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Color War A tournament where teams participate in a three-legged race, tug-of-war, and the Sing Down (one team picks a word, and opposing teams sing songs that contain it). New Jersey YMHA Camps, Pa. Olympics Like Color War but with a sailing regatta, kayak obstacle course, volleyball, and trivia. For young kids there's an egg toss, relay races, and a cannonball splash contest. YMCA Camp Gorham, N.Y. Super-Sloppy Double Dare Teams of 4 to 12 kids do a series of messy tasks: racing with an egg in a spoon, carrying a bucket of slime, and sticking one's face in a plate of whipped cream. Blue Star Camps, N.C. Blob Tower An inflatable playground floating on the lake. There's a 12-foot-tall tower with a climbing wall, slide, and best of all, a 30-foot-long extension resting on the water. One child jumps off the tower and onto the extension, which sends the kid at the end flying. Deer Valley YMCA Camp, Pa. Triathlon Teams of three compete in three events, with each member responsible for a leg: running a mile; rowing three quarters of a mile across the lake; and swimming back. YMCA Camp Nawakwa, Wisc. Ropes courses Low ropes courses promote team building and tend to include kids. Obstacle courses are a common feature: Campers crawl through a pipe, negotiate a bungee web, and scramble over a net. High ropes courses are geared to individuals (teenagers and older) and, as the name implies, occur at treetop level. For the Leap of Faith at California's Shady Creek, for example, belayed campers climb to a platform 55 feet up, then fling themselves at a trapeze bar 10 feet away. At many camps.

Minimum stay is usually a week (six days and five or six nights); some camps offer weekend sessions. Prices vary depending on the number and age of children. The rates we list are based on a family of four with two adults and two kids ages 7 and 13. Unless noted, fees are for a weeklong stay and cover meals, activities, and the least expensive non-tent-camping accommodations. Cabins are almost always single-family. "Dorm-style" rooms indidcate a shared bath down the hall; "hotel-style" means en suite bathrooms. The dates we list tend to be for summer and fall; some camps, however, also organize special family programs throughout the year. Not all camps provide linens and towels, so ask. Camps accredited by the American Camp Association (acacamps.org) meet 26 health and safety standards and are usually handicapped-accessible. Kidscamps.com is a good resource for additional listings of family camps in the U.S. and abroad.

What you'll find in this article: family camp listings, family camp activities, family vacation ideas, and outdoor activities for families ARIZONA YMCA Camp Sky-Y, Prescott In Prescott National Forest, surrounded by ponderosa pines. Sixty-five-foot climbing tower, mountainboarding, paintball, teen excursions to a rodeo and on an overnight backpacking trip. Kayaking on Watson Lake, full day care for kids 8 and under. ACA accredited. Lodging: Eighteen wood cabins with electricity sleep 12 on built-in bunks; shared bathhouse. Food: Three family-style meals daily in dining hall; kids' buffet; evening snacks. Dates: Feb. 17-19; July 2-8; Oct. 20-22; Nov. 23-25. Price: $1,920. 800/660-1385, azycamps.org. CALIFORNIA Berkeley Tuolumne Camp, Groveland Near Yosemite, in Stanislaus National Forest. Yoga, woodworking, stained-glass making. Artist-in-residence program for adults. Magic lessons for kids. Camper-versus-staff volleyball, skit night, hiking along the Tuolumne River. Lodging: Tent cabins, some with electricity and decks, sleep four on "army-style" cots; shared bathhouse. Food: Three family-style meals daily; 24-hour coffee bar. Adults' social on Sunday. Dates: June 24-Aug. 27. Price: $1,415 ($1,385 for Berkeley residents). 