CISV New York is excited for the Spring 2025 Mini Camp from April 4th to 6th!
Traditionally, the New York chapter of CISV holds two Mini Camps each year (Spring & Fall) as a way to bring the Junior Branch together to foster community and friendship among the youth, introduce new friends, classmates, and kids from like-minded organizations to CISV, and experience activities at a local level.
This year’s Junior Board & Mini Camp Planning Committee are working hard to create an exciting and unforgettable weekend! The program is primarily developed and led by our Junior Branch Board members with oversight from our Junior Board Co-Advisors and adult chaperones. You can read more about Mini Camps here.
Who can attend?
Minicamp is open to participants ages 10+. Youth participants are ages 10-17, junior staff are ages 18-20, and adult chaperones are 21 years old or older.
You may invite family, friends, neighbors, classmates, and children of coworkers who may be interested in the mission and values of CISV. Feel free to share our brochure with them!
Adults 21+ can participate as chaperones or to complement their staff and/or leader training.
When is Mini Camp?
Friday, April 4th to Sunday, April 6th, 2025
Where is it?
Camp Mariah at Fresh Air Fund Sharpe Reservation
436 Van Wyck Lake Rd.
Fishkill, NY 12524
Registration Form and Deadline
The registration form will be available soon.
Deadline: March 22, 2025
Once we reach capacity, the Registration Form will be closed. Save the date and sign up for our email newsletters to receive updates about minicamp registration.
Fees
CISV NY is committed to making Mini Camp accessible to everyone. We recognize that families are in different financial situations and have developed a three-tiered fee system to reflect this and help meet the needs of all. Simply choose the rate appropriate for your family’s budget. This is completely confidential and does not impact your child’s experience in any way.
Fees and Mini Camp bus transportation information will be available once registration opens.
Membership
Unless you or your family is participating in a CISV activity for the first time, everyone must be a current member of CISV New York or another CISV chapter to attend Mini Camp. Please ensure that your family’s 2025 CISV membership dues have been paid. Click here to submit payment. If you have any membership questions, please email newyork@cisvusa.org.
New to CISV? Then your child may attend Mini Camp without a Family membership to see if they like it.
Important Information
- All Chaperones at CISV NY Mini Camps are background checked and over the age of 21.
- Questions: Contact the Junior Board Advisor Molly Donohue at 718-809-3229 or cisvnyminicamp@gmail.com, or the Local Junior Representative Ceylin Altinbas at ceylin_altinbas@icloud.com. Whether this is your child’s first or tenth time attending Mini Camp, if you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!
- Emergency Numbers: Please contact Molly Donohue (718-809-3229) in case of an emergency.
- What to Bring: Sleeping Bag / Pillow & Pillow Case • Raincoat / Poncho • Clothing for indoors & outdoors (could be chilly and / or wet) • Sneakers • Toiletries • Flip-flops / Shower shoes • Towel • Flashlight
- What Not to Bring: Cell phones • Valuable items- jewelry, electronics, etc. • Weapons of any kind • Alcoholic beverages or illegal substances • Anything deemed offensive or culturally insensitive.
- Mobile Phones: Mini Camp is a special time for the kids to be together, therefore, we ask that no camper bring their cell phone or other electronic devices to camp, regardless of age.
- JB Store: The Junior Branch will have merchandise for sale. Please have your child bring cash or a check made out to “CISV NY” to purchase items.
- Medications: Children will give their medications to one of our lead chaperones (Molly Donohue) upon arrival at the campsite and will let them know when they are needed. They will be returned to the children at the end of Mini Camp.
- Conduct: Mini Camp chaperones have the right — and the backing of the New York Chapter of CISV Board of Directors — to send home campers who violate any of the rules of the National Code of Conduct for Junior Branch USA established by the National Junior Branch and backed by the CISV National organization. Parents of those who violate the rules will be required to come immediately to camp to pick up their child.
Important COVID Information
CISV USA is no longer requiring proof of a negative Covid test, so no need to send one this Spring. For any questions about Covid-19 protocols, please contact Molly Donohue (cisvnyminicamp@gmail.com/718-809-3229).