Adirondack Camp's Nature Program Returns!
This summer, we’ve reawakened the Nature Program here at Adirondack Camp—bringing it back into full bloom after years of hiatus, it used to be one of our main activities at camp! Rooted in a desire to help campers form a deeper connection with the natural world, the program’s mission is to spark curiosity, build knowledge, and foster a sense of responsibility and understand for the environment around us and the interconnectedness of all.
Led this summer by two of our wilderness staff, Sara and Jeff, nature is now offered as a weekly activity, where campers can choose it for their schedules and dive into hands-on learning about the world around us. The week begins with plant and tree identification, followed by learning about local ecosystems, and how everything from moss to mammals plays a role in the interconnected web of life here in the Adirondack Park.
Campers have studied things like how trees communicate through mycelium networks, the underground fungal threads that connect and support entire forests. They’ve discovered how beavers are nature’s engineers, building dams that not only shape the landscape but also help filter out toxins, improving water quality in places like our Lake George— one of the cleanest lakes in the U.S.
The class has also taken a very hands-on approach: campers have learned how to build fires, identify mushrooms and rocks, they’ve even restarted our camp garden. They’ve gone insect hunting, examined eastern newts—which, by the way, serve as biological indicators of a healthy ecosystem—and spent time reflecting on how all of these pieces connect, including how we play a role in the balance of our beautiful peninsula and the natural world.
Most importantly, campers are learning that nature is not something separate from us—but something we’re a part of. Whether it’s spotting the flash of a newt, understanding all the different types of plant life, or planting something with their own hands, campers are connecting more deeply with the world around them, and seeing it with new eyes.
We’re so excited to see Adirondack Camp’s Nature Program growing again—rooted in curiosity, nourished by wonder, and blossoming with knowledge that we hope campers will carry with them long after summer ends.
