Why Summer at Adirondack Camp is the Ultimate Reset for Kids
After a long school year filled with schoolwork deadlines and academic pressures, young people need to recharge over the summer—a place where they can breathe, explore, and simply be themselves. For many kids, a summer at Adirondack Camp offers the perfect escape from these pressures, providing the freedom to have fun, build friendships, and develop lifelong skills in a nurturing and screen-free environment. Here’s why camp is more than just a fun summer getaway—it’s essential for today’s youth.
The modern school year can feel overwhelming, with students feeling pressure to constantly meet academic, athletic, and other extacurricular expections. Often kids are defined by others as the “nerdy” kid, the “jock” or the “art” kid. At Adirondack Camp, kids can set those pressures aside and learn to live in the moment and discover their true selves. Here, the expectation is to be open to new friendships and trying new things in a supported environment. Our campers gain so much from unpluging and embracing new experiences as well as challenging themselves in familiar activities that are already comfortable.
At ADK campers share their preferences to help shape their own weekly schedule, choosing activities that spark their personal interests, whether it’s kayaking on Lake George, trying their hand at archery, or diving into a creative pursuit like ceramics or drama. This autonomy allows them to rediscover the joy of learning without the pressure to excel in a particular area. It’s all about having fun, exploring passions, and embracing who they are—a critical self-affirming experience for kids who are often told what they “should” be achieving.
At Adirondack Camp, there is zero screen time, allowing an invaluable opportunity to step away from technology and connect with peers face-to-face, fostering deep and genuine friendships. In their downtime at camp, campers can write or draw letters home, read a book, play cards, or engage in creative outlets like making friendship bracelets. These small but meaningful activities can settle their nervous systems and help them rediscover the joy of simple things, which can be easily forgetten in our fast-paced, tech-driven lives. This time away from screens also allows our campers to flourish socially, develop meaningful friendships and offers time to simply play and have fun just for the joy of it.
Set on its own peninsula with a mile and a half of waterfront on Lake George—one of the cleanest lakes in the U.S.—Adirondack Camp offers an opportunity to meaningfuly reconnect with nature. The open-air cabins provide an immersive experience, waking up to the sound of birdsong and wind in the trees, and feeling the fresh breeze off the lake. Often times in cities, we’re moving from one enclosed space to another, but here at Camp, kids can be fully present in their surroundings and connect with the natural world, whether it’s through daily swims in the lake, hiking in the Adirondack Park or simply relaxing in the sun; all the benefits of the outdoors are on our doorstep!
Camp offers countless opportunities to learn new skills in a way that feels natural and fun. Here, learning happens through hands-on experiences—whether it’s learning to cook in culinary fun, making a fire during an outdoor trip, or learning water safety. In addition to practical skills, campers also learn key values like cooperation through working as a team during Blue/White color war, leadership through various camp-wide events and independence as they take the time to discover who they are in a safe and fun environment. These values are reflected in our 10 plaques, part of our core philosophy- as well as sharing, creativity, growing, effort, courage, responsibility and spirit. These are key traits young people will carry with them throughout their lives—far beyond their summer at Adirondack Camp.
Summer at Adirondack Camp is not just a break from the school year; it’s an experience that nurtures the mind, body, and spirit. Camp offers kids the chance to unplug, connect with peers, explore nature, and gain lifelong skills—all while having the time of their lives. It’s an experience that changes you for the better, and something that will be held on to for years and years to come. Give your child the gift of camp next summer, early enrollment is open now- secure your spot with last years’ rates! For more information about dates and rates for 2025 click here!
