1,500 copies sent in April mailings from Universalist Church of America and the Council of Liberal Churches
Letter Dick Woodman wrote to go with the orange posters sent out to people and churches.
Article for the UNIVERSALIST HERALD by Dan Gottfried 2017
History
Unirondack was incorporated on August 22 of 1966 for “religious educational purposes, including but not
limited to the ownership and operation of one or more religious educational camps and institutions
embodying the religious ideals of Universalism”. The incorporation was the culmination of three years of
work by the Unirondack Commission, a committee of the Department of Education of the New York State
Convention of Universalists, the founder of Unirondack.
Unirondack began, however, in 1947, when the New York State Convention of Universalists held a summer
institute at Oak Point. The committee charged with planning that first two week institute included the
Reverand Harold H. Niles of All Souls Universalist Church, Edna Bruner, Howard Gilman, and Hope
Reamon. The institute provided Universalist religious educators, ministers, and congregants the opportunity
for fellowship and spiritual growth beyond the walls of the congregation. In many ways it was the precursor
of today’s efforts to extend and enrich our faith.
From 1947 to 1951 NYS Convention of Universalists held institutes and retreats in rented spaces. Their
popularity grew quickly and the Convention recognized that a permanent home was needed. The first
summer institute held near our present site in the Western Adirondack’s was in 1950, at Beaver Camp (now
a Mennonite Camp), located across the lake from what would become Unirondack’s permanent home. It
was at that institute that it was discovered that the property that would become Unirondack’s permanent
home was up for sale.
The asking price for the nine acre property overlooking Beaver Lake in the forever wild Adirondacks was
$27, 500. It initially contained 8 buildings, including a lodge, a guesthouse and a boathouse. It was owned
by the Patterson family, founders of the National Cash Register Company. A committee led by President
Ralph Soddard, Treasurer Donald Bebe, and State Supt. Dr, Fred C. Leining of the NYS Convention of
Universalists negotiated a reduction in price to $19,000. The 125 th annual assembly of the New York State
Convention of Universalists approved the purchase with the understanding that the congregations would
raise an additional $7000 for improvements and necessary equipment. The congregations ultimately raised
$12,000 and the rooms in the guesthouse were named for those early contributors: Syracuse, Rochester,
Canandaigua, Floral Park, Oneonta, Schuyler Lake and Perry.
Zeke, our mascot, entered the picture in the very first summer. Some folks hold Fred Chadwick responsible
for our raccoon friend, as he was rumored to have fed the raccoons and nursed an injured Zeke back to
health while donating his skilled labor to help get the camp ready for its first season. No one knows how
Zeke got his name, but the name for the camp was suggested by John MacPhee, the minister of the UU
Church of Utica at the time. The MacPhee Artshop, in our beautiful boathouse overlooking Beaver Lake, is
named for Reverand MacPhee.
The campaign committee, still headed by Reverand Niles but now including Fred W. Chadwick of Syracuse
and Mrs. Edwin K. Haas of Pittsford, planned three weeks of institutes in the first summer at our permanent
site, including a Youth Institute, a retreat of the Association of Universalist Women and Religious
Educators, and an institute for Junior High Folk. The manager of the institute that first summer was Howard
Gilman, for whom our present dining hall is named.
Beginning in that very first summer, Unirondack’s institutes focused strongly on serving youth, a direction
which contributed to Unirondack becoming the only UU Camp and Conference Center that focuses
primarily on summer camp experiences for youth. That focus has undoubtedly contributed to Unirondack
having the highly developed and professionally run program that exists today.
Of course, summer camp for young people was never the sole focus of Unirondack. From the beginning, the
planners would offer institutes and retreats for religious educators, ministers, families and adults. Many of
those early programs have continued to this day in one form or another.
Following the purchase of the property, the camp continued to be operated by the New York State
Convention of Universalists until the 1961 Unitarian Universalist merger, when the St. Lawrence UU
District took over until Unirondack’s incorporation in 1966. Those years saw much growth and many
challenges that were met time and again by dedicated leaders and volunteers. Like many of the landed UU
Camp and Conference Centers, maintaining and improving the facility, while staying financially viable, was
perhaps the greatest challenge.
