Pok-O-MacCready is more than just a summer camp – we’re a year round community. We offer opportunities for current campers and alumni alike to reconnect with each other and rebuild their Adirondack sense of place throughout the year.
School Group Programs
September – October
During the early fall we open our doors for day and overnight school trips. If your child enjoyed their time at summer camp, consider suggesting Pok-O to their school administrator as the perfect place for a beginning-of-the-year bonding experience. Typical school group activities include team building, rock climbing, high peaks hikes, and boating on Long Pond. You can learn more about our School Group Programs.
Fall Friends Weekend
Second Weekend of October
Take advantage of the long weekend that typically corresponds with peak fall foliage here at our Adirondack camp. Alumni and families of current campers are encouraged to attend. Events include the annual Crux climbing gym reopening party, an open house for prospective families, volunteer cleanup projects, the Pond Sprint footrace and “Pondtoberfest,” which are fundraisers for the Adirondack Scholarship Foundation and Long Pond Conservancy.
Ski Week
December 27 – January 1
Our flagship off-season program. Campers, both new and returning, travel to camp to connect face-to-face with their summer friends and experience the magic of the Adirondacks in winter. Ski across the frozen pond, go tubing at Blue Boar’s Ski Bowl, summit a local mountain on snow shoes, and spend two days downhill skiing at Whiteface, home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. There are also opportunities for a few current summer staff to work, and all current staff are invited to visit.
Winter Camp
Third Week of February
Our smallest program for campers, focused on Winter Mountaineering. With five or more feet of snow on the ground in the high peaks, and longer days than Ski Week, late February is the ideal time for current campers to test their mettle in the mountains with Pok-O’s most experienced guides. Cross country ski and snowshoe to a high peak’s summit (or two!) and try your hand at ice climbing. A great way for campers to get out of their comfort zone. Limited to 12 participants, 8th grade and above.
Spring Alumni Weekends
April – May
These four weekends vary slightly each year and offer informal opportunities for alumni of all generations to visit our New York camp and help prepare camp for another amazing summer. You’re welcome to stay overnight, and breakfasts and lunches are provided. Typical projects include landscaping, painting cabins, and firewood production, but we can always find projects that utilize your special skill set.
Patch Sprint
Last Weekend of May
The Patch Sprint, a grueling half-marathon or challenging hike, is a vital fundraiser for the Adirondack Scholarship Foundation, typically raising more than $10,000 for need-based scholarships. Racers include alumni, current staff, community members, and campers accompanied by a parent/guardian. Younger campers may also run the Kindersprint, a 1.2 mile dash up Pok-O-Moonshine Mountain. If you aren’t a runner, there are plenty of opportunities for volunteers on race day! Participants are welcome to stay on camp, and there are many opportunities to socialize and celebrate, as well as a day of volunteer projects. This event fills every year, so be sure to register early.
Camp Reunions!
Third Weekend of August, Every 5th Year:
Mark your calendars: our next reunion will be the 120th, in August of 2025. All alumni are invited to join us at camp for up to four nights. Activities include boating, swimming, the Pok-O-Closed volleyball tournament, Pok-O-Palooza, a high peaks hike, and the Reunion Banquet. Reunion is a great way to reconnect with your childhood friends, and introduce your children to our special New York summer camp.