Deciding between Meadowbrook, Jeff Lake & Riverbend Camps + would love feedback archived

Hello!
I’m trying to decide between 3 camps for my 6-year-old daughter: Meadowbrook, Jeff Lake & Riverbend. If anyone had any current feedback they’d be willing to share I’d really appreciate it. I realize there are past threads on the topic but am interested in any and all opinions, especially from families who have sent their kids to any of the above camps over the last few years. My instinct is to go for Riverbend because its closest but of all the open houses that we went to it was the least impressive. Wondering if it was just an “off” day? Thanks so much for any and all input!

My children have attended Meadowbrook and Riverbend. I'll pm you.

I know it's not on your list and you didn't ask, but we send our kids to Willow Lake and have been very pleased with it.

Our child also attended Riverbend first and then switched to Meadowbrook. Big fans of Meadowbrook. Attentiveness of the owners, involved staff, wonderful spirit encouraged among the campers, and excellent facility.

Thanks all -- really helpful!

We're new to SO and are sending our older son (3rd grade) to Jeff Lake. For our younger son, who just turned 5, we're looking for a camp where he'll meet other kids from SO or Maplewood. Do any of those camps attract a bunch of kids from M/SO?

My kis both LOVE Jeff Lake. It is very sports/ swimming focused tbut there are many other activities such as art and cooking.

@NYC2SO. I know many kids from SO/Ma go to Jeff Lake. The bus will all be kids from here. (My son was a CIT last year for a 5 yo group and most of his crew was from SO). Willow Lake also has a big pull from tjis area.

Yes, Meadowbrook has a busful from Maplewood each summer.

Our kids went to Riverbend (back in the mid-to-late 1990s) and our granddaughter has been going there for the past 3 summers. She loves it (as did her mom and uncle) and wanted to go for an extra week this coming summer. We've been very impressed with the quality of the counsellors, the attentiveness of the staff and haven't had any problems in all of the years we've been associated with Riverbend. Both of the older campers did the 'traveling teens' program and they loved it - kids (rising 7th to 9th graders) take trips to various spots, some trips lasting 2 or 3 days, others from Monday morning until the bus gets back to camp Friday afternoon (some of the trips I recall were Boston, Lake Placid & Olympic Village, Montreal, Maine, Cooperstown, Washington, DC/Baltimore, Williamsburgh (VA), New Hampshire....

Re: Willow Lake, thanks for mentioning! I've heard good things but Willow Lake doesn't do a formal open house where you get to meet counselors & leadership + its as far by bus as the other camps, so it doesn't have the advantage of closer proximity. How did you select it above Meadowbrook, Jeff Lake + Riverbend.

We're a very happy Meadowbrook family. We just hosted a Meadowbrook information session at our home for Clinton families because Meadowbrook donated a four week session to the Clinton Tricky Tray. I still have some informational folders and camp yearbook DVDs. PM me if you are interested in taking one.

We like Meadowbrook as well. We went on like 4 of 5 tours back when my daughter was 6, and while they were all nice we both agreed Meadowbrook was the best. The area around there is beautiful and while I was a little worried about the bus ride, it hasn't been an issue. They go out of their way to make it fun with the bus counselors.

My child has attended Riverbend the last three summers and has loved it. I like that it is a relatively short bus ride from M/SO compared to some of the other camps.

We chose Willow Lake over Meadowbrook (and Harbor Hills) based on visits to each. Meadowbrook seemed to be mostly open fields with no shaded area and, I don't believe, a lakefront (or access to a lake). Harbor Hills was more like a country club feeling than a camp. We didn't look at Jeff Lake because of its sports oriented reputation ( but our friends kids love it there).

I have two girls who are 10, and a boy who is 12. They have been going to Camp Riverbend for several years, and will be going again this summer, and they absolutely love it. We could not be more pleased with the staff, the facilities or the activities. My girls got several friends from Maplewood and South Orange to try Riverbend last summer, and they are coming back this summer as well. My son has been going since he was six years old, and last year he did Day Trippers, where the kids go on fun outings outside camp every day, which he really enjoyed. I like that they have options for the kids as they get older. The counselors are excellent, they are not high school kids, but college students and teachers, etc. The swimming program is great. The facilities are constantly being upgraded. The kids learn to canoe, they do archery, etc. I'm not sure what was not impressive about the open house, but the camp is great, and I have never heard anyone who has gone there say a bad thing about Riverbend. The shorter bus ride is a HUGE plus, in my opinion.

