A recent national publication highlighted the growing popularity, and rising cost, of some of America’s premier sleepaway camps. While a handful have become known for luxury amenities, the bigger story is the remarkable economic and community impact of the camp industry throughout the Adirondacks.
From nationally recognized camps like Brant Lake Camp, Camp Echo Lake, Camp Walden, Point O’Pines, and Adirondack Camp, to mission-driven organizations like YMCA Camp Chingachgook, Word of Life Ranch, and other long-standing youth camps, the Southern Adirondacks offer experiences that serve a wide range of families and interests.
They create seasonal employment, support local restaurants and retailers, generate business for contractors and service providers, attract families from across the United States and internationally, and introduce thousands of young people to the Adirondacks each year. For many, that first summer experience becomes a lifelong connection that leads to return visits, seasonal homes, business investment, and even retirement in the region.
The numbers tell part of the story. Warren County ranked 4th in the nation for peak summer employment in the recreational and vacation camp industry, with 13 camps employing an average of 915 people during the summer season and generating $5.48 million in quarterly wages.
As EDC continues exploring the Adirondack Economy, the camp industry stands out as one of the region’s defining strengths. It sits at the intersection of our Experiential Economy, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and tourism, while helping shape the next generation’s connection to this extraordinary place.
Sometimes the most important economic engines aren’t the ones that receive the most attention. They’re the ones creating unforgettable experiences that keep people coming back for decades.