YMCA Camp Bernie’s Overnight Camp is a traditional, co-ed program for kids entering grades 2-10. Campers are grouped into Units by gender and age, with each Unit divided into cabins composed of 8-10 campers and 2-3 counselors. Our traditions and camp spirit unite our overall camp community as campers are engaged in instructional activities, structured free play and memorable all-camp events each session.
Today’s children face more stressful situations than we can imagine. Kids often react by indulging in unhealthy behaviors. As parents and childcare providers, we feel the need to protect them, but we must remember that our goal is to prepare them to be happy and productive adults. YMCA Camp Bernie focuses on helping campers to build the 7 Cs: competence, confidence, connection, character, contribution, coping and control in order to better deal with stressful situations. Together we can raise successful children who will make their unique and substantial contributions to the world.
Campers are grouped by gender and grade level to provide optimal living and learning experiences in a safe, supportive environment. Lodges and cabins are equipped with bunk style beds, storage areas, indoor toilets and showers. All cabins have interior fireplaces and/or exterior fire pits for evening cabin activities. Older boys (grades 7-10) reside in the Nation, a more rustic, natural environment with screened wooden cabins and a central bath house.
Created for campers entering grades 3 and above who want to focus on skill development and building confidence in the saddle, Horseback Riding Lessons help campers hone their skills on safely working around horses, confidently leading a horse and mounting/dismounting a horse properly. Staff create lessons for campers to learn new skills while improving those learned in pervious lessons. Campers will be assessed and placed in lessons dependent on their skill level. Since each camper is unique and advances at their own pace, lessons are individually created following CHA guidelines. Horseback riding lessons are eight hours total split between a four-day period. There will be time set aside for make-up lessons due to inclement weather. Campers must bring long pants and boots with a heel and are encouraged to submit the Horseback Riding questionnaire prior to their session.
| Date | Theme | 2020 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| June 28-July 10 | The Wildest West Session: 13A |
Tier 1 $1900, Tier 2 $1850, Tier 3 $1800 |
| July 12-24 | Happily Ever After? Session: 13B |
Tier 1 $1900, Tier 2 $1850, Tier 3 $1800 |
|
July 26 - August 7 |
Color Wars: Dynasties Session: 13C |
Tier 1 $1900, Tier 2 $1850, Tier 3 $1800 |
| August 10 – 21 | Battle of the Ages Session: 13D |
Tier 1 $1900, Tier 2 $1850, Tier 3 $1800 |
| Date | Theme | 2020 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| June 28-July 5 | The Wildest West Session: 7A1 |
Tier 1 $1,025, Tier 2 $1,000, Tier 3 $975 |
| July 12-19 | Happily Ever After? Session: 7B1 |
Tier 1 $1,025, Tier 2 $1,000, Tier 3 $975 |
|
July 26 - August 2 |
Color Wars: Dynasties Session 7C1 |
Tier 1 $1,025, Tier 2 $1,000, Tier 3 $975 |
| August 9 – 16 | Battle of the Ages Session 7D1 |
Tier 1 $1,025, Tier 2 $1,000, Tier 3 $975 |
The dessert of the camp session! If you’re signed up for multiple sessions, you can stay through the weekend and have the camp all to yourself! Holdover is also a great late pick-up option for families who have difficulty getting to camp on the scheduled Friday. Specialized activities, meals and even off-camp trips or on-site entertainment is included.
Please note: holdover can be added on to the end of a session for parents who prefer a Sunday pickup, however, holdover cannot be the beginning of your camp sessions.
| Session | Date | Off-site Trip or On-site Entertainment | 2020 Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A to B | July 10-12 | TBD | $240 |
| Session B to C | July 24-26 | TBD | $240 |
| Session C to D | August 7-9 | TBD | $240 |
The dust has settled, the smoke has cleared, and the Wild Wild West (YeeHaw!) is finally calm. The town of Talonwater has become a peaceful place where all are welcomed. As word of this great city spreads, and Talonwater becomes more popular, the townsfolk feel that it is best to assign a sheriff to keep order and to keep everyone safe. With the arrival of Sheriff “Friendly Face” Frances, the townsfolk were elated and everything almost seemed perfect…almost. The appearance of the new Sheriff also gave a challenge to bandits who wanted to cause trouble in Talonwater. But have no fear! Sheriff “Friendly Face” will protect us, right? Join us in The Wildest West to help restore order to the town of Talonwater.
Once upon a time, in the land of Crystal Pass, the heroes of fairy tales and folk stories lived in harmony with The Author. The Author, creator of all stories past present and future, built Crystal Pass so that he could spend time with all of his creations. However, as he walked through his land of heroes, he realized something was missing. The Author went out to gather up his story villains and brought them back to Crystal Pass to help them live a better life. As time went on, Crystal Pass descended into chaos. The heroes were angry with The Author for bringing the villains into their perfect world. So, the heroes captured The Author, threatening to keep him locked up until the villains left Crystal Pass. With no Author, there will be no new stories written; no new legends created. Who are the heroes of this story? Who are the villains? Help us finish this crazy story to answer the question: will they all live happily ever after?
