Group & Family Retreat FAQs
Families and groups are welcome to join us any weekend and select weekdays from the end of August through the middle of June. Visit our Family Weekends Page to see our themed events.
Download this suggested packing checklist to help you and your group get packed for your stay with us. Also, check the weather forecast for our area ahead of time to ensure you are prepared. View the Frost Valley Weather Station.
We are about 2.5 hours from metropolitan NY and NJ. View our Directions Page for maps and detailed directions to Frost Valley
Unfortunately, there is no public transportation that comes all the way to Frost Valley. The closest NJ Transit Train comes to Middletown NY, about an hour from Frost Valley YMCA. The closest bus stop to Frost Valley is Monticello NY which is 45 minutes away. In both cases, our guests would need to provide their own transportation from these locations or hire a cab.
Albany International Airport is exactly 2 hours from us. Stewart/ Newburgh International Airport is 1:45 hours away from us. Newark International Airpot is 2:30 away from us and New York is 2:30-3 hours away from us depending upon traffic.
We work closely with Academy Bus Lines and could set up a charter bus for your trip with us. Prices are variable and subject to the current fuel surcharges.
We are proud to offer two electric vehicle charging stations, located behind the Welcome Center at Main Camp. They are Level 2 charging stations that have a rate of charge of 22-25 miles of range per hour. Please see the front desk for charging access. (Tesla owners: bring an adaptor)
Some are yes. We have a variety of lodging available that is handicap accessible, our Thomas Dining Hall is handicap accessible, and our Arts & Crafts, Nature Center, and Theater are all accessible. Other program areas are accessible by path, but they are not paved and therefore, can be difficult for skinnier wheels to traverse.
Prices vary based on the type of lodging, the number of people in your group, and the length of stay. You can request rates and get more information by contacting our Reservations Department: (845) 985-2291 x 450 or email reservations@frostvalley.org
Check-in begins at 4 pm in our Welcome Center, which is the first building, on your right, after you pass through the main entrance. Please have your driver’s license or state-issued photo ID with you when you check-in. You will receive your parking pass and your wristband(s) at the time of check-in.
We ask that you check out of your lodge by noon. When leaving your lodge we ask that you close and lock all of the windows, turn the thermostat to 65 degrees, turn off lights, and remove the trash & recycling to the outside box. If you used our blankets and pillows, please stack them on one of your bunks. Don’t forget to check under your bunks, in the drawers and cubbies, and under the mattresses to be sure you haven’t left anything!
We do not have cell phone reception in our area of the Catskills. We do provide house phones throughout our property which can be used with a calling card or a credit card to make longer calls.
We provide house phones throughout the property that you can use to connect with people back at home. Those phones can be used with a calling card, a credit card, or by calling collect.
If you need to get in touch with a guest or group leader during the weekend, call Frost Valley’s main number (845) 985-2291. This number is monitored from 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM. Messages will be delivered at the next meal. Please note, that the person you are trying to reach may be temporarily unavailable if participating in our programming. After hours, please feel free to leave a voicemail which will be delivered first thing in the morning.
Yes, though we do encourage our guests to walk as much as possible, and leave vehicles parked at the lodge. If you do need to drive while on camp property, please make sure everyone is in a seatbelt, and that you go no faster than 15 miles an hour. Remember, our roads are often our sidewalks!
Yes, all Frost Valley lodges have an outdoor fire pit and many have indoor fireplaces. Please plan on spending time around your fire during your visit, but we ask that you follow our rules for the health and safety of our forested lands. For the safety of our children and our environment, we are asking that you keep your fires small. Bon Fires are strictly prohibited. Please do not leave fires unattended, and make sure they are fully out prior to finishing for the night.
We offer firewood for sale at $15 per bundle with a limit of 3 loads per day. Orders must be received at the Welcome Center before 5:00 pm. Firewood from any location other than Frost Valley YMCA is prohibited. Transporting firewood may spread non-native insects and threaten the trees in our forest. New York State law prohibits transporting firewood greater than 50 miles. Cutting, felling, or gathering of wood on Frost Valley grounds is not allowed.
There are two hospitals within 45 minutes of Frost Valley YMCA. Ellenville Regional Hospital and Garnet Health Medical Center – Catskills. We also have a fully equipped health center, and an EMT / Nurse who is on staff 24 hours when guests are on site, and they are available to assist you however you need.
Frost Valley YMCA does allow alcohol on its property, in the privacy of your lodge, at your private fire ring, and in your private meeting spaces. We do not allow alcohol in our public locations, such as recreational program areas and our Dining Hall.
No, Frost Valley YMCA is a pet-free facility.
Yes, we can. Frost Valley is a nut-aware facility, meaning our Food Service team does not serve any items containing nuts or nut-based products, with the exception of coconut (MCT). We also make every effort to avoid products that may contain traces of nuts or are made on shared equipment used to produce nut products. We are also well versed in providing for our guests who have gluten allergies, and dairy allergies, follow a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle and we can accommodate Kosher needs. To learn more you can contact our Food Service Director at goodfood@frostvalley.org.
