Camp News

If tonight’s Rope Burn is any indication, the remaining three days of Frontier Week are going to be HOT! It’s hard to explain the uniqueness of Frontier Week without talking about Rope Burn. I have been lucky enough to be present for 6 Rope Burns throughout my tenure at Owego, and each summer somehow manages to top the last. If you think you’ve seen Rope Burns at different camps, you’ve seen nothing. Owego’s Rope Burn is one of the most spectacular things I’ve ever witnessed.

Six teams of Hi-Seniors, six Tribes cheering them on. Kindling collected for two straight days, carried to the Upper Field on “stretchers” and piled so high it’s a wonder there are trees left standing. Counselors and Hi-Seniors carrying the stretchers over their shoulders, straining under the weight of an insanely massive amount of wood. I can only imagine what is going through the minds of the Juniors as they watch this kindling parade, mouths agape. Someday, they will be the ones who carry the stretchers.

Once the piles of wood have been deposited in front of each Tribe’s rope, the teams of “burners” go to work breaking apart the branches to create more manageable pieces of kindling. The spectators take their places at a safe distance, ready to cheer. Each Rope Burn team is allowed one box of matches to get things started, but once the flame is ignited the skills learned in Camp Craft are what make the difference. With shouts of “Burn that rope!” coming from the crowd, the team members run back and forth between the pile of wood and the fire, adding to the pyre. Burners lay on their stomachs, blowing into the base of the fire, hoping to fan the flames even higher.

The fires begin to grow, first into a small blaze and eventually into a massive inferno. The ropes, suspended about 20 feet in the air, begin to feel the heat. The flames lick the rope, sending sparks high into the air. The commotion from the crowd reaches a fever pitch as the flames climb into the night sky. Before you know it, there are 6 raging bonfires competing for supremacy. The heat emanating from these fires is impossible to describe.

In the end, one rope catches fire before the others. One rope burns faster and breaks first. Tonight, that triumph belonged to the Tribe of Comanche. The crowd went wild as the team members celebrated their hard-earned win. Another year of Frontier Week Rope Burn in the books. One of the most “Owego-y” nights of the summer, we are already looking forward to next summer’s spectacle.

Frontier Week 2026 is finally here, and camp is a flurry of activity and excitement! What started as a giant bonfire and lots of fanfare last evening as the teams were announced, has now evolved into 6 distinct Tribe names, banners, and campsites. We are off to the races, with 5 full days of competition ahead of us.

The Tribes of Frontier Week 2026 are as follows:

Aleut (blue)

Caddo (pink)

Oneida (green)

Comanche (black)

Toltec (yellow)

Acoma (red)

Day One is all about clearing the Tribe’s campsite in preparation for building the shelter. You will see photos of your campers holding shovels and rakes, and you will be curious. The 6 campsites are utilized every summer, but they are left deserted throughout the cold, brutal winter. When each Tribe arrives at its assigned campsite at the start of Frontier Week, it is very common for the remnants of last summer’s shelter to be left behind like the skeleton of an abandoned ship at the bottom of the ocean. The debris must be cleared and the site must be checked for nests and hives before building can begin.

Another important event on Day One is the Tribe Banner decorating and presentation. While the Seniors and Hi-Seniors clear the campsites and create the Tribe’s banner, the Juniors decorate rocks with the Tribe’s name and symbol. Using paint pens, they create a colorful representation of their Tribe that will be judged as part of the competition. The banners, meanwhile, are a large-scale visual of the Tribe’s spirit and essence. The animal or object most closely associated with the Tribe is featured prominently, along with the Tribe’s name and any other relevant symbols.

The Banner presentation is the meat and potatoes of the competition. Each Tribe’s Chiefs, Medicine Man, Warrior, and Scout stand on stage before the entire camp and introduce the Tribe’s history and background, along with the values and culture of the people. The Banner speech is intended to highlight the significance of the people who came before us, and to encourage the Tribe’s members to adopt the Tribal mindset for the duration of Frontier Week.

