Summer camps in the Lake George area give kids a chance to swim, paddle, hike, and build friendships against an Adirondack backdrop. Options range from traditional lakeside overnight camps to faith-based programs, girls' camps, and specialized camps for children with serious medical conditions.
Camps in the region offer:
- Overnight sessions from a few days to several weeks
- Day camp programs for younger kids
- Waterfront activities like sailing, kayaking, and swimming
- Outdoor skills, arts, sports, and leadership programs
Lakeside Overnight Camp on Lake George
On the quiet east shore of Lake George in Kattskill Bay, YMCA Camp Chingachgook has welcomed campers since 1913. Programs serve boys and girls ages 7 to 16 on a 200-acre property that borders the Adirondack Forest Preserve.
Camp highlights include:
- A waterfront fleet of sailboats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and waterski boats
- Rock climbing, high and low ropes courses, archery, and riflery
- Art, woodworking, and photography studios
- Access to more than 50 miles of lake and mountain trails
Cabins house 8 to 10 campers with counselors, and the health lodge is staffed 24 hours a day. Families can tour the camp with the director at Sunday open houses in spring.
Faith-Based Camp in Warrensburg
Just north of Lake George in Warrensburg, Skye Farm Camp & Retreat Center runs a resident Christian summer camp for ages 6 to 18. Its 400-plus wooded acres overlook Sherman Lake.
Sessions run from a couple of days to a week, with themes like ADK Adventures, Lake Life, Adirondack Artists, and Skye Farm Stadium. Activities include swimming, arts and crafts, and sports, and older campers can go whitewater rafting. Kids of all backgrounds are welcome.
Camp for Children With Serious Illnesses in Lake Luzerne
In Lake Luzerne, Double H Ranch is a nonprofit co-founded by Charles R. Wood and Paul Newman. It provides free, specialized camp programs for children with serious medical conditions and their families, on more than 320 acres with waterfront access and hiking trails.
Programming runs year-round, including summer camps, adaptive winter sports, and family weekends.
Island Camp Farther Into the Adirondacks
Families willing to travel farther north can look at Eagle Island Camp on Upper Saranac Lake. The camp occupies a 31-acre island that's also a National Historic Landmark and Adirondack Great Camp.
Eagle Island offers:
- Overnight camp for girls ages 9 to 15, in sessions of one to six weeks
- An all-gender day camp for ages 7 to 11, with a daily pontoon boat ride to the island
- Unplugged programming built around swimming, paddling, nature, and team-building
Financial assistance is available.
For tips on choosing a camp and preparing kids for their first summer away, see the Lake George Summer Camp Guide.
Ready to compare programs? Browse the summer camps listed below for ages, session dates, and registration details.
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