What makes us unique? At Deer Mountain, our campers feel safe and comfortable to be who they are. They become more open to trying new activities, building resilience and perseverance through the process of learning. They grow more socially adaptable as they reach out to other campers, make friends and become a part of their camp group.
They develop a sense of independence and confidence as they make elective choices, celebrate successes and gain skills. There's no doubt that campers have an amazing time each day at camp. The incredible impact of the Deer Mountain camp experience lasts forever!
They develop a sense of independence and confidence as they make elective choices, celebrate successes and gain skills. There's no doubt that campers have an amazing time each day at camp. The incredible impact of the Deer Mountain camp experience lasts forever!
Services
Our story began in 1956, when the Katz family founded the camp. Since then, we have all been committed to the same goal: to help every camper enhance their positive qualities and embrace who they are - as each becomes a unique and essential part of our community. Deer Mountain's heart and soul pulses throughout our transformative setting.
Send your child to Deer Mountain, and we'll promise to listen and understand. Under our insightful watch, your child will open up as themselves, try new things, feel connected to our community-and form authentic bonds and memories that will last well into adulthood.
Starting with our deeply involved camp directors, second-generation owners Roberta and Carol Katz, every staff member at DMDC believes we're here to produce a better tomorrow, one child at a time.Basking in unmitigated positivity and nurturing encouragement, campers both discover what they're good at-and embrace what they love.
Starting with our deeply involved camp directors, second-generation owners Roberta and Carol Katz, every staff member at DMDC believes we're here to produce a better tomorrow, one child at a time.Basking in unmitigated positivity and nurturing encouragement, campers both discover what they're good at-and embrace what they love.
In 1956, a young teacher named Mel Katz founded Deer Mountain Day Camp. He and his wife, Rita Katz, created a place where children could be celebrated as themselves within a warm and meaningful community. Today, their daughters, Roberta and Carol Katz, carry the tradition forward-maintaining Deer Mountain's strong history and founding mission while enhancing and modernizing its approach.
Ask any of our campers: some of the most powerful relationships they'll make this summer are with our nurturing, enthusiastic staff. From division leaders to counselors, activity specialists to program coordinators, our staff makes sure your child gets the most out of his or her Deer Mountain experience.
Clear, shimmering water. Deer Mountain Day Camp's transformative surroundings set the backdrop to an incredible summer. Just minutes from the George Washington and Tappan Zee bridges, our location is easily accessible to families in NYC, Brooklyn, Hoboken, and Jersey City, as well as Bergen, Westchester, and Rockland Counties.
Reviews (10)
Jen Abbondanza
Feb 11, 2021
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Kaitlyn Wang
Feb 11, 2021
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Last year I was looking for a safe and well-managed outdoor camp for my 4 year old who had to stay home since March and needed a fun, activities-filled and nurturing environment so she could be with kids her age. Deer Mountain Day Camp exceeded my expectation in every measure. She was taken good care of from the second she stepped on the bus every morning. She was read stories to by older kids, and she sang and made friends on the bus (of course with masks on and windows open). She learned new dance moves at the camp and put on her solo dance show at home for one hour non-stop. She also talked
Lee Sentell
Jan 04, 2021
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Our daughter's camp in Orange County closed suddenly just two weeks before summer. Luckily, we found in Deer Mountain everything for our daughter and much more. She starts her third year soon (she's now nine), and enjoys every minute of it. Our five year old son will start this year as well. Both are eagerly counting down the days to summer camp.
We are extremely satisfied with Deer Mountain. It's a top-quality day camp experience - even better than her previous camp, and certainly much more than I had as a child. The facilities, activities, food, and staff are excellent. We know that our children
We are extremely satisfied with Deer Mountain. It's a top-quality day camp experience - even better than her previous camp, and certainly much more than I had as a child. The facilities, activities, food, and staff are excellent. We know that our children
Tara Miller
Jan 02, 2021
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2021 will be my boys' fourth summer at Deer Mountain Day Camp. They love it so much! From the time school starts up again, they ask me throughout the year over and over and over, "When are we going back to camp?" The staff at DMDC looks at each camper as an individual, and they work very closely with each camper so he or she feels accepted and special. The camp also does a FABULOUS job cultivating campers' interest in new activities. My older son is now obsessed with gaga, is an avid chess player, loves to play with snap circuits, and does archery with his dad throughout the year at Campgaw because
Melissa Teger
Sep 18, 2020
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I just wanted to take a moment to share with you how fantastic this camp really is and all that they did for kids during the 2020 Pandemic. I know this was a very trying summer for all. This year was tough on camps too. So many preparations, so many changes, but DMDC managed to take a chance and make the best of it and offered a great program for our kids. My son loved to participate in all the summer activities. He came home every day happy. The best part is it helped him with social skills again and it helped him stay fit. In comparison, he didn't gain any quarantine weight like his counterparts
Harris Miller
Sep 06, 2020
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Just signed my kids up for their third year. I'm most impressed with the swimming program and how the kids became so confident in the pool. They did a great job last year with the pandemic and virus protection. Overall my kids love it and it is absolutely become an institution of their summer break. One of my children has dietary allergies and they go above and beyond to accommodate.
Hayley Eber
Aug 23, 2020
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My two daughters have been attending Deer Mountain Day Camp for the past 5 years, and cannot wait to go back each year- it's truly the highlight of their summer. They have built very special relationships with the counselors and stay in touch with the returning (and new) campers throughout the year. The range of activities and events are incredible; they love the Carnival, boating, late night and Color Wars, to name a few. They've built confidence through their instructional swim classes and riding the zip line, and have enjoyed the spirited team-building games with their cohort. The grounds at
Molly Adler
Jul 19, 2020
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I can't say enough wonderful things about DMDC. 2021 will be our fourth summer at DMDC and my kids are so excited to go every year! It's small enough that everyone knows your child by name, but big enough where they never get bored. When the pandemic hit, I knew that they would be able to pull off a wonderful summer regardless of the circumstances. In 2020 rather than closing for the summer (which many camps did), they helped create a magical summer while keeping everyone safe.
Andrea Gillies
Jul 11, 2020
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Deer Mountain is truly like family and an integral part of mine and my daughter’s lives. I was both a camper and counselor at Deer Mountain and when it came time to pick a camp for my daughter, it was the first place I called. I hadn’t been back since my last summer as a trip counselor in 1989, but when we went for a tour I was so happy to see that it was still the same place I loved, and so much more. I was also happy to see that their strong swimming program was still in place. My daughter did not know how to swim, so it was important to us that swim instruction was a daily occurrence. The
Jen Klotz
Jul 30, 2019
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Deer Mountain is an integral part of my family. I started as a camper in 1979 and my kids started in 2007 and 2011. To say that we have all grown up at Deer Mountain would not be an overstatement. When it was time for my own children to start camp, it never even occurred to me to look anywhere else. That was not a mistake! They have both had the same wonderful experiences I had as a camper, but have also benefited from the camp's evolution to the 21st century. The staff, program, special events, etc are all amazing. My kids have learned so many valuable skills (the least of which being amazing
