Welcome to the Surprise Lake Camp family!  

When you register your child for SLC, you will become part of a special family that has served thousands of Jewish children with distinction since 1902.  We take great pride in our reputation, and we are confident you will be impressed by the caring of our staff, the beauty of our site, the quality of our program, and the Jewish experience we create for our campers.   

We look forward to providing a rewarding experience for your child not only this summer, but we also hope to share in the joy of helping your child grow into a fine, well-rounded adult over many summers to come.  

We invite you to explore our website to learn all that you can about us.  If you would like to speak to someone live, please don’t hesitate to contact us.  Our staff is ready to answer your questions and help you through the registration process! 

Why Surprise Lake Camp? 

We are living in an era when the world can be a tough place for kids.  

Schoolwork, competitive sports teams, and peer pressure can be stressful.  Watching the news is sometimes scary.  And too many kids spend far too much time in front of a screen or monitor instead of breathing fresh air, having fun, and learning how to live with and get along with other people.

Surprise Lake Camp offers our kids a much needed vacation from these stressful situations.  At camp, they benefit from healthy role models, spending time outdoors, nutritious meals, the chance to learn new skills, fun and interesting Jewish activities, the ability to develop self-esteem, the opportunity to learn basic human values, and the joy of forming friendships that enrich and sustain them for the rest of their lives.

Our agency helps people in need, for one reason or another, and makes their lives better.  We hear it from campers, staff, and parents who are still with us today, and we hear it from grayed alumni who remember their camp days with great gratitude and nostalgia.  More than one of them have told us over the years that they believe Surprise Lake Camp literally saved their lives.

We hope that you are interested in joining our family and being a part of the special magic that we create.  

Questions?  Want to speak to someone live?  Please call 212-924-3131 and we will be happy to help you! 

To request a packet of information, click here. 

If you prefer to email Sylvie, our Camp Registrar, click here.