One of the unique challenges for Unirondack is that since it resides in the forever wild Adirondack’s,
expansion is carefully regulated, and that regulation has increased over the years. Therefore, after some
early building efforts, most of the improvement at camp has been in the renovation, repurposing and
replacement of existing structures.
Growth was slow, and often depended on a generous donation to proceed. Housing for campers and staff
was the first priority, and the first of what would later become Unirondack’s four Woods Cabins, Woodman,
was completed at the end of the 1962 season. Like many early projects at Unirondack, Woodman was built
by volunteer labor, led by Jonathan Guillaume.
The first major improvement at Unirondack took place in 1964, with construction of the recreation hall. But
long before the building was completed, it was a dream in the minds of the camp’s leaders, as the idea is
mentioned as early as 1958. The main reason it took years to realize the dream was undoubtedly limited
financial resources. The operating budget for Unirondack in the 1950’s was often in the range of $1500 for
the season.
Even as it was finally being approved, the plans were being adjusted to lower costs so other projects could
be funded. The Board of Director’s voted that year that the new rec hall would have a stage but no
extensions, no bathrooms, no kitchenette, a fireplace with stone inside and block outside, and
an oil space heater. By deferring some planned items to later funds would be available for
erecting more cabins similar to Woodman.
Prior to and just following Unirondack’s incorporation in 1966, building projects abounded. In
short order three more Wood Cabins, Zigmund, Smith and Chadwick, the showerhouse, and an
expansion of one of the original buldings, Manwell cabin, were completed. Many of these
projects were championed by Jay Carncross, a key leader at Unirondack at the time. Other
luminaries who contributed tirelessly to Unirondack in the early days and onward included the
Reverend Dick Gilbert, Lucille Smith (for whom Smith Cabin is named), and Dick Fitts.
After incorporation in 1966, Unirondack’s programs evolved into the full 7 to 8 week program of weekly
children’s summer camps, family camps, and trip camps that we see today. In addition, Unirondack
continued to host congregational retreats, retreats for UU leaders and other adults, and targeted weekend
programs for groups.
The New York State Convention of Universalists continued to play an active role in assuring Unirondack’s
success, creating a $150,000 endowment for the new corporation and helping the fund improvements to
camp at key moments of need. The facility in 1966 included 10 buildings, some of them new but
some aging, and every penny the endowment earned would be needed over the years to
maintain the camp’s infrastructure.
But sometimes, even the best laid plans are challenged. At the end of the first week of camp in 1976,
tragedy struck. The largest building on the property, the lodge, burned to the ground. The lodge had
housed the dining hall and it was uncertain if camp could proceed that summer, or ever again.
As often happens in times of crisis, people rallied from throughout the growing community of
Unirondack’ers. A plan was quickly made to repurpose the Gilman Recreation Hall as a new dining hall.
A kitchen was installed, tables and chairs purchased, and the word went out: camp would continue. Eric
Nasemann stepped in as Camp Director for the departing James Garbarino. His appointment was
followed in 1977 by the return of former Director, Joe Malewitz. Surprisingly, only one week of camp
was missed in that eventful summer.
Still, the loss of the lodge was devastating. It was a building of unsurpassed beauty, a favorite place of
most Unirondack’ers and in many ways the heart of the camp. In 1977, the impact of losing the lodge
and the many other changes hit camper enrollment, as registration for the senior high school sessions
dropped precipitously. That was followed by such low senior high school session enrollment in 1978 that
the sessions were cancelled and the junior high school sessions expanded to four weeks.
Meanwhile, efforts were stumbling to address the loss of the lodge. The insurance payment from the
fire was dwindling rapidly due to the low camper enrollment, and the camp’s leadership was frustrated
by a lack of donations to rebuild the lodge. The Board of Director’s largely dissolved and was replaced
by a combination of long-time supporters of Unirondack and new leadership with a commitment to
keep the camp going. Their commitment to covering the cost of the lodge, coupled with a loan from
VEATCH, enable the work to proceed, using the design of architect Hugh Anderson from Rochester.
