camp-overview
camp-overview
THE SIMPLE JOYS OF SUMMER UNFOLD BEFORE US.
Drive down the Lindgren drive and you know you’ve entered into a very special place. Set in our woodland oasis, Lindgren camp is a haven, unlike any summer camp in the local area. The beautiful outdoor grounds and pavilions create a true outdoor camp experience,“a bit of country right here in Closter.” Lindgren teachers, local elementary teachers and artisans bring their talents to each department offered at the camp.
Children have the freedom to choose how to spend their time in an atmosphere free of pressure. Campers can choose painting or playing games, making mud pies or real pies, learning about birds or learning to swim.
From an extensive arts and crafts program, to sports and swim lessons, the farm animals and gardens, and the adjacent Closter Nature Center, it’s a country atmosphere that engages and inspires campers—and lets children be children.
OUR ACTIVITIES
The camp offers a rich variety of activities from which the children can choose to participate. Each day the campers must go to their appointed swim lesson, and meet up with their counselors and troop for morning roll call and for lunch time. Otherwise, our campers are free to spend as long as they wish, with whom they wish, in any of our activity areas. Our spacious-fenced in campground is an environment that invites exploration, genuine play, industrious work, and relaxation.
OUR COUNSELORS & STAFF
We are committed to a safe, fulfilling experience for every child. All our activities are well supervised by head counselors. With a ratio of one counselor to every 5 campers, there is always attention and guidance for every child. The teenagers and college students attended Lindgren as children. The pool is supervised at all times by Red Cross certified lifeguards and we have a full time Registered Nurse on staff.
Camp Hours
Before-care: 8:00AM–9:00AM
Monday–Thursday: 9:00AM–3:00PM
(4-day camp week)
After-care: 3:00PM–5:00PM
Camp Age Groups
Lindgren Summer Camp is a 6-week long day camp serving ages 3 to 11.
Main Camp: Ages 4 to 9
Each camper is assigned to a troop. The counselors monitor their campers throughout the day. The troop comes together for morning roll call, a morning swim lesson, and lunch. (Plus 2:30PM ice pops for the full-day kids).
Hill Camp: Age 3
3-year-olds have a separate, one-acre camp. The counselors are veteran teachers of young ones, specializing in TLC and toilet training. The Hill Camp has a sand area, water spray-park, climbers and swings, and a table pavilion for arts & crafts. This camp is designed for our youngest campers to enjoy a real outdoor camp experience.
Expeditioner Camp: Ages 10 & 11
Returning campers who will be entering 5th and 6th grades are offered this exciting and challenging camp experience of field trips and local hiking. The focus of the expeditions is to introduce young people to local outdoor physical activities, as well as to the natural beauty of this area and the importance of preserving our woodlands and watersheds.
Camp Sessions 2025
Camp is 6 weeks, with two three-week sessions.
Session 1: June 23rd - July 10th
Session 2: July 14th- July 31st
Sessions run Monday–Thursday, 9:00AM–12:30PM (half day for ages 3+4 only) or 9:00AM–3:00PM (full day).
Each child receives two Lindgren Camp T-shirts, an insulated lunch tote, clean towel service, and a name tag. Campers bring their own bagged lunch.
camp activities
camp activities
CAMPERS CAN CHOOSE FROM ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES EACH DAY:
Traditional Arts & Crafts
Our camp takes pride in our extensive arts program. Our diverse program draws on artistic traditions from around the world.
Art department
Offers drawing, painting, batik, printmaking, weaving, collage, paper maché, tie-dye and beyond.
Stitchery and Beading department
Offers basic sewing projects for beginners and then more intricate work of shoulder bags, stuffed animals, and knitting. Campers can design their own projects and choose their own fabrics. Each year we purchase boxes and boxes of beautiful beads from New York City’s Garment District. Campers can create handsome pieces of jewelry with these nice quality beads.
Woodworking department
Each project begins with “What would you like to make?” The campers rummage through the wood bin, choosing the material for their car, plane, walky-talky, computer, doll house, etc. With saws, hammers, vises, and lots of glue, the projects abound.
Swimming
Red Cross certified lifeguards give daily swim lessons and water orientation to each camper ages 4–9, in two pools. Beginners start with water orientation in the 2-foot deep pool. Ages 5–9 have a morning lesson in the big pool: the 3-foot shallow end or 8-foot deep end, based on ability. Free-swim time is offered all afternoon.
