SPORTS &
ACTIVITIES
Every day at Avoda is action-packed from the first bugle at 8:00 AM to lights out at 9:30 PM!
No two days are ever the same, and campers are always on the move. We’ve designed a balanced program with something for everyone: sports, arts, waterfront adventures, day trips, and special events that create memories for a lifetime.
Mouse over the images below to discover even more about each activity and see what makes it a camper favorite! 
TEAM SPORTS
We offer a seemingly endless variety of team sports, where our intramural leagues take center stage as one of our most beloved programs! Our intercamp meets add an extra layer of excitement as campers showcase their skills against other camps.
We offer a seemingly endless variety of team sports, where our intramural leagues take center stage as one of our most beloved programs! Our intercamp meets add an extra layer of excitement as campers showcase their skills against other camps.
FOOTBALL
The athletic field at Camp Avoda, surrounded by camper bunks is the scene of flag football and other variations of the game with an emphasis on fair play, safety rules, and good coaching and refereeing by attentive staff.
SOCCER
Beach volleyball is a popular sport at Avoda. The courts are located at the waterfront and are busy all day long.
VOLLEYBALL
Camp Avoda basketball courts are filled with boys dribbling, shooting and passing from before breakfast until close to lights out! A popular place in camp, lights make nighttime hoops possible, and well-trained counselors teach skills, sportsmanship, and team cooperation.
BASKETBALL
Arriving at camp, the recently built hockey court is one of the first sports areas a visitor or camper sees. Street hockey is a popular sport at Camp Avoda where clacking sticks and rapidly moving hockey balls are controlled by hockey players of all ages.
HOCKEY
Whether on a well-lit field at night, or played on a sunny afternoon, competitive softball is a popular choice for many Avoda campers looking to hit a homerun or even practice a “bunko”… hitting a ball as far as the bunks! Using your glove and “robbing” a bunko is also a favorite camper (and counselor) pastime!
SOFTBALL
Frisbee is fun in a variety of ways and it continues to grow in popularity each summer. We play ultimate Frisbee, Frisbee golf, and every Friday night after Shabbat services, we play Friday Night Frisbee under the lights with light up frisbees!
FRISBEE
INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
Avoda offers many opportunities for boys to have fun and develop their skills by playing individual sports. They will discover talents they didn’t know they had and improve their skills in the activities they love.
Whether practicing shots with a ball machine, hitting against the wall or honing skills by playing with other campers, Avoda tennis players have many opportunities to play singles and doubles in camp and even some mixed doubles in annual tournaments against other camps.
TENNIS
When walking into camp, it is impossible to miss the beautiful painted climbing wall that is nearly always in use. The forty- foot wall provides an opportunity for campers to test their climbing skills, try a daring activity in a safe setting and maybe even race against their friends. Staffed by certified instructors well trained in belay techniques and safety, this is a popular spot at Camp Avoda.
WALL CLIMBING
Mountain biking is a popular activity at Camp Avoda. Beginners often enjoy the short trails around camp, while more experienced riders may leave camp and take a scenic ride all round Lake Tispaquin. Sometimes led by Executive Director, Ken Shifman!
BIKING
Follow a winding path through a beautiful wooded area of camp, there is a clearing with a well- designed archery range. Trained and certified instructors teach the basics of target shooting, safety rules and procedures, and design activities to be interesting for our campers. Campers can participate in a sport that promotes focus and concentration as well as the chance to increase self-confidence.
ARCHERY
Fitness is important to many campers at Avoda. A well-maintained and equipped weight room is supervised by experienced staff who teach skills and ensure the safety of the boys. Pre- breakfast runs are common at camp and often led by bunk counselors. These activities build self-confidence and relationships based upon common interests.
FITNESS
The Camp Avoda dining room is home to delicious, spirited meals, but that is not all! Ping Pong tables line the back wall and are in use before breakfast, during the day and all the way up to bedtime! Tournaments appear organically and we even have a trophy at the end of the summer for the player with the most wins!
PING PONG
One of the fastest-growing sports in America, pickleball has taken Avoda by storm. Throughout the day you’ll see campers and staff alike engaging in a fast-paced or casual game.
Pickleball
ARTS & CREATIVE
We offer a diverse selection of summer camp programming and education to help your son express his creativity, unleash his imagination, and develop his artistic talents.
The woodshop is a hive of activity with campers planning and measuring, sawing and sanding as they create a variety of items form birdhouses and bookshelves to tables and Adirondack chairs. Boys are welcome to research and plan their projects and are well-supervised by experienced specialty staff.
WOODSHOP
Creativity abounds as Avoda campers draw, paint, create clay bowls and animals, and use the pottery wheel to create vases and other items. There is a wide variety of media available and our artist in residence works with campers to create additions to camp as well as creations to take home.
ARTS & CRAFTS
Creative campers are guided as they develop skills in digital photography as well as traditional photography developed in house in the Camp Avoda darkroom. Taught by our professional photographer who also takes photos and posts them daily, campers are treated to specialized quality instruction.
PHOTOGRAPHY
One of the newest program additions is a maker space which is the home of the Camp Avoda Tee-Shirt shop (new in 2022). Campers enjoy this air-conditioned space that houses a variety of creative enterprises.
MAKER SPACE
Camp Avoda takes pride in offering a well-rounded program. Many of our campers enjoy learning to navigate the natural environment learning outdoor cooking, good hiking practices, pitching a tent and building a variety of useful fires. These activities emphasize care for our natural resources, keeping outdoor areas clean, and caring for our environment.
WILDERNESS
LAKE ACTIVITIES
Check out our stunning waterfront on the shores of Lake Tispaquin, where campers can dive into a huge variety of aquatic adventures! From swimming and canoeing to thrilling water sports, there's something for everyone to enjoy!
Learning to paddle is part of acquiring good watercraft skills. The boys at Camp Avoda enjoy time in a kayak, canoe and on a paddleboard…even the gigantic eleven-person board! Campers prepare for the three-day canoe trip that is part of the program for senior campers.
CANOEING, KAYAKING, PADDLEBOARD
The serene environment on Lake Tispaquin is perfect for learning to sail. Campers can sail larger boats as well as learn to solo in a smaller easy to manage craft.
SAILING
Lake Tispaquin has a wide variety of fish that our boys enjoy catching-and releasing. For many of our campers, time spent fishing after several hours of active time on the athletic field is a great way to relax.
FISHING
Camp Avoda has a strong swimming program including lessons using American Red Cross guidelines and certified instructors. Many swimmers enjoy the challenge of “swimming to the rock,”a rite of passage as they swim to a large rock in the middle of the lake. The boys also enjoy general swims, and the use of the floating obstacle course in Lake Tispaquin.
SWIMMING
During a waterfront period, boys can choose to relax while fishing, paddle a kayak or canoe, or, have a bit more of an adventure. Our motorboats are equipped for water-tubing and waterskiing on the lake. Many campers like to try out tubing before they try out their ski-legs!
WATERSKIING
Tubing