510/981-5140, berkeleycamps.com. Camp Concord, South Lake Tahoe Between Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe in the Eldorado National Forest. Crawdad fishing, beach luau, happy hour, bingo games, canoeing, rafting, and archery. ACA accredited. Lodging: Wooden cabins with electricity sleep six to eight on full and bunk beds. Food: Three buffets daily; lakeside champagne breakfast and barbecue lunch. Dates: June 18-Aug. 5; Sept. 1-4. Price: $1,547 ($1,400 for all Concord residents). 925/671-3273, cityofconcord.org. Cazadero Performing Arts Camp, Cazadero In the Russian River Valley, in a redwood forest. Focus is on music and the arts: jazz, rock and roll, steel drums, yoga, salsa dancing, capoeira, mixed chorus, stone carving. Beginners welcome. Lodging: Canvas tent cabins with electricity sleep six on cots, with shared bathhouse; dorm rooms sleep three on cots; tent sites. Food: Three buffets daily in dining hall. Dates: Aug. 7-13; Aug. 14-20. Price: $2,500. 510/527-7500, cazadero.org. Emandal--A Farm On A River, Willits A working farm since 1908, on 1,000 acres in Mendocino County. Three and a half miles of riverfront. Nonstructured activities (lie in a hammock) and optional farm chores (milk a cow, harvest veggies, collect eggs). Lodging: Nineteen cabins (sleeping up to 10) with queen beds, single beds, and bunks, with electricity, cold water, and shared bathhouse; two farmhouse rooms with private bath. Food: Three family-style meals daily with food from the garden; most lunches picnic-style. Dates: June 21-25; July 19-Sept. 4. Price: $2,650. 707/459-5439, emandal.com. Family Camp On The Bar 717 Ranch, Hayfork In the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Overnights on horseback to the ranch's original homestead. Swimming in Hayfork Creek. Feed rabbits and pigs in the barn, or milk a cow. Square dancing, silk-screening, wine tastings. "Untalent" show, arts and crafts, pottery. ACA accredited. Lodging: Wooden cabins, without electricity and open on one side, have sink, toilet, and shared bathhouse, and sleep 10; hotel-style rooms sleep two to six; tent sites. Food: Three family-style meals daily in indoor/outdoor dining area; farm-raised meat, most vegetables come from garden. Dates: Aug. 13-19; Aug. 20- 26. Price: $2,200. 530/628-5992, bar717.com. Idyllwild Arts Summer Program, Idyllwild At 5,000 feet in the San Jacinto Mountains, on 205 acres. Focus is on creativity: ceramics, painting, photography, writing, choir, batik. Make your own teddy bear. Music class including banjo, mandolin, and bass. Staff performance, folk music and dance, luaus, improv night, family talent show. Lodging: Dorm rooms sleep four on two sets of bunks with private bathroom and shower. Food: Buffet breakfast and lunch in dining hall; buffet dinner outside. Dates: July 1-7. Price: $2,775. 951/659-2171 ext. 2365, idyllwildarts.org. Lair Of The Golden Bear, Pinecrest Three camps in Stanislaus National Forest in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Affiliated with University of California at Berkeley. Three pools, 18-hole golf course nearby, outdoor theater by the lake, fishing, speakers weekly, hikes for all abilities. Lodging: Wooden cabins with canvas roofs and electricity sleep two to eight; shared bathhouse. Food: Three family-style meals daily in dining hall; burger shack open nightly. Dates: June 2-Oct. 1. Price: $2,100. 510/642-0221, alumni.berkeley.edu/lair. Lark Camp, Mendocino In Mendocino Woodlands State Park, in the middle of a redwood forest. Focus is on world music and dance: Learn Spanish bagpipes, Japanese flute, Celtic drumming, English country dancing, square dancing, and tango. Lodging: Redwood cabins without electricity sleep four, with decks and shared bathhouse; RV and tent sites. Food: Three cafeteria-style meals daily (costs extra); 24-hour coffeehouse. Dates: July 28-Aug. 5. Price: $1,820. 