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.
We are a 3rd-generation family business celebrating over 50 years in the Rhodes family. As owners and directors, we personally hire all of our counselors and get to know all of our campers and their families. We are always available throughout the summer and offseason.
Each individual group is led by adults, usually a teacher, assisted by college students. Our 12 specialty programs are taught by professionals with college degrees who know how to make learning fun. We do not allow tipping and our counselors enjoy working with children and are well paid so we are able to retain a truly experienced staff.
Because we are not crowded and have a professional mature staff. we welcome visits by parents throughout the summer. At Deerkill, whether a group is on the ball field or at a specialty, it is the only group at that activity.
During the summer, we open our facilities, including our 4,000 square-foot pool, tennis courts and athletic fields, for use by our campers’ families free of charge. On weekends, campers love to come to camp to show their parents how much progress they’ve made in the pool.
Our children are picked up at their own doors in air-conditioned mini buses with professional drivers and bus counselors. In Hoboken and Montclair, we provide convenient central locations for pick-up and drop-off.
Deerkill is one of the smaller of the major private camps in the area – some are more than twice our size. But we have more than ample indoor space and an ACA-accredited highly diverse program on a well-designed campus. Children thrive in our nurturing camp environment.
Campers are taught in groups of up to 6 children for a full 40 minutes each day by a Red Cross Instructor assisted by a group counselor (a 3:1 ratio). Our pools are heated to 82 degrees and beginners are taught in a shallow pool. Swimming is a vital part of Deerkill’s camp program.
Because we own our property and do not have a mortgage, we can afford to limit our enrollment. We provide both a better camp environment and a better value.