Popular Free Program Returns to Help More New Yorkers Share
the Outdoors Through Camping
New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos
today announced the return of the First-Time Camper Program for the 2023
season. New York families that have never camped before will have the
opportunity to try camping in the great outdoors before making the
significant investment to purchase their own gear by registering for a
fully stocked campsite at a select DEC-operated campground for a
designated weekend this summer.
"I am excited to once
again welcome first-time campers to DEC's world-class campgrounds in the
Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve," Commissioner Seggos
said. "The First-Time Camper Program has
successfully introduced New Yorkers to the great outdoors for several
years, introducing 350 novice campers to outdoor activities like fishing,
hiking, boating, and birding. DEC's knowledgeable and experienced Camping
Ambassadors are ready to assist first-time campers with every facet of
their adventure to ensure a good time is had by all."
Long-time campers know the
enjoyment and rewards of camping, but for those who have never slept in a
tent, spending the night outdoors can be an unfamiliar challenge. New
York State's First-Time Camper Program makes sleeping under the stars for
the first time easy by providing a turnkey camping experience for
families, especially those from underserved communities, that have never
camped before. Hear from some of the
hundreds of campers who have participated by viewing
videos from the program.
Journalist and author Richard
Louv's book Last Child in the Woods shined a
light on America's growing disconnect with nature - coining it
"Nature Deficit Disorder." Initiatives such as the First-Time
Camper Program provide participants a unique
opportunity to explore and appreciate the natural world.
From now until June 23, 2023,
potential first-time campers are encouraged to enter a lottery by completing the survey.
Those entering the lottery must choose one facility from locations in the
Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve:
·
North South Lake Campground (Catskills) -
July 7-9
·
Ausable
Point Campground (Adirondacks) - July 14-16
·
Luzerne Campground (Adirondacks) - July
21-23
·
Cranberry Lake Campground (Adirondacks) -
July 28-30
·
Nicks Lake Campground (Adirondacks) -
August 4-6
·
Frontier Town Campground (Adirondacks) -
August 11-13
·
Kenneth L. Wilson Campground (Catskills)
- August 18-20
·
Mongaup Pond
Campground (Catskills) - August 25-27
Participants will be randomly
selected to fill camper slots. More information on the program can be found by
visiting DEC's website.
Participating campers will be
provided with a tent for their camping party, sleeping bags, sleeping
pads, camp chairs, a lantern, and firewood. A Camping Ambassador will
meet participants at the campsite and help them get
their camp set up with a 'Camping 101' lesson. Bathrooms and hot showers
are a short walk from the campsites. To make the weekend getaway even
more enjoyable, campers will have an opportunity to learn from experts about
how to fish, hike, bird watch, paddle, and more, all while having fun and
making memories that last forever.
For more information on DEC-operated campgrounds,
including a list of campgrounds and schedules, visit DEC's
website or call DEC's Bureau of Recreation at (518) 457-2500. To make
reservations at any of these camping facilities, call ReserveAmerica
at 1-800-456-CAMP (2267) or visit the Reserve America website.
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