Business Details
42 Years
experience
Your Trusted Summer Camp Matchmaker
Founded in 1984, The Camp Connection has dedicated over four decades to helping families discover ideal summer programs for children and teens. Our personalized, phone-based concierge service operates nationwide and internationally, specializing in sleepaway camps, teen tours, pre-college programs, and community service opportunities. We maintain rigorous standards by conducting on-site visits and comprehensive evaluations of partner programs to ensure credibility, quality facilities, and exceptional experiences.Our team of experienced advisors, many with generational ties to camping, provides unlimited free consultations throughout the decision-making process. With deep expertise in child development and program selection, we prioritize understanding each family's unique needs to create perfect matches that foster independence, lifelong friendships, and transformative summer experiences.
Services
Sleepaway Camp Placement
Teen Program Matching
Pre-College Advising
Community Service Programs
Sports Camp Selection
Arts Camp Guidance
Camp Tour Coordination
International Program Placement
Specialty Camp Matching
Parent Consultation Services
Details
- Year established: 1984
Highlights and features
- We offer 40+ years of specialized expertise in summer program placement
- Our team conducts on-site evaluations of all partner programs
- We provide free unlimited consultations with experienced advisors
- We maintain relationships with hundreds of select programs nationwide
- Our personalized approach considers each child's unique needs and interests
What people say
Perfect camp matches
Exceptional personalized service
Lifelong memories created
Knowledgeable advisors
Seamless selection process
Services
Sleepaway Camp Placement
Our expert advisors help families find ideal overnight camp experiences tailored to children's interests and needs. We evaluate programs based on safety standards, activity offerings, and staff qualifications. Our personalized approach ensures each placement fosters independence and creates lasting memories through immersive summer experiences.
Teen Program Matching
We specialize in connecting teens with transformative summer experiences including travel programs, pre-college courses, and community service initiatives. Our advisors consider maturity levels, educational goals, and personal interests to find programs that promote growth and development during critical teenage years.
Camp Tour Coordination
We organize comprehensive camp visits with customized itineraries, including transportation logistics and overnight accommodations. Our service includes pre-visit consultations, director meeting preparation, and post-visit follow-up to help families make informed decisions about potential placements.
Specialty Camp Guidance
Our advisors provide expert recommendations for specialized programs in arts, sports, STEM, and other niche areas. We maintain detailed knowledge about program focus areas, skill development opportunities, and staff expertise to ensure perfect matches for children with specific interests or talents.
Parent Consultation Services
We offer unlimited free consultations to guide families through the decision-making process. Our experienced advisors provide personalized recommendations, answer questions about program features, and address concerns about child readiness and camp readiness throughout the selection journey.
People
Laurel Barrie
Co-Founder
Co-founded The Camp Connection in 1984 with Norm Barrie. Former lifeguard and speech pathologist with extensive camp experience. Provides expert guidance based on decades of industry knowledge and personal experience working at sleepaway camps.
Norm Barrie
Co-Founder
Co-founder with 20+ years of camp management experience. Former social studies teacher and assistant principal. Combines educational expertise with practical camp operations knowledge to help families find perfect summer matches for their children.
Melissa Cohen
Partner
Second-generation advisor with counseling expertise. Holds master's degree in counseling and former high school guidance counselor. Specializes in understanding child development needs and matching them with appropriate summer programs that foster growth and independence.
Sloane Barrie
Camp Advisor
Joined the team in 2019 with prior recruiting experience. Former sleepaway camper and counselor. Uses personal camp experience and professional placement skills to help families find summer programs that create memorable experiences similar to her own childhood summers.
Susan Pecker
Camp Advisor
Westchester-based advisor since 2004 with public relations background. Leverages community leadership experience to understand family needs. Specializes in connecting NYC and Westchester families with programs that match their children's interests and developmental goals.
Questions
What services does The The Camp Connection offer?
We provide free expert advisory services matching families with summer camps and programs including sleepaway camps, teen tours, pre-college programs, sports camps, arts programs, and community service opportunities.
How does the camp selection process work?
We begin with a consultation to understand your child's needs, then recommend personalized options from our network of vetted programs, assist with tours, and provide ongoing support through enrollment.
Are there fees for using The The Camp Connection?
No, our advisory service is completely free for families as we're compensated by partner programs upon successful placement.
How do you ensure program quality?
We conduct on-site visits, meet with directors, and maintain ongoing relationships with programs to verify quality standards and stay updated on changes.
Can you help with international camp placements?
Yes, our network includes programs across the United States and internationally, with advisors experienced in global placement requirements.
What makes The The Camp Connection unique?
With 40+ years of experience and generational camp expertise, we offer personalized service combining deep industry knowledge with direct program evaluations to create perfect matches.
Reviews (4)
Lauren Ferrucci
Jul 23, 2021
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Sloane Barrie and the Camp Connection Team know how to align and match your child to a great summer program. Sloane chose the perfect program for my daughter who had aged out of camp. She took the time to understand my childs needs and then provided the best recommendations for the right summer program. Sloane recommended a program that was just perfect for my child and we are forever grateful for this amazing summer oppty that the Camp Connection told us about. We never would have known about this program without the guidance and thoughtfulness of Sloane and the team! Thank you for making my
Jen Fisher
Jan 24, 2021
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We are so grateful to Melissa and The Camp Connection for being so knowledgable about different camps and campers and for leading us in the right direction. As a first time camp family, we had no idea where to start with choosing a summer camp for our daughter. A friend recommended I call The Camp Connection for guidance. Melissa and I immediately hit it off as I described my daughters personality and what we were looking for in a summer program. It was hard for me to relate to the camp culture as I had never been to camp myself, but I did my best to explain what I thought she would
Julie Scott
Jan 16, 2021
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Camp Connection was excellent in helping me pick the right camp for my boys. They really listened to my needs and took in to account my son's personality and found the perfect camp for us. They also continue to follow up with me to make sure everyone is still happy. I highly recommend.
Jill
Nov 21, 2020
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Camp Connection is the best in the business. They are not just interested in finding your child A camp or program, but the RIGHT camp or program for your child and your family. Camp Connection takes the time to get to know all of its clients and spends time literally pounding the pavement to visit and learn all there is to know about the camps and programs they recommend. Their knowledge really shows, and made me confident that they were not just introducing us to camps to quickly make a match, but rather to find a place that our child and our family would connect with now and grow with in the