707/964-4826, larkcamp.com. Montecito Sequoia Family Vacation Camp, Giant Sequoia National Forest At 7,500 feet between Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. Equestrian center. Guided hike to waterfalls. Canoeing, sailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, and paddleboating on Homavalo Lake. Rock-climbing wall, gymnastics, biking; casino and open-mike nights. ACA accredited. Lodging: Thirty-six lodge rooms with private bath sleep eight; 13 wooden cabins (with electricity and shared bathhouse) sleep eight on king- and queen-size beds and bunks. Food: Three buffets daily in dining hall, including prime rib and king crab; full bar; kitchen open 24 hours. Dates: June 19-Sept. 4. Price: $3,450. 800/227-9900, mslodge.com. Shady Creek Family Camp, Nevada City In the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range on 130 acres. High and low ropes courses. Outdoor movie night. Wine tastings. Luau night with limbo contest. Gourd painting, watercolor class, talent show, archery, and tie-dyeing. Sunset cruise, tubing, and wakeboarding on nearby Bullard's Bar Reservoir. Lodging: Wooden cabins with private deck and domed adobe cabins (each sleeps five) with electricity and shared bathhouse; lodge rooms (sleep four) and suite rooms (sleep eight) with shared bath in main lodge. Food: Three buffets daily in dining hall; snacks available in the camp store. Dates: June 18-Aug. 26. Price: $2,332. 800/826-7310, shadycreekcamp.com. Wonder Valley Family Camp, Sanger On a private lake in the foothills of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. Minibike and go-kart tracks, skateboard park. Waterslides, high and low ropes courses, canoeing on the lower Kings River. Waterskiing, personal watercraft. Thursday is parents' night, with child care 5 p.m.-11:30 p.m., prime rib dinner, casino tables, and live entertainment. Full day-care center. ACA accredited. Lodging: Fifty-three motel-style rooms; most sleep seven on doubles, kings, and bunks. Food: Three buffets daily in lakeside dining hall. Dates: Aug. 6-12; Aug. 13-19. Price: $3,956. 800/821-2801, wondervalleyfamilycamp.com. COLORADO Cheley Colorado Camps, Estes Park On 1,600 acres in the Rocky Mountains. Since 1921. Daily hikes and horseback rides through Rocky Mountain National Park and Roosevelt National Forest. Movie making, campfire nights. Technical climbing, fishing. ACA accredited. Lodging: Covered wagons with shared bathhouse sleep four. Food: Three family-style meals daily in dining hall; snacks throughout the day; trail lunch provided. Dates: Aug. 8-13. Price: $2,400. 800/226-7386, cheley.com. Colorado Heritage Camps, Denver Ten camps: nine in the Rockies and one in Denver. For families with multicultural and internationally adopted children. Each camp focuses on a specific culture Counselors and teachers share the same heritage as the kids. Chinese, Cambodian, Indian, Nepalese, Filipino, Korean, Latin American, Russian, African-American, and Vietnamese programs. Lodging: Lodge rooms with private bath sleep six in bunk beds; wooden cabins (with full kitchen and shared bath) sleep 10 on twins and bunks; tent and RV sites. Food: Buffet breakfast and dinner; culture-specific cafeteria-style lunch. Dates: June 22-Sept. 4. Price: $480. 303/320-4234, heritagecamps.org. MAINE Camp Sunshine At Sebago Lake, Casco For kids with serious illnesses. On Sebago Lake, 27 miles northwest of Portland. Bass fishing, indoor swimming pool with wheelchair lift, miniature golf, family workshops with counselor, 24-hour doctor, and social worker. ACA accredited. Lodging: Forty family housing suites with private bath sleep six on twin beds, pull-out futon, and built-in bunks. Food: Three buffets daily; once per session there's an adults-only gourmet meal (prime rib, stuffed fish, karaoke). Dates: Feb. 17-Nov. 12. Price: Free (made possible by grants from foundations and private donations). Summer sessions fill quickly. 