Overview

Forest Lake is what is known as a “general activities camp.” This means that we don’t specialize in one activity (e.g. tennis, weight loss, soccer) but rather we offer a wide variety of activities. Further, the program is “elective” meaning that, by and large, you choose your activities each day.

The “Daily Program” is created on a day to day basis and runs Monday through Saturday. There are four scheduled activity periods each day lasting 1 hour 15 minutes.

Period 1:    9:30am-10:45am
Period 2:    10:45am-12:00pm
Period 3:    2:30pm-3:45pm
Period 4:    3:45pm-5:00pm

The daily program schedule is posted on the office bulletin board before breakfast each morning so you can preview the day’s offerings and can begin to plan your day on your way to the dining hall.

There is an underlying structure to the daily program. Of the four periods, one is a general swim period – usually in the afternoon, one is a team sport period – usually in the morning and the other two periods are “individual” activity periods. It is within this framework that you make your activity choices each day.

Following is a sample daily program. Keep in mind that the program is arranged so that you attend activities with other campers in your general age group and your gender group.

Period 1:   Soccer, Basketball, Lacrosse

Period 2:   Archery, Mt. Bikes, Woodworking, Climbing Tower Kayaking, Tennis

Period 3:   Arts & Crafts, Sailing, Science, Canoeing, Music, Golf

Period 4:   General Swim

(Note: Horseback riding, for those who sign-up for lessons, is
scheduled by the riding director and substitutes for a period)

There are two sign-up assemblies each day (9:15am, 2:15pm) when you make your choices and you tell your head counselor. He/she records the information on an attendance sheet for that day.

The “Daily Program” discussed above accounts for your daytime activities Monday through Saturday. There remains the evening and Sunday activities.

We try to plan evening programs that are a change of pace from the daily program and are more group oriented. These may be outings to town, cabin overnites, fishing derbys, capture the flag, a social event (13 yr. and up), Red and Blue, Green and White.

Sundays are more leisurely. There is a later wake-up and no scheduled morning activities. The afternoon periods are given over to a “special event.” Sundays conclude with the all-camp campfire which is, far and away, the most popular occasion of the week.

The term waterfront applies to all the activities that take place at the camp’s private lake. The lake has a completely natural 1.5 mile shoreline with the only exception being the camp’s sandy beach, beach volleyball court, and dock system. The water quality is excellent (verified by testing of the Adirondack Lake Commission) and, since the lake is “spring fed”, the level remains constant.

Campers visit the waterfront at least once each day for a general swim period. Very possibly, they will visit a second time for a watercraft activity (kayaking, canoeing, boating, sailing, fishing).

All activities at the lake involve instruction. The camp feels strongly that the more skilled a camper becomes around the water, the more he/she will enjoy the activity and the safer he/she will be. All the waterfront activities are considered “lifetime” activities that can be enjoyed for years to come.

In order for campers to participate in the range of aquatics activities, each must demonstrate a requisite level of swimming proficiency. Those campers who would like swim lessons, or whose parents request it, or  who do not satisfy the camp’s basic requirement are scheduled for swim lessons.

The enjoyment of waterfront activities is not limited only to Forest Lake. Once a camper accomplishes a requisite level of competence, he/she can join out of camp trips and competitions. We send out canoeing, fishing, and kayaking trips to carefully selected areas. Sailors can join the camp’s team and compete in regattas against other local camps. These are wonderful opportunities to apply the skills learned back at Forest Lake.

Horseback Riding

Forest Lake has offered horseback riding as an option since 1926. Roughly 30% of our campers opt for this activity.

The camp maintains its own riding facilities so there is no need to send campers out of camp for this activity. Many of the campers enjoy looking down across the campus and seeing the horses even if they choose not to ride.

Riders have the option of two or three lessons per week. A riding lesson is scheduled for one hour. Once the instructors identify a rider’s proficiency, the riders are placed in ability groups which make the lessons more efficient and informative.

For safety reasons, all beginner riders start out on “western” saddles. Once a “seat” has been developed, they have the option to graduate to an “English” saddle. The focus of the lesson is on equitation which equips riders with the skills to be safe and to enjoy the sport. The more advanced riders have the opportunity to learn basic dressage and/or jumping once the instructors deem them qualified. Other safety measures involve the use of safety stirrups and protective headgear for all riders regardless of their ability.

At the conclusion of each camp session, the riding department conducts a horseshow in which all riders take part.

Team Sports

What is important to the staff at Forest Lake is the skill level that you depart with more than the skill level you bring to camp. Among our camper group, we always have a significant range of skills.

For this reason, the emphasis at Forest Lake is on taking each camper’s ability to the next level regardless of the starting point. Our coaches are trained to “individualize” the instruction to enable a camper to play at his/her current level and not be under or over matched.

The athletic program has several levels. The daily program activities involve all campers and, again, the emphasis is on individual instruction. There is also an “intramural” program in which the two camp teams compete in the range of activities. For the more competitive athletes, there is the opportunity to join camp teams that compete against teams from other, local camps. Therefore, all campers have the opportunity to participate at a level that appeals to them.

Two important principles apply to the team sports program – everyone plays and sportsmanship counts.

Wilderness Trips

One of the distinct advantages of attending Forest Lake is the opportunity to venture into the Adirondack region on several types of wilderness trips. These trips are voluntary and are offered to all campers, regardless of age. Naturally, the trips are planned so that they are age appropriate. Nevertheless, all campers can avail themselves of this special program.

Forest Lake is actually located within the Adirondack Park which is six million acres in size. The Adirondack Park is equivalent in size to the entire state of Massachusetts. It abounds with streams, rivers, lakes, and mountains. The camp’s location provides easy and quick access to these outstanding resources.

A specially qualified group of staff members lead the trips. There are one day, two day, and three day trips. All locations are known to our staff and have been carefully selected. The types of trips offered are: hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Even our mountain bikers have had occasion to ride the state’s trail system.

This particular program has provided many former campers with special memories and has guided hundreds of young people into an avid pursuit of outdoor and adventure based activities.

Performing Arts

An important part of a well-rounded camp program is to provide campers with the opportunity to participate in the arts. The performing arts at Forest Lake consist of drama, dance, and music programs.

Each of those areas organizes its activities to teach basic skills and to guide the campers towards the final performance each department presents at the end of a session. Campers of all skill levels take part and benefit from the opportunity to perform before an audience. 

The weekly campfire is another venue for individual performances and camp life is enriched by these occasions.

Individual Activities and Hobbies

Two of the four activity periods each day are given over to what are known as “individual activities.” In this category there is an extensive menu of pursuits such as science, arts & crafts, woodworking, climbing tower, mountain biking, wilderness skills, archery, riflery, tennis, golf, weight training, model rocketry plus the activities mentioned under waterfront and performing arts. These, too, are lifetime activities of a more individual and less competitive nature most of which can be continued into adult life.

Specific Activities
for Girls

 

Daily Schedule