This place is so dirty and the counselors are so mean except moonee she is the best and she is so…read morenice there is so many spiders and the counselors and Ben don't listen to you at all and all they feed u is noodles

One of the most beautiful camps I've ever attended-- I was there for a weekend and the service was…read morefantastic. The food was excellent and full of variety and there were so many options for everything. The place was immaculate and clean. I truly enjoyed the baseboard heating in the rooms and the quiet serenity due to how spacious and far apart the buildings were. Although there were several activities, we simply hiked along the grounds and enjoyed the captivating views.

This camp used to be great and I had recommended it to friends for years. Now I realize this was a…read moremistake! ILC used to be a great place for the "weird" kids who didn't like to play team sports and didn't care about social status, purports to be accepting of all. But as the camp has become more expensive, the campers are different and not for the better - a camp full of those who can afford close to $8,000 (by the time you factor in what you must bring there yourself) for only 3 weeks (!!!) is naturally going to contain more kids who don't understand how much money that is and ridicule kids whose parents still send them because the kids love it even if this is a financial strain. So imagine how disappointing it is to spend a summer around this clientele, which has evolved to include plenty of mean girls who pick on others who don't bring fancy clothes to camp (because why? It's camp!), make rude comments about others' bodies, and allude to other campers' lower socioeconomic status, etc. Unfortunately it's not about the beloved activities anymore. It's about pleasing the richest clientele by throwing "parties" and being a wild display of frivolously spent dollars, minimal supervision (especially of the social situation), and scapegoating those who are bullied. Also, the printed manual discouraging bringing expensive clothing to camp means absolutely nothing. It used to be a camp for nerds by nerds. Now it's a place where the cool, ultra-rich kids always win. So if you have a kid who loves arts activities, send them to French Woods or Buck's Rock. This place is becoming just a lesser version of certain camps most well-known for being attended by spoiled brats.

I've read articles from other people that there are issues with Independent Lake Camp (ILC). Some…read morepeople have excessively high expectations that are impossible to meet. However, if you have realistic expectations, then you'll find ILC is a fantastic experience for your kids. I have and will continue to recommended ILC to my friends and clients. When my younger son went there, he was introverted and uncomfortable meeting new people. After just a summer (2 sessions), he came back out going and totally a new kid. I was so happy to see the transformation that he achieved at ILC. The camp gave him the opportunity try things never he had done before in a safe and encouraging environment. It is so much better than the typical school where our kids attend that do not encourage them to go beyond the comfort zones. My son experienced circus tricks, illusion, unicycle, and even rocketry. All activities he'd never tried before and came back excited and wanting to do more. To me, this outcome indicates the sign of a great camp. If your kid only wants to do sports, then Independent Lake Camp is not the right camp for them. If your child on the other hand wants to explore new things and challenge him or herself (and maybe a little bit nerdy on the inside), then they will find ILC an amazing experience.

This is my son's 5th year going to Camp Lohikan, he has so much fun every year! I truly feel it has…read morehelped him gain maturity, and they have so much fun while they're at camp! There are so many activities available!

This camp is amazing! I took my child to this camp last summer and he had a blast. I even took a…read moretour through the camp and there is so much amazing activities to do! there is archer, rock climbing, swimming, arts and crafts, and so much more! My child said the staff were pretty nice as well. If your looking for a place to put your child at summer camp, this is the spot!

Incredible atmospher, family spirit and sports facilities. Never quite seen anything like it and…read moreonce you step foot in the gates you'll truly see how you leave the ordinary and enter the extraordinary. From a counsellor, I have never met such a group of amazing people and I know full well that their work translates to your kids perfectly, and they do everything in their power to make sure your children have the best summer of their lives, every summer.

Ballibay has been a safe haven for my 3 kids for the past 6 years. Every summer they come home with…read morestronger bonds than the summer before. They truly get to spend time doing the things that they love with teachers who specialize in the many arts offered by the camp. They have the encouragement they need from their peers and the independence to try everything that is offered. Their closest friends, who they bond with and stay connected to throughout the year have become a support system. During the pandemic, they truly leaned on each other because Ballibay friends have become family. It's a place where everyone is accepted and safe and because of this safe space they are free to really find themselves on their journey of life. It's a magical place where creativity is flowing and process are celebrated.