207/655-3800, campsunshine.org. Ferry Beach Camp And Conference Center, Saco Affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association. Daily worship in outdoor chapel, "friendship circle" on beach for prayer and meditation, folk singing and dancing. Learn to play an instrument; photography, weaving, and quilting. Lodging: Dorm-style rooms sleep two to four on doubles, twin beds, and bunks. Food: Buffet breakfast and lunch; family-style dinners; lobster bake cookout. Dates: June 23-Sept. 4. Price: $2,335. 207/282-4489, ferrybeach.org. Medomak Camp For Families, Washington On three-mile-long Washington Pond, surrounded by pine forests and blueberry fields. Activities include tennis, sailing, photography, archery, yoga, swimming, gymnastics, nature hikes, boating, arts and crafts. Lodging: Wooden cabins sleep six on queen and single beds; electricity and private bathrooms. Food: Three family-style meals daily with coffee, tea, and fruit throughout the day; afternoon snack daily; lobster bake once a week. Dates: June 25-Aug. 19. Price: $3,300. 866/633-6625, medomakcamp.com. Wyonegonic Camps, Denmark Celebrating 105 years. Lots of water sports on nine-mile-long lake: sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, waterskiing, bass fishing. Six tennis courts, archery, high and low ropes courses, pottery, arts and crafts. ACA accredited. Lodging: Wooden cabins sleep up to 14 on cots; platform tents sleep four on cots; none have electricity, and all share bathhouses. Food: Family-style breakfast and dinner, buffet lunch, served in lodge; lobster cookout once per session (costs extra). Dates: Aug. 18-21; Aug. 21-25; Aug. 25-27. Price: $490. 207/452-2051, wyonegonic.com. MASSACHUSETTS YMCA Camp Hi-Rock, Mount Washington On 1,000 acres of protected woodland in the southern Berkshires. Waterskiing (costs extra), sailing, boat races, fishing tournament on 90-acre private lake. Hiking, camper-versus-counselor volleyball, soccer, square dancing, bingo, archery, talent show. ACA accredited. Lodging: Wooden cabins (some with porches) with electricity and shared bathhouses sleep up to 12 on bunks; carpeted lodge rooms, some with private baths, sleep 8 on bunks. Food: Three buffets daily in the dining hall; beach barbecue every Saturday. Dates: Aug. 20-27. Price: $1,300. 413/528-1227, camphirock.com. MICHIGAN Rainbow Families Great Lakes Family Week, Saugatuck For lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender parents and their families, on the western shore of Lake Michigan. Picnics, sunset social hour, family dance celebration with bubble machines and music, kite making, teen bowling night, personal story sharing, workshops for kids and adults on coping with homophobia. Lodging: Accommodations aren't included (for information on where to stay, visit the Saugatuck/Douglas Visitors Bureau at saugatuck.com). Food: Continental breakfast daily; some lunches and dinners. Dates: July 8-13. Price: About $125 per family. 