Camp Whitman on Seneca Lake

Penn Yan, NY

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About Camp Whitman on Seneca Lake

Program breadth — daily activities available to Trailblazers

Campers will have the ability to choose their activities! There will be passive activities like crafts or a pontoon boat ride along with more physically active games and outdoor fun. While we encourage campers to try new things and challenge themselves, we also encourage campers to make the best decision for them! Each camper will have an opportunity to customize their week to their interests. Daily activities include archery, banana boating, campfire cooking, canoeing, crafts, disc golf, fishing, gaga, gardening, hiking, ice-cream making, kayaking, low ropes course, music, sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, swimming, tie-dye, tubing, and volleyball.

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150 Whitman Road, Penn Yan, NY 14527Approximate map location; confirm arrival directions with the camp.Open map ↗© OpenStreetMap contributors

At a glance

Address: 150 Whitman Road, Penn Yan, NY 14527
Camp type: Day & overnight
Cabins: Small four-bed cabins clustered around a central campfire ring; no electricity or water in cabins. Counselors sleep in same or neighboring cabin, on duty 24 hours/day. Outhouses adjacent to each cabin area.
Ages: 3–55
Enrollment: Coed

Activities

Waterfront

Swimming
Canoeing
Kayaking
Sailing
Fishing
Stand-up paddleboarding

Land Sports

Archery
Volleyball

Arts & Creative

Music

Outdoor Adventure

Hiking
Camping

More activities

Banana Boating
Campfire Cooking
Crafts
Disc Golf
Four Square
Gaga
Gardening
Ice-Cream Making
Labyrinth
Low Ropes Course
Stand Up Paddle-boarding (S.U.P.)
Tetherball
Tie-Dye
Tubing

Clues to fit

Family groups — how campers are organized and community is built

Camp is organized into smaller 'family groups' determined by age and grade level. Two or three counselors live among and lead groups of 9 or 10 youth during each week. Family groups are co-ed. Family group members share meals together, participate in activities together, and develop friendships that become lifelong family. Living in close quarters subtly encourages children to open up, share and explore their faith in a safe and protective environment.

Explore on the camp’s websiteFamily groups — how campers are organized and community is built

Mini-Camp — easing first-timers into sleepaway camp

Our mini-camp is the perfect way to ease into sleep-away camp for younger campers. Campers can expect to try out many of the classic camp activities like swimming, canoeing, arts & crafts, Gaga ball and making s'mores around the campfire. Come for a full week, or if your camper is not ready for that, come and enjoy all of the fun of one-week of camp packed into 2 or 3 nights.

Explore on the camp’s websiteMini-Camp — easing first-timers into sleepaway camp

Adirondack Adventure trip camp — wilderness experience for Voyagers

Join us for a week sampling a variety of different adventure activities in the Adirondack Park! Level 1 will be a beginner trip — canoeing, hiking, camping at an outpost, climbing a high ropes adventure course and outdoor climbing tower. Level 2 will be an intermediate trip with a minimum of 3 nights on the water trail — canoeing and sleeping in tents at remote sites along a designated canoe route, fishing, practicing camp crafts and learning about proper backcountry safety and ethics. We will be traveling together and staying on Beaver Lake, three hours north of Camp Whitman in the Adirondack Park.

Explore on the camp’s websiteAdirondack Adventure trip camp — wilderness experience for Voyagers

Setting and property — Seneca Lake, 117 acres, wildlife

Camp Whitman is located on the west side of Seneca Lake between Geneva and Watkins Glen, off of Route 14. Our beautiful 117-acre property features private lake frontage, woods, ravines, meadows and a pond. Campers swim in our sparkling pool, boat on the lake, hike on our trails, play games on our main field and enjoy nights sitting by the campfire. Our property is also home to rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, deer, groundhogs and dozens of bird species including impressive great blue heron, osprey and bald eagles.

Explore on the camp’s websiteSetting and property — Seneca Lake, 117 acres, wildlife

Traditions & shared moments

Cabin and sleeping arrangements

Campers sleep in small four-bed cabins clustered around a central campfire ring. Counselors either sleep in the same cabin as campers or in a neighboring cabin, and are on duty chaperoning campers 24 hours/day. The cabins are simple, but comfortable, and do not include electricity or water. Restroom facilities include well-maintained outhouses adjacent to each cabin area as well as a shower house with hot showers, flush toilets and sinks.

Explore on the camp’s websiteCabin and sleeping arrangements

Independence, growth & leadership

CIT program — two-week leadership training for ages 16–17

The Counselor-In-Training program is a two-week leadership program for campers entering their Junior or Senior year of high school. The first week of the program is focused on leadership development, learning to serve and making the transition from camper to leader. The second week of the program, CITs will be working directly with our Pathfinder campers, assisting the camp counselors.

Explore on the camp’s websiteCIT program — two-week leadership training for ages 16–17

For parents & families

NYS licensing and health inspections

Camp Whitman is required to be licensed by the New York State Department of Health, and to be inspected twice yearly. The inspection reports are filed at the camp offices located at 150 Whitman Rd, Penn Yan, NY 14527.

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Safety — lifeguard and counselor supervision of all activities

In all our activities, safety is foremost. All pool and lakefront activities are supervised by trained lifeguards, and all land based activities are supervised and led by trained counselors.

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Scholarships and financial aid

Many churches provide scholarship funds for a child to attend camp. Please inquire with your home church about that opportunity. If your family is in need of additional financial support beyond what your church provides, we do have scholarship funds available. Our typical award amount is $100 per camper, however, if there is a greater need, we may be able to assist.

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Technology policy — no devices, but parents can reach camp

There are no televisions, computers, telephones or WiFi available for our campers. Campers are availed a unique opportunity in today's world to 'unplug' for their week at camp and instead 'power-up' with our wondrous camp community. Campers may receive mail and email each day, and a coordinator or director is always available via phone for parents to reach in case of an emergency.

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