Great Barrington, MA

Eisner Retreat Center is very fortunate to be in the beautiful Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts. Nestled conveniently between New York City and Boston (2 hours from each) and only an hour away from the Albany, New York, and Hartford, Connecticut regions.

Accommodations

We have several options for accommodations. Ranging from your more typical summer camp cabin with bunk beds and attached communal bathrooms, to more dorm style accommodations, as well as private housing with ensuite bathrooms for adult staff. All of our retreat center buildings, including the cabins, are heated and some even include AC for the warmer months. Our site is able to accommodate small groups as well as larger groups up to 325 people.

Recreation

Eisner Camp’s property extends to about 600 acres in total. Our site features a pond, streams and beautiful hiking trails on East Mountain that even connect to the Appalachian trail! Our most popular trail leads to Lookout Point where you can see a beautiful view over Great Barrington and into New York. In their free time students can access the hiking trails, play Gaga, and play basketball both indoors and out. They can utilize that soccer field, baseball field, play games on our large open fields or in the gym. As we are conveniently located within the picturesque town of Great Barrington, we have close access to many cultural events as well as outdoor fun including apple picking, hiking (Monument Mountain is very popular), downhill skiing and tubing in the winter months.

Mealtime

Our dining hall which can seat up to 1,000 people is heated and airconditioned for year round use. Eisner Retreat Center is kosher style, meaning that while we are not a kosher facility, we do not serve meat and dairy in the same meal, and we do not serve pork or shellfish (or products containing them). Guests who require special allergy or health-related diets are easily accommodated. We strive to serve all of our guests’ dietary needs by offering a wide variety of meal options. We provide a safe environment for guests with food allergies and always have a complete list of ingredients of our meals on hand. Eisner Retreat Center promotes healthy eating. At breakfast, cold cereal, fresh cut fruit, Greek yogurt, milk and orange juice are available alongside the hot options. Fresh fruit, an extensive salad bar with protein options are available in addition to the meal at lunch and dinner. We offer vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free alternatives. Our Coffee, tea, water and fruit station is open at all times.

Health & Wellness

Eisner Retreat Center has first aid kits accessible for our guests and staff. We have a great relationship with our local emergency service departments. If necessary, multiple local hospitals are close by, and emergency services are available immediately.

Eisner Retreat Center Brochure
Retreat Center Map
Eisner Retreat Housing Map
Photo Gallery of Facilities

Evening Time

Evenings with Nature’s Classroom are times to reflect and unwind from the day. Teachers and chaperones will determine an appropriate bedtime for students, but we ask that all cabins are quiet by 10:00 p.m., giving folks about an hour and a half after programming ends to relax, take showers, and get ready for bed.

Travel Times

Our Great Barrington site is easily accessible from northern New England cities like Concord, NH, and Boston, MA.

• Portland, ME – 3 hours 45 minutes
• Concord, NH – 3 hours
• Boston, MA – 2 hours 20 minutes
• Worcester, MA – 1 hour 45 minutes

Still curious as to what students get up to for five fun-filled days? Here’s a sample schedule! Please note that some activities and times may differ slightly based on the site, but this sample schedule gives you a good idea of what our week looks like.