616/218-9679, rfgl.org. YMCA Camp Pendalouan, Montague Ten miles from Lake Michigan on the edge of Manistee National Forest. Sailing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming on 200-acre lake. Camouflage hike--kids paint themselves and play hide-and-seek in the woods. Fifty-foot climbing tower, horseback riding, fishing, riflery, capture the flag. ACA accredited. Lodging: Wooden cabins with electricity sleep 14 on bunks; shared bathhouse. Food: Three family-style meals daily with snacks throughout the day; weekly cookouts at Lake Michigan. Dates: July 1-4. Price: $625, kids under 5 free. 231/894-4538, pendalouan.org. YMCA Storer Camps, Jackson On 1,200 acres with a 300-acre lake. Themed activities--last year, kids built rafts on Tom Sawyer Day and dressed up like magicians on Harry Potter Day. Sailing, climbing tower, ropes course, nature hikes, game nights. ACA accredited. Lodging: Wooden cabins with bathhouse and electricity (some have porches) sleep 12 on bunks. Food: Three family-style meals or buffets daily; outdoor barbecue. Dates: June 25-July 1; July 2-8. Price: $1,091. 800/536-8607, ymcastorercamps.org. MINNESOTA Concordia Language Villages, Bemidji Four lakefront villages in the Northwoods. Programs feature cultural and language immersion including Chinese, Finnish, Swedish, German. Activities reflect each culture. ACA accredited. Lodging: Wooden cabins with electricity sleep 20 in bunks; most have bathrooms. Food: Three family-style meals daily prepared in the regional tradition. Dates: June 12-17; Aug. 14-19; Aug. 21-26. Price: $1,800. 800/222-4750, concordialanguagevillages.com. Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, Finland An accredited environmental school overlooking Lake Superior on 2,000 acres. Learn about bird migration, Ojibwa tribal heritage, wetlands, and fisheries. Voyageur history classes in which kids learn how to build a fire and make tea. Lodging: Dorm rooms with private bathroom sleep eight on bunks. Food: Three cafeteria-style meals daily in dining hall. Dates: July 31-Aug. 5. Price: $930. 218/353-7414, wolf-ridge.org. YMCA Camp Du Nord, Ely On Burntside Lake in the Northwoods. Canoeing, sailing, swimming, hiking, crafts, and overnight camping trips. Nature and wilderness programs. Lodging: Modern wood-framed cabins sleep 2-20, some with private bath and kitchen; platform tents with shared bathhouse sleep eight on doubles and bunks; tent sites. Food: Buffet breakfast, family-style lunch and dinner in dining hall. Dates: June 17-Sept. 4. Price: $1,100. 651/645-6605, dunord.org. MISSOURI YMCA Trout Lodge, Potosi On 5,200 acres, with a private lake, by Mark Twain National Forest. Golf, climbing facilities, ranch with 80 horses. Ropes course, astronomy program, fireworks. On Swashbuckler Saturdays, kids make their own eye patch, sword, and hook. ACA accredited. Lodging: Lake-view lodge rooms sleep four on queen beds, with private bathroom; lake-view loft suites sleep six, with common room and fridge; two-bedroom, two-bath cabins sleep 10. Food: Three buffets daily in dining hall. Dates: Year-round. Price: $1,480. 888/386-9622, ymcaoftheozarks.org. NEW HAMPSHIRE World Fellowship Center, Albany In the White Mountains on 455 wooded acres. Focus is on multicultural and educational programs. Current events discussion groups, writing workshops, fitness instruction. Friday is open-mike night. Lodging: Lodge-style singles, doubles, triples, and quads, all with shared bath. Food: Three family-style meals daily in dining hall (organic produce from garden). Dates: June 23-Sept. 5. Price: From $955. 603/447-2280, worldfellowship.org. YMCA Camp Takodah, Richmond On Cass Pond since 1921. Golf tournament, camper-versus-staff softball game, pottery, ropes course, music room with instruments. "Takodah Follies" talent show, dress-up time, tubing, kayaking. ACA accredited. Lodging: Wood cabins, with shared bathhouse and electricity, sleep 10 on built-in bunks. Food: Three meals daily, served family-style, in dining hall. Dates: Aug. 27-Sept. 2; camp fills quickly. Price: $1,840. 603/239-4781 (summer), 603/352-0447 (winter), camptakodah.org. YMCA Sandy Island Family Camp, Sandy Island A 66-acre island in Lake Winnepesaukee. Sailing, kayaking, tubing, waterskiing. Tennis instruction, shopping cruise to antique stores, talent show, karaoke, bingo, family dances. Lodging: Cabins with electricity sleep 10 on twin beds and bunks; some have private baths. Food: Three family-style meals daily; vegetarian options. Dates: July 1-Sept. 4. Price: $2,155. 