All In A Day's Camp Fun
Here is a typical day at Camp Laurelwood:
| 7:30 AM | Wake Up |
| 8:00 AM | Flag Pole and The Pledge |
| 8:15 AM | Breakfast then cabin clean-up |
| 9:30 AM | Bunk Activity |
| 10:30 AM | Sports Activity |
| 11:30 AM | Instructional Swim |
| 12:30 PM | Lunch |
| 1:15 PM | Canteen, Rest Hour, and Mail Call |
| 2:15 PM | Choice Activity (1 out of 3 activities) |
| 3:10 PM | Bunk Activity |
| 4:05 PM | Free Swim |
| 4:50 PM | Shower Hour |
| 6:15 PM | Dinner |
| 7:15 PM | Evening Program by division |
| 8:45 PM | Snack in mess hall |
| 9:00 PM | Lower camp to Cabins, Super Seniors to Chuppah |
| 9:30 PM | Lights Out Lower Camp |
| 10:00 PM | Lights Out Super Seniors |
Super Seniors, our eighth and ninth graders, choose all of their activities and have one free swim period. Weekends are for special themed program days. Favorites are Israel Day, TV Day, Boys vs. Girls Day and Camper vs. Counselor Day.
Aquatics/Waterfront
Getting fit is a splash at Camp Laurelwood with instructional and recreational swimming & boating.
Camp Laurelwood features two swimming pools, a boating/recreational lake, and a fishing lake. Two daily swim periods offer ample time for free swim, water games and instructional periods taught by our certified American Red Cross staff. Red Cross lifeguard training is offered to our Bonim campers each summer.
Camp Laurelwood’s beach front boating lake offers instruction and free time for kayaking, canoeing and surf-biking. The fishing lake is home to many water species including a family of turtles. Lake Laurelwood is the site for our nostalgia-filled end of session “Sailing Down the River” program and popular evening luaus.
Sports/Outdoors
Explore, Play, Score!
In the Ga-Ga pit and on the ball fields and playing courts, the sports programs at Camp Laurelwood are all about having fun, meeting challenges and learning as many new skills as possible during the summer. Our athletics department staff and sports specialists, directed by veteran Camp Sports Director Barnett Goldman, gear the competition, drills and games to the skill levels and needs of each camper, emphasizing team work and sportsmanship. Our covered “Chuppah” allows basketball players all-weather access for games and practice time to work on ball handling, shooting, offensive moves, defense and rebounding.
Campers choose from more than two dozen supervised sports and waterfront activities, coached by trained professionals to ensure safety and high standards. Helmets, safety gear, proper instruction, on-duty lifeguards, protective equipment and footwear for all sports are continually monitored. Inter-camp and league play, visiting specialty clinics, and camp-wide competitions such as the unforgettable “Big O” return each summer.
Professional fitness staff visit Camp Laurelwood and lead popular workshops for boys and girls including boot camp and self defense classes geared to every age and skill level.
At Camp Laurelwood, sports isn’t only about being the best, but improving campers’ abilities while enjoying the game. By the end of the season, Laurelwood campers are in better physical shape, feel great about themselves and have a passion for new experiences.
Every day is game day with these popular and unique sports:
- Aerobics
- Aquatics
- Archery
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Boating
- Dance
- Ga-ga
- Fitness
- Football
- Floor Hockey
- High and Low Ropes
- Kickball
- Lacrosse
- Mountain Biking
- Ping Pong
- Playscape
- Soccer
- Softball
- Speedball
- Tennis
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball
- Yoga
For more information about our Aquatics/Waterfront program, click here.
Outdoors/Nature
The great outdoors surrounding Camp Laurelwood’s beautiful site in North Madison beckons campers who chart their course with nature, hiking, fishing, horseback riding and outdoor adventure. Led by a trained nature instructor, campers hike our 140 acres, fish on our private Lake Laurelwood, explore the wildlife and learn about our precious world and its environment.
High and Low Ropes Course
With the guidance of trained ropes staff, campers reach new peaks with our High and Low Ropes Challenge Course. They fly through the air on the Flying Squirrel, Climbing Jacobs Ladder and the Gorilla Swing. Campers love zipping through the sky on the zipline, swinging on the Holy Cow, balancing on the Ships Crossing, and dangling on the Dangling Duo. The low ropes work on team activities and bonding through the Nitro Swing, Spider Web, Ships Wheel and new this summer, the teetering Whale Watch, the always challenging Mohawk Walk along with other group experiences.
Mountain Biking
Campers are encouraged to bring their bikes from home and join in once a week on an offsite bike trip. Our biking staff and nature specialists set the pace for campers to explore local biking trails, caves, and nature from atop their two-wheelers.
Jewish Life/Creative Arts
Jewish Life
Fun meets tradition with Judaics and Israeli culture in a warm, welcoming setting; Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutoring is available. Camp Laurelwood is proud to share and promote our Jewish heritage. We focus on cherished Jewish values including being kind to each other, respecting the earth, self- respect, and Israeli culture and folklore. Kosher Dietary Laws are observed, with a mashgiach (supervisor) on the premises each week.
Every Friday night, campers and staff dress in white to usher in the Sabbath with Kiddush, candle-lighting and blessing over the Challah. A traditional Shabbat meal is a highlight of the week and is followed by a spirited song session in the Mess Hall.
Friday night services after dinner are led by campers assisted by Jewish educators. Saturday mornings campers have the opportunity to sleep in and enjoy a relaxing morning followed by a short Saturday morning service. Saturdays are theme day activities. Sabbath concludes with a traditional Havdallah ceremony under the stars.
