The White Stag Leadership Development Program

★★★★★Distraction

I attended White Stag as candidate recently and I had so much fun. The people I met during the week were so kind and considerate to me and even 2 weeks after the camp we still keep in contact reminiscing over the fun times we had during the week. The staff did an amazing job helping me throughout the week, and I will definitely use many of the skills they taught me. I really recommend you send your kids to White Stag. It is a wonderful experience that helps your child grow and have fun.

★★★★★Ellen L

I have participated here for 6 years now and it has been enjoyable and amazing experience. I really recommend it to anyone interested in making new friends, learning new skills, and having incredible stories to tell on for years.

★★★★★LDC

Outstanding experience for both of my boys (14 & 10) who learned to be more independent in the great outdoors and came back with a meaningful community project. It’s hard to put in words what made it so special. The adult volunteers were warm and welcoming and offered just the right amount of help all week long. They’ll both be back next summer.

★★★★★Moochs Perez

Our daughter who will soon be turning twelve years old attended phase 1 this summer on the recommendation of a friend who attended phase 2 this year. It was her first summer camp and her first time away from home with people she hadn't met before. She had a wonderful experience all around. She mentioned that the meals were great and the camp songs and activities were fun. For her, the week picked up in intensity on Wednesday when they went for an overnight backpacking trip. It was her most challenging experience but also the highlight of her week. She experienced home sickness the first day, but that faded away by the second day. She made good friends with some of the girls and boys in her group. Everybody seemed to be helpful and supportive of each other. As a parent of an Eagle Scout boy, I remember attending his first two summer camps as an adult troop leader. So I felt a little anxious not being able to be there with my daughter at her first summer camp. The weather in this area was in the high 80s in the morning and mid 50s in the evening for the second week of July that my daughter attended. A two person tent and a warm sleeping bag and pad with an inflatable pillow were perfect for her. The campsites were under trees and their shade made for a pleasant stay even during the warmest part of the day. The warmest it got for my daughter was on the backpacking hike up a hill, but she also forgot to wear her hat. Kids were constantly reminded to drink water. They also made frequent stops to rest and hydrate. My daughter showered twice in the six days she was there and that along with some wet wipes she took were enough for her. They were required to wear their swimsuits when they showered. I must say that my daughter has always been a scared-y cat when it comes to bugs (spiders, bees, mosquitoes, ants) and splinters. Nevertheless, none of these seem to have been an issue, or not enough for her to notice. She only used the insect repellent once, and even though she said she got bit by mosquitoes a couple of times, we couldn't find any signs of bites, rashes or scratches when she got home. In all, it was a positive growing experience for her and she is very likely to return next year. On the night she came home, she cried before going to sleep because she missed the friends she made and the songs they sang. The possibility that they might not see each other again made her sad. We told her that is part of growing up. I wrote this review because my daughter wanted me to share her experience so that it may be helpful to others. I agree that every person is different and have different reactions to similar situations. Being away from home or sleeping in a tent for the first time is not for everyone ... you can ask my wife, who is definitely not the outdoor type .... she is the glamping type :) Phase one had the largest group of kids, followed by phase two and then phase three. Middle school and high school academics, club and school sports, and online and extracurricular activities give teenagers so much to choose these days. As they grow their interest change and they opt to purse other activities. Still, it is amazing and commendable to see some of them continue to do summer camps and return to mentor the younger children.

★★★★★Ritika Kumar

This was a first camp my son went to live on his own and he had a great time at the camp. I was worried that he may tired but when i pick him up he was super charged and happy. Kids did so many fun things and learned a lot about leadership. there was always a vegetarian food options and my son loved the food. He can't wait to be there next year.