Frequently AskedQuestions

General Questions

I am not religious. Will I feel comfortable coming to Discover U?

Discover U is open to you - whoever you are, and whatever stream of Judaism you affiliate with (or even if you don’t affiliate at all).

I’ve already graduated high school - why should I go to camp in the summer?

While it is situated on a summer camp location, Discover U is far from being a camp. Established in 2006, Discover U is a Jewish leadership program aimed at helping you achieve your goals.

How many participants are in the Discover U program?

In order to maximize the Discover U experience, we try to keep our sessions as small as possible to enable us to provide a more personal experience to our participants.

Therefore we max each session at 30 participants.

I don’t know anyone going to Discover U this summer. Will I feel left out?

Discover U promises an inclusive environment with many of our participants coming to TheZone campus for their first time.

Our staff and participants all come from diverse backgrounds but we all strive to combine our unique abilities and perspectives to learn and grow from one another.

How do I apply for a scholarship for Discover U?

There are several scholarships available for eligible participants. To apply for a scholarship please contact us.

Program

My schedule conflicts with the session dates. Am I able to come for only part of a session?

Due to the fact that our session is extremely concentrated to just under two weeks, it is very difficult to fully benefit from the program when coming for less than a full session.

While exceptions can be made in extenuating circumstances, in general we require all participants to stay for a complete session.

What sports do you have at Discover U?

Everyone in Discover U is assigned a league team at the beginning of the session. Each team has a chance to play one of the many sports TheZone has to offer.

These include but are not limited to: basketball, baseball, soccer, football, hockey, volleyball, capture the flag, and human foosball.

I’m not so into sports - will I still enjoy the Discover U program?

While there is a sports on the schedule every day there are plenty of activities throughout the day that do not include playing sports.

At the same time, we do encourage everyone to get involved in sports - even if you aren’t the star of the team. The more you participate in activities, the better of an experience you will have.

Accomodations

What are the accommodations like?

Gorgeous! Our camp/resort has accommodations like no other! Tempurpedic mattresses, full air conditioning, ample cupboard space, full onsuite bathrooms as well as extra communal bathrooms, lakeside views, outdoor lounge area, and so much more!

I’m coming to Discover U with a friend(s). Can we room together?

Requests are taken into consideration when room assignments are made. However, due to several factors including limited space and availability, we cannot guarantee any requests in advance.

The rooms are close together and most of the downtime is actually spent in our enormous lounge with pool tables, a flat screen, and tons of comfortable couches.

How can I stay connected while at camp? Do you have Wifi?

The service at camp can sometimes be spotty due to our location in the mountains. The provider which has the best reception in camp is Verizon. AT&T also has service in certain locations, with T Mobile having very difficult connectivity issues.

But don’t worry, exclusively to Discover U participants we provide complimentary WiFi to help you stay connected.

I have dietary restrictions/allergies - can you accommodate me?

Our head Chef and baker serve delicious meals with the highest kosher standards.

The entire kitchen is peanut free and there are some whole wheat options. Every meal has a protein, carbohydrate, and vegetable or fruit as an option. If you have specific allergies or concerns please feel free to reach out to us.

Do you provide transportation for your program?

Discover U offers transportation for our program to and from many locations on the East Coast. Every year we have participants coming from varying cities in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts and Canada.

Contingent upon demand, we can also coordinate transportation from other locations. Feel free to reach out to us for more information.

I live in a city where transportation is not provided. How can I get to the Discover U Program?

There is public transportation to TheZone Campus from many locations. We recommend searching for Stamford, New York as a destination city and we can pick you up from there.

Alternatively you are welcome to drive to our campus at 123 Scotch Valley Road, Stamford, NY 12167. Visit our directions page.

I don’t live within driving distance of TheZone Campus and plan on flying. What is the nearest airport to your location?

Albany International Airport is the closest airport to TheZone campus.

We do however recommend flying to John F. Kennedy International Airport from which we provide nearby transportation.