A summer day in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains brings a cool clear morning with mist rising on Upper St Regis Lake and the bells of Camp Regis-Applejack ringing to call campers to breakfast and the beginning of another fun filled day. Walk through the camp and you will see campers busy in nature, music, dance, sailing, water-skiing, swimming, archery, tennis, soccer, field games, indoor games such as pool, ping pong and air hockey, and arts/crafts. Campers are noisy, active and focused. New skills are being learned and previously learned skills are being practiced and extended. But something more magical is also happening. Campers are learning life skills. They are learning how to live as a cooperative group among their bunk, making friends and solving problems. They are learning to respect and appreciate others who may come from different backgrounds than themselves. They are also gaining a measure of self sufficiency and independence as they help with camp chores or test themselves on a wilderness trip. At the end of the day, at camp the stars come out, the moon moves across the lakefront sky, a loon calls from across the bay, and campers settle in to sleep and refresh themselves for another day. We all count ourselves lucky to be a part of this Summer’s experience.

– Michelle Varian, Program Director