Camper Groups

Junior Village  

Pre-school to entering 1st-grade units are made up of coed groups with gender-appropriate counselors in each group.

Welcome to Junior Village at Camp Deeny Riback! Junior Camp is a section of the camp that is miniaturized and age-appropriate for our toddlers. JV offers a wide variety of activities at camp. This ranges from swimming (zero entry to 4 ft swimming pool), playground, arts and crafts, ceramics, sports, dancing, and more! Our toddlers are placed in groups ranging from 10-12 campers with 3 staff! In addition to the 3 staff, campers have a Unit Leader who oversees the staff and entire age group. In Junior Village, each group has access to their own cabin with individual lockers for each camper. This is a great place for campers to cool down, change from swimming, and re-group for all the fun events. Throughout the summer, campers will have special events, color war, vendors, and nonstop fun and excitement In Junior Village, your camper will learn how to make new friends, try new things and grow tremendously in the short time at CDR.

Middle Camp 

Tsofim and Chaverim (2nd and 3rd grade) groups will be co-ed. Our Shomrim Campers will be in separate gender groups. All of middle camp’s daily choice period will continue to be co-ed.

Welcome to Middle Camp! Middle Camp is an awesome time for campers as they have graduated from Junior Village and have the chance to explore a bit more of what camp has to offer. Some things that get added to a camper’s experience are having access to our section on Budd Lake (canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing) in addition to having archery on their summer schedule! Daily activities involve more instruction, where the sole emphasis is still making sure campers are having FUN! When camp ends for the day there are a couple of times where middle campers get to experience a “late stay” at camp or even an overnight. Nothing better than late-night activities, dinner, and smores at camp capped off with a night under the stars. Middle campers will receive some off-camp trips and become mini role models for our little campers. You will see a sense of independence and maturity from your child in just a few weeks attending CDR!

Upper Camp and LITs 

6th – 10th-grade units are made up of coed groups. We offer campers opportunities to participate in activities where they are grouped by gender.

Welcome to Upper Camp! Upper Camp is a bit different from Middle Camp in the sense that your day gives you the opportunity to select activities you will be doing throughout the week.  At CDR we like to say that Upper Camp gives you the overnight experience in a day camp setting.  Upper Camp, campers will have weekly trips and 2 big trips throughout the summer where they are away for 2-4 days. In previous years trips included Six Flags, The Bronx Zoo, a Yankee Game, and trips to Montreal and Virginia Beach. At this age, you will see maturity, self-confidence, and dependence. This age is never easy as so much is changing in your life, but in a camp setting, it makes the process easier.

Welcome to LITs otherwise known as Leaders in Training. The LIT program is set to give our trainees one last summer of being a camper while seeing the other side and getting a firsthand look at what it takes to be a counselor. LITs will have a say on where they would like to shadow throughout the summer in order to learn from counselors and/or specialists. While working with counselors and children on a daily basis, LITs also will have the opportunity to build our community and lead our campers in special event activities. LIT’S learn how to be dependent, how to work with others, and how to help the community both in and out of CDR.

Camp is a place where we find a special community and unique connections to others and where we can also connect deeper with ourselves. As our campers grow up and enter the “real world”, we know they take with them the life skills, experience, and confidence that is gained at summer camp.

Our Preschool – 4th grade and 6th – 10-grade units consist of coed groups. Currently, our 5th graders are separated by gender.

Below I have listed key values that I feel are the benefits of having coed groups at day camp.

Friendship: The warm and supportive summer camp environment allowed campers to make friends with the campers in their group, both boys and girls, and have both male and female counselors as positive role models and caring and compassionate humans.

Confidence:  Campers are encouraged to be themselves no matter who is around at summer camp. We see confidence grow in our campers each summer, especially in those who are in coed groups. As they boost their self-confidence, they are doing it surrounded by both boys and girls. In the remaining ten months of the year, this self-confidence translates to their daily lives when they return to school and other social settings. During activities, everyone brings Ru’ach (spirit) by cheering each other on and supporting one another if challenges arise. By participating in activities together and reaching a common goal, both the boys and girls gain confidence.

Kavod: Our staff teaches our campers that our camp value of Kavod (respect) is an essential part of being part of our camp community. As part of a coed group, campers learn to respect one another regardless of their gender.

Gemilut: Having boys and girls grouped together during their grade school years reinforces the CDR value of Gemilut (kindness). Showing kindness to others is accepting them for who they are without stereotyping. Grouping boys and girls together allows them to see that each gender is capable of anything, and we are equal.