603/253-4217 (summer), 603/569-2725 (winter), si.bostonycamps.org. NEW JERSEY Mohican Outdoor Center, Blairstown Owned and operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club, on 2,000 acres in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Swimming, boating, and canoeing on 60-acre lake. Astronomy, birding, tree identification, guided hikes, horseback riding. Day trips to the Lakota Wolf Preserve. Lodging: Lodge-style bunk rooms sleep 18, with shared bathroom and kitchen; tent sites. Food: Three buffet meals daily in dining hall. Dates: July 23-Aug. 25. Price: $1,201; AMC family membership costs $75, but it gets you a 10 percent discount on the camp. 908/362-5670, outdoors.org/adventure_camps. NEW MEXICO Santa Fe Mountain Adventures, Santa Fe Specializes in guided adventure activities in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Whitewater rafting, llama trekking, GPS treasure hunt, horseback riding, pottery, fly-fishing. Lodging: Choose from four Santa Fe hotels; rooms sleep four, with private bath. Shuttles to and from activities provided. Food: Not included. Dates: July 1-Aug. 26. Price: $3,573. 800/965-4010, santafemountainadventures.com. Western Unitarian Universalist Life Festival, Ghost Ranch In high desert, with red rock cliffs and cacti. This year's theme is "The Sacred Epic of Evolution." Paleontologist leads tour of dinosaur dig. Native American flute lessons, kiva tour, pottery. Lodging: Dorm rooms in hacienda-style building sleep seven; tent and RV sites. Food: Three cafetria-style meals daily, with vegetarian options. Dates: June 5-11. Price: $1,925. 303/832-1106, wuulf.org. NEW YORK Frost Valley Ymca Camp, Claryville On 6,000 acres in the Catskills. Carnival with dunking booth, apple bobbing, and petting zoo. Evening rodeo, classes on maple sugaring, Japanese culture sharing, family talent show. ACA accredited. Lodging: B&B-style castle (a former private estate); hotel-style rooms sleep two; platform tents sleep eight, with shared bathhouse; cabins sleep 10, with private bath; dorm rooms sleep 6-12; lodge rooms sleep 10 on bunks, with private bath. Food: Three buffets daily with three themed dinners. Dates: Aug. 19-25. Price: $1,267. 845/985-2291, frostvalley.org. YMCA Camp Gorham, Eagle Bay In the Adirondacks, on 1,500 acres. Kayaking, waterskiing, and sailing on 400-acre lake. Climbing wall, tennis, basketball, archery, Olympics, and square dancing. ACA accredited. Lodging: Lean-to with electricity sleeps four on bunks, with shared bathhouse; bunkhouse sleeps 48, with kitchen and bath; Adirondack-style cottages sleep 20 on doubles and bunks, with electricity and private bath. Food: Three family-style meals daily in dining hall. Dates: Aug. 20-27. Price: Cottage $1,765 (YMCA members $1,665). 888/518-5671, campgorham.org. NORTH CAROLINA Blue Star Camps, Hendersonville In the Blue Ridge Mountains. Geology program, rock climbing, rafting, yoga, pony rides, mountain biking, nature hikes. Day trip to DuPont State Forest with swimming in Hooker Falls. Super-Sloppy Double Dare. Most campers are Jewish, but everyone's welcome. ACA accredited. Lodging: Wooden cabins with electricity and private bath sleep 14 on twin, full, and bunk beds. Food: Three buffets daily in dining hall; snacks throughout the day. Dates: Aug. 10-13. Price: $1,180 (nannies stay free). 