We have a wide variety of lodging to fit every need. For families and groups looking to have a more rustic experience, we have yurts and platform tents. For families and groups looking to enjoy a more comfortable experience, we have modern cabins, dorm-style lodges, a historic inn-style Castle, and a hotel. For families or groups looking for a more secluded, private retreat, we have East Valley Ranch. To view all of our lodging options please visit our Lodging Page. Lodging is assigned first come first serve, so be sure to register early to get your preferred lodge.
Unless you specifically request to share a room or yurt with another family, we would not book two separate families into shared lodging. This is part of the reason that lodging at East Valley Ranch is so limited.
Many of our lodges have a House Phone located in their entryways – and for those that do not, a phone is located nearby. All phone locations are indicated on the map that you will receive upon check-in.
Lakeview Lodge is the only lodging we have where internet is provided through a LAN line. We do have WiFi available in our Thomas Dining Hall for all guests to access.
No, we do not have TVs on Frost Valley property. We encourage guests to spend quality time with their children and/or group members participating in one of our many guided activities or simply bonding together in the great outdoors!
No, Frost Valley does not have grills at the lodge or for rent, but you are welcome to bring yours. We do not sell charcoal or gas so be sure to pick some up on your way to us! For your safety, we ask that you keep the grills a minimum of 50 feet away from the building.
No, Frost Valley will provide you with all your meals beginning with Saturday breakfast through Sunday breakfast for your weekend stay. At each meal, you will be provided with both meat and vegan options. We make sure we have food that will satisfy our kids and adults alike. In between the meals we provide access to coffee, tea, fresh fruit, and cereal in the dining room. To learn more about our dining program, please visit our Dining Page.
Absolutely. Our Food Service Director will work with you directly to make sure the menu suits all of the needs in your group. We can accommodate all dietary concerns and allergies, and still provide a well-balanced and delicious meal. We look forward to designing your perfect experience! To learn more about our dining program, please visit our Dining Page or contact our Food Service Director at goodfood@frostvalley.org.
In most cases, we can set aside a private room for your retreat during meals, depending on how many other guests are with us during your stay. Please ask about this option when you are considering dates with us.
Frost Valley offers a wide array of seasonal programming that will appeal to all ages and abilities. View a sample schedule. A more detailed description of our activities can also be found on the Plan Your Trip page. During the Spring and Fall, our guests can join us for Equestrian Programs, including trail rides, pony rides, and riding lessons.
Frost Valley facilitators have a wide variety of experience, from new Outdoor Instructors to Executives with decades of running businesses, presenting and teaching at conferences, and building teams where they work. All staff who use the Frost Valley challenge course, including all Group & Family Retreat, Outdoor Education, Team Building, and Summer Camp staff, have their skills reviewed at the beginning of each major season. Then they are encouraged to develop their skills through in-service training, special interest groups, and individual instruction.
We offer an equestrian program in the Spring and Fall for our guests at both Main Camp and East Valley Ranch. You can choose from trail rides, pony rides (for our littlest riders), and riding lessons. This program does have an additional cost at Main Camp.
We gear lessons to a rider’s ability as much as possible. Trail rides are walking only and we are usually able to send families out together. We have wonderful horses of all ages, sizes, and abilities, and we match guests with horses that will work well with them, giving everyone the best experience possible.
Frost Valley offers more than 30 miles of hiking trails open to all guests. Guided hikes are scheduled on most weekends; however, you can explore our trails on your own. Trail maps are available at the Welcome Center. Difficulty levels are noted on the map, so you can choose from Easy, Moderate, or Difficult. Please bring your backpack, hiking boots, appropriate clothing, and water for these adventurous excursions.
Winter Trails: Pick up a winter trail map at the Welcome Center to see which trails are open for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Guided snowshoe hikes are often offered during winter weekends. Snowshoes are provided for these hikes only. Plan on bringing winter boots, yak-trax (boot traction devices), and/or snowshoes during the winter. Our trails during this time of the year can be snowy, icy, and somewhat dangerous if not properly prepared.
Please bring your own fishing pole if you want to test your luck at catching fish in our pristine waters. Lake Cole is open for rod and reel fishing and you may use live bait. Fishing is not allowed around the swimming docks or boating docks. Lake Cole is a fishing preserve, which means a New York State License is not required. Fish may be kept from Lake Cole, however, if they are taken off Frost Valley property a fin tag must be obtained from the Front Desk of the Welcome Center. All other waters at Frost Valley are restricted to Fly Fishing only and are catch-and-release. Access to fish the rivers and streams is open to Outdoor Sporting Members and registered guests with a valid NYS fishing license. To fly fish guests must check in at the Welcome Center front desk and obtain a name badge, fishing rules and regulations, and fishing map. All fish caught from the rivers and streams must be released at the same location.
