BudgetTravel

Frost Valley, Claryville
In the Catskills on 6,000 wooded acres. Animation workshop, evening rodeo, live music, rowing on Lake Cole. Carnival with face painting, water-balloon games, and sack races. Families participate in the camp-run World Service Auction to benefit the needy. ACA accredited. LODGING: B&B-style castle; lake-view hotel-style rooms sleep six; hotel-style rooms sleep two; platform tents with shared bathhouse sleep eight; cabins with private bath sleep 10; dorm rooms sleep 6 to 12; lodge rooms with private bath sleep 10 on bunks. FOOD: Three buffets daily, with occasional themed meals. CONTACT: Aug. 25-31; $500; 845/985-2291, frostvalley.org.

NORTH CAROLINA
Blue Star Camps, Hendersonville
On 500 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Designed for Jewish families, but not exclusive. Hiking up Mount Pinnacle, white-water rafting, yoga, mountain biking, rock climbing, target sports, pottery, Slip 'n Slide. Free nanny service for kids 3 and under. Sabbath services. ACA accredited. LODGING: Cabins with private bathrooms sleep 14. FOOD: Three buffets served daily. CONTACT: Aug. 16-19; $1,180; 828/692-3591, bluestarcamps.com.

(Steve Giralt) WHERE NEXT? It's just like traditional summer camp, but adults are allowed. Learn about family camps from assistant editor David LaHuta on "Where Next?," our weekly Web show with CNN.com. • Launch the video MARCH 2007 ISSUE • Table of Contents • Dream Trips • Lighthouses of Croatia • Family Camps • Eat Like a Local: Chicago • Trips That Can Change Your Life: Adventure Biking • Road Trip: The Olympic Peninsula • 40 Best

Green River Preserve, Cedar Mountain
Daily naturalist-led hikes throughout a 3,400-acre private wildlife preserve. Fly-fishing in trout stream, storytelling nights, photography, painting, pottery. ACA accredited. LODGING: Cabins divided into two sleeping dorms that sleep eight on bunks with a central bathroom; lodge rooms with private bath sleep four. FOOD: Three family-style meals daily; most veggies served at camp are grown locally. CONTACT: Aug. 31-Sept. 3; $900; 828/698-8828, greenriverpreserve.org.

YMCA Camp Sea Gull/Camp Seafarer, Arapahoe
Water sports galore--waterskiing, motorboating, tubing, sailing, canoeing, wakeboarding, windsurfing--on the Neuse River, as well as a zip line, climbing wall, field sports, riflery, tennis, and a pitch 'n' putt golf course. ACA accredited. LODGING: Cabins with porches sleep 14 on bunks with private bathroom. FOOD: Three family-style meals daily; parents-only dinner cruise. CONTACT: May 25-27, Aug. 12-18, Aug. 31-Sept. 3, Sept. 21-23; $2,205; 252/249-1212, seagull-seafarer.org.

PENNSYLVANIA
Deer Valley YMCA Camp, Fort Hill
On 742 acres in the Laurel Highlands. Sailing regattas on 125-acre lake, white-water rafting in Ohiopyle State Park, biking across covered bridges, hikes up Mount Davis, rock climbing, horseback riding, bouldering. ACA accredited. LODGING: Cabins with private bathrooms and shared shower house sleep seven on double bed and bunks; private cottages with full bath sleep eight on double bed and bunks. FOOD: Three family-style meals daily; chuckwagon barbecue on Fridays. CONTACT: June 9-Aug. 25; $1,700 (family weekends year-round); 800/962-2386, deervalleyymca.org.

New Jersey 'Y' Camps, Milford
On 1,250 acres in the lower Poconos. Sailing, ropes course, zip line, climbing tower, field sports, tennis, archery, square dance. Optional Jewish services on Friday evening and weekend mornings. ACA accredited. LODGING: Cabins with electricity, porches, and private bathroom sleep 2 to 20 on bunks and cots. FOOD: Three cafeteria-style meals daily (vegetarian options); all food is kosher. CONTACT: June 15-17, Aug. 24-26, Aug. 31-Sept. 3 (grandparent and single-parent weekends available); $660 (kids under 4 free); 973/575-3333, njycamps.org.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Asbury Hills Camp and Retreat Center, Cleveland
On 1,800 acres in the Appalachian foothills, run by the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. Belayed tree climbing, overnight camping, trout fishing. Outdoor worship. ACA accredited. LODGING: Concrete cabins with shared bathhouse sleep eight on bunks; lodge rooms with common area and shared bath sleep six on bunks. FOOD: Three family-style meals served daily. CONTACT: June 29-July 1, July 1-6 (weekends for fathers and sons, grandparents raising kids, and children with special needs available); $980; 864/836-3711, asburyhills.org.

