We sent our daughter (age 12) last summer and she won't be going back. There's a massive lack of supervision, some of the teen counselors are great and some completely ignore the kids and are there to socialize so it's just luck of the draw. Biggest problem is that the area is crawling with ticks (and lyme disease) and the Frost Valley doesn't seem to take any precautions - aside from our daughter being reminded once or twice at bedtime to do a tick check. The kids go on an overnight campout where they hike through tall grass and then camp outdoors in tall grass - against all Department of Health guidelines. Not recommended. I see another parent had the same issue as well, which inspired me to write this review as well. read more

We flew all the way from overseas to attend this camp due to its reputation. My daughter contracted Lyme disease at this camp due to inadequate tick prevention protocols. They sent 9-year-olds camping in woods during thunderstorms without tick repellent or education about risks. The camp's family handbook contains no tick/Lyme disease information - inexcusable for a camp in a high-risk area. Medical response was slow (6+ hour delay) and medication was mismanaged. Management refused any refund for sessions missed due to the medical condition acquired at their camp. Three families in our group reported similar operational issues with unresponsive counselors. Save your money and choose a camp that prioritizes child safety. read more

This camp is terribly managed. There is nobody at the wheel and the trickle down effect is chaos for the kids and for the parents trying to deal with the camp administrators. They medically neglected our 7-year-old, and mismanaged numerous things. We are pulling kids out. If you can afford to send your kids elsewhere, skip Frost Valley. read more

50 bucks for a sweater, no Wi-FI in the cabins, steep hills to get to and from the cabins, and food is just ok. They have enough cabins around for staff that live on the premises to have their own wi-fi and TV but can't get any to the campers? Limited, if any accommodations for the disabled. read more

The food was great. Staff so kind. Stayed in the lake house and it was so comfy. Well, the bed was not my favorite but so clean and more than adequate. read more

Visited the Frost Valley YMCA for the first time for the Memorial Weekend retreat. It was a nice escape to the Catskills and enjoyed hiking, canoeing, and climbing the rock wall built in the shape of the Y. The cafeteria food was pretty tasty and vegetarian options were available. Look forward to returning. read more

Rooms were clean. Staff not friendly. Stayed with school community. If you like walking up steep hills in the dark or to get to your cabins, then this is for you. Otherwise, you will pass out on those hills! No transportation provided to and from dining area! That was a great disappointment! I'm disabled and there were no provisions made for me being handicapped. In an emergency there is no service to call out! Nothing is provided in the cabins! It was not a horrible experience, more like morbidly, desolate place. We stayed three days and two nights read more

My daughters perspective: My favorite part of frost valley was doing the cable bridge hike. The food is edible the cabins were amazing but got hot very easily. The staff was amazing except 1 person. The worst part was the cross country skiing the shoes had ice all in them and this 1 staff member named Nelson tried to help me put the other ski on then he gave up then told me to ski with one ski, which I think that it was rude to say that to me and I feel he needs to be nicer to the guests that spent $300 on a trip and I had high expectations that all of the staff are respectful read more

A great place that is well run! My family has come here for the last 2 years after Christmas. It gives us a way to get away for a family adventure in the beautiful mountains of upstate New York. Stay in rustic cabins, lodges or motel-like accommodations and you will have all the meals and activities you will need to make a couple a days off as easy as possible. The staff is very helpful and friendly. They work hard to ensure all aspects are taken care of. When it snows they clear all the roads and salt appropriately. Lastly the food is amazing for the price I plan on coming back for years to come. read more

I just got my back from here and al I can say was the food was great they activities were fun and I loved everything

The 5 star "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" is a major understatement for Frost Valley YMCA. Years ago my folks originally discovered Frost Valley through the Indian Guides and Princesses program in NJ, then went up for family weekends (with three other families) twice yearly for many years. We went in October for apple picking and hayrides, then returned over New Year's weekend for ice skating and cross country skiing. They had a wonderful New Year's Eve program for families. I was also a summer camper, CIT, and summer camp staffer. I regard my time at camp as some of the best times of my life, and I keep in touch with many of the amazing folks I worked with there. Many of the camp past staff continue to support Frost Valley years after their time there, and return every few years from as far away as Australia for reunions. This dedication to the place and each other is a big part of what makes Frost Valley so special. There are four main ways to visit Frost Valley: summer camp, family weekend, with a school or other educational group, or for a day trip. No matter how you choose to visit, you'll find gorgeous natural surroundings, a plethora of beautiful lodging choices from rustic to hotel-like options, and a warm, knowledgable, dedicated staff. Frost Valley is just one of those places that seem to shine with a special light. They're pioneers in the area of environmentalism and constantly strive to bring the magic of camping to underserved communities. From the sound of the babbling brooks to the endless array of stars in the night sky, this is a place that will last in your memories forever, if you let it. read more

