Why Kinder Ring?
Our Community
Camp Kinder Ring is more than just a summer getaway. It is a community filled with caring people. Each family who joins our community is welcomed with open arms and instantly becomes part of our deep and rich history. We care about your children, our environment, and the larger world in which we live. This message is reflected in every experience we build into the Kinder Ring program. The rich Jewish cultural heritage and values are part of our fabric. Your child’s adjustment to Camp is guided and supported. Each child feels cared for and nurtured. Learning to live and respect a larger community is an important outcome of a Kinder Ring Summer.
Our Balance
The whole child is the focus at Kinder Ring. We work hard to balance the programming so that each child can experience success in some aspects of the camp program. Whether on the playing field, in leadership roles, on the stage, in a studio, or living together in a group, Kinder Ring provides your child with a balance achieved through a mix of structured and flexible activity schedules; individual and team experiences; single gender and coeducational activities; and an emphasis on individual growth and spirited teamwork.
Our Staff
In everything we do at Camp Kinder Ring, your child’s safety and protection are our primary concerns. Our mature adult staff includes seasoned professionals, many of whom have been with us since they were campers themselves. Our senior staff leaders have well over 140 years of combined experience in the world of camping. Many of our senior staff members are teachers, social workers, and professionals who work with children in the off-season. Our counselors are college students who have a high return rate and have previous experience as well as ongoing training about how to be effective role models and guardians to your children during the summer. We are exposing your children to a variety of adult supervisors and activity specialists from the United Kingdom, Australia, and Israel, amongst other places around the world. We provide a camper to counselor ratio of 3:1. Each camper bunk has 3-4 staff members living with 8-12 campers. Campers are supervised at all times — 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.
A Typical Day
No two Kinder Ring days are alike. There are special activities, surprises, and events galore throughout the summer. This is the general outline of a typical Kinder Ring day:
8:00am: Reveille – Wake up and get dressed
8:30am: All Camp Line-up at Flagpole
8:45am: Breakfast in the Dining Room
9:15am: Clean up bunk areas and Health Center Clinic Call
10:00am: 1st Activity Period (Elective Period)
10:55am: 2nd Activity Period
11:50am: 3rd Activity Period
12:45pm: Lunch in the Dining Room
1:15pm: Rest Hour/Bunk time
1:55pm: 4th Activity Period
2:50pm: 5th Activity Period (or Lower Camp General Swim)
3:35pm: Milk Call/Snack break
4:10pm: 6th Activity Period (or Upper Camp General Swim)
5:00pm: Shower time
6:00pm: Dinner in the Dining Room
6:40pm: Free Play
7:45pm: Evening Activity
Lower Camp prepares for bedtime
Upper Camp evening activity and curfew
Room
Each bunk has plenty of space for each camper, cubbies for clothing, shelves for personal belongings, window fans and ventilation, and electrical service to make everyone comfortable. There are 8-12 campers and 2-4 staff members assigned to live in each bunk. There are several bunks per division and each division is headed by a Group Leader. Campers will learn, with age-appropriate help from staff members, to take care of their own possessions, keep common areas clean, and learn to include all bunkmates in the fun! Our younger campers have many watchful adult eyes on them, in addition to their bunk counselors. All campers will always have assistance in their bunks, dining room, health center, and activity areas. Great care is taken to ensure that bunking placements will maximize the Kinder Ring experience for all. Each child is placed into a Kinder Ring Division based upon the grade they will be entering in the fall after camp. This division and divisional area of bunks becomes the home base for campers. It is during divisional and bunk time that living together becomes the glue that cements friendships and provides the backdrop for fun.
Food
Our fully air-conditioned dining room is always a cool and welcoming place! Three meals a day are served family-style and our menus are carefully developed. Our meals include lots of variety, ample choices, and top quality, professionally prepared food. Breakfast always features hot and cold cereals, toast and muffins, yogurt and fruit, and a prepared hot option. Lunch and dinner
feature a fully stocked salad bar, hot pasta options, great protein varieties, and many fun options your kids love, like chicken nuggets, pizza, and great desserts! The food is plentiful and everyone leaves the dining room satisfied. Vegetarian preferences and special dietary concerns can be accommodated. There are healthy snacks available all-day long. We also cater to the activities planned with appropriate food for campfires, barbeques, and social get togethers. Additionally, there are ice water stations throughout the property to assure that everyone is kept hydrated for an active day.
Health
At Kinder Ring, the health and safety of everyone on the grounds is our primary concern. Camp Kinder Ring has a doctor and staff of nurses onsite at all times. The Health Center Director supervises a staff of highly trained professionals and the facility is always fully stocked with all necessary medications and medical supplies including oxygen and a defibrillator. Kinder Ring uses a unit dose medication system which assures strict adherence to your child’s medication
needs. Upon enrollment, parents will receive all instructions for participation in this system as well as instructions for downloading all medical forms from our website.
