Adventures abound at Treetops all summer long. This is especially true in the final weeks of Camp. Trips for all interests and abilities make for a lively and invigorating week six. With many children away exploring the backcountry, Camp is quieter than usual. Whether on property or off, children have the chance to connect more intimately with their natural surroundings, as well as with each other. Small group trips allow campers the time to strengthen the bonds that they’ve formed over the summer.
Trips this week ran the gamut from a rock climbing overnight at Barkeater Cliff to a day trip at the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge, where campers encountered wolves, owls, foxes, and more. Others paddled canoes and kayaks through winding rivers, across lakes, and a myriad of smaller ponds, including the Oswegatchie River, Lake Lila, and Follensby Clear Pond. Over the course of five days, a group trekked to the historical Camp Santanoni, while others hiked 46ers (mountains over 4000’ feet), such as Macomb, Hough, Street, Nye, and the Sewards.
In the words of acclaimed mountaineer Royal Robbins, campers learn that: “Getting to the top is nothing. The way you get to the top is everything.” Trips are an opportunity to practice our belief in treading gently on the earth, in living respectfully in our environment and within our community. Children often describe particular trips as the pinnacle of their summer. Whether whimsical or rigorous, trips provide campers with an opportunity to learn through experience, cultivate individual passions, and practice new skills.
Our diverse trip offerings also give children the opportunity to really dive in, while emphasizing the values that make our community unique. On Book Day, a group of campers paddled across Round Lake to RockE Cottage where they read Robert McCloskey’s classic Blueberries for Sal before picking wild blueberries. Senior campers passionate about working on handmade crafts celebrated creativity and community service in their day-long “trip” to the craftshop. Children knit wool hats for other campers and warped looms for community use.
As the days at Treetops begin to dwindle, we continue to grow, create, and share, cherishing every moment and looking forward to the celebrations to come in our last week together.