Raquette Lake Camps

Raquette Lake Camps are located in the center of the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, west of Lake George and south of Lake Placid. They are approximately 5 hours from Boston, Philadelphia, Montreal, and the metro New York area. Campers come from 18 different states and 10 countries. Campers can canoe for a radius of 100 miles in all directions. The majority of the adjacent land is owned by the state and is utilized as a state park.

History

The camp has been in operation since 1916, and many campers are second, third, or fourth generation campers. A number of camp traditions go back several generations.

Facilities

Raquette Lake has 18 tennis courts, 40 sailboats, 16 wind-surfers, 24 kayaks, 60 canoes, 18 power boats (including 6 Ski Nautique water ski and wakeboard boats), plus hardball diamonds, a batting cage, soccer and lacrosse fields, basketball courts, and volleyball courts. We have a fully-equipped gymnastics gymnasium with 3 balance beams, 2 mini-tramps, 3 spring boards, 2 sets of uneven parallel bars, 2 vaulting horses, 30 mats, and a 50’x8’ Tumble Trak and an 80’ x 40’ spring board floor. Indoor recreational facilities include a social hall, theater, Arts and Crafts center, a jewelry making studio, a separate ceramics facility and an 8,000 square foot gymnasium. A ropes challenge course provides 27 different high and low elements including zip lines of 200’ and 350’ and our 3-sided 40’ climbing wall.

taffing

There is a 2:1 camper to staff ratio and an experienced adult leads each activity with the assistance of several counselors. All staff are required to have completed their first year of college and undergo an extensive background investigation. Some staff members have served as long as five twenty-five years.

Activities

There is a day trip scheduled weekly at each camp. Trips are environmentally-oriented, including; white water rafting, camping, canoeing, hiking and mountain climbing. In addition, a few recreational excursions are scheduled to the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, Six Flags Great Escape in Lake George and a local water park. Special trips for teens include excursions to Montreal, Boston, New Hampshire, the Berkshires, and deep-lake fishing in Lake Ontario.

Girls Camp

The featured activities at the Girls Camp include: Arts and Crafts, Jewelry Making, Ceramics, Soccer, Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Tennis, Gymnastics, Water Skiing, Wakeboarding, Canoeing, Kayaking, Swimming, Sailing, Fishing, Theatre Arts, Dance, Golf, Tripping, Ropes Course, and an Equestrian Program.

Boys Camp

The featured activities at the Boys Camp include: Basketball, Baseball, Tennis, Soccer, Flag Football, Lacrosse, Floor Hockey, Roller Hockey, Ice Hockey, Softball, Volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee, Archery, Weight Training, Drama, Water Skiing, Wakeboarding, Sailing, Windsurfing, Radio, Ropes Challenge Course, Fishing, High Peaks Adventure, Mountain Biking, Golf, Woodworking, Photography, Arts and Crafts, Ceramics and Horseback Riding.

Accommodations

Campers live with 6 to 8 other campers in a cabin with at least 2 counselors. Younger campers generally have 3 to 4 counselors in each bunkhouse. Each age group has Group Leader who reports to the Head Counselor. At Girls Camp there are showers and bathrooms in each cabin. At Boys Camp all of the younger camper bunks and most of the older camper bunks have bathrooms in the cabins. In addition, there is a new shower house with 26 showers. Each camp has a fully-equipped health center with a physician and 3 registered nurses.

Accreditation

Raquette Lake Camps is a member of the New York State Camp Directors Association and an accredited member of the American Camping Association.

The Spirit of Raquette (Alma Mater)

The Spirit of RaquetteThe Sound of Her glorious name.The years of Her storyOur voices will now proclaim.

We'll tell of her might,We'll tell of her fight,We'll tell of her glorious beauty.Mountains and valleys surround us with splenderfor this men of Raquette will renderthe deeds that are Raquette's due.And thus will these campers become Raquette's chosen few...

Hand down your torch, RaquetteSymbol of your fameRaquette men will preserve itKeepers of the flame.We cherish...And in our allegiance,We are Raquette, steadfast and true.