However, monies were limited and so the decision was made to keep the kitchen and dining hall in
Gilman, making the lodge primarily a gathering and office space. This left camp without a recreation hall,
a gap that continued to exist until 2010. The new Lodge was completed in 1980 and the names of those
leaders were engraved on a plaque to remind us all of what they did for Unirondack.
The next 10-15 years after the lodge burned down were lean ones, but the summer camp program
continued to flourish, touching the lives of UU youth and families. And the challenge of maintaining the
facility was met through a combination of volunteer labor, occasional loans, and withdrawals from the
endowment. In 1978 the crumbling boathouse/artshop was renovated, although the roof over the water
could not be saved. In the mid-80’s a fire pump system, championed by Jack Osborne and carried
forward by Brian Kress, was added to camp.
During much of Unirondack’s history, leadership turned over often, with the longest terms of Camp
Director’s lasting just a few years. In 1990, with the hiring of Dan Gottfried to assume both the
Administrator and Camp Director positions, that began to change. Dan has served Unirondack as
administrator, camp director and finally executive director, for 17 of the last 27 years. Leadership has
solidified in other ways as well, with Nat Shed serving as Camp Director and Administrator from 1997
until 2003. The present Camp Director, Kris Fiore, has been in camp leadership since 2009 and has
served as Camp Director since 2012. The Camp Manager in the Spring and Fall, Elizabeth Bashur, has
been with camp since 2007. And the Facilities Manager, Peter Howlett, has been with Unirondack since
2011.
This unprecedented consistency in leadership, coupled with an extraordinary Board of Directors led by
Joyce Gilbert in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, and Devin Hollands in the period from 2007 to 2015,
has provided Unirondack with the opportunity to grow into the flourishing camp it is today.
Unirondack has had two successful capital campaigns in that period and also successfully fundraised for
several major projects. It has created a new endowment, which is a third of the way to its million dollar
goal. And the facility improvements are impressive.
In 1994 the Gilman dining hall was expanded to allow Unirondack to utilize all the available bed spaces
in camp to serve more campers. In 97, Upper Sweet, half of the main housing space, was renovated.
Also, in 1997, the maintenance crew shop, called Wayne Manor, was built. In the early 2000’s, thanks
partly to a grant from the NYS Convention of Universalists, Zigmund and Woodman cabins were
renovated. All of these additions were done through the volunteer labor of former and present staff
members including Michael McCarthur, Marc Guillaume (son of Jonathan), Matt Catlin, Devin Hollands,
and Vanessa Holtgrewe, among others.
In the early 2000’s, the first successful Capital Campaign allowed the camp to rebuild the Leining
Infirmary, redo the septic system, including installing a leech field and a bathroom in lower camp, and
renovate the kitchen.
In the period from 2007 to the present, under the leadership of Dan Gottfried and Devin Hollands, and
utilizing the extraordinary skills of Pete Howlett, the improvements took another step up. In 2007 the
Morse meeting room was added to the Sophia Fahs cabin. In 2009 the boat docks were replaced. In
2010, thanks to a donation from Sarah Stevens-Miles, the Stevens Performing Arts Pavilion, was built on
the lower field adjacent to the lake, finally replacing the recreation space camp lost when the lodge
burned down and Gilman was re-purposed as a dining hall in 1976. IN 2011, Chadwick cabin was
completely renovated and transformed. In 2012, the MacPhee Artshop was renovated and a skylight
added.
In the midst of these physical changes, Unirondack also underwent an organizational change. In 2011,
the member congregations voted to change Unirondack’s bylaws to open voting membership in the
corporation to Unirondack alumni. In many ways this was the culmination of Unirondack’s evolution,
from an extension of the NYS Convention of Universalists to an independent Unitarian Universalist Camp
and Conference Center. Congregational Members can now combine in strength with all of the people whose
lives Unirondack has changed.
Then, in late 2012, the NYS Health Department told Unirondack that it would be unable to open the
following year unless plans were in place to significantly upgrade the aging showerhouse. Unirondack’s
Board of Director’s saw this as an opportunity to address a multitude of pressing needs in camp, and to
carry out Joyce Gilbert and Nat Shed’s earlier vision of a more comfortable lodging space to
accommodate more adults, including staff. A grant of $100,000 from the Unitarian Universlaist
Congregation at Shelter Rock Large Grants program moved the project into overdrive. Fundraising for
the building was undertaken with the goal of paying for it in full out of a combination the the grant,
donations, operating income, and a small withdrawal from the endowment. In many ways, this was the
first test of the strength of Unirondack as an organization with membership open to all its alumni.