One of the best places in the world...hands down! An amazing summer camp program which helps kids grow to be strong independent adults. There are amazing counselors, great directors, super fun programs, and great food. The cabins are great! read more

One of my favorite places in the world. My fiancee went to camp here as a kid and we return every year for her birthday. If you like hiking, cafeteria food and friendly staff, you'll love Frost Valley. read more

The spot of many a good middle-school field trip, Frost Valley boasts sprawling grounds and a surprisingly un-gimmicky approach. Come for free with an organization if you can, and for a nice weekend or a couple days off. Schools kinda outed it, but it's still what I'd consider a gem. read more

By far one of the best summer camps in the world. The Catskill Mountains are so incredibly beautiful and the kids get to play in the pristine creeks and woods that surround FV. My kids went there 3 yrs ago for several sessions still talk about what a growing and life changing experience they had. It's a Y camp but they do not get religious, it's about body, mind and spirit and healthy activities. I wish every kid in NYC could get up to this camp! read more

I visited on a training trip with my school for three day, at first I thought it sucked due to lack of service and wifi but it eventually becomes very fun and a nice getaway from home, it is perfect for children, family vacation, or even work seminars. I love this place. They are so many different activities you can participate it. All the activities distract you from wanting to check Facebook and Twitter and you have a connection and bond. The staff here are super sweet and respectful, I love their energy and how friendly they were and loved engaging in activities with us. This is definitely a place that's worth a try. read more

Don't waste your money to send your kids to Frost Valley. Firstly, if you think It's a good idea to send your kids to Frost Valley you're dead wrong. I went this year expecting it to be fun, but instead it was a horrible experience. Let's start off with a few things, Firstly, the activities suck. Basically all of them are just stupid games they made up that they think entertain teenagers (I'm thirteen) and they don't. They're just stupid takes on the game tag and hide and go seek and all that other crap. They're childish and I'll tell you now they make up 98% of the activities there. Then there's the stupid cheering, hey literally spend about an hour doing camp cheers. That's great, but it's really no prep for anything fun. Secondly, the counselors are horrible! I've had bad experiences with counselors there more than once but this year was the worst! I became sick when we arrived, and actually threw up more than once there over a period of time. I had a stomach ache, a headache and I was puking and constantly coughing. Even a cabin mate of mine said 'You look really sick!' but when asked to go to the nurse, or call home they told me (And I quote this) "Suck it up" You are (Supposedly) not allowed to call home. I eventually gave up and told the counselors I wanted to go home. they told me calling home wasn't allowed and that i wasn't allowed to go home. I was very sick and hated my cabin, so I asked to change cabins they said it wasn't allowed wither and that I would "Make friends" with the girls in my cabin eventually. I was made fun of by the girls in my cabin and didn't make friends with them, but thanks!!! I begged to call home so my mother could take me out of this s*it hole and they told me no and to "Suck it up". My mother told me later on that she had called and they told her I was doing great and I was happy which I was never, so they lied about that. And they refused to give me medicine for feeling sick besides these stupid allergy pills (I don't have allergies) They also told me that I wasn't allowed to read a Clock work orange while there. I have no idea why, I wasn't reciting verses to people and the book was great. I read it anyway, they can go to hell. And constantly throughout my stay I heard "You're weird" and other insults by these idiot suburban girls who think they're so cool because they listen to Justin Bieber. The camp was not worth the money! And if you complain about bullying, they do nothing! "Suck it up" when I told them i was being bullied, "Suck it up" when I told them I was sick and wanted to leave. I am never going back to this place, if your daughter/son is an imbecile and will fit in with the pack of brainwashed Abercrombie wearing suburban nightmares whose whole life intention is to make fun fo anyone different, then they'll love it! Also, the bullying was terrible. I knew multiple girls who were picked on repeatedly, I don't blame the camp for that one because it was all gossiping but in this place I have met some of the meanest girls I have ever known, and I've known some mean girls! The whole two weeks was all gossiping and vicious trash talk about each other. Good times! read more

