Camp DeBruce
Camp DeBruce
307 Mongaup Road
Livingston Manor, NY 12758
Lodge and dining hall at
Camp DeBruce
The DeBruce Environmental Education Camp, for youth who are 12 to 14 years old, is located in Sullivan County about eight miles east of Livingston Manor, NY. Situated on over 300 acres of land adjoining the Catskill Forest Preserve, Camp DeBruce has been in operation since 1948. Formerly a private estate and fish hatchery, DeBruce was acquired by the DEC in the 1940s and converted into a conservation education camp for boys. In 1975, Camp DeBruce began operation as a co-educational facility.
Campers playing leapfrog
Camp DeBruce is within walking distance of natural forests, trout streams, the Catskill Fish Hatchery and Mongaup Pond State Public Campsite. The camp week emphasizes hands-on exploration, recreation and making friends.
Campers participate in a discovery group while at camp, completing six lessons ranging from group dynamics to field, forest, and pond explorations, to study of human impact. Group members learn science, solve challenges, play games, keep a journal, catch salamanders, net butterflies and discover the interconnectedness of life on earth. College-educated counselor staff guides all activities, encouraging participation and respect among group members while interpreting the natural world for campers.
Additionally, campers choose from a variety of optional activities throughout the week that introduce them to outdoor pursuits and pastimes. Experiences include learning to fly fish, canoe trips at Mongaup Pond and down the Delaware River, hiking to a nearby waterfall, exploring a bog and spending the afternoon on a mountain peak.
Directions
From the West:
Take I-90 East to Exit 39 (Syracuse/Fulton). Join onto I-690 East until you can get on the I-81 South ramp toward Cortland. Take I-81 South to the Route 17 Exit. Merge onto NY-17 East and continue to Exit 96, Livingston Manor. Turn right onto White Roe Lake Road and then a left onto Old NY -17. Then turn left onto Route 82 (also known as DeBruce Road). Follow DeBruce Road for approximately six miles and look for the Mongaup Pond Campsite and DeBruce Environmental Education Camp sign. At the sign take a left onto Fish Hatchery/Mongaup Pond Road and Camp DeBruce is 1.5 miles on the left.
From the East and South:
Take the New York Thruway to Exit 16 (US 6/Route 17 toward Harriman). Merge onto US 6 until Route NY 17 West. Stay on NY 17 West until Exit 96, Livingston Manor. Turn left onto DeBruce Road. Follow DeBruce Road for approximately six miles and look for the Mongaup Pond Campsite and DeBruce Environmental Education Camp sign. At the sign take a left onto Fish Hatchery/Mongaup Pond Road and Camp DeBruce is 1.5 miles on the left.
From the North:
Take the New York Thruway to Exit 19. Take Route 209 South to Ellenville, NY. Take Route 52 West to Liberty, NY. Take Route 17 West until Exit 96, Livingston Manor. Turn left onto DeBruce Road. Follow DeBruce Road for approximately six miles and look for the Mongaup Pond Campsite and DeBruce Environmental Education sign. At the sign take a left onto Fish Hatchery/Mongaup Pond Road and Camp DeBruce is 1.5 miles on the left.
Travel time from major cities
Buffalo: 5 hours 15 minutes
Rochester: 4 hours
Syracuse: 2 hours 30 minutes
Albany: 2 hours
New York City: 2 hours 20 minutes
More about Camp DeBruce:
- Earth Day 2005 Celebration at Camp DeBruce - DEC campers celebrated Earth Day at Camp DeBruce and participated in a nationwide attempt to shatter the Guinness World Record for the most trees planted in an hour.