Thanks to the herculean efforts of Peter Howlett and a small hired crew of dedicated builders and the
fundraising efforts of many alumni, the three story building was completed in a little over a year and
paid for in full. Containing 10 bedrooms, a meeting room, a lounge, a large bunkstyle room, a basement,
a private handicap accessible bathroom, a half bath, and two shower and bathroom facilities with
private stalls for up to six people at a time, the new building is beautiful, as well as utilitarian. It was
christened Evelyn Anderson House in 2014, in honor of our beloved former cook.
Not content to rest on it’s laurels, Unirondack completely renovated the boathouse in 2015, thanks to a
donation from Devin Hollands and the rest of the Hollands family. Their vision of restoring the
Boathouse to its former glory was completed, and the building was christened the Hollands Boathouse
in honor of Dan Hollands, who had played a key role in leading Unirondack as Board President in the
years after the Lodge fire.
Tonight I am reading minutes from meetings starting in 1949 and now through 1961. Striking
things are: Jon Guilluame and former crew members offer to open up camp in 1962. (Marc's
dad) Sarah Hickock's relative, aunt I think is mentioned as a staff member! Dick Fitts outlines a
system promoting camp through the churches in 1960.. his outline is the exact program we call
Liaison program. I will transcribe his plan for the board as it is as needed today as back then.
The name Woodman for the newest cabin is suggested in 1960 after Dick woodman resigns as
director
Dick Gilbert is important figure as program director and member of the Unirondack Commission
as they called themselves. Also Lucille Smith, of Smith cabin is a big player.
Mentioned also is Mrs. Cutter, Tom Cutter's mother, about 1953 I think...
1958 a SWEET Lodge Pavilion is suggested.. Which later is what was Gilman Rec. Hall.. before
we converted it to kitchen/dining.
Suggested that the front porch of Sweet be ripped off and a large Recreation Hall be added to the
front of this building, taking wear and tear off the lounge and used for dancing, classrooms etc.
I am not sure what they considered the Front Porch of Sweet... but in the old configuration and
photos the only porch I see is the one we have outside Oneonta facing the lake.
Work was needed to: fix Sweet roof, repair boathouse foundation, repair sills on Sweet and
Overlook. All reported in 1958... Parts of the Sweet roof were still the old wood shingles until the
late 1980s, the boathouse was not fixed until it had to be ripped down in 1978, the sill of Overlook
was replaced in late 70s, Sweet sills were fixed up in the late 80s and 90s..
So it shows the slowness of repairs or the reoccurrence of problems. They had negative budgets
in the old days so there was no money sitting around to fix anything, which is the way it stayed
until the 1990s. The budgets in the 50s were like $1,500 per year total camp budget..
1957 $ for a fenced in play yard discussed.
1962 $500 budgeted to install a phone at camp. Talk with the Fishers to allow such to take place.
1961 Jay Carncross to map property and present proposal and estimate for a recreation building
(Gilman Rec Hall) and also 'blue sky' future planning
1962 suggested work at camp:
Rewire sweet and main lodge
rearrange toilets in upper sweet making permanent partitions and REMOVING bath tub
Convert lower Right side of Garage to dormitory, provide toilet
Move shop to one 1/2 of Leining lodge
Move staff lounge to other half of Leining
Jay's detailed map was used for considerable discussion of best location for the recreation
building. Jay showed plans for a 32'x60' structure with a stage, two toilet rooms and a fireplace
location included near lodge so it would be used more, also connected to dining room for possible
expansion of dining, with a basement, taking advantage of the hill grade.
the possible DISPLACEMENT OF existing building ESP. LEINING!
estimate $10,000 to build.. no location selected at meeting.
Oct 1962 Jay shares plans for 28'x60' building best location so far is next to Sweet, provision for
future fire place included in plans.
Patterson Fund is given and we are to name a building Patterson.. income from fund to go to the
building fund. OLD lodge had Patterson Porch, and this would explain that name.
