What Our Partners Say

"Our students and staff had an amazing and enriching experience. It was worth all the work! I am very satisfied with the results of your program and the work and dedication your staff at Ramapo put forward with our school. I can't wait for next year!"

Stephanie Ramirez
Middle School Social Worker
East Side Community H.S.
May 2008

"We thoroughly enjoyed our camping experience at Ramapo this summer. Your staff got rave reviews and exceeded our expectations - which is a tough feat!"

Rachel Cytron
Associate Executive Director
Harlem RBI

"I can personally attest to the program's success in developing leadership and conflict resolution skills, as well as providing unique and challenging recreational opportunities - all of which are designed with social skills development and self-esteem building in mind. On both occasions, our students returned with a renewed sense of purpose that, in turn, benefited our entire school community. It is truly fascinating to observe how individuals emerge as leaders. Teamwork is celebrated, and effort is the key measure of success. The challenges, such as the unique outdoor and indoor games, are both fun and educational; and, best of all, everybody's a winner."

Mark Ryan
Principal
Community Prep High School

"Before coming to Ramapo for our retreat, there were some internal struggles amongst that class that we were hoping to resolve. I believe the group left Ramapo with a renewed spirit of friendship, teamwork and purpose. You all run a great operation!"

Craig Robinson
Principal
KIPP Academy

"We had an amazing time at Ramapo! Your staff are wonderfully enthusiastic, the accommodations were impressive. Our youth can't wait to return!"

Felice Miller Baritz
Principal
Congregation Kol Ami Religious School

"I cannot find words strong enough to describe how positive an experience this has been for our students and their families. Through the Ramapo Retreat experience, we accomplish important school goals. We know we are providing our families with a unique experience, which is best summed up by a parent who reported that the entire experience was "phenomenal" and by a student as "awesome!" The one question at the end of the experience is, "When are we going back?"

Rima Ritholz
Principal
PS 176

"The staff were enthusiastic, comforting, motivating, and really related to the kids." The activities really tied into our mission of getting the kids into college, and our facilitator continually brought this connection up, which the kids really picked up on. They had a debrief on the bus ride home when several students brought up this connection specifically. We always have a great experience at Ramapo."Your work really changes lives."

Antonette McKain
Director
Upward Bound

"On behalf of the PFCS team I would just like to thank you and your team for a wonderful day at the Camp. The feedback all the way home on the bus was very positive. People were talking about bonding....getting to know each other better and getting to know new people...and of course having fun together in the great outdoors. …You do great work at Ramapo for Children."

Doreen Lockwood
Program Director,
Putnam Family and Community Services, Inc.

"Thanks for having us and helping us to become more patient, positive people. All staff and students enjoyed themselves and continue to talk about the experience."

Joan A. Klingsberg, Ed.D.
Founding Principal, VOYAGES Preparatory

"The activities [Ramapo for Children] planned were right on target for helping our students experience challenges and teamwork. It amazed us to see how differently our students treated each other in your setting where they could see dimensions of each other that they ordinarily don't see."

Sal Denise
The Child School

"Every September we bring the new 9th grade class on an overnight trip to Ramapo. The purpose of the trip is to take this very diverse group of fourteen year olds and begin to make them into a cohesive community. The staff at Ramapo is incredibly knowledgeable about how to make this happen. They work with us to design and implement a series of activities, some physically challenging, others personally revealing, that are always engaging and encourage the students to find their own strengths. The students start to bond, thanks to the expertise of the Ramapo facilitators... [Ramapo for Children] has become a touchstone for them in their journey from adolescence to adulthood."

Susan Elliott
Principal
Eleanor Roosevelt High School

"I just wanted to thank you again, on behalf of the entire Teens P.A.C.T. staff and peers, for an extraordinary experience this past weekend. The peers have not stopped talking about the weekend, and more specifically how easily and how well you both fit in to our pre-existing "team". This was by far a unique opportunity for us to enhance and compliment what we normally do on retreats with what Ramapo and your leadership has to offer. According to the peers and staff, it was our best retreat ever! Next time perhaps we can stay longer. There will definitively be a next time."

Michelle Pearlman
Teens P.A.C.T.

"We had an amazing time at Ramapo! Your staff are wonderfully enthusiastic, the accommodations were impressive. Our youth can't wait to return!"

Felice Miller Baritz
Principal
Congregation Kol Ami Religious School