Braeside Camp

Braeside Camp exists in a beautiful and peaceful setting (an oasis in the heart of Middletown NY) Our campus is complete with tall trees, rolling hills and a creek that wraps around the perimeter, all creating the perfect backdrop to the endless fun and frivolity that takes place here in the summer. The program has been in existence since approxima... tely 1897 and began as a place for children to come and recover and convalesce from tuberculosis here in the great outdoors. After tragically losing its founders to the disease, the camp turned over to a not for profit in the mid 1930s. At that time it became dedicated to providing an authentic, enriching and educational overnight camp experience for kids in the Orange County NY area. While the camp serves many children, it is dedicated especially to those that could not otherwise afford such an experience, and has existed as such ever since. Through the generous support of local donors and agencys like the OC Youth Bureau and The Dyson Foundation, most of the campers are able to come on some type of scholarship. It is our belief that the unique experience of being away for a sustained period of time in such a positive setting allows for profound developmental growth through many of the experiential opportunities that occur. There is a tremendous amount of pressure put on schools to have children perform to todays stringent academic standards. Because of this there is very little time left for children to gain all of those valuable social and emotional lessons once afforded to them in the school setting. Considering there is even the slightest truth to the adage that most of lifes lessons are learned during Kindergarten, losing that opportunity to all of the pressures and expectations necessary to keep up with academic proficiency is a very serious public problem, and will impact society as a whole. Braeside prides itself on creating a culture of caring and nurturance where kids can feel safe and comfortable with one another. We promote the philosophy of ...Read More