Worth the Journey: Why Families Choose the Adirondacks
When choosing a summer camp, one of the major factors parents consider is the camp’s location. For many families, it comes down to what landscape they want their children to immerse themselves in. For a few, the decision is limited to how far the camp is from their home. While we know it takes a significant amount of trust, it’s so important to see a camp’s location for what it offers your child and allow that to be the primary factor. In talking about location, we wanted to list the top five reasons why our families say they chose the Adirondacks!
#1: The deep connection to nature.
Adirondack Park is a truly unique location deeply rooted in the mission to preserve nature and keep our forests wild. According to the Adirondack Park Agency, “Today the Park is the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States, greater in size than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier, and Grand Canyon National Park combined.” For many campers, these pristine and preserved natural landscapes only exist from pictures they see on social media and biology textbooks. Southwoods Families always list the presence of the park, with its rivers, trees, mountains, and abundant wildlife, as one of the primary reasons why they chose us. The Adirondacks are truly unique, and for so many of our families, just an hour or two farther. The pay-off for that extra bit of travel is immense.
#2: The access to amazing lakes for high-quality water sports.
No man-made ponds at Southwoods! At approximately 5 miles long and a mile wide, Paradox Lake is the perfect place to learn how to water ski, improve on those wake boarding skills, sail, swim, canoe, and kayak. The aquatic biodiversity makes for excellent fishing and shallow depth ensures the lake is warm and welcoming even from the first early days of summer. The Adirondacks boast some of the most beautiful and clean lakes in the Northeast, and we are lucky to be able to call one of its best our home. With mountain views from the lake shores, parents love that their children get high quality water sports instruction in an environment that is pristine and wild.
#3: The range of mountains and outdoor recreation opportunities.
At Southwoods, we run multiple hikes and outdoor focused trips every single day. The opportunities in the Adirondacks are endless! From Severance Mountain, just 5 minutes from camp, to our 2-day backpacking trip up Mt. Marcy, New York’s highest peak, parents love the ample opportunities for their children to get off-camp and into the most picturesque parks of the park. A Philadelphia mom said, “I saw the pictures from the hike and was shocked my daughter was on it. I never thought of her as outdoorsy! When I said something to her about it she said she goes on all the high peaks hikes. I love how camp has brought out this side of her - wouldn’t have happened anywhere else.” Our families know with location comes opportunity, and at Southwoods, the opportunities for adventure are endless because of Adirondack Park.
#4: The desire to put culture over distance.
Finding the right camp comes down to numerous factors. Yes, location plays a role, but it should not be the most important aspect. The culture of the camp must align with the family values being taught in the home. Parents must trust that the place they choose is a representation of everything they hope for their children as they grow. Families come to Southwoods because our values dwarf the drive time when it comes to importance. From the 3 C’s, to our dedication to seeing the individual for what makes them unique, and everything in between, parents choose Camp Southwoods because we are intentional, accepting, and when we promise each child is known, we mean it. Nobody slips through the cracks, everyone is celebrated, and campers lift each other up as their own sense of self flourishes. You are a part of our family and we become a part of yours - there is no distance that outshines that.
#5: The true sense of adventure that comes from completely changing the landscape.
When parents close their eyes and try to imagine the perfect summer for their children, it’s what we call “blue and green.” Remembering the wild places of our own childhoods, we see trees, a clear sky full of stars, places to swim, bugs to catch, and forests to explore. Blue-and-Green childhoods are a little more rare than they used to be with the urban push of the last 30 years, but there are places where these deeply saturated memories endure. When campers pack up their duffle bags, board the bus, and look out the window, the world of grey buildings and bright lights disappears into a tangle of blues and greens. It feels like an adventure, an opportunity to be brave, and a landscape for growth. Feeling the distance does not make it scarier - it creates the adventure. The contrast between the cities they call home and the environment surrounding camp is stark, and in completely switching up the landscape, the adventure feels like something out of a novel. They are the main character in their own blue-and-green adventure making memories that will shape their lives forever.
If the distance is still giving you pause; let’s talk! Meeting Carl and Maddie helps parents alleviate the nerves of sending their children to camp for the first time. Let us earn your trust and deliver on the promise of the most important summer ever for the people who mean the most to you.
Maddie can be reached at madddie@campsouthwoods.com.