Fun is always in season at Camp Kaufmann!

Camp Kaufmann is currently closed for all visitors. We will be reopening for our summer experience the first week in July. See below for more information.

About Camp Kaufmann

Located 75 miles north of New York City in Dutchess County, Camp Kaufmann stretches over 425 acres and features a lake, an archery range, a pool, hiking trails, a frog pond, a butterfly garden, an organic garden and greenhouse, and rope challenge courses.

Each year, our camp welcomes more than 5,000 New York City Girl Scouts. A distinguishing feature of Camp Kaufmann is that it brings together girls from diverse backgrounds – some of which have never left their own borough, let alone experienced camp. 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

Come to Camp Kaufmann

There are lots of ways for you and girls to enjoy the outdoors. No matter the length of your experience, girls will certainly benefit from it. They can try new things, build team-building skills, meet new friends, feel a connection to the natural world, and enjoy the fresh air.

Living in an amazing city like New York can provide so many unique opportunities, but sometimes you need to break out of the concrete jungle and enjoy the benefits of the outdoors.

Click below to explore the different opportunities to come to Camp Kaufmann. Whether you’re interested in a Day Trip, Summer Sleep Away Camp, or everything in between, Camp Kaufmann has something for every girl!

Summer 2021 Information

We are excited to be reopening Camp Kaufmann after over a year of being closed. Here is some important information.

Camp Kaufmann will be open for overnight family camping and family day trips (for adults and children ages 4+). See below for more information.
Urban Day Camp is currently under renovation and will not be held this year.
Camp Kaufmann will run from the first week in July through August 15th. 
Family camping is a 3 day experience (Arrive the evening of day one, have a full day of programming day two, depart the morning of the third day)
Registration will open May 15th at girlscoutsnyc.campbrainregistration.com

Family Camping

Family Camping is for families of up to 10 (depending on the cabin). It follows the schedule:
- Day 1: Arrive between 5 pm – 7 pm
- Day 2: Camp programming
- Day 3: Depart camp between 11 am – 12 pm
Family Camping is a customizable experience, where families can choose up to three staff-led activity add-ons with optional self-guided activities available as well.
- Staff led activities are fishing, boating, swimming, archery, climbing wall and survival skills.
- Self-guided activities are: Hiking, Activity kits (bird, bug and tree ID, compasses), Sports (basketball, volleyball, soccer, frisbee, etc.), Badge help, Gardening, Playground, Activities at your unit, Arts and Crafts, Board games
Housing: we will be using 5 outdoor units (Ohrbach, Cedar Knoll, Eleanor Edson, Forest Haven, Journey’s End). There will be two families per unit with a maximum family size of 6, 8, or 10, depending on the unit. Each family will have assigned bathroom and shower stalls according to family, as well as plenty of cleaning supplies in the unit!
Family camping is offered on the below dates:

MON	TUE	WED	THUR	FRI	SAT	SUN
July 5	July 6	July 7	July 8	July 9	July 10	July 11
				Check In	Full Day	Check Out
July 12	July 13	July 14	July 15	July 16	July 17	July 18
Check In	Full Day	Check Out		Check In	Full Day	Check Out
July 19	July 20	July 21	July 22	July 23	July 24	July 25
Check In	Full Day	Check Out		Check In	Full Day	Check Out
July 26	July 27	July 28	July 29	July 30	July 31	August 1
Check In	Full Day	Check Out		Check In	Full Day	Check Out
August 2	August 3	August 4	August 5	August 6	August 7	August 8
Check In	Full Day	Check Out		Check In	Full Day	Check Out
August 9	August 10	August 11	August 12	August 13	August 14	August 15
Check In	Full Day	Check Out		Check In	Full Day	Check Out

Day Trips

Day trips provide Girl Scouts to opportunity to visit camp for the day while enjoying everything Camp Kaufmann has to offer. Day Trips are $60 per person and run from 10am – 4pm. This year, day trips will be an experience for the whole family, ages 4+! Children must be accompanied by an adult in their household.
All day trips include staff-led activities, lunch, an afternoon snack, pool time, and a fun patch.
Day trip themes are: Water, Adventure, Nature, Service, Arts and Crafts, and STEM
Day trips are offered on the below schedule:

MON	TUE	WED	THUR	FRI	SAT	SUN
July 5	July 6	July 7	July 8	July 9	July 10	July 11
	Water	Adventure				Nature
July 12	July 13	July 14	July 15	July 16	July 17	July 18
Service				Arts		STEM
July 19	July 20	July 21	July 22	July 23	July 24	July 25
Nature				Water		Adventure
July 26	July 27	July 28	July 29	July 30	July 31	August 1
STEM				Service		Arts

Troop Camping

Troop Camping is not offered for summer 2021

Troop Camping is a weekend experience for up to 72 hours in duration, planned and carried out by a troop at camp. The troop leaders reserve housing at camp, plan for meals (buys, brings or orders her food) and plans all activities on their own (bringing their own supplies). Arrival window time on Fridays is between 5pm – 10pm and departure time is on Sunday at 10:00am.

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

IMPORTANT NOTE: Troop Camping has a 3 outdoor classroom maximum per unit. Outdoor Classroom requests must be submitted 30 days prior to your camping weekend. They are approved by the Camp Director two weeks prior to your camping trip, which will include a designated time slot available. There is limited availability and Outdoor Classroom booking depends on certified staff availability and weather. Troops are grouped together to meet a minimum ratio and for Girl Scout troops to get to know new Girl Scout friends.

Theme Weekends

Theme weekends are not offered for summer 2021

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 given the opportunity to bond with sister Girl Scouts. Girls will earn badges, explore camp, and more! Girls sign up for these events individually (not per troop). Troops are welcome to come, however girls will still need to be registered in 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

Our traditional Girl Scout only sleepaway camp program will not run in 2021. Keep an eye out for information on Summer 2022, coming in early January!

Summer Sleep Away Camp is all about making everlasting memories with new friends! In the past we 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*.

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.

*More Than S'mores: Successes and Surprises in Girl Scouts' Outdoor Experiences (2014)

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

Camp Resources:

For more information, please contact Carolyn Brown.

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