Long Lake Camp For The Arts

Long Lake Camp for the Arts: A Creative Summer Camp in New York’s Adirondacks

Imagine a summer filled with standing ovations, paint-covered hands, new friendships, lake adventures, and the freedom to explore what makes your child happy. Welcome to Long Lake Camp for the Arts, a noncompetitive overnight summer camp for creative kids and teens ages 8–16. Since 1969, Long Lake has welcomed young artists, performers, musicians, and curious beginners to our beautiful lakeside campus in Long Lake, New York. Here in the Adirondack Mountains, we combine the opportunities of a performing arts and fine arts summer camp with the friendships, outdoor activities, and shared experiences that make sleepaway camp so special. We have combined many creative summer camp programs into one magical place. 

Whether your child loves musical theater, painting, filmmaking, rock music, dance, or a little bit of everything, there is room to explore—and plenty of friendly people to explore with!

Their Summer, Their Choices

At Long Lake, every camper has 100% freedom to choose their activities, with thoughtful guidance from our staff. Children can spend more time developing a favorite skill, discover an unexpected passion, or combine interests across departments. A camper might rehearse a musical, make pottery, try flying trapeze, and head to the waterfront. Another might spend much of the day creating artwork or playing music. We help children build a schedule around the things they are excited to do, while learning to make decisions, communicate their needs, and follow through on creative commitments. Beginners, intermediate students, and experienced young artists are all welcome. No audition is required to enroll at camp.

Explore our performing arts summer camp programs.

Our Unit Leader Program: Personal Support for Campers and Parents

Choosing your own activities works best when someone knows you well. That is why our Unit Leader program is such an important part of life at Long Lake. Unit Leaders get to know each camper’s interests, personality, goals, and everyday needs. They help children find activities, organize their schedules, make connections, and speak up when they need something. They also check on the essentials: Is your child eating well? Sleeping comfortably? Making friends? Feeling included? Getting to do the activities they came to camp to enjoy? For a first-time camper, that support can make a big difference. For a returning camper, it helps turn new ideas and bigger ambitions into a rewarding summer. Unit Leaders are also a personal point of contact for parents. They communicate with families, help coordinate weekly camper calls home, and provide updates about your child’s experience. Parents can contact camp to speak with their child’s Unit Leader, share information, or discuss a concern.

A Noncompetitive Arts Camp with Oscar-Winning Alumni

We believe children thrive when they feel supported, encouraged, and comfortable being themselves. Our noncompetitive philosophy runs throughout camp, from the studios and stages to the playing fields. Campers work together on productions, celebrate one another’s progress, and discover how much they can accomplish through practice and collaboration. Experienced performers can develop their craft alongside beginners taking their first exciting steps. Our alumni include Oscar winners, Broadway performers, musicians, writers, and filmmakers. We are proud of their achievements—and equally proud of campers who discover the courage to sing in public, finish a painting, try something unfamiliar, or make their first close camp friendship.

Every child brings something valuable to our creative community.

Summer Theater Camp: Bring Stories to Life

Our summer theater camp program gives young performers opportunities to rehearse, collaborate, and experience the excitement of live productions. With plays, comedies, dramas, and musicals across the summer, campers can explore different stories and styles while developing confidence onstage.

From the first rehearsal to the final curtain call, theater at Long Lake is a shared adventure with a cast of new friends.

Explore Theater.

Summer Musical Theater Camp: Sing, Dance, Act—and Have a Wonderful Time

For children who love show tunes and dream of being part of a musical, our musical theater summer camp program brings singing, acting, and dance together. Campers experience the teamwork of rehearsing a production, developing a character, learning choreography, and performing with fellow musical theater fans. Costumes, scenery, lighting, and sound help bring the finished shows to life.

Explore Musical Theater.

Acting: Find Your Voice and Develop Your Characters

Our acting program helps campers explore character development, scene study, monologues, script analysis, audition techniques, and acting for film. With group and individual instruction, young actors can work on the areas that interest them most. A beginner might discover the fun of stepping into a character, while an experienced performer develops greater range and confidence.

Explore Acting.

Improv and Comedy: Think Quickly, Create Together, Laugh Often

Improv is full of surprises! Through games, workshops, scene work, and performance opportunities, campers practice listening, teamwork, storytelling, and creating in the moment. Our improv summer camp program welcomes beginners and experienced improvisers. It is a playful way to build stage confidence, make friends, and discover what happens when everyone contributes an idea.

Explore Improv.

Technical Theater: Create the Magic Behind the Scenes

For campers who love building, designing, organizing, and figuring out how things work, technical theater offers a world of possibilities. Our S.W.A.T.—Super Wicked Awesome Techies—program introduces skills such as set construction, lighting, sound, props, costuming, and stage management. Campers can see their contributions become part of real productions, learning how backstage teamwork makes a show possible.

Explore Technical Theater.

Fine Arts: Make Something That Is Completely Your Own

Our fine arts summer camp program gives young artists space, materials, instruction, and encouragement to follow their imagination. Campers can explore painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, fashion design, printmaking, textiles, photography,  animation, and more. They can experiment across different studios or spend longer developing a favorite medium. Our end-of-session art exhibition gives campers a chance to share their work and celebrate the creative journey behind it.

