French Woods Festival has registered international campers from countries in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. French Woods is known for the Performing Arts but offers traditional camp activities too. Family owned since 1970, French Woods is comprised of 120 acres located in the Western Catskills of New York State, 2 ½ hours from New York City.
French Woods Festival is a co-ed sleepaway camp in New York State. 93% of our campers come from the United States and are native English speakers.
Years of experience tells us that the main impetus international parents send their children to a US summer camp is that they want their kids to improve their English conversational skills. At French Woods, we utilize language immersion and we want our families to be comfortable with that model. Our International Campers have the opportunity to actively practice and learn from native English speakers all day, every day both in their cabin and in the activities they choose. We have found this works best and in 3 weeks or more at French Woods, your child will come home with an incredible English vocabulary including colloquialisms and slang!
Additionally, many parents request that their children be housed in bunks with only native English speakers. We do accommodate this request, but ask that you tell your children about this plan before leaving home.
COVID-19 and International Travel
Please check with your airline and travel authorities for current requirements and precautions.
International Travel
We ask international campers to fly in a day earlier than the session start date to assist their children in adjusting to the time difference.
Barring any government travel restrictions, we request that all campers fly into Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Newark is the largest and most conveniently located airport near camp. Newark’s main airline is United Airlines and it offers the most non-stop flights to more destinations than any other airline that serves Newark.
Newark offers a number of direct flights from around the world. All campers who are younger than the airlines stipulated unaccompanied minor age will be required by the airline to fly as an unaccompanied minor to ensure their safe transfer to our Staff at the airport. The name, photo and phone number of the staff member meeting your camper’s flight will be emailed to you 48 hours before their departure.
A French Woods staff member will meet your child outside of US Customs. Your child will call you from the airport after meeting our staff member. Subsequently, you will receive an email from us after your child’s arrival to camp.
Packing/Luggage
Please adhere to the packing list on our website or in the Parent Guide found on your CampIn Touch dashboard. The Exception is that you do not need to send linens, blankets, pillow and towels. French Woods provides those items for our international campers. Laundry is done once per week by our staff.