TEXAS
Pine Cove Christian Camps, Tyler and Columbus
Three nondenominational camps: Bluffs and Woods, both near Tyler, and Crier Creek, near Columbus on 700 rolling acres. WaveRunners, horseback riding, adventure sports, and paintball. Daily worship, and Christian speakers on marriage, parenting, and scripture. LODGING: Wood cabins, lodge rooms, and hotel-style rooms with A/C and private bath sleep four to eight. FOOD: Three restaurant-style meals daily; adults-only banquet. Snacks nightly. CONTACT: June 3-Aug. 18; $1,600; 877/474-6326, pinecove.com.

VERMONT
Camp Common Ground, Starksboro
About 23 miles south of Burlington. Nontraditional families encouraged. Classes on nonviolent communication, photography, and paper arts, including pastel and watercolor. Chamber music instruction, glass-bead making, children's theatrical performance. LODGING: Cabins (with no electricity) with shared bathhouse sleep two to six; tent sites, some with platforms. FOOD: Three vegetarian buffets daily (vegan options); most food is organic and locally grown. CONTACT: July 28-Aug. 24; $1,950 (financial aid available); 800/430-2667, cgcvt.org.

Farm & Wilderness Camp, Plymouth
An organic farm on the Woodward Reservoir. Sign up for daily chores in the barn: Collect eggs; milk cows; feed goats, sheep, and pigs. Harvest fruits and vegetables from the garden, press cider from apples in the orchard, make ice cream from fresh milk. ACA accredited. LODGING: Three-sided cabins (some with no electricity) sleep 10 to 12 on bunks; shared bathhouse. FOOD: Three family-style meals daily. CONTACT: Aug. 21-26; $1,025; 802/422-3761, fandw.org.

WASHINGTON
Camp Burton, Vashon Island
Affiliated with the Washington Baptist Convention, accessible by ferry from West Seattle, Tacoma, or Kitsap Peninsula. Boating, canoeing, kayaking, and swimming. Day trip to Point Robinson Lighthouse on Maury Island with docent-led tour. Bible study and storytelling. ACA accredited. LODGING: Carpeted cabins with private bathroom sleep 10. FOOD: Three family-style meals daily. CONTACT: July 29-Aug. 4; $750; 206/463-2512, campburton.com.

WEST VIRGINIA
Camp Alleghany, Lewisburg
On the Greenbrier River, accessible by ferry or rowboat. Rifle range, skeet shooting, swimming, canoeing, archery, scavenger hunt, skit night, tennis. ACA accredited. LODGING: Platform tents with no electricity sleep four to six on cots; shared bathhouse. FOOD: Three buffets daily; barbecue cookout. CONTACT: Aug. 4-12; $1,680 (kids under 2 free); 540/898-4782, campalleghany.com.

WISCONSIN
Camp Nebagamon, Lake Nebagamon
Thirty miles southeast of Duluth, in Wisconsin's Northwoods. Canoeing and fishing in 1,000-acre Lake Nebagamon. Target sports, field games; talent show, game-show nights. ACA accredited. LODGING: Twenty-eight cabins with electricity and shared bathhouse sleep 12 on bunks; lodge rooms with shared bathroom. FOOD: Buffet breakfast and lunch; family-style dinner. CONTACT: Aug. 14-21; $1,400; 763/476-7676, campnebagamon.com.

North Star Camp, Hayward
Lots of water sports including sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, and tubing. Bowling, talent show, storytelling in a tepee, zip line, field sports, archery, horseback riding. ACA accredited. LODGING: Wood cabins sleep 12; shared bathhouse. FOOD: Three family-style meals; happy hour daily with beer and wine. CONTACT: Aug. 11-17; $1,700; 715/462-3254 (summer), 520/577-7925 (winter), northstarcamp.com.

YMCA Family Camp Nawakwa, Lac du Flambeau
Fishing, field sports, boat and breakfast, potluck dinners. LODGING: Modern cabins with private bath and kitchen sleep four to eight; cabins with private bath and kitchen sleep six; rustic cabins with kitchen and shared bathhouse sleep four on bunks and futon; tent sites. FOOD: No food service (cookware provided in cabin kitchens; camp store sells some grocery items). CONTACT: June 2-Sept. 1; $600 (15 percent off for camps the first week of June and last week of August); 715/588-7422, nawakwa.com.