Our group of about 30 senior citizens just celebrated our 51st and 52nd high school reunion at Frost Valley. Because it was a YMCA, expectations were not particularly high for food and lodging. How wrong we were. This place, the meals and all employees surpassed our wildest dreams. 1. The extensive grounds are beautifully manicured and maintained; 2. Every single employee could not have been nicer or more accommodating, addressing our every whim; 3. Our group took over the Lakeview Lodge which is like a nice motel overlooking a lovely lake where ducks and geese reside and boating activities occur. The rooms were large, clean and were somewhat rustic, which was in keeping with the setting. 4. The food was not what one would expect from institutional fare. Everything was cooked fresh, the salads were crisp and fresh with a wide assortment of vegetables; 5. The special dinner and hors d'oeuvres we had in Geyer Hall was simply awesome; 6. Frost Valley offered a wide range of age-appropriate activities that each member of our group could participate in and enjoy; 7. Many girl scouts were there during the weekend, but because our group had its own serving line and our own "Day Room" within the Main Dining Hall, we were away from what we had imagined would be long serving lines (which there weren't) and we had a room all to ourselves so we would not have to fight the noise levels of many kids and instead concentrate on renewing our long-ago friendships. Every person in our group had a superlative weekend; we are so glad we found this gem of a place and what we got for the small amount spent could not be topped. Here is an email I just received from one of our schoolmates who was also on the reunion committee: The weekend was truly spectacular--I can't tell you how many people expressed their overjoyed astonishment and gratitude at every aspect of the reunion. It was so wonderful that I can hardly believe it myself!!! And for the price (which I don't recall, but it was low), the value was AMAZING. read more

Frost Valley was wonderful, from the incredibly helpful and happy staff to the surprisingly good food selections to the very clean, updated and comfortable assortment of lodging choices and of course, the beautiful Catskills, waterfalls and all. Check out the Castle for a European feel. read more

So bad honestly terrible worst trip ever the food was gross and so was the cabins and the people that work there are no good either also no service so it made it even worse read more

This place is way overrated. First off it is too expensive. In addition it has lousy food, lousy accommodations, and boring activities (cross country skiing-exhausting, broom ball-I don't think so, arts and crafts-I'm terrible, checkers-I do this at home for free when the power goes out!). The road leading up is in terrible condition (okay I know that this is not their fault but do yourself a favor and leave the family Audi at home and opt for a more rugged SUV-seriously folks it's the sticks). If you are looking to get away, especially for a mid-winter break, do yourself a favor and go somewhere nice, maybe New England or Florida, because the Catskills are just not a happening place. read more

We just finished our first year of Family Camp at Frost Valley. Best way to describe it is a Mayberry like atmosphere no locks on the doors, incredibly friendly people, and an outdoor setting like you see in the movies, mountains, lakes, rivers just amazing. The family camp is like kids summer camp but for the whole family, tons of activities from arts and crafts and boating to hiking and ziplining. All of the camps counselors were friendly, knowledgeable and knew the activity they were doing like the pros they were. We were totally overwhelmed by the quality of service that we got for what amounted to about 100 dollars per day per person which included food (3 meals a day plus snacks chef prepared meals not your normal camping fare), lodging (4 bunks in a private room with a private bathroom) and most activities (some like tiding required you to buy or bring something to tie but overall I didn't even spend 150 dollars in cash for the week and that included 4 frost valley shirts to tie die and 3 complete sweatsuit outfits for my wife and two kids as souvenirs. Ok since nothing is perfect and I always try to give a complete review here are a few things you should know that would make the trip better. bring flashlights for each member of your family it is very dark there. Be prepared for a lot of walking on some seriously steep terrain I am far from in shape and suffered some walking up and down the mountains. Buy walkie talkies will help you keep track of your family when everyone is going in different directions. Some of the activities especially cooking classes took longer then the alotted time so we missed or were late to our next activity so always have a back up plan. Bring fishing poles if your in to that kind of thing they have a stocked private lake. Ask questions everyone will help you and some of the quests have been returning for over 50 years 20-30 years seemed normal and they are all willing to help you. Overall this camp is hard to beat do not expect any luxury accommodations or a lot of privacy but you will enjoy the time with your family. Oh also no phone reception or Wifi so put your affairs in order for the week.. read more