Our Story
Welcome to Camp Lakota, a six-week traditional summer camp for children ages 6-16. Located in Wurtsboro, New York, about 90 miles from New York City, high atop the Wurtsboro Hills in the foothills of the Catskill Mountain range. We reside on 250 of the most pristine acres of land, including our magnificent Masten Lake. As Lakota has grown over the years so has its wonderful facility, which now offers studio and performance spaces, pools, athletic fields and courts, including our newly rebuilt tennis and pickleball complex! For the past 100 years we have had the privilege of providing a safe and fun camp experience for generations of campers and we proudly invite you to become a part of our Lakota Family!
Our Program
At Lakota we know that sending your child to camp is a big act of trust so we do everything we can to make sure you and your child are confident with your choice. We make a point to know each of our campers as individuals to help them grow and develop skills while making memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. Our well-trained and experienced staff are there day and night to ensure that each camper is well cared for and enjoying their time at Lakota. Each division at Lakota has the opportunity to participate in all activities that we offer with equipment and instruction for a range of ages and abilities, we also ensure that each division’s schedule is well rounded with a mix of sports, arts, and specialty activities. We have found that our campers gain independence and confidence while spending their summers at Lakota and continue to come back year after year for the amazing experience.
We offer a single six-week session which we have thoughtfully planned to make sure our campers get the most out of their time at Lakota. Having every camper at Lakota be part of the full 6-week session creates a truly unified experience for the whole camp! Six-weeks is the perfect amount of time for campers to participate in and try all of our traditional camp activities while still having time for special all-camp activities like college olympics, camp trips, color war and more. Our six-week program allows children to enjoy the full camp experience while still having time for family activities, sports, and other summer activities outside of camp. For our first time campers (1st-5th grade only) we do have a three-week session that lets our youngest campers ease into camp life, with the option to extend to the full session or come back the following summer(s) for the full six-weeks.
Activities and Special Events
Camp Lakota has everything your child needs to have a fantastic summer! We have an extensive activities list as well as 100 years of camp traditions that have been passed down through the generations and though we love our traditions we are always adding new activities and events to keep things exciting for our campers! At Camp Lakota we are very fortunate to have an extensive watersports program right on campus, with our beautiful sandy beach on Masten Lake. We offer water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing and more all without having to travel off campus. Our beach front also offers great swimming, inflatable water slides, row boats, paddle boards, and other small water crafts. In addition to our lakefront we have 2 heated pools where campers can enjoy free swim, water volleyball, and swim instruction. We have a large sports field that is home to 2 softball diamonds, multiple soccer/lacrosse/football fields, other multipurpose fields for any sport you can think of, as well as a street hockey rink. Our campus includes volleyball courts, basketball courts, gaga arenas, tennis courts, and newly added pickleball courts. Our “College Hall” building is home to our arts & crafts program including traditional camp crafts, ceramics, and jewelry making. We also have facilities for theater/drama, cooking, dance, yoga, and gymnastics. Our campus is also home to our own horseback riding facility, rock wall & ropes course, go-kart track, and more! Check out our full list of activities at camplakota.com.
Just as the days at Lakota are filled with exciting activities, each night at Lakota is a fun and unique event! Most of our night activities include the whole camp and can be anything from talent shows, to court jesters or bunk junk and so many more carefully planned activities. Throughout the summer we have many special events such as camp trips, college olympics, color war and many other long standing Lakota traditions!
Our Leadership
Camp Lakota is very fortunate to have an amazing group of people who come back year after year, many of whom were once campers, to work at Lakota. Our girls head counselor, Danielle Goldspiel, was a second generation camper for eleven summers. She and her husband met at Lakota when they were both campers and now she and their children continue the family tradition by returning to the Catskills to spend each summer at Lakota. When she is not working at camp, Danielle works as a school teacher. She adds to our team her experience working with kids and assists all of our staff in creating an environment where all of our campers can have an unforgettable experience. We take great satisfaction in employing the greatest personnel in the camping industry at Camp Lakota. Our staff is handpicked and put through a rigorous assessment process to make sure they live up to our high expectations. Our Camp Director, David Zaleon has several decades of experience guiding, supporting, and working with Staff and Campers from all around the country. From young children to teenagers, we offer expert counselors who are educated to inspire, guide, and protect your kids’ health and safety.
Work at Lakota
There are many options for summer activities, but what sets Camp Lakota apart? It’s the people! Our community, which consists of our campers and exceptional staff, is the heart of Camp Lakota, even beyond its outstanding facilities and ideal location. Our counselors are extremely patient, devoted to their work, and passionate about working with children. Seeing the growth and development of children provides an unmatched sense of satisfaction that comes with working with them. The benefits at Lakota are fantastic, but they need dedication and hard work to obtain.