News from the Lake!

A NOTE FROM CAMP

Fall Greetings

Autumn at Willow Lake is beautiful. The leaves change, the lake becomes quiet, and the energy of summer slowly fades. It is a very different place from the Willow Lake we know and love in June, July and August.

Every now and then, someone calls and is surprised to find us here.

But, as you might imagine, there is much more to it than that.

One of the things we love most about this time of year is the opportunity to reflect. Summer is still fresh in our minds—the laughter, the friendships, the successes, the little moments that made us smile, and yes, even the things that didn’t go quite as planned. We take the time to look carefully at all of it.

Did each program work the way we hoped? Could it be better? Were the spaces right for the activities we offered? Did we meet the different needs of our youngest campers and our oldest campers? Most importantly, did we create the kind of environment where every camper could feel comfortable, connected, engaged, and truly part of the Willow Lake community?

Because everything we do at camp is intentional. But intentionality begins with listening and understanding. It means paying attention to what our campers need—not just what we think they need—and then finding ways to make their experience even better.

✦ The Cove comes to life

The Cove is a wonderful example. When we built The Cove, we had a very specific goal in mind. We wanted our older campers, beginning with 5th grade, to have a place that felt like their own—a place where they could gather with friends, talk, laugh, play games, and simply spend time together. We created comfortable spaces for conversation, added foosball, ping pong, cornhole, and other games, and designed the pool for water basketball and volleyball, as well as for relaxing and enjoying the water; not to mention our fabulous tiki hut serving up Sno & Co slushies.

And then came this summer. Watching the campers use The Cove was incredibly rewarding. We saw the space come alive exactly as we had imagined it. The kids loved it. They made it their own. And we could hear younger campers talk about how much they were looking forward to the day when they would be old enough to use it. Those are the moments that remind us why we do what we do.

✦ Looking ahead to summer 2027

As we look ahead to summer 2027, we are once again listening and looking for ways to make camp even better.

Air conditioning The Clubhouse will give us additional comfortable spaces for groups to use on rainy days, as well as temperature-controlled changing areas throughout the summer. Our air-conditioned buses will make the ride to and from camp more comfortable for every camper. And, as always, there is more to come. We never want to simply repeat last summer. We want to build on it!

Every year, we learn a little more about our campers, about their changing needs and interests, and about what makes their days at Willow Lake meaningful. We think about the friendships they form, the confidence they gain, the independence they develop, and the simple joy of being a kid in a place where they feel known and cared for.

Yes, we are planning for another fabulous summer. But more importantly, we are thinking about your children. We are thinking about the memories they will make, the friendships they will carry with them, and how we can continue to make Willow Lake a place where they feel a little more at home each summer.

✦ With gratitude

Thank you for being part of our Willow Lake family. Your trust means more to us than we can adequately express, and we are grateful every day for the opportunity to share this special place with your children.

As the holiday season approaches, we wish you and your families health, happiness, peace, and plenty of time together with the people you love. May your homes be filled with warmth, laughter, and wonderful memories.

And, before we know it, the lake will be waking up, the buses will be rolling in, and Willow Lake will once again be filled with the sounds we love most—children laughing, friends greeting one another, and another summer beginning.

We can’t wait.

THE BULLETIN BOARD

Coming for Summer 2027

ON THE STAGE

2027 Theatre Productions

FROM AROUND CAMP

Welcoming Our Camp Community

This fall, we were thrilled to welcome fellow camp professionals to Willow Lake for the American Camp Association of New York and New Jersey’s annual Day Camp Tours & Conference. We’re proud to volunteer our time, share what we’ve learned, and help make camp even better for children across our region.

A NOTE TO OUR FAMILIES

Thank You!

A special thank you to our loyal families for your continued support. We were mostly full within a few days of opening enrollment and have never had more families recommend us to their friends. There is no greater compliment you could give us!

If you have not registered for summer 2027 yet, are considering sending a younger sibling, or have friends who are interested in Willow Lake, we still have spaces open in some grades, with limited availability for Pre-K and Kindergarten campers. Reach out to our office for more details.

NOW HIRING FOR SUMMER 2027

Know Someone Who’d Love to Work at Camp?

We’re always looking for great people to join the Willow Lake team, and we love referrals from our camp families! Do you know an older sibling, neighbor, babysitter, or friend who would enjoy working at camp next summer? Please send them our way—we’d love to meet them!

We’re currently looking for:

High school and college counselors • Lifeguards and swim instructors • Athletic specialists • Ropes specialists • Teachers