Tonight’s main event is Tug-of-War, where each Tribe will face off against the others in a round-robin tournament. Every member is valuable, with Juniors (literally) pulling their weight at the center while the bigger boys anchor the front and back of the team’s side of the rope. The photos from Tug-of-War are always a highlight. The clenched teeth! The grimaces! The loopy smiles! The squinted eyes! It really is a sight to behold.

As you watch all of the action unfold over the next 5 days, via the photos posted on CampMinder and the content posted on Instagram, keep in mind that every Owegan works collaboratively to make Frontier Week a singularly amazing experience. From the young, wide-eyed Juniors, to the seasoned Seniors, all the way up to the Hi-Seniors who lead the charge, each Tribe member lends his skills and talents to the team effort. Every Owegan pours his heart and soul into these 5 days, knowing full well that when Frontier Week is all over, it will be time to pack it up and close the book on Summer 2026. But first, there are ropes to burn, races to run, torches to paint, meals to cook, and shelters to build. Let’s get to it, Owego.

After 7 summers, I’ve achieved one of the coolest honors bestowed upon Owegans: I’ve received my Old Timers t-shirt! What makes this milestone extra special is that I had the opportunity this evening to celebrate alongside both of my boys. We are now officially a family of Old Timers. My oldest, just 6 days away from college move-in, is marking his 9th summer at Owego: 7 as a camper, 2 as a counselor. My younger son received his Old Timers t-shirt this summer, like I did. He was just 6 years old when I came to work at Owego, and these days he barely notices if I’m physically present or not.

This royal blue shirt may seem pretty standard, but what it represents is far from basic. Every Owegan in his (or her) 7th summer at camp is inducted into the “Old-Timers Club.” While we consider all Owegans in at least their 3rd summer at camp an “Old-Timer,” it is lucky number 7 that earns the t-shirt with the Owegan’s name emblazoned across the left breast in bright-white block letters. On the back of the shirt, in even bigger bright-white letters, it reads, “Lake Owego Camp Old-Timer.” Owegans wear the shirt with great pride. It is a status symbol of sorts — not the kind that divides the haves from the have-nots, but rather one that inspires everyone to embrace the Brotherhood, carry on the traditions, and set an example for the next generation of Old Timers.

Tonight’s ceremony included all campers and staff in their 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th years at camp, encouraging them to work towards their own blue shirt by coming back summer after summer. While the 7th year Old Timers were the main event, everyone was given a role in the ceremony. All campers and staff who had received their shirts in previous summers, sat by the lake and led various chants and inside jokes. One representative from each Old Timer “year” was chosen to light a candle in honor of that year’s celebrants. One by one, this summer’s 7th-year honorees stood and told their Old Timers stories — individual recollections of memorable times at Owego. The stories were silly, surprising, and hilarious! We are an all-boys camp. Use your imagination!

Following the ceremony, the Old Timers were treated to an ice cream bash in the dining hall. Attendees lined up at the kitchen window based on summers spent at camp. One of the privileges of returning to camp each summer is moving up in the ice cream line! We all started as 3rd years in the back of the line. And look at us now! Ice cream was scooped, toppings were available in abundance, whipped cream flowed freely, and spirits were high!

On a personal note, I will always cherish my Old Timers shirt. I am especially grateful to have been included in this meaningful ritual of the Owego Brotherhood. Having the privilege of sharing the occasion with my kids, and standing side by side with them in our blue shirts, fills me with so much appreciation. Appreciation for everything this camp has given them, for everything they’ve given to camp, and for having a front-row seat to so much of it for 7 years.

Thank you, Owego.

But I can see us lost in the memory

August slipped away into a moment in time

–Taylor Swift

As the sun sets on August 1st, we are feeling a sense of excitement for what is still to come over the next 12 days. But that excitement is a little bittersweet. Once August hits, the light begins to change. Sunset hovers closer to 8:00 pm. Evening activity loses none of its energy, but some of its light. Even the shadows cast by the trees begin to morph into elongated shapes, signaling that the bulk of the summer is behind us and the season will be changing sooner than we’d like to think.