Cooking
All ages come together in our kitchen to make and bake yummy snacks for everyone on campus: salsas, fruits, veggies, dips, smoothies, juices, iced teas, snow cones, cookies, pizzas, etc. The best part is when snacks are served. All our chefs serve the camp, snack-bar style.
Nature
Lindgren has year-round resident farm animals: goats, a donkey, a horse, and chickens. In the summer our nature cabin and aviary expand the menagerie to include fish, amphibians, reptiles, insects, birds, and pet rodents. The children can hold and pet most of the animals. Our camp naturalist also conducts daily explorations at the adjacent Closter Nature Center. These explorations include hikes, stream walking, and capturing live specimens to observe.
Organic Gardening
Children sow, plant, transplant, fertilize and harvest a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Tea parties in the garden and eating are the best part.
Recreation
The Lindgren campus is a unique and expansive natural setting with sand areas, lawns, fields, shady oaks and pines. The children can move freely about the playground choosing to dig in the sand, play with trucks, buckets, and shovels, ride on the tricycle highway, climb trees, and play on climbers, swings, and slides. Geologically, we are situated on acres of sand. In summer, we run water through the sand to create rivers, lakes, dams, and bridges for good old mud play.
Sports
Our counselors organize field sports of kickball, soccer, basketball, T-ball, capture the flag, etc. Each game is informally chosen by the campers each day, the teams are formed and the game begins. For special occasions, we hold foot races, relay races, and scooter and tricycle races.
Yoga
A professional instructor offers yoga in our large studio weekly. These popular classes increase muscle strength and coordination, while teaching self-discipline, awareness and relaxation.
Theater and Dance
A local performance artist leads weekly performances of stories, skits and choreographed dances. Children learn to improvise, rehearse and design props and costumes.
Music
Our guitarist-teacher leads campers in songs and movement daily. Campers can also experiment in our drum circle with a variety of percussion instruments accompanied by guitar or ukulele.
Evening Camp-Out
(8–11 year-olds)
One evening each summer, campers ages 8 and up, are invited to stay until 9 pm for activities from canoeing and relay races to a bonfire with ghost stories.
Expeditioners
(for 10–11 year-old returning campers; additional cost)
This program features daily trips to hiking trails, nature preserves, kayaking and canoeing, science museums, ballgames and more. It’s meant to foster a lifelong love of the outdoors and nature, while promoting self-esteem, teamwork and a sense of community.
In Campers’ Own Words
The Mud Pit
Signed by Eric Schulman
Age 9
I like Lindgren Camp because there is mud there. I’m one of the best mudball makers there. Strong and really round (my mudball recipe). First take a glob of mud. Step 2 — roll the mud in the sand. Step 3 — coat it with foam (foam is the yellow substance that flows in the water). Step 4 — coat dark and light sand and then smooth it or rub till it gets round. The only thing bad about it is you get really dirty. Speaking of dirty, there is someone called mudman. His identities are David, San, and Sam. If you want to sell a mudball or buy one use rocks. If you are foam catcher then there are a few ways to get it. Make water into a hole or make a castle. Make a castle with a sieve which supports a bridge. Make a filter with a sieve stuck in the water. There are some things like dams which block water which are bad. But the great dam which keeps the sports field from flooding is good. So now, you know about the mud pit and how mud works.
Letter
SIGNED BY JessE ROTH
AGE 9
Dear Lindgren Camp,
Thank you for a great summer. My mom still cannot believe that I ran around barefoot and played in the mud, but certainly my clothes proved it.
Thank you for setting me free, I never knew how much fun camp could be. I can't wait for next summer!!!
Love,
Jesse
Lindgren
SIGNED BY Ryan Jordan
AGE 12
All those times at Lindgren
going into the pool
the sound of the pool, splash
the sports field
my favorite place
the kids running and laughing
and having a great time
the game center
chess, ping-pong and slap hockey
the tournaments there...tremendous
the mud pit
the river of water
the dams, bridges
and fights made there
the best place for kids
the zoo
the memories of holding snakes
ducks, hamsters and lizards there
so much fun
Lindgren was the bright spot
of my childhood
every day I love it
and stil do