Finding Ballibay for my kids was a godsend. All three of them exhibited a passion for the arts (and…read morecontinue to do so) but finding summer activities that they loved proved difficult where we live. In addition, it was not easy to find programs comprised of kids who were similar to our own. Here, in suburban Philadelphia, they always felt a tad out of place. Yes, there are theater day camps, and dance intensives, and rock performance music programs, but it was impossible to find a place that offered it all and that attracted kids similar to ours. We began our search for sleep away camps focused on the performing arts, but much of what we found seemed to stress only talent, and after talking to others who had sent their kids to these performing arts camps, they were simply too competitive. We wanted our kids to have fun and to focus on the creative process...not just on the final product, and to try different things that perhaps they weren't skilled at or had never tried. We wanted them to experience the antithesis of what they get from their public education during the academic year. Ballibay offered exactly this and we couldn't have been more thrilled. It was like finding a hidden gem...and we were in on one of the best kept secrets. Ballibay is smaller than all of the other performing arts camps I'd researched...allowing the kids to develop strong relationships with other kids, but also with the high-caliber instructors and counselors. Of our three kids, two went for 3 summers, and one will be going again this year--his 4th. The older ones are off to college next fall, and the youngest couldn't imagine summer without Ballibay. Camp Ballibay has become a second family and summer home. The friendships my kids made there are strong and I'm confident that they will be long-lasting. However, Ballibay does not only offer wonderful instruction and experiences in the arts. Ballibay offers a safe space to try new things in a gorgeous country setting in northeast Pennsylvania, but it also provides kids the opportunity to unplug from the constant barrage of social media and video games, breathe in the fresh air, and eat delicious food, much of which is grown right there! We cannot recommend the opportunity for any creative-driven child to experience this home away from home enough! Once they do, they'll be hooked! The only down side of Ballibay is having to leave when the session is over.

Interest place to visit. Something for everyone. Model railroads, native American displaces.read more

Incredible museum and exhibits. Cannot say enough good things. This is the best museum we have seen…read moreupstate and we have been to many. Wish we would've tried it sooner. Plenty of interactive areas for my 4 yo who loved it. Easily spent 3 hours there. The model train set is beautifully done!

I came here for a church retreat, and let me start by saying: the drive in was traumatic. One-lane,…read morewinding road. Aggressive fog. Zero streetlights. I don't know if Pennsylvania is cutting costs or testing faith levels, but the drive absolutely required prayer. That said, and this is important, that was the worst part of the entire experience. Once you arrive, it's like stepping into a completely different reality. Parking is plentiful, clearly marked, and right in front of the buildings (including handicap and short-term spots, which we love to see). The facilities themselves? Beautiful. Clean. Extremely well maintained. No "rustic surprise mold" vibes here. Each room has its own bathroom, a thermostat, and AC, which means you're not stuck freezing, sweating, or silently resenting whoever controls the temperature. Huge win. There's also a cute little fire pit (weather permitting), a gym/fitness center, and a dining hall tucked under another residence building that honestly deserves applause. Because let's talk about the food. 10/10. Retreat food is usually a gamble, but Spruce Lake did not come to play. AND, possibly my favorite detail, the beverage machines. Coffee, drinks, and cups you can reuse or grab-and-go, which means you can take your coffee with you like a civilized adult. In the same building, there's a gorgeous space to sit and relax, complete with multiple fireplaces that make you feel like you should be journaling or having a deep conversation. There's also a bookstore with beautiful religious items if you feel like browsing or taking something meaningful home. Staff were consistently polite, helpful, and clearly knew what they were doing, everything ran smoothly the entire stay. Final verdict: Yes, the commute tried to humble me. But once you're there? It's peaceful, comfortable, thoughtfully designed, and genuinely enjoyable. I had such a great experience that I'm already looking forward to my next visit. That drive isn't stopping me, and that's saying something.

Visit Dates: August 21, 2023 to August 25, 2023…read more I came here with my family and my church Grace Reformed Baptist Church for a camping trip and retreat. I opted for camping in a tent (my first time) and the meal plan (do not recommend). Mostly everything was great. The campsite was fairly easy to find I had a water hookup and an electricity hookup so I got to charge my phone. I set up my tent fairly easily and was happy about that. The nature was pretty, the camping site was great, the bathrooms and shower stalls were well maintained and clean. My family stayed in the rooms. The rooms are way more pricey and I heard a few church members complaining about the beds. I stayed in the room on my last night because my dad was worried about me going home with my son alone even though I would have been okay so he stayed past the point of my sisters going home and kept the room my sisters stayed in with him. My son got scared of camping on the last night so we ended up in my dad's room the last night, I didn't think it was so bad. This is a Christian Camp so if you aren't Christian be prepared for the Jesus. I'm not sure if they allow individual stays but I was with the church. They gave us a designated space for devotional time, we had two devotional sessions a day. I love Jesus and am a Christian so when I got here I was like oh so much of Jesus loves you, so much of God loves you and I loved it. But if you aren't Christian and book a camping trip here you may not like it, you may be surprised so I'm just specifying. Spruce Lake itself is on the small side, I got to check it out but I found the woods and campgrounds more impressive. They have a snack shop that's open for a few hours a day. The snack shop food was great. My son and I missed the snack shop the first few days but we got to go on Wednesday and Thursday. So the dining hall and meal plans. That's the one thing I wouldn't recommend. I opted for it because I didn't know how camping was going to be I wanted to try the tent thing first before I went gun-ho with bringing my own coolers and food. Next year I'm getting a stove and bringing all my coolers and my own food. I basically paid $100 for my kid to drink soda because he would not touch anything in the dining hall to eat during our stay. I had a lot of snacks for him, my family bought a lot of snacks for him as well and he ate fries at the snack shop so he was fed. Some of the meals were okay, some of the stuff was kind of awful. So everything about this resort except for the food was great and if my church comes back here again I'd like to go!

