On behalf of the counselors of Camp Che-Na-Wah, we would like to propose a toast to the Summer of 2023.

You would think that after 11 years, I wouldn’t be so surprised anymore by how quickly the summer flies by — but honestly, I still can’t believe it’s almost time to go home. Baco has a funny way of doing that to us; we spend all year anticipating these seven weeks, yet we look up when it’s over and wonder where all that time went.

My oldest daughter is spending her first summer away at Sleepaway Camp this summer. When I tell friends that my 7 year old is away for 7 weeks, I often get confused and surprised looks.

We are counting down the days until the Summer of 2022 begins, and we can not wait to see the buses pull into camp on June 25.

Take a screen shot, or get the image from our blog to fill in your own ᘻᗩᖇᑢᕼ ᑢᗩᘻᕵ ᘻᗩᕲᘉᘿSS brackets. Paddle boarding or frisbee golf?! Pop up band at milk call or terrace treats?! MICKEY OR A WATER FIGHT??? What’s it going to be? 💙💛 Send all submissions to allison@campbaco.com by Friday 3/25 ANYONE CAN PLAY!!!

On behalf of the counselors of Camp Che-Na-Wah, we would like to propose a toast to the summer of 2021.

I keep thinking about this moment when I was on OD for my campers, and they asked me to tell them a funny story about camp. My mind went blank. Ten summers here and I couldn’t think of a single moment to share? It’s not there weren’t infinite belly-aching, tearful, backroom laughs filling those ten years, but rather that there were too many to single out.

Dear Baco Family,

Here we are again.

The daily ritual of gathering in a ring at the heart of camp may have become mundane for some, but not for me. What happens in this council ring is truly nothing special on paper. We make announcements. We remind people where they need to be. We throw gravel and squirm at services. But that’s not what keeps me coming back. Mel Wortman, the camp patriarch throughout my childhood at camp, would tell a story of the origins of the council ring that will always help me define my love for this unexplainable thing we call Baco Pride.

If your child gets off the bus showing a variety of symptoms that you’ve never seen before, they might be campsick. Do they feel the incredible desire to be back at camp? Have they not stopped telling camp stories? Do they try in every way to incorporate camp life into the “real world” Don’t fight it… embrace it! Here are some helpful tips to help make your campsick child’s transition back to the real world a little easier.

“Hey Greg, what is your favorite thing about Camp?” I have been asked that question an infinite amount of times. It seems like an easy question to answer, but it’s actually not. It’s got to be Council Ring, right? Lake Balfour? Olympics? An intense double period of Intermediate Hoops Leagues? The drama of an unseeded player Making A Run, Bruno!? The quick drama of a classic Army/Navy Day Break? The drama of a Soccer Shoot-out on the Lower? Baco loves a good soccer shoot-out. The drama program? I mean, who doesn’t love The Big Show? Hanging on the slopes with campers and counselors? A Funhouse hang during 5 o’clock Clean-Up? TWELVES?! The answers are endless. But, alas, I think I finally have found the answer. And I found it during Family Cam

It has been nearly 25 years since my last summer at camp and still, at least once a week, I have recurring dreams that I’m back on senior hill. I see myself young, careless and fancy free running on 28N during a period off. Then, out of nowhere, the scene changes and I realize I have a family, kids, job and I begin to panic! The responsibilities of the present hit me in the face, 28N fades away and I move forward into another day of adulting.

As we head into our new fall routines and rituals, now on the other side of Labor Day, I find myself, as I often do, reflecting nostalgically and longingly, for the sweetest moments of the summer.

2020 has taught us a lot of challenging lessons. With so much change, heartbreak and tragedy, the death of Kobe, the pandemic squashing the entire spring – one thing that kept me, and the rest of my waiter bunk going – was the thought of getting to the shores of Lake Balfour for the greatest summer of our lives. Our waiter summer.

They call me…Steve???

That’s not my name. But that’s what they call me.

In most circles, that would be viewed as a social faux pas, at best. Relationships usually don’t last when one side can’t get your name right, right?

You may have heard the buzz about Family Camp!

Here are some important things you need to know.

We love all of the enthusiasm and excitement about the chance to come to camp. Due to the current circumstances, we will only be opening Camp Baco for Family Camp. Families with campers from both Baco & Che-Na-Wah are able to reserve a bunk for 1 of our 4 long weekends on Lake Balfour.

Life.

As humans, we take being alive for granted every single day. From our impatience for traffic, to our frustrations with our fantasy football teams, we often forget how lucky we are to be able to breathe. We’re only alive for X number of years, yet we waste so much of it worrying. Sometimes we worry about important things like school and work, but most of the time it’s trivial, worrying about if there will be chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin cookies at milk call.

“Come right in and make yourself at home!” Not only is that the opening line to our “Welcome song”, but it also embodies the feeling we have towards our perspective families.

While checking our website is a great way to take a peek at Camps Baco and Che-Na-Wah, there is no substitute for taking a trip to the ADKs and seeing us in person.

Dear Baco family,

When I stepped off the bus at Baco in 2007 and caught my first whiff of the crisp Adirondack air, I felt a feeling that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I was a naive 9 year old, had hair down to my shoulders, rec specs, and a massive gap between my two front teeth. 13 summers later, I still can’t really pinpoint that feeling I first felt and still feel to this day.

On my first day of camp in 08, I wrote a letter home:

Dear Mom and Dad,

Camp is fine so far. My bunk is good but weird. Cami is quiet. Pinsky is crazy, and Katie is my first friend. Please send pringles.