1960s idea to name rooms after churches to connect them to the camp came up.
Jan 1961 In response to suggestion from campers the upper right Garage room (overlook) is
hereby named 'BIRCH'
Porch on Lodge officially named Patterson Porch
Jan 1964 voted that new rec hall would have stage but no extensions, no bathrooms, no
kitchenette, fireplace with stone inside and block outside, oil space heater, by deferring some of
these items to Later funds would be available for erecting two more cabins similar to the
Woodman to better house staff and faculty units or general campers.
March 13 Dick Fitts Mal ingison and Bob Payson would visit camp to mark exact location s of the
assembly building below and behind sweet and the cabins spaced near Woodman.
The commission recommends that the new assembly building to be built be named for Howard
Gilman 1/64
END OF MINUTE BOOK
When I was in our church giving a camp promotion with our new director Dick Fitts was at a table
across the way. When he saw me setting up he said, 'oh, giving a pitch for Unirondack?!" who
would have know the role he played before I was even born on our camp.
His name is all through the minutes in the early 60s when things started to get serious and the
camp started to grow and develop. His business like approach and no-nonsense efforts really
helped.
The Carncross brothers were at camp last fall installing a new fan and rewiring outlets in
Gilman... this in a building their father planned and dreamed up.
Take care,
Devin
Unirondack
Compiled by Dan Gottfried, Executive Director and Devin Hollands, Former Board President and Archivist
History
The New York State Convention of Universalists began Unirondack in 1946 as a place to hold summer
retreats and institutes for religious educators, ministers, congregation members, and youth. The
programs were held at rented locations until the purchase of the property on Beaver Lake in the
forever-wild Adirondacks in 1951. The institutes provided the opportunity for fellowship and spiritual
growth beyond the walls of the congregation, a precursor to today’s efforts to extend and enrich our
faith.
In 1961, after the merger of the Unitarian and Universalist faiths, the institutes were run by the St.
Lawrence UU District until 1966, when Unirondack was incorporated for “religious educational
purposes, including but not limited to the ownership and operation of one or more religious educational
camps and institutions embodying the religious ideals of Universalism”.
The spirit that is present at Unirondack today was evident from the very beginning. Something about
gathering in fellowship in a place of such astounding natural beauty nourishes the soul and feeds the
creation of a community that embodies our UU values.
Beginning that very first summer, Unirondack’s focused strongly on serving youth, a direction which
contributed to Unirondack becoming the only UU Camp and Conference Center that focuses primarily
on summer camp experiences for youth. That focus has, undoubtedly, contributed to Unirondack having
the highly developed and professionally run program that exists today.
The early days of Unirondack presented many challenges. The original property contained eight
buildings. Maintaining those buildings while simultaneously improving the facilities was economically
demanding and often beyond the economic resources of the fledgling camp. Those challenges resulted
in Unirondack developing a culture of volunteering that persists to this day.
Thanks in large part to that culture, Unirondack was able to meet the early need for more sleeping
spaces and a recreation hall despite having limited economic resources. Donors helped as well, and
throughout the camp rooms and buildings are named for those early contributors, which included
congregations and individuals. Four cabins in the woods, Smith, Zigmund, Woodman, and Chadwick and
the Gilman Recreation Hall were constructed between 1961 and 1966.
One of the unique aspects of Unirondack is that, since it resides in the “forever-wild” Adirondacks,
expansion is carefully regulated by the Adirondack Park Agency of New York State, and this regulation
has increased over the years. Therefore, after that early expansion, most of the improvements at camp
have been the renovation, repurposing and replacement of existing structures.
Like many Unitarian Universalist landed Camp and Conference Centers, Unirondack has also faced
challenges that threatened the continued existence of the camp. The greatest of these occurred in the
first summer camp session of 1976, when the main lodge, which housed the dining hall, burned down.
As often happens in times of crisis, the growing community of Unirondack supporters rallied together. A
plan was quickly made to repurpose the Gilman Recreation Hall as camp’s new dining hall. A kitchen was
installed, tables and chairs were purchased, and word went out that camp would continue that summer.
