Eagle Island Camp Activities
Every Sunday, campers dive into the excitement of choosing their interest tracks for the week! These tracks feature 2-3 engaging activities they’ll focus on daily, building skills and discovering new passions. Weekly staples like sailing, paddling, nature exploration, creative crafts, and our camper-run newspaper ensure there’s always something for everyone, while other options shift week to week based on the unique interests of both campers and staff. The other half of the day is all about the water, with daily swim lessons and plenty of time to splash, play, and relax by the waterfront!
Swim Lessons and Waterfront
After a swim check campers are grouped with others of similar ability for their daily swim lessons. Campers work on developing confidence in the water and progress in stroke development. Campers also have the opportunity to free swim, or take out a kayak or corcl.
Sailing
Sailing is open to campers who can confidently swim in deeper water. Campers learn to rig and sail our Mercury Sailboats on Upper Saranac Lake. Throughout the week, campers will take turns manning the jib, mailsheet, and tiller.
Paddling
Campers in our Paddling tracks will learn different strokes and how to maneuver in sit-on-top kayaks, sit-in kayaks, and canoes while navigating Upper Saranac Lake.
Arts and Crafts
Our Arts and Crafts interest tracks include a variety of projects depending on the week. Crafts may include painting, wood carving, jewelry making and more!
Nature
Nature education tracks can include learning to identify plants and fungi on the island, paddling to one of our smaller islands to compare their ecosystem with the main island, and basic survival skills.
Eagle’s Eye
In our camper-run newspaper, campers conduct interviews, develop creative writing skills, draft comics, create ads, make puzzles, and learn editing skills. Hard copy editions are distributed each Friday. You can read past editions at eagleisland.org/news.
Music and Drama
Campers have the opportunity to collaborate with other campers and write their own songs and skits to perform. Campers can also create their own instruments or costumes in these interest tracks.
Health and Wellness
There are so many ways to take care of our bodies. This interest track showcases some options to help our campers stay healthy. Yoga, meditation, creating their own sports, learning nutrition, or crafting their own healthy snacks.
Games
Each week new interest tracks are offered. Some weeks this includes chess, board games, all the versions of tag that can be played in a week, puzzles, nature hide and seek, or even rubber chicken baseball.