Join the Pok-O community and give your child lifelong friendships, enduring memories, and opportunities for growth and independence in the screen-free, natural environment of the Adirondacks.
Pillars
Community
Every person at summer camp is valued as an individual, but the strength of our program relies on those individuals finding their place in the community and supporting others. This is evident in our family-style meals, waterfront buddy-system, morning Cabin Inspection, and co-ed, multi-age classes and hikes.
Growth
Pok-O’s multi-week sessions, and high retention means that campers and staff have many hours, days, and years to build both hard and soft skills in a welcoming community that encourages them to step outside of their comfort zone and accept mistakes as part of the learning process. Our wide variety of activities gives campers many opportunities to find success and grow each day.
Challenge and Choice
Campers face a variety of challenges every day, whether that is hitting a bullseye in archery, hiking to an Adirondack summit, or just being away from home. They are encouraged to find their way through these challenges by creating their own class schedule, picking off-site trips, or finding their favorite food at the salad bar. As campers spend more time in the program, they’ll be given more choices and more independence, but they’re also given more responsibility as role models and mentors for younger campers.
“Camp is a necessary gift that we can give our children so that they may learn independence, gain confidence and have fun playing and challenging themselves individually and as a group. Pok-O does an incredible job setting the stage for just that sort of development and growth.”
– Current Camp Parent
2023 Sessions
Ages 6 to 17
7-Weeks
July 1 to August 19
The original option for summer camp was just “all summer” and many campers continue that tradition, staying for every game, every hike, and every opportunity to create memories with friends from all sessions.
4-Weeks
July 1 to July 29
Fresh off the last day of school, the 4-week session is a high-energy mix of old friends, new faces, and a multitude of ways to have fun, choose adventures, and bask in the sun of the longest days of the Adirondack summer.
3-Weeks
July 31 to August 19
This session is slightly smaller and more flexible than the earlier session and allows campers and counselors to spread their creative wings as they develop unique all-camp activities like Greek Games and the Pok-O-County Fair.
2-Week Rookie A
July 1 to July 15
For the first two weeks of the 4-Week session, we run a “Rookie Camp” for first-time campers as an introduction to summer camp. They have flexibility to extend their experience for the remainder of the session if they get bit by the “summer camp bug” and want to stay longer!
Pok-O-WILD
July 16 to July 29
(For rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders) This program will focus on building leadership and teamwork skills through the challenge of planning for and completing a 10-day trip in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, including hiking, camping, canoeing and rock climbing.
2-Week Rookie B
July 31 to August 12
For the first two weeks of the 3-Week session, we run a “Rookie Camp” for first-time campers as an introduction to summer camp. They have flexibility to extend their experience for the remainder of the session if they get bit by the “summer camp bug” and want to stay longer!
Day Camp
July 31 to August 11 or 18
Our day camp runs from 9am to 5:20 pm, Monday through Friday. Just like overnight campers, they get to create their own class schedule from a list of over 30 program offerings, including free swim everyday!
“Pok-O is a place where I feel like I belong. At camp, I feel like I am accepted and loved.”
– Current Camper
Meet Our Director Of Admissions
Brian DeGroat
An educator at heart, Brian now focuses his passion on making sure campers (and caregivers) are prepared for the challenges, adventures, and fun that awaits them at “the greatest Camp in the Universe”.