Eric Nasemann stepped in as Camp Director for the departing James Garbarino. His appointment was
followed in 1977 by the return of former Director, Joe Malkiewicz. Surprisingly, only one week of camp
was missed during that eventful summer.
Still, the loss of camp’s main lodge was devastating. It was a building of unsurpassed beauty, a favorite
place of many Unirondack campers, and in many ways the heart of the camp. For the next few years
registration for some sessions dropped, insurance monies received to replace the lodge dwindled to
cover operating expenses, and the Board of Directors was largely replaced. Thankfully, the strength of
Unirondack’s community enabled the camp to ultimately meet the challenge, and in 1980 a new lodge
was completed. It lacked the space for a dining hall and large recreational activities, and until 2011
The next 10-15 years after the lodge burned down were lean ones, but the summer camp program
continued to flourish, touching the lives of UU youth and families. The basic needs of the facility were
often met by withdrawing earnings from the $150,000 endowment that had been created for the camp
by the New York State Convention of Universalists. In the mid-80’s a fire pump system was installed in
the hope that future fire threats to the camp could be limited.
During Unirondack’s early history, leadership turned over often, although many people remained
involved over long periods as volunteers. In 1990, that began to change. Since 1990 Unirondack has had
two Camp Directors who served for extended periods, Nat Shed and the present camp Director, Kris
Fiore. In addition, the present Executive Director, Dan Gottfried, has served in one capacity or another
for 17 of the last 27 years and the Camp Manager in the Spring and Fall, Elizabeth Bashur, and Facilities
manager, Peter Howlett, have served for many years.
This unprecedented consistency in leadership, coupled with an extraordinary Board of Directors led by
Joyce Gilbert in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and Devin Hollands from 2007 to 2015, provided
Unirondack with the opportunity to grow into the flourishing camp it is today. Both the programs and
the facility are the realization of the dreams of the many people who have contributed to shaping and
reshaping the vision of Unirondack.
When campers return to the camp after many years away, the improvements are startling. The
showerhouse that was erected in 1966 is now a three story building with 10 bedrooms named after our
beloved cook Evelyn Anderson. The Gilman Dining Hall has been renovated and expanded, with
beautiful picture windows overlooking the lake. The Stevens Performing Arts Pavilion was built adjacent
to Beaver Lake in 2010. Three of the four original woods cabins have undergone renovations, including
an extensive and beautiful re-visioning of Chadwick. The Leining Infirmary was rebuilt completely. There
is a new septic system, a bathroom is lower camp, and a leech field. The Hollands Boathouse and
MacPhee Artshop have been transformed, completely restoring the original roof structure over the
water that had been partially removed in a 1978 renovation. Even the “new” lodge has new windows
and the wood floors that were not possible in the initial building.
The early years of joy and struggle have shaped Unirondack into a community of committed people who
understand what a unique resource for Unitarian Universalist children, families and adults the camp has
become. In recognition of this evolution, the member congregations voted in 2011 to change the camp’s
bylaws to open up voting membership to Unirondack alumni. Congregational members can now
combine in strength with all of the people whose lives Unirondack has changed.
A Place for UU Children
Unirondack is a community that is shaped and re-shaped each summer by its staff members, campers,
and volunteers. It offers some things in common with other summer camps: a beautiful lakeside setting,
a wide range of daily activities, family-style meals, and the chance to spend time away in the woods. But
what truly makes it unique is the energy, caring and creativity of the people who call Unirondack home.
Enrollment is small relative to other children’s camps, with approximately 15 counselors and 60 campers
in each of our youth sessions, allowing counselors to provide personal attention to campers, creating a
close-knit community. The exceptional young adults chosen to comprise the counseling staff receive
professional training in leadership, program planning and implementation, conflict resolution, child
development, safety and first aid, and methods of fostering an inclusive community.
Though Unirondack takes pride in the creativity and abundance of its activities, Unirondack is more than
its activities. It is a place where many people feel completely at home for the first time in their lives. At
Unirondack the values that are inherent in Unitarian Universalist principles—acceptance, compassion,
and decision-making through the democratic process, are lived every day..