Special Israeli staff are recruited to bring Israeli culture to camp. Jewish Arts are incorporated, Tisha B’Av is observed and special theme days highlight the summer.
We strive to make every camper feel comfortable and welcome in a positive safe Jewish environment.
Creative Arts
Create your own space with arts & crafts, dance, drama & music, aerobics, computer/game room and field trips. Campers create pottery, ceramics, jewelry, soap, candles, mosaics, and design craft projects to bring home and treasure. Through music and dance, campers learn new performing routines, dance skills and moves. Our aerobics program combines the music kids love with fitness, exercise and fun.
All campers are stars in Camp Laurelwood’s drama program, as part of their weekly activities or special games, improvisational performances, and the annual camp play. Our newly upgraded air-conditioned Macintosh computer lab is a popular camp destination. Campers can practice their journalism skills working on the camp newspaper, learn digital photography and web production skills, play computer games and enjoy a relaxing period several times each week.
Trips/Special Events
Camp Laurelwood’s close proximity to the beautiful summer attractions of Connecticut and southern New England provide unique day trip excursions. Accompanied by trained staff and a first aid provider, our eighth and ninth grade campers leave camp once each week where the destination is fun and games. Trips vary each summer and have included Hamonassett Beach, Gillette Castle Canoe Trip, Six Flags and Lake Compounce amusement parks, bowling and ice skating. Basketball and soccer competitions with local camps are also favorite trips.
Camp Laurelwood’s second through seventh grade campers enjoy Lake Compounce amusement park, New Britain Rock Cats baseball games Laser Tag and more.
Nights are magical at Camp Laurelwood as campers never know what to expect from our creative and imaginative program staff. Some our designed by the division and certain events are camp wide. Activities are planned for specific divisions and some are camp-wide. Dress the Counselor, Spa Night, Sports Leagues, Scavenger Hunts, Game Show evenings, visiting performers, Laurelwood Idol and dance socials are popular summer events. Friday night’s activity is Shabbat-themed.
The Big O
“The Big O’ is a Camp Laurelwood tradition featuring three days of intense and fun competitions with relay races, kickball and basketball play-offs, sing-downs, cheering competitions and team building activities. The final gala banquet honors captains, generals and team members. The spirited presentation of each team’s winning banners, skits, songs and cheers are the stuff camp dreams are made of! Camp-wide sporting and theme events are held during each session.
Food, Health & Safety
Food Service
Delicious, camper-friendly meals that are nutritious and satisfying are an important ingredient at Camp Laurelwood. Our wonderful chefs are professionally trained and certified with extensive cooking and food preparation experience.
Each day begins in Camp Laurelwood’s spacious dining hall with a piping hot breakfast including pancakes, French toast, eggs, omelets, waffles, home fries, toast, English muffins or bagels. Campers love our daily fresh fruit bar, hot cereal selection and cold cereal option, with orange juice, milk and hot chocolate available.
Hearty lunches for growing, busy campers include grilled cheese, chicken nuggets, grinders, pizza, deli, macaroni and cheese and sloppy Joes. The fresh daily self-service salad bar includes tuna, egg salad and peanut butter and jelly. Desserts of home made cookies, cakes, fresh fruit, ice cream and Italian ices top off this mid-day meal.
Dinner menus are camper favorites and include tacos, turkey, chicken, stir fry, pasta, cookouts, and traditional Shabbat Friday night dinners with homemade challah. Each meal includes a side dish, cooked vegetable and salad bar. Home made cookies, cakes, cupcakes, fresh fruit, ice cream and Italian ice are yummy desserts.
Daytime snacks of fresh fruit and granola bars are available. Prior to bed time campers can visit the mess hall for an evening snack.
Canteen
Included in each camper’s tuition is a visit to our canteen, featuring snacks and cold drinks. Canteen is open daily except for Saturday’s observance of Shabbat. On opening day parents can establish a canteen account with extra funds for miscellaneous items such as stamps, shampoo, soap and other necessities.
Health and Medical
Camp Laurelwood prides itself on an outstanding Health Center which is well-equipped for daily needs as well as emergencies. Before opening day, the infirmary staff review all camper medical information to help make the first days of camp run as smoothly as possible. We are also staffed with two registered nurses on site each day who live at camp and are available on-call around the clock. Six days a week, a physician from Shoreline Pediatrics visits camp to see patients, allowing nurses and doctors to provide the best possible medical care for each camper. Parents of campers requiring prescription medications or overnight stays in the Health Center will be notified by phone.
Camp Laurelwood’s Health Center operates and is certified according to the guidelines of the State of Connecticut and the American Camping Association.
Parents will receive a manual which explains Camp Laurelwood’s over the counter and daily medications policies. This manual will also be available on line.
Safety and Security
Camper safety is our foremost concern. Camp Laurelwood is licensed and overseen by the State of Connecticut and American Camping Association. All camp activities are staffed and operated by properly trained and licensed staff to assure safety in all camp areas.
Camp Laurelwood has a long-standing and close working relationship with the town police department who patrol the camp site twice during the day and at least three times each evening. All staff participates in professional training to deal with minor and major situations as well as security issues.
All campers from Day Camp through seventh grade are accompanied by staff at all times. Older campers have the opportunity to report to activities without staff, but are checked in and accounted for at each location.
Close camper supervision sets Camp Laurelwood apart. Campers will never be left alone in their bunks. Following evening activities, a counselor remains in the bunk to supervise campers. At curfew all staff returns and sleep in the cabin.
All staff is trained to be extremely vigilant throughout each day including reporting any suspicious persons or activities to the camp office. All visitors and deliveries must check in at the camp office to receive permission to enter.





































