Camp Awosting — Local services in Morris

I took a group of university students studying to become Physical Education teachers to Camp Awosting for a weekend outing in the fall. The goal was to experience and learn adventure education and outdoor pursuit activities (vertical climbing wall and use of climbing equipment; waterfront activities-kayak, canoe, paddleboard; archery; low ropes course) that the students could potentially be teaching in their future Physical Education classes. After reflecting upon the weekend with other professors and the students, it was a huge success for a number of reasons: 1) Planning the event was easy and smooth. Nick was awesome to work with - he responded in a timely manner via phone and email. He provided a lot of information about what the camp had to offer that would meet our needs and goals for the university course. I was able to visit the camp prior to the event to see the facilities, and Nick explained all of the details necessary for the event. 2) The camp was able to meet our needs - the students were able to participate and experience a variety of activities safely. The camp provided staff to assist throughout the weekend. The staff were knowledgeable, friendly, flexible and adaptable to our needs. 3) The price was affordable for university staff and students for our needs for the course goals. 4) The accommodations provided our students with a true camp bunk experience, and opportunities to bond and build friendships; there was plenty of space/cabins for university staff and for students to stay comfortably. We had outdoor and indoor space to complete learning activities and teach the information we needed to teach our students to meet course goals. 5) The food was absolutely amazing and delicious. It added to a true camp outing and outdoor experience - one of the goals of the course. There was excellent variety at each meal. Having all of the meals covered throughout the event was convenient and easy for university staff. There was coffee, hot water and juice available all of the time. Nick was able to accommodate individual food restrictions and concerns, and he paid close attention to our food needs. 6) It was a gorgeous venue on the lake and the venue met all of our course needs and more - Nick was very flexible in allowing students to participate in their own choice of activities during their downtime (the basketball court was a big hit), and we were able to have fires in the firepit each night, provided by Nick. Despite the event for a university course, it was a nice weekend to get away. I am really looking forward to working with Nick and the Camp Awosting staff again next fall when the course is offered again; we definitely hope to have our event there again. I would recommend Camp Awosting if you are looking to have an event and adventures in an outdoor,...

As a sole parent looking to send my kid to a summer camp was something I had both longed for and saved toward. I had a handful of conversations even with the director to ensure the program would it indeed be the right choice for my kid. I asked for certain things to be honored that were extremely important regarding bunking etc. Long story short, they didn’t live up to any of my expectations or even a single proclamation. All the “glitzy” looking events are designed to catch your eye. They’re not much better than what you’d get at a rundown amusement park. The gear is old and tired. I was promised being able to communicate with my child via letters. This system never worked. I was also told I could reach my child by phone. This ended up being a arduous process such that they essentially have three phone lines for 120 kids for all parents to try and reach their kid through, leading to countless futile attempts. At one point my kid didn’t perform as expected, but well within teenage boy behavior. He was shamed so badly by staff as a result. Staff who are supposed to be so well trained at handling a boys camp, so they advertise. I will never send my kid back to this camp and I have even thought of filing a case lawsuit against them for gross misrepresentation of their capacity and capability, not to mention, failure to honor signed and communicated agreements. If anyone else feels similarly, we...

My son attended Awosting this summer. He had a terrible experience. First, my son, 10 yrs old. This was his first time away at camp. On the third day, a counselor called to check in with us on how he was doing, however, everything he said sounded scripted. That my son wasn't eating, and preferred to spend free time alone in the cabin, but that he was "participating and having fun". No doubt they say that to every parent. My son, however, told us in letters and upon returning home that he did not, in fact, have fun. He was bullied by his cabinmates the entire time he was there and made no friends. Pictures that got posted of campers seem to corroborate this - he is alone and/or frowning in every picture. The image below is of a letter he sent us that we didn't receive until after he returned home. It is heartbreaking to think that we sent our child to a camp for two weeks were he spent the time being bullied by others and no action was taken. Will...