Each camper matters. Counselors spend their days getting to know campers through shared activities,
long talks during cabin time, organized discussion groups, bursts of spontaneous fun, and that careful
learning about another person that takes time and patience. Like that great teacher one remembers
forever, campers hold dear the relationships they form with their counselors, and the friendships they
make with each other are meaningful ones that continue through the years.
Unirondack cherishes and affirms the uniqueness of each camper. The nerdy, the creative, the free-
spirited, the independent, the flamboyant, the hesitant, the shy, and the self-assured are all welcomed.
It is a place of personal safety—a place to flourish. It is a place where silliness is acceptable behavior and
fun is joined with learning. It is a place where campers get to do things they just don’t get to do during
their “normal” everyday lives. And in keeping with our UU identity, Unirondack is a place of self-
reflection and discovery.
Parents often report that their children have somehow changed over the summer, become more
confident, developed new skills, and learned things about themselves and others. They are surprised by
the tears on departure day from their child—often the same child who was doubtful camp was for him
or her.
Young people who have spent a weekend, a week or a summer at Unirondack yearn to return again and
again, for Unirondack is a special place — a community that allows each camper to be themselves while
being part of something greater.
A Place for UU Families and Adults
Many campers begin their journey at Unirondack by attending Family Camp in the summer or joining
their family for a weekend at camp. And many continue their journey by becoming staff members and
later attending one of Unirondack’s weekend programs for adults.
Family Camp is described by many parents as the ideal vacation. Activities are designed to give families
time together and time to indulge their individual interests. Special program guests combine with the
uniquely talented summer camp staff to provide stimulating programs that encourage personal growth,
appreciation of nature, and developing new skills. Recent programs have included theater, building
rustic furniture, exploring your personal theology, daily nature hikes, nightly campfires, and
extraordinary food.
In addition to summer programs for families, Unirondack offers weekend programs in the spring for
adults, including a Women’s Weekend, a Men’s Weekend, a weekend for Young Adults, and a Queer-
Straight Alliance weekend.
A Place for Congregations
Unirondack has never forgotten its roots. What started as a retreat space for religious leaders and
congregants continues to serve that purpose today. Every fall, four different congregations hold annual
retreats at the camp. The retreats provide participants with the opportunity to strengthen their ties to
each other and to our faith beyond the walls of the congregation.
Unirondack in the Words of Vee Abbitt: Parent, Board Member and Divinity School Student
My attachment to and appreciation for Camp Unirondack arises from several different perspectives. I
am a board member, a parent of a camper, a camper, and a ministerial candidate for the Unitarian
Universalist Association.
My son spent eight summers at Unirondack. . At Unirondack he developed many deep friendships and
experienced and cultivated a sense of community there that he never seemed to be able to in church. In
fact, even today, he feels more of a connection to Unirondack than he does to the denomination as a
whole
When he was a child and I asked him what made Unirondack so special, he never really expressed his
feelings in terms that made sense to my adult ears. But now he is a young man, living on his own, and I
recently asked him that same question. He put it something like this: “Unirondack is a place where all
different kinds of people come together. It doesn’t matter who you are. The sense of community is so
strong, it’s almost like it is not even real. It isn’t really possible to explain. It is something you have to
experience.”
I am so happy that he was able to have that sort of experience in his formative years. And I am even
more moved by his experience because I know that, as a person of color in this denomination, it is not
so common for us, including our children, to have spaces in which we really feel a complete sense of
inclusion. I think that Unirondack has had a tremendous impact on his development into the kind of
warm, sincere, honest and loving person that he is.
As an adult, I have only participated in work weekends and family camps, but while there I was able to
witness something very special. The sense of connection and warmth is palpable. The evening ritual of
campfire in which campers and staff, young and old, sit and share poems, stories and songs that have
meaning for them, is often more spiritual than many churches I have attended.
In addition to viewing the impact Unirondack has on not only children and youth, but on people of all
ages, through the lens that I have as a parent and a participant, I have also been able to give
consideration to the effect that Unirondack has on the larger community through the lens which I have
developed as a Unitarian Universalist and a divinity school student. Unitarian Universalism has a
profound and liberating message for seekers, and our congregations are, when at their best, welcoming
places for all people, no matter what their location in life. Unirondack embodies Unitarian Universalist
principles, and is a safe and nurturing place for those who spend time there.