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Community Corner

Somerset Hills YMCA New Teen Adventure Program: 'The Great Escape'

The Somerset Hills YMCA is kicking off a new program ‘The Great Escape,’ the first in a series of teen adventure programs in partnership with two nonprofit youth-focused organizations, The Boys’ Club of New York and Frost Valley YMCA. This first program, geared to 7th and 8th grade teens, includes an overnight adventure featuring activities such as geocaching, ‘capture the flag’-like games with camouflage and flashlights, optional night and sunrise hikes, improv, and outdoor living skills. Of course, no overnight adventure is complete without a campfire - where teams will be given an opportunity to rename their program and brainstorm ideas for future monthly programs. Overnight will be spent in cabins or a lodge with bathrooms at Camp Cromwell, located at 900 Vosseller Avenue, Martinsville NJ. The program will begin on Friday, February 1st with check in at 5pm and checkout the following day at 11am.


Camp Cromwell, owned and operated by The Boys’ Club of New York is located in the heart of Martinsville, NJ.  The camp provides a perfect nearby location for teens ready to explore adventure and to experience a sense of independence away from parents but under the watchful eye of YMCA staff.  The teenager/supervisor ratio will be approximately 6:1. Both Somerset Hills YMCA and Frost Valley YMCA, in upstate NY, bring years of youth programming experience to the initiative through their many programs geared toward children, in particular day and resident summer camp and outdoor education.  


This overnight camp adventure is offered for just $50. There are a limited number of spaces for this event. Early reservations are encouraged. Participation is open to all 7th and 8th graders within the Somerset Hills, members and non-members alike. Sleeping bags and bed rolls are required and these items, plus more, can be borrowed at no charge. Financial assistance is available, as with any other YMCA program, thanks to the Somerset Hills YMCA’s Strong Kids Campaign that last year provided almost $1m in scholarships and program support to those in need in the Somerset Hills community.

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For more information and to register today, please visit www.somersethillsymca.org. Please contact Abbey Arwady, Director of Youth Development at aarwady@somersethillsymca.org or 908.766.7898 ext. 342 with any questions.


For more information about Camp Cromwell, please visit www.bcny.org.

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For more information about Frost Valley YMCA, please visit www.frostvalley.org.

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