Summer Camp Near Utica NY

Summer Camp for Kids Near Utica, NY

Families in the greater Utica area searching for a summer camp where children can grow through faith, outdoor activity and relationships can explore Beaver Camp in Lowville, New York. Beaver Camp is operated by Adirondack Mennonite Camping Association, Inc. (AMCA), a nonprofit Christian camping organization with a summer children's camp history dating to 1969.

Beaver Camp's mission is centered on providing programs and facilities infused by God's love, with opportunities for people to grow in their relationships with Jesus Christ, other people and the natural world around them.

Christian Summer Camp Focused on the Whole Person

Beaver Camp's summer children's camp goals go beyond simply filling a schedule with activities. The program is designed to encourage spiritual, emotional, social and physical growth while maintaining an emphasis on safety, relationships and Christian teaching.

The camp's goals include personal Bible study and Bible teaching, time with Christian role models, community with other campers and staff, and programming that gives children opportunities to build confidence, learn new skills and participate in shared experiences. Beaver Camp also emphasizes respect and appreciation for God's creation as part of the camp experience.

Outdoor Adventure and Recreation

Beaver Camp's Lowville property offers many of the features families often look for when considering an outdoor summer camp. Recreation facilities include a two-acre playfield, a waterfront area, sand volleyball, tetherball, a roped swimming area, canoeing, paddle boating and sailing.

The camp also lists a hard-surfaced ball court with sporting equipment, a bouldering wall, horseshoes, a Gaga court and a nine-hole Frisbee Golf course. An Aquajump trampoline is available during the period listed by the camp from late June through Labor Day. Specific summer activities depend on the current program and schedule.

Teamwork, Confidence and the Beaver Camp Challenge Course

The Beaver Camp Challenge Course has been part of the property since 1986. It was developed for children's camp programs as well as other groups and uses a progression of games, trust activities, initiative problems and challenge elements to support individual and group growth. Challenge Course goals include greater trust and teamwork, improved communication and collaboration, increased confidence, shared problem-solving and learning through experience. The course can include low and high elements, and participants must be at least 8 years old.

Learning to Appreciate Nature

Outdoor experiences are closely connected to Beaver Camp's Christian mission. One of the stated summer camp goals is to expose campers to nature in ways that promote respect, appreciation and love for both the Creator and creation. Camp programming can make use of trails, campsites, nature teaching areas, hikes, cookouts and other outdoor experiences.  Beaver Camp's broader educational programming also reflects this interest in the natural environment. Its Creation Investigation program for school groups covers topics such as plants and trees, insects and spiders, earth science, mammals, bird study and aquatic ecosystems.

Facilities That Support Camp and Group Experiences

Beaver Camp lists sleeping accommodations for up to 150 guests. The property includes renovated heated cabins, rustic cabins, motel rooms, platform tents and areas for tent camping. Meeting spaces range from smaller rooms to a pavilion that can seat up to 139 people. The dining hall serves buffet-style meals with tables overlooking Beaver Lake, and the property also includes a separate Deer Lodge kitchen and dining area for groups that prepare their own meals. These facilities support the camp's summer programs as well as retreats, school programs, church groups and other year-round uses.

A Summer Camp Tradition Dating to 1969

AMCA purchased Beaver Camp in April 1969 after several years of planning by Mennonite churches that saw a need for a church camp for children. Christian summer children's camps have been sponsored at the property since that first summer. Year-round programming began after the first year-round director was hired in 1979, and the camp continued to add facilities and programs over the following decades. That history gives Utica-area families considering Beaver Camp a clear picture of what the organization is built around: Christian camping, outdoor experiences, relationships and growth.

Planning a Beaver Camp Experience from the Utica Area

Beaver Camp is physically located at 8884 Buck Point Rd., Lowville, NY 13367. Families searching for a summer camp near Utica should review the camp's Directions page and current summer registration information when planning a visit or selecting a session. For current questions about summer camp programs, registration, age groups or availability, click here or contact the Beaver Camp office directly at (315) 376-2640 or office@beaver.camp.