We choose to focus less on the fact that there are just 12 days remaining before the 10-month countdown begins again, and more on the big events taking place during those 12 days. Today, for example, we hosted another Play Day for prospective campers, and we will host another one next weekend. On Monday, we will celebrate our second session Old-Timers, and sometime this coming week we will light a giant bonfire and dive into the maelstrom of Frontier Week! There is still so much to get pumped for, and yet the awareness of the approaching ending still lingers in the air.

August has a singular vibe for us Owegans. It is a time for us to demonstrate our uniqueness by going out into the woods and creating something extraordinary. Frontier Week allows us to gather as six distinct Tribes, clear our campsites, build our shelters, plan our meals, and write our songs. Many Owegans look forward to this point in the summer all year long. It is what sets us apart from other camps and what makes us a Brotherhood. On the final night of Frontier Week, we will assemble as one camp to share songs about our time at Owego. Each Tribe will sing about the significance of this place, these people, and the struggle to let it go. Needless to say, it is a weepy occasion.

Over the next 12 days, we will celebrate what it means to be an Owegan, while simultaneously acknowledging that even the best summers must eventually come to an end. We will share triumphs and disappointments, laughter and tears, awards and distinctions. And when the time comes to say farewell on August 13th, we will smile with the knowledge that we may not see each other for a while but we will always have our memories of Summer 2026 to keep us connected.

Hello, August!

It is trip week at camp, and the Juniors are taking over!

Let me explain. Yesterday, our oldest campers departed on their respective divisional trips out of camp. Our 7th and 8th graders embarked on their trips this morning, and the Tents will leave for the 100-miler before dawn tomorrow. As of this morning, Lower Camp was calling the shots. Switch Day was in full effect, with the CTT Juniors participating in Choice periods at Owego in the morning, and Owegans traveling down the road to Timber Tops in the afternoon. When the big guys are away, the little guys will play!

As for our 10th graders, they set out yesterday morning for Niagara Falls. Over the course of two nights out of camp, they will take in a Rochester Red Wings AAA baseball game, explore Old Falls Street USA, enjoy thrills at Six Flags amusement park, and, of course, experience the Maid of the Mist — perhaps Niagara Falls’ most popular attraction.

The 9th graders departed yesterday for New England. Like the 10th graders, they will be away for 2 nights. Highlights of the New England trip include Downtown Portland, Old Orchard Beach, Quincy Market, and a tour of Fenway Park. Each division is traveling alongside its grade-level counterparts from Timber Tops. Staff from both LOC and CTT are chaperoning the adventure, and we’ve already seen photographic evidence of some serious fun!

Our Tents, who already enjoyed an epic 10-day adventure in Costa Rica earlier this summer, will paddle out early tomorrow morning (weather permitting) for the 100-miler canoe trip. An annual excursion that is eagerly anticipated and thoroughly prepped for, the 100-miler is a 3-day, 2-night river trip in which the 11th graders camp on the banks of the Delaware River and paddle their hearts out all day long to try and beat the previous summer’s mileage. We wish them happy paddling and lots of luck (and no sunburn)!

Finally, our Senior division trips left camp today and will return late tomorrow. The 8th graders will explore the Finger Lakes region, with stops at Seneca Park Zoo, Ithaca Commons, Taughannock Falls, and a water park. The 7th graders will travel to locations all across the Adirondacks, including Lake George, Howe Caverns, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and a water park. Like the Hi-Seniors, the Seniors are traveling alongside their CTT peers.

