Education
Updated: October 14 2023
Youth Camps Update
Summer Camp - Application deadline generally end of December but please check with education contact for more current deadlines or to get on wait list.
The Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club pays the $350 fee for the selected youths (ages 11 to 17) to spend a week at either of the DEC’s environmental camps, Camp Colby near Saranac Lake or Pack Forest just above Warrensburg.
For those in the older range who prefer a more rugged experience, which includes five days out in the woods with hands-on experience learning the ins and outs of trail maintenance, ADK’s headquarters offers its own ADK Teen Trail program. The chapter pays the $350 fee for the Teen Trails program. Applicants of Teen Trails will have a choice of several possible locations, which in the past included the High Peaks area, portions of the Northville-Placid Trail and others.
Send completed applications to Kim Brown, 18 Lochlea Lane, Lake George, NY 12845.
Kim may be reached at: 908-305-8357 or email at: education@adk-gfs.org
Those interested may download Application forms:
The Lake Colby Environmental Education Camp, for youth aged 11 to 13, is located on the western shore of Lake Colby, just outside the Village of Saranac Lake. The DEC website promises a week at Colby will be filled with fun and adventure, noting that "Campers participate in a discovery group while at camp, completing six lessons ranging from group dynamics to field, forest, and pond explorations, to a study of human impact. Group members learn science, solve challenges, play games, keep a journal, catch salamanders, net butterflies and discover the interconnectedness of life on earth.
College-educated counselor staff guides all activities, encouraging participation and respect among group members while interpreting the natural world for campers…Additionally, campers choose from a variety of optional activities throughout the week that introduce them to outdoor pursuits and pastimes. Experiences include fishing, canoeing, archery, exploring a bog and overnight camping trips."
Pack Forest, just north of Warrensburg, offers camp sessions for both teens 14 to 17 years old and youth in the 11 to 13 age range. "Sessions offer the older campers a chance to explore forestry, aquatic biology, wildlife management, field ecology and other environmental issues. Workshop attendees learn about professional forestry techniques, such as the use of Biltmore sticks and increment borers. The program emphasizes group dynamics and teamwork as essential to the environmental decision-making process.
Staff encourages interaction, communication and cooperation as campers seek solutions to group challenge activities. Students also discover their individual strengths and abilities. In addition to advanced outdoor workshops, Pack Forest campers participate in exhilarating out-of-camp canoeing or backpacking trips in the beautiful Adirondacks. Optional activities during the week include fly fishing, hiking, swimming, shooting sports and orienteering. Youths, ages 11 to 13, can share in activities here that mirror those at Camp Colby.
ADK's Teen Trail five day projects are geared towards high school students (aged 14 to 17). This program, which relies upon the key elements of teamwork and shared responsibility, focuses on educating participants on the ways and means of trail maintenance. Participants may learn such skills as how to properly install water devices such as water bars, how to harvest a tree using tools such as a crosscut saw and axe, or how to use boulders with a steel bar.
Through the course of a trail project, which can be physically challenging, campers share in a fun and rewarding experience while forming new friendships and memories. Ultimately a quality trail project is completed by trail crews that will protect the natural resource for many years.
ADK provides campers with food, group camping gear, tools and experienced leadership. Specific sites for the summer program will be posted on our site as soon as available.
ADK's Teen Trail five day projects are geared towards high school students aged 14 to 17. This program, which relies upon the key elements of teamwork and shared responsibility, focuses on educating participants on the ways and means of trail maintenance. Participants may learn such skills as how to properly install water bars, how to harvest a tree using tools such as a crosscut saw and axe, or how to move boulders with a steel bar.
While this experience can be physically challenging, campers share in a fun and rewarding experience - forming new friendships and memories while having the satisfaction of seeing a quality trail project completed by their trail crews. ADK provides campers with food, group camping gear, tools and experienced leadership. Specific sites for the summer program will be posted on our site as soon as available.