828/692-3591, bluestarcamps.com. Camp Seafarer, Arapahoe On the Neuse River at the mouth of Pamlico Sound. Sailing, knot-tying, open-water kayaking, motorboating. Hunting for fossilized shark teeth, pitch 'n' putt golf course, adventure program with ropes course and climbing wall. ACA accredited. Lodging: Cabins with porches, ceiling fans, and private bathrooms sleep 14 on bunks. Food: Three family-style meals daily in dining hall. Dates: May 26-28; Aug. 13-18; Sept. 1-4; Sept. 22-24. Price: $1,830. 252/249-1212, seagull-seafarer.org. Green River Preserve, Cedar Mountain A private wildlife preserve on 3,400 Blue Ridge acres. Focus on nature immersion. Naturalists lead walks through preserve, track wildlife, hike to petroglyphs. Native American flute lessons. Fly-fishing, pottery, crafts. ACA accredited. Lodging: Cabins with electricity, toilet, sink, and shared bathhouse sleep 16 on bunks; lodge rooms with private bathrooms sleep two to four . Food: Three family-style meals daily in dining hall. Most vegetables locally grown. Dates: Sept. 1-4. Price: $1,230. 828/698-8828, greenriverpreserve.org. OHIO Camp Luther, Conneaut Lutheran camp on Lake Erie. Adult Bible study, group singing, outdoor evening worship, staff members perform dressed as religious figures. Non-Lutherans welcome. Hiking along the bluffs, swimming lessons, basketball. ACA accredited. Lodging: Thirty-six cabins with electricity, sink, toilet, and shared bathhouse sleep 16 on bunks and doubles; tent and RV sites. Food: Three family-style meals daily; one picnic breakfast, two picnic dinners. Dates: June 18-Aug. 12. Price: $1,135; no one turned away because of inability to pay. 800/431-5666, lomocamps.org. PENNSYLVANIA Deer Valley YMCA Camp, Fort Hill On Mount Davis. Sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, pontoon boat rides, Blob Tower, and swimming. Staff variety show and international night (foreign-born counselors share their cultures). ACA accredited. Lodging: Thirty-six cabins with electricity, cold water, toilets, and shared bathhouse sleep seven on bunks; seven cabins with hot water, private bath, and living area sleep eight on bunks; lodge bunk rooms with shared bath. Food: Three family-style meals daily; chuckwagon barbecue. Dates: June 10-Aug. 26. Price: $1,542. 800/962-2386, deervalleyymca.org. New Jersey YMHA Camps, Milford Weekend camp on 1,200 acres. Two lakes, with inflatable "icebergs," water trampoline, canoeing, sailing, personal watercraft. Athletic fields, two pools. Build a model rocket and launch it. Cooking classes, Color War, yoga, aerobics, poker tournament, mah-jongg. Most campers are Jewish, though the camp welcomes all. ACA accredited. Lodging: Wooden cabins sleep 20 on single beds and bunks; private bath, electricity, and decks. Food: Three cafeteria-style meals daily; snacks throughout the day. All food is kosher. Dates: June 16-18; Aug. 25-27; Sept. 1-4 (single-parent and grandparent weekends also available). Price: $600. 973/575-3333, njycamps.org. SOUTH CAROLINA Asbury Hills Camp And Retreat Center, Cleveland Owned and operated by the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, on 1,800 acres in the southern Appalachians. Worship Monday, Thursday, Sunday. Triple-A trout stream, belayed tree climb, swimming hole, ropes course, camp naturalist. ACA accredited. Lodging: Concrete cabins sleep eight on bunks, with shared bathhouse; lodge rooms sleep six on bunks, with common area and shared bath. Food: Three family-style meals daily in dining hall. Dates: June 25-30; there are also specialty weekends, such as ones for grandparents or kids with special needs. Price: $980. 864/836-3711, asburyhills.org. TEXAS Pine Cove Christian Camps, Tyler And Columbus Three nondenominational Christian camps: Bluffs, at 17-mile-long Lake Palestine; Woods, on 200 acres (both near Tyler); and Crier Creek (near Columbus), a former deer preserve on 700 acres. Paintball, equestrian activities. Bible study, Christian speakers. ACA accredited. Lodging: Cabins and lodge-style rooms sleep four to eight on queen beds, twin beds, and bunks; private bath and A/C. Food: Three family-style meals daily in dining hall; adult breakfast trail ride and dinner banquet. Dates: May 28-Aug. 12. Price: $2,000. 