Located in Suffern, NY, Deerkill Day Camp serves New York City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Jersey City and Bergen, Rockland, Orange, Westchester and Essex Counties. Our reputation within the community has been built upon our pristine facilities with manicured fields and professional instruction in swimming, athletics, arts and specialty programs.
Each of our groups is led by an adult and our staff is hand selected by our Directors. Our focus is providing your child with a safe environment in which to forge new friendships and develop new skills. Our camp has been family owned and operated since 1958 and is committed to building lasting relationships with our campers and their families.
Each of our groups is led by an adult and our staff is hand selected by our Directors. Our focus is providing your child with a safe environment in which to forge new friendships and develop new skills. Our camp has been family owned and operated since 1958 and is committed to building lasting relationships with our campers and their families.
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A day camp is more than buildings, equipment, and scenery - it is a community. A vibrant community where each boy and girl contributes to the cooperative spirit that makes day camp such a magical place.
When Rebecca's grandparents Irwin and Mildred Rhodes founded Deerkill (Dutch for "deer stream") Park Day Camp (as it was originally known) in 1958, they wanted to create a community where children would be happy to explore their curiosity, develop new skills, form lifelong friendships, and, of course, have fun.
When Rebecca's grandparents Irwin and Mildred Rhodes founded Deerkill (Dutch for "deer stream") Park Day Camp (as it was originally known) in 1958, they wanted to create a community where children would be happy to explore their curiosity, develop new skills, form lifelong friendships, and, of course, have fun.
The Rhodes family has owned and operated Deerkill Day Camp since its founding in 1958. Founded by Irwin Rhodes, Deerkill Day Camp is now directed by his granddaughter, Rebecca, and her husband Todd Rothman. Prior to joining Deerkill as a Director in 2007, Todd's camping experience included seven summers as a camper and counselor at an overnight summer camp in Cape Cod.
Since 1958, Deerkill (Dutch for "deer stream") Day Camp and the Rhodes family have followed a few guiding principles that have set our camp apart and helped make it such a special place for generations of children from New York and New Jersey. We are a 3rd-generation family business celebrating 6 decades in the Rhodes and Rothman family.
There are so many reasons that summer camp is such a special place. It's quite often not the climbing tower or the pool that has the biggest impact on our campers, but rather having the courage to take that first zipline ride off the tower or the perseverance that finally results in getting their deep water band in the pool that truly defines the camp experience.
ACA Accreditation means that your child's camp cares enough to undergo a thorough peer review (up to 300 standards) of its operation - from staff qualifications and training to emergency management.
American Camp Association collaborates with experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth-serving agencies to assure that current practices at your summer camp reflect the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation.Camps and ACA form a partnership that promotes growth and fun in an environment committed to safety.
American Camp Association collaborates with experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and other youth-serving agencies to assure that current practices at your summer camp reflect the most up-to-date, research-based standards in camp operation.Camps and ACA form a partnership that promotes growth and fun in an environment committed to safety.
Reviews (11)
Gabrielle D.
Nov 03, 2020
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Anthony Fernandez
Oct 25, 2020
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I personally worked for Deerkill for 5 years doing various different jobs. Deerkill is a great place to work. The camp has a big team atmosphere, everyone is accepted at camp, and there are many different positions based on your particular skill set. The camp directors are all amazing supervisors and they really do reward going above and beyond. As far as for campers, Deerkill is a spectacular place to send kids for the summer. There are so many daily activities they do that it's overwhelming. I can imagine as a kid at Deerkill it's hard to feel bored! The staff is the heart and soul of the camp
Jordan Donahue
Sep 17, 2020
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Matthew Cutillo
Jan 23, 2020
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Been playing guitar at Deerkill Day Camp's Fall Fest for 10 years and every return shows a higher level of care and love poured into every bit of family fun and wholesome good time activities... Super grateful to play a small part in this wonderful destination where family and friends come first and there's always a smile and a treat at this lush green fieldy location!! Todd & his Family Staff are simply THE BEST and Deerkill is a family tradition that's here to stay!
The Deerkill Anthem:
Down At Deerkill Where We Play All Day
Out In The Sun And In The Shade
I Don't Want To Go Home I Want To
The Deerkill Anthem:
Down At Deerkill Where We Play All Day
Out In The Sun And In The Shade
I Don't Want To Go Home I Want To
David Nidus
Jan 21, 2018
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Yana Berman
Dec 28, 2017
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We have two kids and it is going to be our 5th summer at Deerkill. They have been having a fantastic time. The counselors are fun and take a good care of them. The kids have a wide variety of activities to choose from. They made some friendships at camp and very eager to go back. As for us, the parents, we like knowing that kids are well taken care of while having fun outside and the pick up and drop off at home is priceless. The staff is easily available for a quick chat if you have any questions or concerns. The kids play a lot of different sports every day not to mention swimming twice a day
Erica
Dec 23, 2017
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This summer will be my boy's 10th and 6th years at Deerkill and I could not be happier with the experiences they have had over the summers. They rave about the activities, the counselors, the trips, the refreshments, and just about everything at camp. As a parent, I feel confident and comfortable that my kids are being well looked after in a nurturing, safe and fun environment. The directors and staff put together a program that considers what the kids will enjoy. You can't go wrong if you send your kids to this camp!
Rachel Cooke
Nov 11, 2016
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Heading into summer #6 at Deerkill and my girls (and I!) couldn't be more excited! The variety of activities, the quality of the swim instruction (it's fantastic), the high-touch connection (a personal call from the head counselor to report on how the summer is going), and all of the amazing special activities (carnival and slip-n-slide and field trips oh my!) just all combine to make the summer an absolute delight. My girls make friends, build skills, feel very safe and cared for, and always end the summer counting down to the next!
Leslie Kossar
Nov 07, 2016
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O. S.
Feb 24, 2015
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I can't say enough good things about DKDC. My son absolutely adored it. It was his first time going to camp and the experience he had there(even at the age of 4) was more than I could have imagined. The staff gives 100%, the variety of activities let's campers experience things they normally wouldn't and the grounds are impeccable. My son asks daily about going back and of course we have already signed him up. No questions asked, Deerkill has it all!
Matt Morgan
Aug 23, 2012
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