Camp Treetops

Midsummer arrived at Treetops this week with a smattering of thundershowers and plenty of warm weather. Our vegetable gardens and surrounding acreage are bursting with vivid shades of green. Alyssums, cosmos, calendulas, zinnias, ageratum, marigolds and sunflowers enliven the annual flower bed. Raspberries are ripe for the picking, the pigs are busy foraging in Dexter […]

Visitors’ Weekend is a thrilling time for our campers. Reuniting with loved ones and sharing beloved Camp activities and hand-crafted projects is a memorable experience for children and parents alike. However, it can also be emotionally-charged. While most children are thoroughly enjoying camp, this change in the daily rhythm and routine at Treetops can be unsettling. Saying goodbye […]

By the third week of Camp, children are humming along to each summer’s day. Living so closely with nature is exhilarating for campers and being immersed in the Adirondack wilderness inspires creativity in many forms. Flights of fancy, whimsical play, artistry and craft are all encouraged.  This creative spirit is celebrated throughout the Treetops program. […]

By the second week of camp, children at Treetops have settled in. Their sense of time is no longer measured by watches or clocks. Instead, guided by the rhythms of the day, campers have begun to live in the moment. A sense of connectedness to their surroundings inspires children to feel more in tune with […]

On Saturday, children arrived at Camp Treetops to a smattering of summer rain. Despite a soggy beginning, the first week of camp blossomed with sunshine and nearly cloudless skies. Immersed in the natural world, children begin to settle in and discover the unfolding rhythms and routines of life at Treetops. Campers rise for barn chores and […]

With only a few days left at Treetops, campers delighted in our annual Harvest Banquets—celebrations of our farm and community. Children harvested potatoes, herbs, zucchini, carrots, tomatoes, and beans for the evening feasts. The tables were set with white tablecloths, candles, and colorful bouquets of flowers from our annual garden. Campers dined on roasted chicken and […]

On Tuesday evening, six lucky junior campers and two counselors paddled across Round Lake with a packed supper and all the fixings for S’mores. After sharing their meal by the campfire, the children settled into bed on the sleeping porch of RockE boathouse. When shooting stars began to illuminate the night sky, counselors roused them […]

This week, campers departed on an exciting array of wilderness excursions. Some embarked on a 5-day paddling and hiking trip in the Santanoni Range, ascended multiple 46’er peaks, cooked meals over a camp stove, and slept under the stars. Other brave souls canoed across Middle Saranac Lake, facing a strong headwind before setting up camp for […]

On a damp Monday morning, Senior Camp gathered in the forest alongside Dexter Pasture to participate in Treetops’ annual chicken harvest. A “challenge by choice,” participation in chicken harvest is optional. This is always a day of mixed emotions; sadness and uncertainty intermingle with respect for our chickens. In the words of Treetops farm manager […]

Hot, muggy temperatures gave way to thunder and a smattering of rain this week. By now, children are as in tune with the ever-changing Adirondack weather as they are with the other rhythms of Camp life. The result is a quiet confidence and sense of purpose. Campers have begun to feel at home, beaming with […]