This is all so helpful, many thanks to everyone.

We did a year at Riverbend, then switched to Meadowbrook and have been there 5 years. Kid really liked Riverbend and I really liked the drive. There were 3 reasons for the switch:
- Kid's friends started at Meadowbrook and she wanted to be with them
- Riverbend was 7 weeks to Meadowbrook's 8 and I work so I didn't have to scramble for another week of coverage
- Riverbend at the time did not provide meals, I think they do now.

My kids love Meadowbrook. The only thing I / we don't like is the distance. The kids don't seem to mind it on the bus but when I have to drive out for parent visits or sick kids it is a pain, though the scenery is very pretty! Also, my older kid is now in "travel" (starts summer before 7th) and there is a LOT of driving. One day they took the bus from our area to Mbrook, got on another bus to NYC, came back to Mbrook, then had to drive back from Mbrook to our area. As much as she loves the camp and was looking forward to "travel" she actually wishes there were more days in camp, or at least shorter drives to the events.

All in all though we really like the camp.

Thanks Wendyn this is the exact issue I'm struggling with - while the camp seems really special at age 6 the distance to Meadowbrook seems a bit much. I'm hoping to get some more positive feedback on Riverbend, which also seems like a solid choice, for that reason.

Totally understand if you don't want to add to your short list, but my kids attend New Horizons in West Orange and love it. It is a new program started up last year by former directors from Camp Horizons, which closed in 2012. Most of the staff came from Camp Horizons (mostly teachers), and it is very close. It's a smaller setting, but they offer a lot of outdoor and indoor activities. They have an open house coming up on February 8. The owners are teachers and really great guys. www.newhorizonsdaycamp.com

I love Riverbend. This will be our 3rd year, and my daughter will be entering 1st grade. I am also a counselor at the camp...I teach cooking in Chef's Corner. That being said, I would not work at a camp or send my daughter to a camp that I did not absolutely love. There is a high retention rate of counselors, and all counselors have to be a high school graduate or older (no CITs). I really love the family-owned aspect to it.

The distance is really not far from our area (SO/MAP) at all and the bus counselors try to make it fun. I rode the bus 2 years ago. We actually have several buses from our area to help cut down on how long the campers are in the bus.

If anyone wants to pm me, I would be happy to answer any questions that I can.

sun said:

Thanks Wendyn this is the exact issue I'm struggling with - while the camp seems really special at age 6 the distance to Meadowbrook seems a bit much. I'm hoping to get some more positive feedback on Riverbend, which also seems like a solid choice, for that reason.

My daughter has gone to Meadowbrook (which does have a lake and a lot of shade fwiw) for the last two years. The presence of the bus counselor seems to help a lot, but I think that's standard for all camps.

Riverbend is certainly closer and I've heard nothing but good things from others about it. I will say I also wasn't too impressed on the Riverbend tour a couple years ago, facilities wise it was behind all the other camps when we toured, without being any cheaper. It sounds like maybe that's improved since then though, probably easy enough to judge from the tour.

They all get great recs and have beautiful shaded facilities as far as I could tell. Jeff Lake and Meadowbrook both gave wonderful impressions at their Open Houses a few weeks ago. I plan on visiting Riverbend this weekend. The Leadership at Meadowbrook seems really special in their passion for camp, warmth and attention to detail but I also found the leadership at Jeff Lake to be really impressive. I like that Meadowbrook gives performance based tips/bonuses at the end of the summer and their staff was truly great with my kids at the open house. I really love the energy that Sue from Jeff Lake gives off and her counselors were younger than at Meadowbrook but seemed fully responsible, energetic and really fun. Lots of Lake and water based activities there. Riverbend seems like they have a solid program, mature staff and are a multi generational family run operation. I have a friend who said it was great for her kids & is returning this summer. I haven't made our camp choice yet. Love hearing all this feedback.

