Camp Photos
We will be posting pictures and videos through the summer of all the fun we’re having at camp. Please register with our Bunk1 through the invitation code you receive when registered for camp. Any questions about Bunk1 please contact Kristin Grapes.
Info For Parents
Our Dates & Rates for 2023
Camp dates for 2023 are subject to change. Scholarship aid is available for qualified applicants.
If interested, please complete the Scholarship Application by February 15, 2023.
| 1st Session | 2nd Session | Full Season* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dates | 6/20/2023 - 7/13/2023 | 7/17/2023 - 8/9/2023 | 6/20/2023 - 8/9/2023 |
| Apply By 10/31/2022 |
3,400 |
3,400 |
6,600 |
| Apply By 2/28/2023 |
3,700 |
3,700 |
6,900 |
| Apply After 2/28/2023 |
3,900 |
3,900 |
7,100 |
* Full season dates include a break for campers between sessions
Multi-child Discount: a $200 discount for each camper, after the first, will be applied to your tuition when two or more children from the same household are enrolled. Medical form processing fee of $25. (waived if submitted by 5/1/23)
Financial Assistance
At Golden Slipper Camp, we aim to provide fun and enriching overnight camp experiences to all children, especially those from families for whom camp wouldn’t be possible. Although our resources are limited, we maintain the position that any deserving child should be able to attend Golden Slipper Camp despite financial circumstances.
If you’re serious about sending your son or daughter to Golden Slipper Camp, we’re ready to help. If you qualify, scholarships may be available from several Jewish philanthropies supporting the camp, and we will assist you with your applications to those funding sources.
To speak with our Enrollment Coordinator Kristin Grapes please call 610-660-0520 (ext. 104) or email her at [email protected].
Our Facilities
Golden Slipper has been a charity since 1922. It is situated on over 600 beautiful acres in the Pocono Mountains. Our private lake and surrounding woods are an ideal setting for the celebration of summer. In that spirit, our modern facilities were designed to complement the beauty of this natural setting, not to intrude upon it. You’ll find every building isn’t just functional, it’s aesthetically pleasing, too.
Our Facilities Include:
A man-made fresh water lake
Riflery range
Heated swimming pool
Playground
Playing fields for softball, soccer, kickball, football and Ultimate Frisbee
Field hockey
Tennis courts
Blum Amphitheater
Activity buildings for crafts, drama, gymnastics
Overnight camping site
Mountain biking trails
Skate park
Dance studio
Canteen
Gross Recreation Hall
Counselor retreat
High ropes adventure course
Sand volleyball
Climbing wall
Archery range
Hockey arena
Laser tag
Cabins & Villages
Golden Slipper Camp accommodates children ages 7 to 15. We’ve created six villages that function as mini camps, with campers bunking in cabins with kids in their age group. Vogelson Village and Strauss Village are for boys and girls, respectively, ages 7 to 10. Kadden Village and Friends Village are for boys and girls 11 to 13. Council Boys Village and Council Girls Village are for teens, ages 14 and 15.
Each village has its own Village Leader, a trained supervisor with specialized knowledge of that age group. Clustering the kids in villages ensures that the groups are small enough to get personal attention, at the same time providing convenient access to a variety of age appropriate programs and activities.
Golden Slipper campers sleep in spacious, well-ventilated cabins with plenty of windows and ample room for belongings. Each cabin has full bathroom facilities – sinks, toilets and showers, with hot water, electricity, and round the clock supervision.
Health & Safety
While your child is at Golden Slipper Camp, you can be assured that his or her safety is our first priority. We take every precaution to ensure that the well-being of your child is paramount in every activity.
Here are some of the practices we follow:
As an accredited camp through the American Camp Association (ACA), Golden Slipper Camp adheres to and often exceeds, ACA safety guidelines.
We maintain a ratio of five campers to every counselor or staff member to create optimum conditions for both their physical and emotional safety.
Each staff member is required to participate in a comprehensive training program to be prepared in case of an emergency, and more importantly, how to prevent an emergency.
We’ve established accident and emergency procedures that we practice and put into place should the need arise.
Our health care facilities are well equipped and staffed with an expert medical team available to your child at all times. We employ several full-time nurses, who are on staff at Golden Slipper Camp. We call upon the services of a physician for minor injuries or illness, and, in the unlikely event of a more serious condition, we are less than 10 miles from a hospital.
Jewish Life at GSC
Every day at Slipper we model and live out our camp’s Foundational Jewish Values:
- Respect - Kavod
- Loving kindness - Chesedsed
- Repairing the world - Tikkun Olam
- Family - Mishpacha
- Friendship - Chaverim
- Community - Kehillah
Along with sportsmanship, team work, honesty, leadership and many others. These values are a set of beliefs and practices that transcend any singular religion. Our dynamic foundation of cultural and communal acceptance is highlighted in our diverse staff, campers, and alumni.
Each morning starts with a communal gathering. At our flag raising ceremony we take inventory of each member of our community and recognize the significant value each person adds to our camp family. We start each day meeting as a community at our flagpole. Here, we symbolically make sure everyone is accounted for, honor our nation, and frame our day through the lens of one of our core values.
While eating in the dining hall, we say the blessing in Hebrew and in English helping our Jewish campers further cement their Jewish identity and exposing others to the Hebrew language. We also celebrate Shabbat each week with a special dinner time service for all on Friday evenings, and with a special schedule every Saturday which honors and sanctifies Shabbat through a schedule which is more relaxed and gives both campers and staff additional time to rest. Saturday evening includes service opportunities of multiple faiths and beliefs. Campers and staff are offered the opportunity to attend Jewish (Havdalah service), Christian and Non-Denominational services.
We also host some Jewish programming throughout the summer with a Rabbi hosting various activities like havdalah and shofar creation. Our Israeli staff, (shlichim: emissaries) usually host an Israeli or International Day (in conjunction with our other staff from around the world) and bring programming which fosters a deeper connection and relationship to the modern land of Israel. Together, we build our own unique community different from any other camp. These relationships have kept the alumni and members beaming with GSC pride since 1948!
Frequently Asked Questions
Many of our staff have grown up at Golden Slipper Camp and have been trained in our Counselor in Training (CIT) program. All staff are interviewed and carefully screened by the Camp Director on the basis of their enthusiasm, abilities, and experience. Cabin counselors are all high school graduates with most working towards a college degree in Education.
Activity Instructors are qualified professionals or skilled students who understand the special responsibilities involved with younger children. Golden Slipper Camp staff is spirited and loyal. They form a dynamic team that makes our camp a special place for kids.
Our experience shows that telephone calls home are almost always negative experiences, for both the camper and parent. Therefore, Golden Slipper Camp has a strict no-phone call policy. (We also have a no-cell phone policy for all campers.) We will always contact you if the situation requires it.
We have your child’s best interest in mind.
Yes, all we ask is that you do not pack or send gum and know that your child will be expected to share with other campers in his/her bunk.
In addition, campers go to the Canteen at least once each session for candy, drinks and chips. Please be mindful that additional food causes excess garbage, attracts insects and animals, and often causes conflicts within a bunk group, between the “haves” and “have-nots.”
We are always prepared for a rainy day. Many activity areas continue in the rain because they are adaptable to either indoor or outdoor venues. We have two, large indoor recreation halls for group games. Many of our evening program activities are easily adaptable for rainy days.
We always have a camp carnival, staff talent show, popular movie, or indoor activity program ready to go.
If you have any more questions please feel free to refer to our family guide available for download below or email our office at [email protected].