From left to right: A girl wearing a unicorn mask and a "Camp Life" shirt, a girl wearing a pink tie dye shirt and smiling, and a Girl Scout from troop 4415 smiling and looking at her friend.

Fun is always in season at Camp Kaufmann!

No matter the length of your stay, you're sure to enjoy the benefits of meeting new friends, learning new skills, and feeling connected to nature. Explore all of this season's camp programs and experiences in the brochure below. Day trips and overnight visits available!

About Camp Kaufmann

Located 75 miles north of NYC in Dutchess County, Camp Kaufmann stretches over 425 acres and features a lake, archery range, pool, hiking trails, frog pond, butterfly garden, organic garden and greenhouse, and rope challenge courses. Each year, our camp welcomes over 5,000 New York City Girl Scouts from diverse backgrounds, some of whom have never left their own borough, for a unique and immersive experience.

Camp Kaufmann is owned and operated by the Girl Scouts of Greater New York, and is fully accredited by the American Camp Association.

"At camp, I learned that you can be who you want to be and you don’t have to follow other people all the time" – Brownie Girl Scout

Theme Weekends

Girl Scouts of Greater New York will continue to monitor CDC guidelines to determine when Theme Weekends will be offered. Stay tuned!

Theme Weekends are for Girl Scouts of all ages and their troop leaders. Meals and programming are provided by camp staff.

Theme weekends are a great opportunity to come to camp in a smaller group, while still taking the opportunity to bond with fellow Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts will earn badges, explore camp, and more! Girl Scouts sign up for these events individually (not per troop). Troops are welcome to come, however, Girl Scouts will still need to be registered on an individual basis.

Adults attending will need to ensure they are at the Girl Scout ratio and meet the necessary Camp Certifications.

Summer Sleep Away Camp

Information on Summer 2022 Sleep Away Camp will be provided this winter. Stay tuned!

Summer Sleep Away Camp is all about making everlasting memories with new friends! In the past, we've offered weekend experiences for girls and their caregivers. However, research has shown that girls who participate in a sleepaway program rather than a weekend program report more opportunities to become a leader, show a greater sense of self, and are more willing to take on a challenge. (More Than S'mores: Successes and Surprises in Girl Scouts' Outdoor Experiences, 2014)

Campers in grades 2 – 12 have the opportunity to select themed programs that range from 3 days to 2 weeks. Our program gives girls the chance to try new things in a safe and supportive community. There is a special magic that exists in the woods and in building camp traditions. Campers will earn badges and enjoy camp amenities such as:

Ziplining*
High ropes course*
Low ropes course
Swimming in the pool
Row boating on Lake Carola
Canoeing on Lake Carola
Archery*
Theater & performing arts pavilion
Campfires and s’mores
Vegetable garden
Butterfly garden
Frog pond
Environmental science activities
Hiking trails
Basketball court
Soccer
Volleyball
Stargazing

*Available for Juniors and up

All of this is a part of an amazing summer experience at Camp Kaufmann. We hope you join us in giving girls a variety of experiences that acclimate them to the natural world.

History

Camp Kaufmann was established in June 1959, however the history of the property started before then. Below is a timeline of events of Camp Kaufmann

1920s: Harriet Dyer Price Phipps becomes a young troop leader, who was good friends with Juliette Gordon Lowe. She had a legendary dedication to the Girl Scouts in NYC, and even wore her Girl Scout uniform to buy a wedding gift at the Cartier Mansion!
Phipps called several acquaintances, including John D. Rockefeller Jr – a philanthropist, to see if he would be interested in funding a camp for the Girl Scouts.
In order to help fund the camp, Phipps proposed the Scouts sell cookies.
In July 1956, the 128 acre property was purchased for $40,000 with the help of the gift from Rockefeller, cookies sales, and other donors.
The land Rockefeller donated at the time was called “Camp Merrywood”. The property had a farmhouse and chicken coop. The name would eventually change to Camp Kaufmann.
June 1959: Camp Kaufmann was officially established. Nearly 300 people attended the ceremony where women were while cheered when making a campfire out of birch logs.
As time went on, the camp expanded to three times its original size. Currently camp is 425 acres.
Camp Kaufmann changed its name to honor Henry Kaufmann, a Pittsburgh department store heir who donated millions to create many camps in the New York City region

COVID-19 Guidelines

Camp Kaufmann follows the guidance outlined in the American Camp Association COVID-19 Resource Center.
Troops should use the Safety Activity Checkpoints for guidance.
Troop leaders must review Girl Scout Trip Planning Tip Sheet.
All visitors will be asked to complete a 5-day Symptom Screening procedure when checking in.

Camp Resources

For more information, please contact customercare@girlscoutsnyc.org.

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