No, for our guests staying with us for the weekend, Cross Country Ski equipment is included in your rate. When you are ready to try out that program you just need to provide your driver’s license or another government-issued photo ID that we can keep until you return, this is a safety measure that helps us to know who of our guests are out on the trail.
Because activities take place outside all year round and because the weather is often variable we recommend the following: sturdy shoes or light boots. Some activities involve running, climbing, and navigating our challenge courses on cables. Wear layers. Wear clothing that will wick perspiration away from the skin. Wear or bring clothing that is not made of cotton. When cotton gets wet it tends to cling and suck the warmth away from the body. Fleece, silk, and wool work well. Also bring an outer layer that will protect you from rain, snow, and sleet, depending on the season. Having several lighter layers that can be combined instead of one heavy layer will work best.
Participants are required to wear closed-toe and closed-heel shoes on all challenge course elements, whether high or low and on the cable bridges.
We are not recommending that participants go out and buy a lot of expensive gear. Good shoes, clothes that are comfortable and that you can move around in, and some sort of outer layer. If the weather is expected to be wet, bring extras that you can change into.
Activities usually take place outside. Please pack appropriate clothing for the season. In the case of lightning and/or thunder programs will move indoors or be substituted with alternate programs. Facilitators are always monitoring the safety of their groups, which includes heat/cold/wet etc. Accommodations will be made for the safety and relative comfort of the group.
We do offer several types of programming. Some are children-only, so parents can do something on their own. For all other activities not specified as children-only, at least one adult is required per group of children.
For program quality and safety reasons, our activities have different limits. There is a limit of 20 people for most activities, some are as low as 8. Contact a program coordinator before you arrive to discuss options.
Approximately 3 weeks prior to your visit you will be contacted by your Program Coordinators to finalize your weekend. Give them your request and they will make sure it happens!
Absolutely! During the early fall and late spring, we have platform tents available in a picturesque setting located near our Biscuit Brook. It is a short walk to the dining hall. Each of these tents sleeps 4-6 people in bunk beds and are steps away from a bathhouse. For those who wish to try their hand at cooking over an open fire, there is an excellent outdoor fire ring. For those looking for a bit more adventure, we have recently added 3-sided shelters further up the trail-very similar to what you would experience on the Appalachian Trail. These can also be rented for the weekend, and provide a greater distance, (but still with 10-15 minutes) from the center of camp.
Absolutely. We will customize a program to fit your group’s specific needs, whether it’s communication you are working on, problem-solving, building trust, or utilizing this time to learn more about the members of your team. We have a wide variety of Low Facility Initiatives (Low Ropes) and High Ropes Elements (Zipline, Leap of Faith) that we can utilize to help your group move through both individual challenges and group dynamic challenges. Our Team Building Director will work with you directly to design your specific program. If you are looking to unwind, we also provide a wide array of recreational options in which your group can get out and enjoy the beautiful Catskills.
We have several weekends for scouts available, which you can view from our Scouting page. Those weekends are specifically programmed and priced for scouts. However, you are welcome to join us for ANY weekend between Labor Day and Father’s Day, but you will only receive the Scouting price on the weekends listed.
Absolutely – there is no age limit, only age suggestions.
No. Frost Valley is not affiliated with or endorsed by Girl Scouts of the USA. We are also not affiliated with or endorsed by Scouts BSA. Therefore we can not disperse items from either organization.
We work closely with Academy Bus Lines and could set up a charter bus for your trip with us. Prices are variable and subject to the current fuel surcharges.
Our Geyer Hall Conference center has WiFi available throughout the entire building. Our Thomas Lodge Dining Hall also has WiFi for guests to utilize throughout the day.
Our Geyer Hall Conference Center has two large rooms, each can seat a capacity of 120-300 depending upon how the room is configured.
We want everyone to be involved in the team-building sessions. We don’t ask participants to do things they really can’t do, whether the obstacles are physical, intellectual, or emotional, but we do ask each participant to challenge him/herself. Courage for some is overcoming heights, for others, it is speaking up in a group, for others it is sharing what they really feel. If someone has an injury or weakness we ask them to keep themselves safe. There are many ways to be involved: sharing ideas, encouraging others, giving advice, and giving feedback at the end.
Team building is active. It may require running, climbing, or lifting. But it is a group process and the challenges are intended to be solved by the group. Facilitators are encouraged to challenge groups to the level at which they are able. Everyone is encouraged to participate to the best of their ability while keeping themselves safe. Physical fitness is not a requirement.
Team building groups are divided into groups of approximately fifteen. Sometimes the groups will be smaller, sometimes larger. When larger groups come some activities may take place with the large group and then we will divide into smaller groups.
Frost Valley facilitators have a wide variety of experience, from new Outdoor Instructors to Executives with decades of running businesses, presenting and teaching at conferences, and building teams where they work. All staff who use the Frost Valley challenge course, including all Group & Family Retreat, Outdoor Education, Team Building, and Summer Camp staff, have their skills reviewed at the beginning of each major season. Then they are encouraged to develop their skills through in-service training, special interest groups, and individual instruction.