The Bernie Dynasty ruled over Diǎn Shānyǐng for centuries as the family went through many successful heirs. After the fourth century, the empire slowly started to fade as the people of Diǎn Shānyǐng were desperately searching for a new Emperor. Amongst the chaos, the land split into three territories with heroes of war trying to prove that they are the greatest of all and are deserving of the throne. The people of Diǎn Shānyǐng chose the leader they wanted to follow while giving their land a banner to fight under. The White Dragon, ambitious and benevolent; The Blue Phoenix, cunning and resilient; The Red Griffin, courageous and loyal. The Great War comes to decide the fate of the land. Only one ruler will claim the throne and unite the land under their banner. Will your land rule them all?
Within all forms of entertainment, conversations between parents and children, or debates on the internet, the title of “Greatest of All Time” is often discussed. The Void of Matter, a living space filled with nothing and everything at once, was tired of the ongoing hypothetical arguments between the humans. So it created a simulation to pit the legends of past, present, and future against one another in events from throughout time to finally put the conversation to rest. The stone age vs the industrial revolution. The Renaissance vs the 21st century. Who will you side with as we compete in this epic Battle of the AGES to determine the true and only Greatest of all Time?!
We accept one request per camper and both children must request each other. With an age gap, the older child must agree to move down to the younger group. We do not allow multiple requests as this can lead to cliques and some kids feeling excluded.
We help the children make new friends through cabin chats and team building exercises. Additionally, we call parents/guardians within 48 hours of a first-time overnight camper’s arrival.
Eighty percent of counselors are 18 or over, mostly college students. Seventeen-year-old JCs are paired with a Senior Counselor in Overnight Camp and lead younger groups in Day Camp. Counselors are interviewed, have a minimum of three references checked and clear a Criminal Background Screening. Specialty staff members carry certifications relevant to their program areas. On average, one third of our counselors were campers at YMCA Camp Bernie helping them to relate to the children attending camp.
This is our camp store with snacks, drinks, clothing items and souvenirs. We carry a supply of toiletry items that campers may have forgotten. Campers visit the Trading Post on a daily basis.
A licensed RN, LPN or EMT is on property 24/7. There are regular call times and medication is stored and administered by the Nurse. Hackettstown Regional Medical Center is 20 minutes from Camp. Many staff members are certified in Basic First Aid and AED/CPR.
If it is moderate, we run our regular program; campers will need rain gear. For heavy rain, we run special, pre-planned indoor activities. During a thunderstorm, all campers and staff will immediately be brought indoors.
Parents can send e-mails via their online accounts; these are delivered to the campers daily. We also encourage parents to send traditional letters. We do not allow cell phones, as in our experience, phone conversations lead to increased homesickness.
The Overnight bus from the Ridgewood YMCA checks in at 12:00 p.m., with a departure of 12:30 p.m. On closing days, the bus departs Camp at 10:30 a.m., arriving at the Ridgewood YMCA at 12:00 p.m.
No, one-week campers will be placed with two-week campers in the same cabins. They will be starting camp on the same day and time, receiving the same first day orientation as two-week campers.
Yes! We will be in contact with parents should a one-week camper express interest in staying for the full session.
They are eligible for regular horseback riding and dirt biking. They can only register for one of these two specialties, however.
Most campers will stay in cabins with full bathrooms and showers inside the cabin. Older boys, grades 7-10, stay in the rustic Nation area with a central bathhouse serving the entire unit.
Campers sign up for their morning activities, which we refer to as "free choice." These sign-ups take place during orientation on the first day of camp. Afternoon activities are pre-scheduled by our staff and campers rotate through activities with their cabin mates during these blocks.
It is the philosophy of the YMCA for safety purposes that all children should learn how to swim. Within the first 24 hours at camp all campers have a swim check to determine their ability to swim. Campers in grades 2-6 will be placed in an appropriate YMCA swim lesson class. For safety purposes, and in the interest of ensuring a positive teaching environment for all campers, if a camper is uncomfortable in the water or misbehaving they will sit out of the pool on the bench on the pool deck.
Trading Post money can be donated to our scholarship fund. Please contact us for any other arrangements.
We do not give refunds after June 1.
Based on indications from Governor Murphy, YMCA Camp Bernie is planning to start Day Camp on June 22 and Overnight Camp on June 28. We are working to implement new procedures to address COVID-19 into our summer camp programs for summer 2020 which will be posted here in the next week.
New to Camp Bernie? Join us for our Virtual Open Houses on May 31st.
1pm - Day Camp Click here to RSVP
2:30pm - Overnight Camp Click here to RSVP
Existing Camper Families please join us for our Virtual Town Hall on May 31st at 11am. Click here to RSVP
To register for Family Archery, please call 908-832-5315 or email capsley@campbernieymca.org
