostvalley.org/donate
View our most recent Annual Report
Our Mission & Values:
Frost Valley YMCA is a values-driven organization that fosters youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility through outdoor educational and recreational programs for all.
We are guided in this pursuit by our eight core values, which serve as pathways for our guests as they bond with nature and each other. They are:
Caring, Community, Diversity, Honesty, Inclusiveness, Respect, Responsibility, and Stewardship.
Join Our Team!
Program Partners:
Alliance of New York State YMCAs:
Comprised of 45 independent Ys and more than 120 YMCA branches across the empire state. Making up an extraordinary group of dedicated nonprofits working together to strengthen the communities of NY.
Boys & Girls Club of Newark:
Provides opportunities for the youth of Newark, New Jersey to experience the joys of Frost Valley summer camp.
La Casa De Don Pedro:
A community development corporation offering comprehensive social services to Newark and surrounding areas, with particular expertise in serving the Latino community.
Chartwells:
An educational dining service partnering with Frost Valley to promote the goal of providing tasty, wholesome food for every camper and guest.
Eastern & Western Suffolk and Nassau County Boces:
Provide shared educational programs and services to school districts within the state, including partnering with Frost Valley to bring environmental education programs to a variety of school districts.
New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids:
A statewide program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with technical assistance and direction provided by the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance. The goal of this program is to convene, connect, and empower community partnerships across the state to implement environmental and policy changing strategies that prevent childhood obesity.
New Jersey YMCA State Alliance:
Comprised of dozens of corporate YMCA associations and nearly 80 branches from across the garden state. New Jersey YMCAs work together to strengthen the foundations of community to better serve the people of New Jersey.
Partnering Community Centers (PCCI):
Bridges communities and builds relationships through educational and cultural enrichment for children in the Greater Newark Area.
Prep for Prep:
An independent school educating leaders and preparing them for the future with a clear sense of social responsibility.
Ruth Gottscho Kidney Foundation:
Brings children with chronic kidney disease to Frost Valley where they attend summer camp alongside the main camp community while receiving unparalleled medical attention from our on-site, world-class healthcare team.
Tokyo YMCA:
Invites Japanese families on temporary work transfer in the United States to join together for language and cultural immersion programs at Frost Valley YMCA.
USAImmersion:
A not-for-profit organization offering fellowships to attend Frost Valley YMCA Day Camp for free to those families interested in participating in their international cultural immersion program.
Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC):
Works with farm and forest landowners in the NYC Watershed region by partnering with Frost Valley to run and maintain Frost Valley’s model forest.
Young Adult Institute:
Offers “Mainstreaming at Camp,”an opportunity for young campers with developmental disabilities to join the wider camp community for traditional Frost Valley summer fun.
