Brant Lake Camp

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Choice Camps Recommendation of Brant Lake Camp

Nestled on a pristine campus in Upstate New York’s Adirondack Mountains, Brant Lake Camp is one of the premiere sports camps in the United States. Brant Lake Camp offers superb age-appropriate instruction from leading educators and sports coaches; in particular, Brant Lake is known for exceptional baseball, basketball, tennis, soccer, and swimming/waterfront activities. From beginners to the very experienced, campers get an equal opportunity to play and improve their skills throughout camp.

Focused on the idea of “appropriate competition,” campers are eased into a well-supervised, skill-grouped environment where campers can feel comfortable and develop at their own pace. Overall, Brant Lake Camp is a great fit for boys looking to improve their sports skills in a supportive, team-oriented full-summer program.

Program Description

Founded on the belief that the camp experience should change with age, Brant Lake Camp is comprised of three age-specific “mini-camps.” Each camp has its own facilities and specialized instructors. In addition, all camps feature ability-grouped instruction to pair campers with similar skill levels.

Junior Camp for boys ages 7-10 exposes campers to as many activities as possible in an instructional, supportive manner with less emphasis on competition. Campers are encouraged to make friends and develop skills across a wide variety of sports.

Intermediate Camp for boys ages 11-12 gives campers more freedom to choose sports they would like to focus on. Campers are still required to attend instructional periods in Brant Lake’s core sports: baseball, basketball, swim/waterfront, and soccer. The program introduces campers to opportunities for competition both within camp and at inter-camp events.

Senior Camp for boys ages 13-15 gives campers considerably more opportunities to shape their program and take part in out-of-camp activities. Campers tailor their program by choosing a sport “major” and “minor” where they receive personalized instruction. Senior campers can also take part in inter-camp socials, competitions, and trips.

Staff Overview

Brant Lake Camp is led by experienced coaches and professionals with substantial backgrounds in youth sports. The staff at Brant Lake is much older than the typical summer camp staff; the Brant Lake team boasts 35 men and women who are full-time teachers or coaches ages 25-80. Lessons and instruction are taught by these professionals supported by college-age athletes.

Brant Lake Camp has been owned and operated by the same family since 1916. Executive Director Rich Gersten taught basketball for more than 30 years before working at Brant Lake full time. Karen Meltzer, Brant Lake’s Administrative Director, is a former vice president of the American Camp Association and past president of the New York State Camp Director’s Association.

Setting & Accommodations

Brant Lake Camp is located on a beautiful 6-mile long, crystal clear lake, nestled in New York’s scenic Adirondack Mountains. The campus’ landscaping and facilities are top-notch and impeccably maintained. Many of the athletic facilities are even lit for nighttime play. Brant Lake’s campus is located about 1.5 hours from Albany, NY and about 3.5 hours from New York City.

All of Brant Lake’s cabins are new or have been remodeled since 1995. Every cabin has in-house bathrooms and toilets.

The menu at Brant Lake Camp features a great mix of nutritious and kid-friendly food. Favorites like French toast, grilled cheese, chicken tenders, and more give campers variety at every meal. All meals are accompanied by fresh fruit, and lunch and dinner always feature a salad and pasta bar.

Safety Standards

Brant Lake Camp’s resident health staff consists of four registered nurses and a doctor. The camp’s health center is staffed 24 hours a day and features separate examination rooms, medicine dispensary, overnight rooms and a ward room.

At the waterfront, all Brant Lake lifeguards are WSI certified.

Brant Lake Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association and meets more than 300 safety standards set forth by the organization.