877/474-6326, pinecove.com. VERMONT Camp Common Ground, Starksboro On 700 acres in the Hogback Mountains. Encourages income diversity, nontraditional families. Photography and chamber music instruction, glass bead workshops, and healing arts. Swimming holes. Lodging: Wooden cabins with no electricity and shared bathhouse sleep six on twin beds and bunks; tent sites with platforms. Food: Three buffets daily in dining hall; most food is organic and locally grown. Snacks throughout the day. Dates: July 29-Aug. 18. Price: $1,825. 800/430-2667, cgcvt.org. Farm & Wilderness, Plymouth In the Quaker tradition on the Woodward Reservoir, with an affiliated organic farm. Milk a cow, feed goats, collect eggs, harvest vegetables, bake bread. Pick apples from the orchard, then bake pies and press cider. ACA accredited. Lodging: Three-sided cabins (no electricity, shared bathhouse) sleep 12 on bunks. Food: Three family-style meals daily in dining hall. Most of the food served comes directly from the farm. Dates: Aug. 22-27. Price: $850. 802/422-3761, fandw.org. WASHINGTON Camp Burton, Vashon Island Twelve-mile-long island accessible by ferry. Non-denominational Christian camp with Bible study, crafts, kickball, campfire singing, storytelling, boating. ACA accredited. Lodging: Carpeted wooden cabins sleep 10 on twin and bunk beds, with private bathroom. Food: Three family-style meals daily in dining hall. Dates: July 2-7. Price: $600. 206/463-2512, campburton.com. WEST VIRGINIA Camp Alleghany, Lewisburg On 180 acres in the Allegheny Mountains. Reachable by boat. Arts and crafts, archery, riflery, tennis courts, low ropes course, canoeing. ACA accredited. Lodging: Platform tents sleep five on cots; shared bathhouse. Food: Three buffets daily in dining hall; two cookouts under the apple tree. Dates: Aug. 5-13. Price: $1,225. 540/898-4782, campalleghany.com. WISCONSIN Camp Brosius, Elkhart Lake Mainly for Indiana University alumni, staff, and families. Pontoon rides, paddleboats, sailing, fishing. Water carnival, scavenger hunt, golf nearby, day trips to outlet malls for adults, day care. Lodging: Cottages sleep eight, with private bath and screened porch; hotel-style rooms sleep four, with sink and shared bath; cabins sleep four on bunks, with electricity and shared bathhouse. Food: Three buffets served daily in dining hall. Dates: June 18-Aug. 5. Price: Cabins $1,600. 317/278-2015, campbrosius.com. Camp Nebagamon, Lake Nebagamon Southeast of Duluth. Windsurfing, sailing, tennis, softball, archery, and riflery. ACA accredited. Lodging: Twenty-eight cabins with electricity and shared bathhouse sleep 12 on bunks; 12 lodge rooms. Food: Buffet breakfast and lunch; family-style dinner; one waterfront barbecue. Dates: Aug. 15-21, fills quickly. Price: $1,400. 763/476-7676, campnebagamon.com. North Star Camp, Hayward On a peninsula with over two miles of shoreline. Waterskiing, sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, tubing. Archery, zipline. ACA accredited. Lodging: Cabins sleep 12 on singles, doubles, and bunks; shared bathhouse. Food: Three family-style meals in dining hall; coffee and fruit throughout the day. Dates: July 12-18, fills quickly. Price: $1,700. 715/462-3254 (summer), 520/577-7925 (winter), northstarcamp.com. YMCA Camp Nawakwa, Lac Du Flambeau On a Chippewa reservation. Fishing, talent show, water carnival, triathlon, ice cream social. Weekly potluck dinner. Lodging: Modern cabins sleep eight, with kitchens; some with bathrooms. Food: No food service. Dates: June 3-Sept. 4. Price: $525. 715/588-7422, nawakwa.com.