Explore Fine Arts and Photography.

Summer Music Camp: Learn, Write, Play, and Perform

Our overnight music camp program welcomes children picking up an instrument for the first time and musicians ready to develop existing skills. Opportunities include private instrumental and voice lessons, ensembles, songwriting, composition, arranging, digital music creation, recording, and live performance. Campers can explore different musical interests while collaborating with other young musicians. There is something special about finding friends who get just as excited about music as you do.

Explore Music.

Summer Rock Band Camp: Find Your Bandmates

Ready to plug in? Our summer rock band program brings musicians together to rehearse, write songs, record, and perform live. Campers can develop instrumental and vocal skills, learn about stage presence and music production, and experience the teamwork of playing in a band. Rock concerts give them the thrill of sharing their music with an enthusiastic camp audience.

Explore Rock Bands.

Summer Dance Camp: Move, Express Yourself, and Take the Stage

Our sleepaway dance camp program offers beginners through advanced dancers opportunities to explore ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, tap, musical theater dance, choreography, and more. Campers can combine dance with other interests or make it a major focus of their summer. Classes, rehearsals, and our end-of-session dance festival provide opportunities to grow as dancers and performers in an encouraging environment.

Explore Dance.

Circus: Discover What You Can Do

Flying trapeze at summer camp? Absolutely! Our circus program introduces campers to an exciting range of activities, including aerial silks, trapeze, juggling, tumbling, clowning, balancing, and other circus arts. Experienced instructors help beginners learn new skills and support returning performers as they develop their abilities. The session’s circus performance brings those skills together in a colorful celebration of teamwork, creativity, and courage.

Explore Circus.

Film: Turn an Idea into a Movie

Our filmmaking summer camp program helps young storytellers explore the journey from an idea to a finished film. Campers can learn screenwriting, storyboarding, directing, camera operation, lighting, sound recording, and editing. With actors, musicians, artists, and costume makers nearby, Long Lake is a wonderful place for creative collaboration. Camp screenings give young filmmakers the excitement of sharing their work with an audience.

Explore Film.

Sports, Atv and Horseback Riding: Get Outside and Play

Outdoor fun is part of the Long Lake experience. Campers can enjoy activities such as tennis, basketball, soccer, volleyball, horseback riding, and hiking. Our sports program emphasizes participation, learning, fitness, and enjoyment. Children can stretch their legs between creative projects, learn a skill, spend time with our horses, and enjoy being active with friends.

Explore Sports

Waterfront and Watersports: Make a Splash

A summer camp on Long Lake comes with a wonderful bonus: the lake itself! Our waterfront offers swimming, swim lessons, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, sailing, tubing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, and more. Trained waterfront staff provide instruction and supervision, helping campers enjoy both new challenges and familiar favorites. A morning in the art studio and an afternoon on the water? That sounds like a Long Lake day.

Explore Waterfront and Watersports.

Friends, Evening Activities, and Everyday Camp Fun

Some favorite camp memories happen between the big moments: talking with bunkmates, cheering for a friend’s performance, singing around a bonfire, or laughing together after a busy day. Evening activities bring our community together for concerts, movies, theme dances, bunk events, performances, and outdoor games. We also make time to relax, enjoy friendships, and simply be a kid.

Our Amazing Adirondack Location

Our private lakefront campus sits in Adirondack Park in upstate New York, surrounded by forests, mountains, and beautiful water. It is an inspiring setting for a residential arts summer camp. Young artists can draw from nature, filmmakers can find outdoor settings for their stories, and campers can move between creative spaces and the fresh air of a traditional lakeside camp. Imagine rehearsing with friends, walking beneath tall trees, watching sunlight move across the lake, and ending the day together under an Adirondack sky. The setting is a memorable part of the summer, too. Our summer address is 83 Long Lake Camp Way, Long Lake, NY 12847.

Sessions and What Is Included

Long Lake offers three-week and six-week overnight camp sessions for ages 8–16. Shorter stays may be available by request; please call to discuss your child’s needs and current availability.

Tuition includes camp activities, meals, accommodations, and art supplies. We welcome families from across the United States and around the world, and we are happy to discuss travel arrangements and help you prepare for camp.

See Dates and Session Information.

Need Help with Tuition? Call Us About Discounts 914-693-711 or text 914-430-7535. We are happy to talk with you about your circumstances and discuss available discounts or limited partial scholarship opportunities. Availability varies, and a conversation helps us understand how we may be able to help.  We would love the opportunity to explore what could work for your family.

Let’s Talk About Your Child’s Summer

Tell us what your child loves, what they would like to try, and what would help them feel comfortable at overnight camp. We are happy to answer questions about activities, friendships, first-time campers, our Unit Leader program, sessions, travel, and tuition assistance.

Call: 914-693-7111
Text: 914-430-7535
Website: www.longlakecamp.com
Email: longlakecampforthearts@gmail.com

At Long Lake Camp for the Arts, your child can create, perform, explore, make friends, and help shape a summer that could change their life. We look forward to getting to know your family!