North Country Camps Invites Families to Discover an Unforgettable Summer Experience

North Country Camps—Lincoln for boys and Whippoorwill for girls—are traditional overnight summer camps located in New York’s Adirondack Mountains, offering children ages 8–15 an unforgettable, unplugged summer experience. With over 100 years of tradition, NCC is a place where campers step away from screens, immerse themselves in nature, and grow in confidence, independence, and community.

Campers live simply and joyfully in a supportive, close-knit environment, sharing wood-framed cabins with their counselors. Our youngest campers enjoy cabins with electricity and bathrooms, while older campers use shared bathhouses. With a 3:1 camper-to-counselor ratio, children are well supported by experienced staff who serve as mentors, role models, and guides throughout the summer.

At North Country Camps, choice and balance are central to daily life. Morning activities are chosen weekly and afternoons are chosen daily, allowing campers to explore interests at their own pace, try new things, and develop skills without excessive competition. Offerings include sailing, canoeing, swimming, kayaking, windsurfing, horseback riding, bicycling, soccer, tennis, archery, arts and crafts, drama, dance, woodworking, and more. Because activities are chosen by interest rather than age group, campers form friendships across the camp community.

A hallmark of NCC is its extensive Wilderness Trip Program. Campers can participate in day trips, overnight adventures, and multi-day trips ranging from three to five days, exploring the Adirondack and Lake Champlain regions through hiking, backpacking, canoeing, sea kayaking, riding, and sailing. These trips foster resilience, teamwork, and a deep appreciation for the natural world, while being thoughtfully and carefully supervised.

Lincoln and Whippoorwill are separate camps with their own living areas, dining halls, waterfronts, and playing fields. The camps regularly come together for shared activities and events and share select programs such as horseback riding, ropes course, and bicycling.

Most campers attend for the full 7½-week season, with a 5-week option available. First-time campers of any age may enroll for an initial 3-week session with the option to stay longer. Tuition covers all aspects of camp life, including activities, horseback riding, and wilderness trips. Chartered buses are available from New York City and Albany, and airport pickups can be arranged in Burlington (VT), Montreal, Plattsburgh, and Albany.

Above all, North Country Camps is a community built on kindness, participation, and respect—where learning comes from doing, adventure is real, and every child is encouraged to find their own style, voice, and sense of self. Many families describe NCC as a second home, and with a high rate of returning campers, it’s easy to see why. 

Click here to explore our website, and click here to watch a short video that brings North Country Camps to life.

Financial assistance is available. Families are warmly invited to learn more and see if North Country Camps is the right summer adventure for their child.