New Frontiers Day Camp

For parents and guardians in Pennsylvania looking for a high-quality, engaging, and enriching summer experience for their children, New Frontiers Day Camp stands out as a premier choice. This program, operated by the respected **Carlisle Family YMCA**, is not a traditional overnight campground but rather a specialized day camp that leverages a remarkable natural setting for outdoor education and adventure. It is designed specifically for children typically **aged 9-12 years old**, providing a structured, safe, and fun environment for young explorers to learn, grow, and thrive.

New Frontiers Day Camp offers an escape from digital screens and an immersion into the natural world. Campers engage in a rotating schedule of activities focused on environmental exploration, creative arts, and physical challenge. The philosophy centers on fostering a sense of wonder, developing social skills, and promoting a positive, safe atmosphere where kids can discover their potential. The camp runs throughout the summer, offering flexibility for working parents with extended hours, ensuring peace of mind while children are enjoying a summer filled with discovery and friendship.

Location and Accessibility

New Frontiers Day Camp operates out of a beautiful and expansive private location in the Cumberland Valley area of Pennsylvania. While the program is administered by the Carlisle Family YMCA, the core daily activities take place off-site on a dedicated parcel of land, making it a true outdoor experience.

The activities are primarily held at the YMCA's **100-acre Y’s Men and Women’s Club farm**, which provides a secluded and rich environment for nature-based activities. This location is approximately **10 minutes from the main Carlisle Family YMCA facility**.

**Daily Transportation and Logistics:**

• Campers are **transported daily by bus** from the Carlisle Family YMCA to the New Frontiers site in Lower Frankford Township.
• The daily drop-off and pick-up point is the Carlisle Family YMCA.
• The structured camp day is typically from **10:00 AM to 3:00 PM** at the farm location.
• **Extended hours** are available for parents, with drop-off starting as early as **7:45 AM** and pick-up extending until **5:00 PM**, offering flexibility for working schedules.

The address associated with the physical site for the activities is often referenced as: **Lower Frankford Township, PA 17015, USA** (or specifically **700 Stone Church Road, Carlisle PA 17015** for the farm location). This placement offers the peaceful, natural environment necessary for outdoor education while maintaining logistical accessibility from the Carlisle area.

Services Offered

As an accredited day camp program, New Frontiers provides a comprehensive package of services focused on safety, activity, and educational value. The camp fees are all-inclusive for the week, simplifying the process for parents.

Key services provided by the New Frontiers Day Camp program include:

• **Daily Bus Transportation** from the Carlisle Family YMCA facility to the 100-acre farm site.
• **Supervision** by enthusiastic and trained camp staff in a positive and safe environment.
• **Weekly Themed Activities** that revolve around specific educational concepts like "Things That Fly" or "Water, Lakes & Streams."
• **All-Inclusive Field Trip Costs**, with a dedicated Field Trip Day usually scheduled for Thursdays.
• **Swimming Days** (typically Wednesday and Friday) at the Carlisle Family YMCA pool, supervised by counselors, with required flotation devices for non-swimmers.
• **Extended Hours** of operation from 7:45 AM to 5:00 PM for working families.
• Focus on **Service Learning/Community Service**, teaching kids morals and life skills.
• ACA (American Camp Association) **Accreditation**, ensuring compliance with recognized standards for health, safety, and program quality.

Features and Highlights

New Frontiers Day Camp distinguishes itself through its dedication to outdoor and environmental education, providing experiences that many children in central Pennsylvania might not otherwise encounter. The vast, private farm property is the camp's main feature, allowing for authentic, hands-on learning.

Features and highlights of the camp program include:

• **Nature Exposure and Exploration** across the 100-acre natural setting, perfect for learning about the Pennsylvania environment.
• **Outdoor Adventure Activities** such as **Kayaking** and learning **“Leave No Trace” Skills**.
• **Creative and Educational Stations** that cover a wide rotation of subjects, including Arts & Crafts, Science, and Games, all often revolving around the weekly theme.
• **Water-Based Activities** like swimming and creek/stream exploration, essential for a fun summer experience.
• **Animal Encounters** providing unique opportunities to interact with wildlife or farm animals in a safe, educational context.
• Specialized curriculum for the age group of 9-12, focusing on fostering confidence, teamwork, and a sense of wonder.
• A **Structured Camp Day** that balances planned educational sessions with plenty of time for active play and exploration.

Contact Information

For the most up-to-date information regarding registration, 2025 session dates, pricing (Member and Non-Member fees), and specific themed weeks, please contact the Carlisle Family YMCA, which manages the New Frontiers Day Camp program.

**Main Administrative Contact (Carlisle Family YMCA):**

**Phone:** (717) 243-2525 x 230 (Contact Jay Cattron, typically the Director or Coordinator)

**Address:** (Physical Site for Activities) Lower Frankford Township, PA 17015, USA (The YMCA's 100-acre Y's Men and Women's Club farm)

Prospective campers and their families are often invited to attend an **Open House** in late spring (e.g., early June) to tour the New Frontiers site and meet the staff.

What is Worth Choosing New Frontiers Day Camp?

For residents of Central Pennsylvania, choosing New Frontiers Day Camp means investing in a transformative summer experience that balances safety, education, and pure fun. It is worth choosing for several key reasons:

**High-Quality, Accredited Program:** As a Carlisle Family YMCA program, New Frontiers carries the prestige of **ACA Accreditation**. This certification is a non-negotiable standard for many Pennsylvania parents, signifying that the camp adheres to high national standards for health, safety, and staff training. This provides an unmatched level of trust and confidence in the program's operation.

**Unrivaled Natural Setting:** Unlike many day camps confined to school or YMCA grounds, New Frontiers is conducted on a spectacular, sprawling **100-acre farm**. This immense space allows for activities like kayaking, extensive nature hikes, and true outdoor living skills education that simply cannot be offered in a typical urban or suburban setting. This proximity to the beautiful outdoors of Cumberland County provides a truly immersive experience for environmental learning.

**Structured Convenience for Working Families:** The logistical setup, with dedicated **bus transportation** from the main YMCA building and **extended hours from 7:45 AM to 5:00 PM**, is specifically designed to accommodate the schedules of working parents in the Carlisle area. This eliminates the stress of arranging complex drop-offs and pick-ups at a rural location, making it a highly practical choice for the summer. The inclusive pricing, covering all field trip costs, further simplifies summer planning. New Frontiers is a destination that truly combines the convenience of a day camp with the rich, authentic experience of a wilderness-style camp.

New Frontiers Day Camp

Lower Frankford Township, PA 17015, USA