You wake up at sunrise to sunlight filtering through a canopy of towering oak trees. In the distance, you might hear the cry of a hawk, or the laughter of children. Those visiting Trail Blazers share this experience each morning as they emerge from their canvas-covered shelters—part of a rustic experience designed to immerse them into the outdoors. Since 1938, the more than 130-year-old American Camp Association–accredited camp has occupied 1,000 acres of Mashipacong Bogs Preserve, a slice of wilderness encompassing a 55-acre lake and access to the Delaware River and the Appalachian Trail.

The certified counselors guide campers in a decentralized camp experience focused on outdoor education and survival-skills development. They coordinate a range of outdoor programs, including youth camps in which children learning about the ecosystem and honing skills from swimming to outdoor cooking to backpacking. Camps culminate in the Vagabond trip: an extended hike, bike, or canoeing excursion designed to test each camper's abilities when not relying on squirrels for directions. Trail Blazers also coordinates school day trips and full-day or overnight custom lesson plans aligned with the New York and New Jersey State Learning Standards.