Friday, April 13, 2012

The Best Summer Camp Ever

For three summers after I graduated from high school I worked at Camp Treetops, an incredible residential summer camp located in the High Peaks region of the Adirondack Park. During the rest of the year, this place is a private school for grades four through eight.

If I was infinitely rich, I would a) do my darnedest to become a permanent staff person there and b) send every child I could to be a summer camper. It is THE BEST experience I can imagine for any child anywhere.

It is (or at least was) the highest elevation working farm in the state, complete with organic veg and livestock, all of which the campers (and school kids) take care of. There are no electronic toys/games. Free range children - everyone running around barefoot. Everyone learns to ride a horse, sail a boat, and climb a mountain. Everyone has chores. Fun is homemade.

Check it out:


3 comments:

  1. I love it - "Free Range Children". I will use that, with your permission That is the answer to a lot of our current problems. (as I sit here with my lap top responding to blog posts instead of getting outside and enjoying this beautiful morning.) :D

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    1. Joe - I can't take credit for the "free range children" - I swiped it from a cartoon (Baby Blues?) I saw during Ken Finch's presentations on Nature Play. But I love the idea.

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  2. wow nice i really like it. Your video is awesome. Thank you for sharing.........

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