Camp Morty at Mountain Lakes Park

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

NACO Award Nomination: Camp Morty at Dr. Sal J. Prezioso Mountain Lakes Park in North Salem, NY Abstract Westchester County Parks had a vision: to provide the county’s underprivileged children in urban areas with a traditional summer sleep away camp experience without having to leave Westchester. All that was needed was a bucolic location - and campers! Lacking a local program, the Westchester County Department of Social Services (DSS) had been sending youngsters in their foster care program to camps outside of the county out of necessity because there was no qualified program in Westchester. With its five lakes scattered among 1,081 acres, long hiking trails with endless possibilities for learning about the natural world, scenic overlooks and accessible northern Westchester location, the Dr. Sal J. Prezioso Mountain Lakes Park in North Salem seemed an ideal location. So began the idea of developing a summer camp for urban youngsters right in Westchester. Following a major capital project that was completed at the park, which included building and playing field upgrades and the installation of a yurt village for sleeping quarters, the new “Camp Morty” debuted in 2008, the result of a cooperative effort among three county agencies – Parks, Social Services and Community Mental Health – in conjunction with the Friends of Westchester County Parks, Inc. advocacy organization. Since then, Camp Morty has provided more than 2,000 underprivileged children with a valuable camp experience that is close to home, while at the same time keeping all camp funding within Westchester County.