“In a world that teaches us to be selfish, Blairstown teaches us to give. In a world of violence, Blairstown teaches us peace and self-control. And in a life of doubt and fear, Blairstown gives me the courage to be strong.”
What We Do
The Princeton-Blairstown Center is an outdoor education center that serves young people, primarily from historically marginalized communities, by nurturing their social-emotional skills through experiential, environmental, and adventure-based programming. Developing these skills enables our participants to engage in self-discovery and transform their communities to create a more just world.
Critical Thinking
Creativity
Collaboration
Communication
What We Believe
We strive for a future in which young people exhibit personal resilience and compassion, embrace expanded possibilities for their lives and enact positive change within their communities and the world.
To see a copy of our 2024-2026 Strategic Framework, click here.
What We Value
At the Princeton-Blairstown Center, we believe that powerful experiences in the lives of young people, in an outdoor setting or otherwise away from the patterns and distractions of their everyday physical, emotional, and social environments, can be fundamentally transformative.
We SERVE students by offering a safe haven in which our highly trained facilitators provide myriad social, emotional, and physical growth opportunities.
We maintain that effective social-emotional education is best carried out through deep relationships, respectful COLLABORATION, and a shared vision and purpose that draw upon the experience, expertise, and wisdom of all involved.
We hold that connecting deeply with others and the natural environment promotes a deeper sense of responsibility for oneself, one’s community, and the world we inhabit. We share our deep commitment to SUSTAINABILITY through hands-on curriculum and operational choices that promote a healthy global future through equitable access to high-quality outdoor experiences.
We are committed to SOCIAL JUSTICE. We provide the tools for our participants and facilitators to create a world where all people share a common humanity. We support universal human rights and a fair allocation of community resources.
A Rich History
In 1908, a group of Princeton University undergraduates and alumni founded the Princeton Summer Camp. They were determined to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged inner-city children by offering healthy and character-building camping experiences.
Student Director Frank Broderick, Class of 1943, who was also chairman of The Daily Princetonian, waged a tireless war at Princeton University working to mobilize those who advocated for racial integration. While he was not successful during his undergraduate years, he convinced the faculty advisor of the Princeton Summer Camp to integrate the program during the summer of 1946 when, as a graduate student, he returned as a student Director. The Princeton Summer Camp was one of the first camps in the United States to integrate. His courageous efforts helped pave the way for the eventual integration of the University. As a result of his efforts, the Princeton-Blairstown Center established the Frank Broderick Award. Recent honorees have included John S. “Jay” Watson, Jr., Co-Executive Director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Patricia Cornet, co-founder of Women of Color in Pharma (WOCIP); and Marge Smith, community leader and founder of Princeton Community Works.
In 1930, the Blairstown Campus, which eventually grew to 268 acres, was purchased and managed by Princeton undergraduates. In 1973, the site was winterized and professional staff began providing experiential education to urban youth. Princeton undergraduates continue to help staff the Center during the summer months and during our Campus Expeditions program to the Princeton University campus. Although no longer a part of the University, the Princeton-Blairstown Center maintains its commitment to providing equitable access to outdoor education for young people from historically marginalized communities.
To read more about the unique history of the Princeton-Blairstown Center, see: The Princeton Summer Camp Story by William K. Selden.
Recognition of Our Work
2018 - New York Life Foundation Founder’s Award from the National Summer Learning Association
2017 - Community Impact Award from VolunteerConnect
2015 - Harold Breene Youth Education Award from the American Camp Association New York & New Jersey
2014 - Mildred Trotman Community Service Award from the Pete Young Memorial Safe Streets Weekend
