Traveling to camp is the very beginning of the summer camp experience. French Woods strives to ensure that every camper has an exciting, enjoyable, and safe trip to camp and that every camper arrives to a welcoming atmosphere.
All families must fill out our Transportation Form online through CampInTouch so that we know exactly how your child will arrive at camp and depart from camp. This includes dropping off or picking up your camper using your own transportation.
Own Transportation:
The majority of our campers do arrive and depart by car. Families will be given an appointed arrival time to expedite arrivals and check-in. Families who choose to pick up their child(ren) on the last day of camp (rather than taking them home the preceding evening of visiting day) will be given an early A.M. appointed departure time so as not to conflict with the arrivals of the next session.
Bus Transportation:
Bus transportation is limited to a Manhattan bus pick-up and drop-off. The Manhattan Bus pick-up / drop-off is located on Amsterdam Ave between 62nd & 64th Street, on the east side of Amsterdam Ave, behind Lincoln Center.
Air Transportation:
Flying to Camp:
We request that all campers fly into Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Newark is the largest and most conveniently located airport to French Woods, ensuring a very quick transfer to camp after their flight. Newark offers a number of direct flights from throughout the United States and from around the world.
Campers are required to have their flights arrive between 10:30am – 4:00pm EST to ensure that they arrive at camp in a timely manner and have time to attend the camper orientation and settle into their bunk. All campers are requested to arrive wearing a French Woods t-shirt (if available) to ensure that they are easily identifiable by our staff. Families will receive an email 48 hours prior to the camper's departure with the assigned staff members information including: Name, Picture, and Phone Number.
When your camper arrives, a French Woods Staff Member will welcome them and escort them to the baggage claim and to the awaiting chartered buses. There will be multiple departures from the airport to ensure that your camper does not have to wait at the airport for an extended period of time.
Campers over the age of 15 (depending on airline rules) traveling independently will be met at the exit of their arrival terminal. French Woods staff will be wearing a staff shirt, a staff ID, and holding up a French Woods sign. We encourage campers traveling alone to have a cell phone.
Campers under the age of 15, flying independently, will be required to travel as an Unaccompanied Minor (age requirements may vary depending on the airline) and will be met at their arrival gate by their assigned staff member.
Flying from Camp:
Campers flying home from camp are required to book their flights to depart from Newark International Airport (EWR) between the hours of 11:00am – 7:00pm EST.
Please make sure to pay for all the airlines, baggage, and unaccompanied minor fees, for the return flight home. Staff members will remain at the airport until every flight has departed and every camper is safely on their way home. Unaccompanied Minors will be escorted to their departure gates; campers over the age of 15 will be escorted to the Security Check point.
Luggage:
For those campers using bus service, luggage can either be brought on the bus or shipped in advance. No more than two pieces of luggage including: musical instruments, and sports equipment can be brought to the bus locations as there is limited space on the buses. See our Packing List for more information.
For those campers flying to camp we highly recommend that you ship your bags to and from camp as this will save your family the inconvenience of having to transport your children’s heavy bags to and from the airport and reduces the risk of lost luggage as well as helping to avoid additional airline fees.
Shipping Your Luggage to Camp:
Families are welcome to can use any courier service to send their bags to camp including: FEDEX GROUND, FEDEX, UPS, USPS, DHL, etc. Please Schedule any shipped baggage to arrive four days prior to your camper’s arrival at French Woods. Luggage shipped to camp will be delivered to your child’s bunk ahead of their camper arrival. It is important that you label each piece of luggage clearly with your child’s name.
Additionally, please be sure to specify how your child’s luggage will be getting to camp on the Transportation Form located in your personal Dashboard through your CampInTouch account.