Can my child call home?
My child has special needs. Can they come on the trip?
My child has medical needs. Can they come on the trip?
My child has food allergies. What should I do?
Do I really need to fill out the Frost Valley medical forms?
How’s the weather?
What should I pack?
What will my child be doing while at Frost Valley?
What is the lodging like?
What happens if my child becomes sick while at Frost Valley?
What happens on arrival day?
What happens on departure day?
Do cell phones work at Frost Valley?
What paperwork do I need to bring to Frost Valley?
What is a Certificate of Insurance, how do I get one and where do I send it?
Where is the closest hospital?
What should the student/teacher ratio be?
What is my role during classes?
As the Lead Teacher, where do I begin?
Are we allowed to have camp fires?
Are we allow to fish while at Frost Valley?
Tell me more about your hiking trails.
How about your trails during the winter?
Can my child call home?
It’s up to your school. If they are allowed to call home they will need to bring a calling card, or they can purchase one from our store for $2 or $5.
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My child has special needs. Can they come on the trip?
Yes, we welcome all students regardless of their abilities and are able to adapt several of our activities to suit many developmental or physical disabilities. Give your program coordinator a call to discuss options; we’ve probably had a student with similar needs.
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My child has medical needs. Can they come on the trip?
Yes, we have a health center that is equipped to deal with most medical needs. We have a full-time nurse on staff and an EMT is available 24 hours a day to deal with any emergency. Give us a call; we’ve probably had a student with similar needs. Everyone is welcome at Frost Valley.
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My child has food allergies. What should I do?
Give your program coordinator a call, or email us at eepc@frostvalley.org. You are also more than welcome to call our kitchen to speak with our Kitchen Manager 845-985-2291 ext 230.
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Do I really need to fill out the Frost Valley medical forms?
Yes, it is our direct link to you and your child. The more information you include, the easier it is for us to treat your child. It is also necessary for a doctor or physician to sign the medical forms. This allows the Frost Valley nursing staff to administer medications. Without this signature, we are not allowed to give out ANY medications. It’s a New York State Law. For further information regarding our health center, please give us a call at 845-985-2291 ext 225.
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How’s the weather?
Frost Valley is typically 10 degrees colder than our surrounding area. We also get a great deal of snow. So, while it may be fifty degrees and sunny where you are, it very well could be chilly and snowy here. Check out the latest weather forecast.
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What should I pack?
Please see our suggested packing list for details.
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What will my child be doing while at Frost Valley?
Your child will have a marvelous outdoor experience while visiting us here at Frost Valley. Your school will choose the activities in which your child will be participating. Our program provides an amazing camp experience that is enriched with science, team building exercises, and fun. Sometimes kids don’t even realize that they’re learning something new—whether it’s science-related or not. They’re having too much fun.
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What is the lodging like?
All of our lodges have indoor bathrooms, electricity, hot water and heat. Some have indoor fireplaces. Linens are not provided unless you need them. We provide linens, pillows and blankets for an additional charge.
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What happens if my child becomes sick while at Frost Valley?
Our health center staff is top notch. They work with your child’s school to keep you informed.
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What happens on arrival day?
Upon arrival, you will check-in at our Welcome Center. It is the first building on the right as you enter camp. They will let your program coordinator know you are here. We will come to greet you and give you instructions on where your busses should go and what to do with your luggage. We will try to have everyone meet in the Dining Hall for an orientation at 11:30 am. Lunch is at noon. We will also host a teacher/chaperone meeting at this meal. We will discuss everything from emergency procedures to where you can park your car (if you happened to drive yourself). You will be given wrist bands, parking passes, maps, and general information. We will also answer any questions you may have. Upon the conclusion of lunch, you may have a little free time to let your students play in the field or go to their lodges to get ready for their class at 1:15 pm.
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What happens on departure day?
Departure days are busy ones and they typically start before breakfast. You will begin by having your students pack and collect their luggage to be picked up by our luggage crew. If you are staying in Biscuit, Pigeon, or Hayden lodges you may have to walk it over to our pavilion. Your facilitator will instruct you the night before where to leave the luggage. We ask that students and adults do not go back to their lodges once classes begin as our housekeeping crew will start cleaning for our next guests. Once you are all packed, you will head to breakfast, which begins at 8:00 am. After breakfast, you will have your morning class followed by lunch. Most schools depart at approximately 1:00 pm.
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Do cell phones work at Frost Valley?
No, they do not. You can, however, bring a calling card to use or purchase one from our store.
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What paperwork do I need to bring to Frost Valley?
We highly recommend you bring a student and teacher/chaperone attendance list, lodge assignment list and, perhaps, a bus list if you are traveling with more than one bus. You will also need to bring the Frost Valley medical forms. We will collect these upon arrival along with any medications that your students may have brought. You may want to make copies of these forms to keep with you.
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What is a Certificate of Insurance, how do I get one and where do I send it?
You will notice that on your contract (Clause Number 18) it states that we need a Certificate of Insurance. This document should list Frost Valley as additional insured. You can ask your business office for this or, if you are from a NYC public school, please contact the NYC Department of Education, Legal Services. Arlene Longoria Carragher will be your contact at this office. The address is: 52 Chambers Street, Number 308, New York, NY, 1007. Her contact information is: 212-374-5596 and email: alongor@schools.nyc.gov.
Once you have procured the certificate, please send it to Frost Valley YMCA, 2000 Frost Valley Road, Claryville, NY, 12725 Attn: Reservations.
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Where is the closest hospital?
The closest hospitals are Catskill Regional Medical Center and Ellenville Regional Hospital. Both are approximately 45 minutes away.
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What should the student/teacher ratio be?
During class times we require two adults (one Frost Valley staff member and one teacher/chaperone) per fifteen students. For overnight supervision, we recommend a ratio of one adult to eight students below the 6th-grade level and a ratio of one adult to ten students beyond the 6th-grade level.
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What is my role during classes?
Frost Valley Program Instructors are very capable of handling most situations. You are there to help support a positive learning environment and we encourage you to participate and empower your students. Please feel free to speak with your program instructor about any specific activities, goals, or other topics. We encourage you to communicate with your instructor. We want everyone to have a rewarding experience. It’s all about your students!
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As the Lead Teacher, where do I begin?
Step One: Call your program coordinator. We are here to help you.
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Are we allowed to have campfires?
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. 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.
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Are we allow to fish while at Frost Valley?
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 form 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.
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Tell me more about your hiking trails.
Frost Valley offers more than 30 miles of hiking trails open to all guests. Guided hikes are scheduled through your school with our staff, but you may also choose to 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. You have the opportunity to visit High Falls, Brother’s Hole, cable bridges, scenic vistas, beautiful mature forests, and more.
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How about your trails during the winter?
Pick up a winter trail map at the Welcome Center to see which trails are open for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Please visit the Cross Country Skiing tab for more information on using ski trails when there is adequate snow. Guided snowshoe hikes can be offered to the students during winter if there is adequate snow. 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 treacherous. If properly prepared, you and your family can enjoy beautiful winter conditions. Find an icy waterfall, wildlife tracks, mountain streams bordered by snow and ice, hemlock trees, and peace and quiet.
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