The Willow Lake Difference

World Class

Summer Magic

Blond boy in a green Minecraft shirt holding a yellow ball and raising one hand with a playful expression.

Smiling girl with long blonde hair wearing a blue hoodie holding a leather bracelet engraved with the word 'HAPPINESS'.

Smiling girl wearing a helmet and safety harness ziplining outdoors near a climbing wall.

Boy wearing a blue shirt and red shorts crawling through a net tunnel at a playground.

Blond boy in a green Minecraft shirt holding a yellow ball and making a triumphant gesture with his hand.

Smiling girl with long blonde hair wearing a blue hoodie holds a leather bracelet stamped with the word 'HAPPINESS'.

Smiling girl wearing a helmet and harness hanging from a zipline with a climbing wall in the background.

Boy in blue shirt and red shorts climbing through a rope tunnel at a playground.

Three girls lifting another girl in a cheerleading stunt with a stone wall background.

Two boys wearing orange life jackets in a blue kayak on calm water, one holding a paddle and the other making a peace sign.

Smiling girl in a colorful tie-dye shirt riding a shiny sequin-covered mechanical bull at a carnival.

Two girls posing back-to-back, one with a purple wig and heart-shaped glasses, the other wearing a black eye patch and green clothing.

Three girls supporting a fourth girl standing on their hands indoors against a stone wall, the girl on top making a heart shape with her arms.

Two boys wearing orange life jackets in a blue kayak on calm water, one boy holding a paddle and the other making a peace sign.

Two girls back to back, one wearing a purple wig and heart-shaped glasses, the other with an eye patch and mischievous expression.

Smiling girl in swimwear sliding down a frog-shaped water slide towards a woman in a pool reaching out to catch her.

Smiling girl with long hair wearing a gray t-shirt raising her arm indoors with two blurred girls also raising their arms in the background.

Three boys jumping and reaching for a basketball on an outdoor court with trees in the background.

Two young boys wearing blue life jackets smiling while riding a red inflatable tube on water.

Young girl wearing goggles and a blue swim shirt sliding down a pink frog-shaped water slide into a pool, greeted by a woman in the water.

Smiling girl in gray t-shirt raising her arm indoors with two blurred people raising their arms in the background.

Three boys jumping to reach a basketball on an outdoor court with trees in the background.

Two young boys smiling and wearing blue life jackets while holding onto a red inflatable water tube on a lake.

Smiling child wearing a blue helmet and harness hanging upside down from a zipline in a forested area.

Two young girls sitting inside a yellow play tunnel, laughing and facing each other.

Young boy holding a basketball and shouting, with blue face paint under his eyes.

Smiling young woman holding a happy girl surrounded by foam bubbles outdoors.

Child wearing a blue helmet and harness hanging upside down on a zipline in a green outdoor setting.

Two young girls laughing and sitting inside a yellow playground tunnel slide.

Smiling woman holding a laughing young girl amidst foam bubbles outdoors.

Young boy in yellow shirt and red shorts crossing flag football finish line with finger raised.

Camp staff member wearing sunglasses and a hat helps a smiling boy in a red shirt aim a blue compound bow for archery outside.

Smiling girl holding a white rolled beeswax candle while sitting at a wooden table with other children.

Young girl in a black tank top and denim shorts jumping in the air indoors over a blue gymnastics mat.

Smiling boy in yellow shirt and red shorts crossing finish line with raised index finger during a flag football game.

Camp staff member wearing a bucket hat and sunglasses instructs a smiling boy in a red shirt on how to shoot a blue compound bow outdoors.

Smiling young girl holding a white hand-rolled candle made of beeswax at a wooden table.

Young girl mid-air jumping with arms raised above her head in a wooden gym room.

Our outstanding program mixes amazing people, long-cherished traditions and an incredible variety of activities.

Our Campus & Facilities

A Picturesque, Private Campus

Our 35 acre campus in Lake Hopatcong, NJ is often compared to a premier sleep-away camp. Set among expansive grassy fields, shaded rolling hills, and a private spring-fed lake, our clean, modern-yet-rustic facility lets campers truly unplug. Each activity area is custom designed for specific age groups, ensuring safety and personal growth.

The Fun Never Stops

We have over 40,000 square feet of indoor and covered space to keep the fun going, rain or shine.

Lake Hopatcong Adventures

Our unique Tubing program takes place in a serene setting on a quiet cove of New Jersey’s largest lake.

Campus & Facility Details

Interactive Map

Group of young people standing on a wooden bridge in a forest, forming a chain by holding hands raised in the air.

Smiling boy wearing a blue climbing helmet ascending a colorful climbing wall.

Our Program & Activities

A Program That Grows With Them

Your child’s interest changes as they grow and our dynamic program is intentionally designed to keep pace. From the mini facilities for our youngest campers to an expanded choice-based program for our older campers, we ensure the Willow Lake experience stays fresh, stimulating and perfectly matched to each camper’s developmental stage.