All Camp Kinder Ring / Circle Lodge campers and staff must be immunized with the required two doses of the MMR vaccine for protection against measles, mumps, and rubella. We strictly adhere to all Board of Health guidelines on this and other issues concerning a healthy camp environment.
We offer a balance between structured and programmed activities organized by division (grade level) and elective options which campers choose individually. We have a full athletic program, impressive swimming and boating program at waterfrom (pool and lake), exciting creative and performing arts options, and a Jewish cultural program.
Activities And Special Events
The heart of Kinder Ring beats in the daily activities enjoyed all over the property. Instruction, recreation, and fun abound on all playing fields and activity areas. Kinder Ring has competition at all levels to assure that everyone can shine at something and enjoy trying new things. Our athletics program is designed to maximize instruction and support friendly competition in all sports. Whether on our own fields, or in the many inter-camp tournaments in which we participate, sportsmanship, skill development, and team efforts are stressed.
Camp Kinder Ring carefully structures an age-appropriate schedule of weekly activities. We are proud to offer instruction and skill training in many activities, and special events to excite every
camper. Our Elective Program offers campers an opportunity to choose one of their daily activities and participate for a week at a time. It can be an activity that is something very comfortable for them, or something brand new to learn and enjoy. The options are always expanding as we introduce new activities each summer!
At the end of a day filled with activities, campers enjoy a Free Play period after dinner during which they can relax, visit with friends and siblings, design their own activity, or work on their skills in any regular programming area. All areas are fully supervised and all campers are always encouraged to use this time to express their own preferences.
Activities
Athletics
- Baseball and Softball, Basketball, Beach Volleyball
- European Handball, Flag Football
- GaGa, Gymnastics, Hockey
- Lacrosse, Newcomb, Ping Pong
- Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
Adventure
- Archery, Fitness Training
- High Ropes Course, Low Ropes Course
- Mountain Biking, Overnight Camping
- Rock Wall, Zip Lining
Waterfront
- Canoes, Endurance Swimming, General Swim
- Instructional Swim, Inflatable Lake Toys, Kayaks
- Lifeguarding Course, Peddle boats, Sailboats
- Stand-up Paddleboards, Super SUPs, Swim Meets
- Water Basketball
Creative Arts
- All-Camp Show, Ceramics, Cooking
- Dance, Drama, Fabric Arts
- General Arts and Crafts, Photography
- Woodworking, Talent Shows
Overnight Trips
Kinder Ring campers in our older divisions look forward participating in our overnight trip program. While these vary from summer to summer, here are some sample overnight trips:
- Rising 7 th graders – One Overnight at Camp Getaway and one day trip
- Rising 8 th graders – Boston for three days and two nights
- Rising 9 th graders – Canada for four days and three nights
- Rising 10 th graders – California trip for one week
- Rising 11 th graders – Washington DC trip for three days and two nights and several day trips
Special Kinder Ring Traditions
Friday Evenings Friday evenings during the summer, the entire camp gathers at the flagpole, dressed in all white for “Shtiller Ovnt” to end our week all together. This celebration of Jewish traditions includes high-energy Israeli dance, Yiddish songs, an engaging topical discussion, and a traditional Shabbos meal. These moments bring our campers together with feeling of pride and family and is a meaningful and joyous end to a Kinder Ring week.
Maccabean Games This traditional all-camp competition with a history at Kinder Ring for over fifty years begins with a surprise “breakout” followed by three days of team competition on the fields, in the arts, and in spirit. It is also a learning opportunity, as the two teams are named in honor of Jewish leaders and role models who have made significant contributions to our history and world civilization. Campers and staff members learn about these important and influential leaders and celebrate them throughout the Games.
Olympic Games
Special All-Camp Activities
LuauIf there’s one thing you can bet on at Camp Kinder Ring, it’s life-sized events that deliver friendship, love, and spirit. Our summer luau captures it all as camp gathers in their Hawaiian-inspired attire, taking in the festive ukulele music, hula dancing, games at the waterfront, and twilight swim in the pool and magical Sylvan Lake.
Special Guests
July 4th Carnival
Kinder Ring BBQs
If you do not find the date/time you are looking for or have a question, click above button to contact the provider.
| Discount | Valid through | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First Time Camper Discount - Full Season * | -{{parseFloat('0.00').toFixed(2)}}% -${{parseFloat('500.00').toFixed(2)}} |
* Can not be combined with other discounts.
In case of cancellation, the following tuition refund schedule applies to all fees paid, not including a $350 non-refundable registration fee:
By January 1: 100% refund
January 2 to January 31: 75% refund
February 1 to February 29: 50% refund
March 1 to March 31: 25% refund
After April 1: No refund
No refund allowance will be made for camper’s late arrival to camp or early departure.
- Unless otherwise detailed by early registration discount terms, tuition balances are due to be paid in full by April 1, 2021.
