Camp Michikamau – YMCA of Greater Bergen County

Specialties

All of our camps are located on Lake Kanawauke, in the beautiful and scenic woods of Harriman State Park which provides a beautiful natural setting with access to hiking trails and a number of lakes. The camps are 45 minutes from Hackensack and campers are bused to camp from the YMCA.

With a variety of day camp programs for 5 – 16 yr olds and sleep-​away camp programs for 8 – 17 yr olds, the YMCA truly offers something for everyone.

Facilities:

Each camp has its own waterfront with a fleet of canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and paddle boats that offers a wide variety of waterfront activities.

Athletic facilities include a blacktop area, 2 sports fields, an archery range, rock climbing wall (real rock!), and challenge course.

For indoor activities, each camp has a recreation hall and an arts and crafts cabin.

History

Established in 1930.

For over 80 years Camp Michikamau has offered a high quality traditional overnight camp for youth and teens.

The camp program provides a balance of structure and choice activities. Each week campers sign up for four elective activities. In addition there is one open activity period where campers can choose to go boating, swimming, go to the sports complex, work on an art project, shop at the camp store or just relax and enjoy time with their friends. Each camper receives daily swim lessons taught by qualified swim instructors. Each evening, after dinner, campers enjoy a camp activity such as casino night, dance, scavenger hunt, gold rush, talent show or camp fire.

Meet the Manager

Martin R.

Manager

Martin Richards is the director of school aged child care and resident camp programs at the YMCA of Greater Bergen County. He first got involved in camping and the YMCA in 2005 when he travelled to America from his native UK to work for our YMCA at Camp Michikamau as a camp counselor. He returned to Camp Michikamau every summer since then becoming waterfront director in 2009 and camp director in 2012.

Prior to arriving in Hackensack, Martin travelled the world living and working in Australia and New Zealand amongst other places. A high school physics teacher, Martin has taught in a number of schools in the UK and New Zealand. Upon moving to America Martin chose to live in Teaneck so as to be a part of the community that our YMCA serves.

Camp has had a massive impact on Martin’s life and he has made it his mission to see camp repeat that impact on campers and staff alike.