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Surprise Lake Camp is a non-profit sleepaway camp located on over 400 acres in Cold Spring, New York (approximately 60 miles north of New York City). The mission of Surprise Lake Camp is to "provide a high quality Jewish camping experience where children and young adults will be safe, have fun, and grow as they engage in programs and activities that enable them to learn values and skills that will help them lead fulfilling lives and be assets to their communities."

[edit] History

Surprise Lake Camp was founded in 1902 by the Educational Alliance to provide a summer vacation for Jewish boys from the tenements of Manhattan's Lower East Side. In its first season, it had six tents for 25 campers and five counselors. In 2006, Surprise Lake Camp had over 500 campers (boys and girls) and over 200 staff members.

Surprise Lake Camp maintains one large outdoor performance complex named after the entertainer, Eddie Cantor. It is capable of seating most of the camp's summer population and is used mostly for performances, Shabbat and other annual ceremonies.

[edit] Former Campers

Among SLC's first campers was Eddie Cantor, who, upon achieving success as an entertainer, became one of the camp's most ardent supporters. In the past 104 years, Surprise Lake camp has continued to serve thousands upon thousands of young people, many of whom have achieved prominence, among them:

• Eddie Cantor
• Neil Diamond
• Larry King
• Jerry Stiller
• Neil Simon
• Gene Simmons (of KISS)
• New York Knicks trainer Mike Saunders
• former New York Attorney General Robert Abrams

[edit] External Links

• Surprise Lake Camp website

Surprise Lake Camp is also the parent organization of the Teva Learning Center: The Teva Center Organization

SLC is also part of the:

American Camp Association Hudson River Sloop Clearwater

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