- There will be no substitution of campers and no campers can be included in this agreement unless expressly named herein and accepted by the camp.
- SMOKING AND USE OR POSSESSION OF UNAUTHORIZED DRUGS OR HALLUCINOGENS AND DRINKING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Any camper who violates this rule will be sent home immediately and there will be no refund.
Camp Kinder Ring is more than just a summer getaway. It is a community filled with caring people. Each family who joins our community is welcomed with open arms and instantly becomes part of our deep and rich history. We care about your children, our environment, and the larger world in which we live. This message is reflected in every experience we build into the Kinder Ring program. The rich Jewish cultural heritage and values are part of our fabric. Your child’s adjustment to Camp is guided and supported. Each child feels cared for and nurtured. Learning to live and respect a larger community is an important outcome of a Kinder Ring Summer.
Mission & Philosophy
Our Balance: The whole child is the focus at Kinder Ring. We work hard to balance the programming so that each child can experience success in some aspects of the camp program. Whether on the playing field, in leadership roles, on the stage, in a studio, or living together in a group, Kinder Ring provides your child with a balance achieved through a mix of structured and flexible activity schedules; individual and team experiences; single gender and coeducational activities; and an emphasis on individual growth and spirited teamwork.
Meet Our Director: Dr. Marc Rauch
Dr. Marc Rauch has a long history at Camp Kinder Ring, working with children and in the camping world. He attended Kinder Ring in the 80’s and 90’s as a camper, counselor and Group Leader. He is a third generation Kinder Ring alumnus. Marc returned to Kinder Ring seven summers ago with 10 years of experience consulting with camps and presenting for the American Camp Association. His wife Beth was a camper and counselor at Kinder Ring, and his two children have grown up at Kinder Ring; one is a camper and one is currently a bunk counselor. Marc is a New York State Licensed Psychologist who has worked extensively within a large school district and in private practice with children. Marc is a staunch child advocate who brings the highest level of energy, enthusiasm, and expertise to Kinder Ring. His passion for Kinder Ring and long history of working with children and professionals make him an ideal leader. Marc strives to continue to bring Kinder Ring the most innovative programming and activities. When he started as Director, he had a vision to lead a new generation of Kinder Ring campers and show the world of camping how solid leadership and clear mission can lead Kinder Ring to ‘Make the World a Better Place’.
Our Staff
The role of our staff is to nurture, teach, comfort, and guide our campers. We are very proud of the staff we carefully assemble each summer, and much time is put into the selection process. Many staff members return summer after summer, and Camp Kinder Ring has become a second home for these caring young adults that are committed to working as part of the team.
Our staff is diverse. Some are coming to Kinder Ring for the first time and others have been on staff for 10-20 years. Many were Kinder Ring campers and many join us from across the US and abroad. We recruit staff members internationally which exposes our campers to a rich cultural diversity as a part of their camp family.
Facility and Location
Camp Kinder Ring is situated on over 100 acres on Sylvan Lake in Hopewell Junction, NY, which is 70 miles from New York City. In recent years, we have made substantial improvements to the property and spectacular additions to the facilities, ranging from renovations to bunks and buildings to infrastructure upgrades.
Our beautiful property has impressive facilities which include: eight lit tennis courts; an Olympic-sized heated swimming pool, one indoor and two outdoor basketball courts; a lit hockey rink with bleachers; a state-of-the-art, air-conditioned movie theater; a 12-station low ropes course; a 14-station high ropes course; a 24-foot climbing wall; a zipline; a new, air-conditioned fitness center; a 1/6 mile track; a new center for the Kinder Ring Cooking program; four soccer/football/lacrosse fields; an archery range; Sylvan Lake beachfront and boating launch with rowboats, sailboats, canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, paddle boards, and two Super SUPs (15-person stand-up paddle boards); inflatable lake toys; a camp BBQ area; a newly modernized arts and crafts center with woodworking, ceramics, and fabric shops; a dance studio; an indoor gym; a performing arts center with full stage and lighting; an air-conditioned dining room with salad bar; a newly renovated canteen/recreation center; an air-conditioned Health Center, and more.
History
Camp Kinder Ring was founded by The Workers Circle (formerly known as The Workmen’s Circle) in the Summer of 1927 to give its early members and their children a summer home away from the city. The Workers Circle was organized in 1900 by Jewish immigrants seeking a cultural community in which to express their heritage, educate their children, and unite for mutual aid and social justice activism.
The Workers Circle today is a social justice organization that powers progressive Jewish identity through Jewish cultural engagement, multigenerational educational programs, timely social justice campaigns, and more.
This mission supports Camp Kinder Ring, an independent nonprofit organization, as a nurturing Jewish community where our progressive goals of making the world a better place for all is introduced to our campers in a fun, safe, and joy-filled environment.
{{item.programName}}
