In 1924 a group of teachers, social workers, and businesspeople recognized that children living in poverty in a NYC neighborhood needed a respite. In response, they formed East Side Vacation Camp Association and began providing summer camp opportunities for children from working poor families so that they could benefit from the fresh air, sun, exercise, and healthy lakeside environment.

Over several decades East Side Vacation Camp Association expanded to serve other neighborhoods, changed its name to Camp Vacamas and moved from Kingston, NY to its present location in the foothills of the Ramapo Mountains in West Milford, NJ.

As we added programs in multiple settings to meet youth needs, we renamed ourselves “Hands In 4 Youth” to encompass all that we offer.

Today, Hands In 4 Youth builds on its history with a year-round calendar of programming, from summer camp to school-year retreats, to daily after school enrichment programs.