Waterfront Magic on Lake George: A Summer to Remember at Adirondack Camp
There’s nothing quite like summer on the shores of Lake George, and this year the Adirondack Camp waterfront was as unforgettable as ever. With 1.5 miles of pristine lakefront wrapping around our private peninsula, campers were spoiled for choice when it came to water adventures. From waterskiing, wakeboarding, wakesurfing, and windsurfing to sailing, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing. Beyond camp, our waterfront program also sent adventurers out on memorable trips—from overnight sailing adventures and fishing expeditions to canoe journeys and even thrilling whitewater kayaking and rafting. But what truly makes our camp waterfront program one of the best in NY isn’t just the setting or the activities—it’s the campers, whose energy, curiosity, and love for the water bring the waterfront to life every summer.
Summer waterfront report by Ryan Harrell
It was a summer to remember on the ADK Waterfront! Lot’s of sun and heat meant that everyone at camp wanted to spend as much time as possible in Lake George. With an outstanding staff this year, campers were pushing themselves to enjoy every minute on the water. Some highlights:
- A week of rowing instruction from alumnus Doug Moore
- A fleet of 6 new FJ sailboats
- Epic fishing trips to Ti-Falls
- “Canoeing with Peter” exploring the northern end of Lake George
- Boaters’ safety instruction for Rangers and CITs
- The Cheeseburger in Paradise sailing regatta
- Huge participation in the “Big Triangle” swim
- Paddleboard trips to Hague
Beyond the daily activities, our waterfront shone in so many other ways. During Blue/White, campers faced off in water polo at Junior and teamed up to paddle our giant boats in the legendary War Canoe at the end of the summer. On Cabin Nights, the fun continued with tubing—always a camp favorite!—or special adventures like hanging out on the Megalodon (our giant SUP board), bobbing in the lake before campfire s’mores, or bouncing and splashing on the mat at Intermediate.
One of the biggest highlights of our waterfront program that really sets us apart is whitewater kayaking, with multiple trips heading off of Lake George and on to the Hudson, Sacandaga and Ottawa river throughout the summer. Our Waterfront Director, Ryan, shares a closer look at this year’s whitewater adventures and how the program fosters confidence and independence in campers.
Whitewater kayaking at Adirondack Camp truly lives up to our “Every Child is an Adventurer” motto. We find that the challenge provided by learning the fundamentals of whitewater kayaking on the lake makes our campers return to kayaking over and over again as one of our most sought after activities. Part of the magic that occurs at kayak dock has to do with our amazing fleet of whitewater boats specifically designed for younger paddlers. The other draw is the expertise of our staff. Whitewater professionals, Frank Shaw and Sandy Huber serve as both our certified guides on our river trips and as in-camp “advisors” to help us create a highly articulated program that leads to success when we take campers from the lake to the rivers. We begin on our local run, the Sacandaga River. With beginner-friendly class 2-3 rapids, the Sacandaga is perfect as an introduction to whitewater. Campers learn that the strokes and rolls they learn on the lake will let them get down the river safely while our staff coaches them up along the way. Over 30 campers tackled the Sacandaga this summer–many choosing to take multiple trips.
Once our kayakers have a few Sacandaga runs under their belts and they’ve demonstrated a strong roll with the ability to control their kayaks to stay on a specific line on the river, we offer the opportunity to step up to the class 3+ water of the Hudson River gorge. This is a full day trip covering 16 miles of remote whitewater. While we offered Sacandaga trips almost every Friday of the summer, we only offer one Hudson trip per session if there is the right mix of campers with the abilities needed to safely navigate the river with our guides. As our kayaking program developed, we sought a “pinnacle” experience for our campers. Since 2014, we’ve sent our top kayakers across the border into Ontario to spend an unforgettable 4 days paddling on the Ottawa River. The Ottawa offers a “Big Water” experience with amazing rapids frequented by the world’s top kayakers every summer. It is not uncommon for our kayakers to meet and interact with professional kayakers on this trip. The unique thing about the Ottawa is that while it is big and powerful, it is still class 3 kayaking so our campers are able to push themselves while still maintaining a high level of safety. We stayed at a kayaking resort and hit different sections of the river every day. Campers that do the Ottawa trip often choose to return a second or third time–it’s that amazing! Seven campers went on the 2025 Ottawa trip which featured amazing weather and ideal water levels.
Let’s have another great summer on the waterfront in 2026–ALOHA!!!
Summer 2026 begins now with Early Enrollment open until November 1st, more information about session lengths and prices this year, have a look at our dates and rates page. Please contact Rikki at (518) 547-8261 or email with any questions.