They won't promise me my daughter who has very high functioning autism and just requires a little…read morebit of emotional support will be safe and they pretty much refuse any child who has any kind of difference and won't allow a parent to stay with them . No autism allowed. Also if the staff dont like a book or anything you bring because it isn't godly enough or has any other religion or culture in it they will take it and destroy it. First hand experience with Scott wilson in 2005 .

Full disclosure- i work at Path of life camp, this is in response to negative reviews to provide…read moresome insight and context to the complaints- First, we have literally thousands of people through our barn every year, we have nothing to hide and no way to hide it if we did. Unlike many stables that would just send senior horses and hard keepers to the meat auction, we keep our horses through the end of their retirement and natural lives. The gray "powder" mentioned was over 30 years old when the video was posted, and hes still alive and well- we had his teeth regularly inspected, but at that age, they are no longer growing to be floated, instead just being lost as they age- therefore he doesnt eat a lot of hay, but is on a senior ration and supplements. Because of his age and weight, of course he wasnt being worked, just free range exercise, thats a big part of the reason why his topline was in such poor condition. Nobody has to take my word for it, we're an open facility for anybody to come through and see our largely overweight herd for themselves. As for the comments on the facilities and security of our summer camp, its important to keep in mind that this was a teen camp, yes, parents are allowed on campus during the week, but campers are supervised such that while they can be easily found, they cant be just snatched from their group. Within seconds of their arrival, they were greeted by a director and guided to their childrens location. For the facilities, theres no question that there were areas greatly in need of updating, including the bathrooms which were in an incomplete remodel- parts had been done but the shower floors had not yet been resurfaced. This work has since been done. The beds in the dorms have also since been replaced. Even at the time, the mattresses were sanitized every week and intended to be covered in camper-supplied sheets, as indicated in the packing list. In regard to being "packed like sardines" this is flatly untrue, the local health department had required empty bunks and 6 feet of spacing between as a covid precaution, about 60% of the bunks were totally empty. Again, dont just take my word for it- while we're hardly the ritz, the camp is aggressively fundraising and working hard to rescue the facilities from decades of dereliction, and welcome visitors to judge the progress and current conditions for themselves.

I had sent my son to lake greeley for the first time last year, the summer of 2022, and he had a…read moregreat time. I had seen some postings and some information about 2021 and thought that while there were some drawbacks, it was important to get my son out of the house and doing something for the summer. He has been sitting around too long and I want him doing more. When looking around, there were numerous other camps in the area and other kinds of programs, but when I had seen what greeley offered to what the price would be especially compared to the other programs, I thought that it would have been a steal. I jumped on the offer for a 2 week session and luckily everything worked out. Greeley was great, the people were very welcoming and worked with the kids very well and my son made a number of new friends which is the bonus to him being up and moving.

My son participated in this camp during 2021. There were 14 young boys in one cabin with only one…read moreadult (we were told there would be only 8 kids in the cabin)! The kids were mean and cursed during the week and the camp did not address it. When I reported it to the camp directors (Mat and Rose), they never responded to my email. The many activities that were shown on the video were not available (the ropes course for example) due to being understaffed. My son actively disliked his experience. I will also say that this director responded to my review on google within 12 hours of my posting but as a parent I emailed and didn't hear anything for more than two weeks. This Director clearly cares more about image than actual responsiveness to parents or the camper experience. In fact, I am still waiting on a response to my email. We were not told in advance about activities being closed, and we were assured that although there were Covid staffing issues there would be enough staff to run a great camp. This was not my son's experience. There are many awesome camps out there and parents should know that the directors are unresponsive except to reviews.