60+ Amazing Activities

A well balanced mix of swim, athletics, arts, adventure – plus water sports, performing & creative arts and special events.

Weekly Choice

Campers entering 2nd grade and up choose part of their daily schedule, allowing them to follow their dreams and gain independence.

See the Progressive Program

Explore Activities

Our DREAM BIG Philosophy

Turning Dreams into Actions for our Campers

Through our DREAM BIG philosophy – Discovery, Respect, Empathy, Appreciation, Memories, Benevolence, Integrity and Generosity – we turn summer fun into a foundation for life. We create a supportive, spirited environment where taking healthy risks is rewarded and every personal victory is celebrated by our entire camp community.

A Culture of Kindness

We help campers become exactly who they feel most comfortable being in a no-judgment zone.

Values-Driven Growth

Our staff champions our DREAM BIG philosophy, intentionally creating opportunities for campers to succeed.

Explore Our Philosophy

Man and young girl in a swimming pool giving each other a high five.

Smiling woman and four girls wearing swim goggles and swimsuits, playing in foam bubbles outdoors.

Parent Communication

Partnering with Parents

Willow Lake is well known for our philosophy of partnering with parents. Our goal is to provide total peace of mind through proactive, transparent communication that keeps you connected to your child’s summer without interrupting their experience and independence. We are dedicated to personal and responsive service that constantly exceeds your expectations.

One Dedicated Contact

You are assigned a Unit Leader – a mature adult – to be your dedicated point of contact for the summer.

Daily Digital Window

Over 500 high quality photos are uploaded daily to our My Willow Lake app – the central hub for pictures, forms, docs, and more.

First-timers Guide

How we Communicate

Transportation

Transportation Made Easy

Camp begins the moment your child steps onto the bus! Our modern fleet of school buses is supervised by a year-round team member with the sole responsibility of curating the safest routes and most fun and spirited rides to camp. By using efficient central transportation stops, our campers spend considerably less time on the bus each way, giving them a better overall camp experience.

Serving Northern NJ

We provide central stop service to families across Essex, Morris, Union, Hudson, and Sussex counties.

Spirit on Wheels

Trained paid bus counselors lead games, songs, and fun games to start the day with a high-five.

Transportation Details & Towns

Two girls with backpacks embrace on a wooden bridge surrounded by green trees, one smiling at the camera.

Four smiling girls holding fresh fruit, standing behind bowls filled with peaches, plums, and watermelon pieces.

Food & Nutrition

A Well-fueled Camper is a Happy Camper

At Willow Lake, we serve a healthy, kid-friendly menu in our spacious and clean open-air lunch pavilion. Each lunch period is a structured family-style experience where counselors sit with and serve each child individually to ensure every camper knows all the options and finds something they love. In addition, Unit Leaders, Friendship Coaches – Willow Lake’s very own 'Camp Moms', and Directors are present overseeing each lunch.

Nut-Aware Facility

We never use nut oils, nut products or sesame in any food we serve.

Dietary Needs and Allergies

We are well equipped to handle all allergies and dietary needs – please reach out to us with any specific questions.

Food, Nutrition, & Sample Menus

Our Leaders & Staff

The Best Staff in the World

Our dedicated staff are the heart of Willow Lake. In fact, we think it is so important that we have two year-round staff who focus on hiring. We go to great lengths to hire mature, experienced staff members who truly love working with campers. With a heavy emphasis on teachers as activity specialists and college-aged counselors as role models, your camper isn't just supervised – they are mentored by professionals who prioritize their growth.

Expert-Led Specialty Areas

Our activity specialists are professional educators and coaches who teach real skills.

Personalized Attention

Extremely low camper-to-staff ratios ensure no child ever gets lost in the crowd.

Meet our Leadership Team

About Our Staff

Smiling female camp counselor embracing two young girls wearing matching Willow Lake tank tops outdoors.

Older woman with curly gray hair sitting and gently holding hands with a young girl in a green dress on a bench.

Our Health & Safety

Safety isn't a Checklist – it's our Obsession

We are fanatical about professional training and maintaining the highest standards of physical and emotional well-being. From our heated Frog Pool for the little ones to our advanced Adventure Park, every piece of equipment and every protocol is designed with "Safety First" as the literal rule.

Team of RNs

A team of 5+ dedicated registered nurses are on-site daily to staff our two Health Center locations.

ACA Accredited

We voluntarily meet and exceed the highest standards of health, safety, and program quality.

More About Health & Safety

Ready to See the Magic in Action?

Touring Willow Lake is the best way to see the Willow Lake Difference in action. Bring your camper and see why our families call this their home away from home.

Enroll Now Request Info

Sunlit turquoise water surface with visible ripples and reflections.

Where to next?