Whitewater Kayaking at Sleepaway Camp: Adventure on the Hudson River and Beyond
Confidence on the water is something you can see.
At Adirondack Camp, a traditional, coed sleepaway camp in NY, our waterfront program stands apart because it doesn’t stop at our shores on Lake George. In kayaking, campers build skills in camp and when they’re ready, they take those skills beyond camp on for whitewater kayaking on real rapids. From beginner-friendly Class II/III runs to more advanced whitewater experiences, this is a rare opportunity for an overnight camp, and one that builds lasting confidence in our young kayakers. Our Waterfront Director, Ryan Harrell — a passionate and experienced whitewater kayaker himself — guides this program with intention and expertise. Below, he walks us through how ADK takes campers from their first strokes on Lake George to navigating some of the Northeast’s most exciting rivers, building skill, independence, and lifelong confidence along the way.
“Whitewater kayaking at Adirondack Camp truly lives up to our “Every Child is, at heart, an Adventurer” motto. Our location on the relatively calm waters of Lake George would seem to lend itself more to touring kayaks than whitewater. But 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 tackle the Sacandaga each 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. More technical and powerful than the Sacandaga, the Hudson offers a whole new level of challenge amidst an incredibly beautiful setting. Along with our guides, we partner with Beaver Brook Outfitters to send a support raft down the Hudson with our group. This allows us to move campers onto the raft for certain sections of the river as needed in order to have an extra level of safety. While we offer 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, Canada 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 stay 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.
When people ask about our whitewater program I always think about what I encounter when I get the chance to help guide one of our trips. Inevitably, we run into rafters while on the river and they always notice our campers. I love watching the rafting clients, often kids the same age as our campers. They’re having a great day on their rafts but they always look a little jealous when they see the Adirondack Camp kids come by in their kayaks–it’s like they realize that our campers are engaging with the river at an entirely different level. Some ADK campers may leave kayaking behind once they are done going to camp. Some of them may turn into lifelong kayakers. But 100% of them are taking on the world with a new level of confidence and independence thanks to what they’ve experienced through the Adirondack Camp kayaking program.” - Ryan Harrell, Waterfront Director
Kayaking is one of over 30 daily activities on offer at ADK, and its in combination with our Wilderness Trips program that we are able to take campers out to whitewater rivers during the summer to really develop their skills to that next level. Want to find out whether Adirondack Camp is the right fit for your child, or just want to know more? Download our free program guide here.
Check out some camper and staff footage from some of our Whitewater Kayaking Trips
Our Wilderness Trips program at ADK takes campers out on a range of waterfront trips, plus other activity trips, hiking, camping and more