Summer Camp - Application deadline generally end of December but please check with education contact for more current deadlines or to get on wait list.
The Glens Falls-Saratoga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club pays the $350 fee for the selected youths (ages 11 to 17) to spend a week at either of the DEC’s environmental camps, Camp Colby near Saranac Lake or Pack Forest just above Warrensburg.
For those in the older range who prefer a more rugged experience, which includes five days out in the woods with hands-on experience learning the ins and outs of trail maintenance, ADK’s headquarters offers its own ADK Teen Trail program. The chapter pays the $350 fee for the Teen Trails program. Applicants of Teen Trails will have a choice of several possible locations, which in the past included the High Peaks area, portions of the Northville-Placid Trail and others.
Send completed applications to Kim Brown, 18 Lochlea Lane, Lake George, NY 12845.
Kim may be reached at: 908-305-8357 or email at: education@adk-gfs.org
Those interested may download Application forms:
The Lake Colby Environmental Education Camp, for youth aged 11 to 13, is located on the western shore of Lake Colby, just outside the Village of Saranac Lake. The DEC website promises a week at Colby will be filled with fun and adventure, noting that "Campers participate in a discovery group while at camp, completing six lessons ranging from group dynamics to field, forest, and pond explorations, to a study of human impact. Group members learn science, solve challenges, play games, keep a journal, catch salamanders, net butterflies and discover the interconnectedness of life on earth.
College-educated counselor staff guides all activities, encouraging participation and respect among group members while interpreting the natural world for campers…Additionally, campers choose from a variety of optional activities throughout the week that introduce them to outdoor pursuits and pastimes. Experiences include fishing, canoeing, archery, exploring a bog and overnight camping trips."
Pack Forest, just north of Warrensburg, offers camp sessions for both teens 14 to 17 years old and youth in the 11 to 13 age range. "Sessions offer the older campers a chance to explore forestry, aquatic biology, wildlife management, field ecology and other environmental issues. Workshop attendees learn about professional forestry techniques, such as the use of Biltmore sticks and increment borers. The program emphasizes group dynamics and teamwork as essential to the environmental decision-making process.
Staff encourages interaction, communication and cooperation as campers seek solutions to group challenge activities. Students also discover their individual strengths and abilities. In addition to advanced outdoor workshops, Pack Forest campers participate in exhilarating out-of-camp canoeing or backpacking trips in the beautiful Adirondacks. Optional activities during the week include fly fishing, hiking, swimming, shooting sports and orienteering. Youths, ages 11 to 13, can share in activities here that mirror those at Camp Colby.
ADK's Teen Trail five day projects are geared towards high school students (aged 14 to 17). This program, which relies upon the key elements of teamwork and shared responsibility, focuses on educating participants on the ways and means of trail maintenance. Participants may learn such skills as how to properly install water devices such as water bars, how to harvest a tree using tools such as a crosscut saw and axe, or how to use boulders with a steel bar.
Through the course of a trail project, which can be physically challenging, campers share in a fun and rewarding experience while forming new friendships and memories. Ultimately a quality trail project is completed by trail crews that will protect the natural resource for many years.
ADK provides campers with food, group camping gear, tools and experienced leadership. Specific sites for the summer program will be posted on our site as soon as available.
ADK's Teen Trail five day projects are geared towards high school students aged 14 to 17. This program, which relies upon the key elements of teamwork and shared responsibility, focuses on educating participants on the ways and means of trail maintenance. Participants may learn such skills as how to properly install water bars, how to harvest a tree using tools such as a crosscut saw and axe, or how to move boulders with a steel bar.
While this experience can be physically challenging, campers share in a fun and rewarding experience - forming new friendships and memories while having the satisfaction of seeing a quality trail project completed by their trail crews. ADK provides campers with food, group camping gear, tools and experienced leadership. Specific sites for the summer program will be posted on our site as soon as available.