The owner of Willow Lake gave us a tour off-season and even without kids there I could imagine a day at camp. The facilities are amazing and they built more things this winter. I like that kids get exposure to everything but get to pick the things they love to spend more time doing. There are 10 buses that come from our area and we've been told the bus ride is a big part of the fun and bonding. I wish I could quit my job and be a camper.

Another vote for Willow Lake over here. My kids are on their 4th and 2nd summer and could not imagine life without it. Hm, thats strange that they did not have an open house, as I went to one last year with my younger daughter for her to get a feel for it. I'm sure the owners will give you a tour if you ask- they are great!! I love sending my kids to Willow because everything is so nurturing there all the specialists, swim instructors, bus counselors and even owns are so caring with your children. Their communication with parents is TOP NOTCH! Otherwise I would not have sent my preschool daughter there. About the ride to and from camp- its not as bad as you think.. to any of these camps they distance is comparable and the bus rides are so much fun for them too. They have grown and built so much on their facilities and programs over the past few years and still are! The grounds and facilities are absolutely amazing -- you definitely get your money's worth. I would recommend it 110%. Their website has a brand new video you should watch-- you'll even want to go after watching it. Take my advice and many others and go with Willow.
Also - they do orientations where you and your kids meet their counselors but only for the really little ones you also meet the bus counselor before camp too-- very reassuring. They do a bus day and the bus driver drives to your house with the bus and bus counselors.
We were stuck between Jeff and Willow since those are the most popular in our area and Willow was a clear win for us although i have many friends who love jeff lake (more sports oriented).

Morgan32 said:

Another vote for Willow Lake over here. My kids are on their 4th and 2nd summer and could not imagine life without it. Hm, thats strange that they did not have an open house, as I went to one last year with my younger daughter for her to get a feel for it. I'm sure the owners will give you a tour if you ask- they are great!! I love sending my kids to Willow because everything is so nurturing there all the specialists, swim instructors, bus counselors and even owns are so caring with your children. Their communication with parents is TOP NOTCH! Otherwise I would not have sent my preschool daughter there. About the ride to and from camp- its not as bad as you think.. to any of these camps they distance is comparable and the bus rides are so much fun for them too. They have grown and built so much on their facilities and programs over the past few years and still are! The grounds and facilities are absolutely amazing -- you definitely get your money's worth. I would recommend it 110%. Their website has a brand new video you should watch-- you'll even want to go after watching it. Take my advice and many others and go with Willow.
Also - they do orientations where you and your kids meet their counselors but only for the really little ones you also meet the bus counselor before camp too-- very reassuring. They do a bus day and the bus driver drives to your house with the bus and bus counselors.
We were stuck between Jeff and Willow since those are the most popular in our area and Willow was a clear win for us although i have many friends who love jeff lake (more sports oriented).

Are you the owner of Willow Lake?

shoshannah said:

Morgan32 said:

Another vote for Willow Lake over here. My kids are on their 4th and 2nd summer and could not imagine life without it. Hm, thats strange that they did not have an open house, as I went to one last year with my younger daughter for her to get a feel for it. I'm sure the owners will give you a tour if you ask- they are great!! I love sending my kids to Willow because everything is so nurturing there all the specialists, swim instructors, bus counselors and even owns are so caring with your children. Their communication with parents is TOP NOTCH! Otherwise I would not have sent my preschool daughter there. About the ride to and from camp- its not as bad as you think.. to any of these camps they distance is comparable and the bus rides are so much fun for them too. They have grown and built so much on their facilities and programs over the past few years and still are! The grounds and facilities are absolutely amazing -- you definitely get your money's worth. I would recommend it 110%. Their website has a brand new video you should watch-- you'll even want to go after watching it. Take my advice and many others and go with Willow.
Also - they do orientations where you and your kids meet their counselors but only for the really little ones you also meet the bus counselor before camp too-- very reassuring. They do a bus day and the bus driver drives to your house with the bus and bus counselors.
We were stuck between Jeff and Willow since those are the most popular in our area and Willow was a clear win for us although i have many friends who love jeff lake (more sports oriented).

Are you the owner of Willow Lake?

Strange, since she was inquiring about camps in December 2013.

That's what I was thinking. And the only participation on MOL has been about day camp.

My kids are heading for years 3 and 4 at Willow Lake and they love it.