As much as our campers are reveling in the present moment and soaking up all that today has to offer, many of them are already looking forward to what’s in store for next summer. Many of you who joined us on Visiting Day this past Sunday took advantage of our Early-Bird Enrollment. So far, we’ve seen a record number of re-enrollments for Summer 2027! If you have not yet re-enrolled your camper for next summer, it’s not too late! Click below to begin the re-enrollment process and take advantage of our Early Bird reduced rates. Trust us — we’ve got big plans for Summer 2027, and you (and your camper) won’t want to miss a thing!

Click Here to Re-Enroll!

A full 24 hours has now passed since Owego parents said goodbye to their campers and the book on Visiting Day 2026 officially closed. By this morning, any tears shed during that 3:00 departure had long since dried up. It was a beautiful late-July day in Greeley, and the promise of a week filled with special events had everyone feeling a little more chipper than usual.

While we have no doubt that your Visiting Day experience was wonderfully reassuring and filled with love, we know that saying goodbye for the second time in a month can be difficult for campers and parents alike. Trust us, you all did great! Whether your camper was sad to see you go, or (like mine) declined to walk you to your car in favor of staying with his friends and comparing treat stashes, you can rest assured that all Owegans are thriving the day after Visiting Day.

Full session campers were reinvigorated by some quality family time, and second session campers got to enjoy the day at Montage Mountain water park. This week promises overnight trips for our Seniors and Hi-Seniors, and special in-camp events for our Juniors and Intermediates. But the true test of everyone’s well-being came today, when camp returned to business as usual.

The lake was buzzing with activity, with campers out on canoes and kayaks, and frolicking on the Wibit. The Ropes course was packed with climbers, swingers, and zip-liners. Pickleball and tennis were in full swing (yessss!) and the picnic grove was bursting with campers who couldn’t wait to play with the new Magic cards gifted to them on Visiting Day. Camp resumed without so much as a hiccup, and everything at Owego was exactly as it should be.

For the next 16 days, we will squeeze every drop of fun out of camp that we possibly can. Yes, there will be trips and special events and lots of big bonfires. But there will also be quieter moments like bike rides, baseball games, and ping-pong showdowns. Owegans appreciate the flashy stuff, but they cherish the small things that make camp what it really is: A boy’s heaven-on-Earth where he can play the day away and be exactly who he wants to be. Rest assured, the kids are alright.

…And Owego parents everywhere look at their camper’s list and check it twice.

Favorite beverage? Check.

Favorite NUT-FREE homemade baked goods? Check.

Extra Cup ‘o Noodles? Check.

Magic cards? Check.

If your camper is anything like mine, he wants to go out of camp tomorrow. Not for lunch, mind you, but to stop at Dollar General for snacks. As if he needs anything. “You get Canteen multiple times a week,” I reminded him, after he thrust his list at me when I came to record the camp show.

“Yeah, but the stuff at Dollar General is different,” he responded. Um, ok.

Whatever you choose to bring, and wherever you decide to go (or not to go), Visiting Day for our Full Session campers is an emotional roller coaster, fueled by a little extra sugar and filled with a lot of love.

The festivities will begin at 11:30, but I can assure you that the cars will be lining up along Route 6 at least an hour ahead of time. One thing I’ve learned in my 9 years affiliated with Owego is that you absolutely will NOT lose any momentum if you arrive at 11:30. Because we are a smaller camp, our staff is able to get everyone through the gates in an incredibly efficient manner. At Owego, you will see none of the frenzied “running of the parents” often parodied on social media. Our vibe is chill, and it leads to a refreshingly laid-back Visiting Day experience.

I’ve experienced Owego’s Visiting Day as the parent of a new camper, as a staff member, and now as an Old-Timer whose oldest is a counselor and whose younger camper’s Visiting Day list includes “anything you think I might like.” In other words, I’ve seen it all.

Tomorrow will be a wonderful day. Mother Nature is feeling cooperative, and the perfect weather will make an already special day even better! No matter how you spend your 3.5 hours at camp (I’ll be at Dollar General, so maybe I’ll see you there), your camper will be super excited to show you everything he has been up to since June 27th. Embrace all of it and listen to all of the crazy stories, even if nothing quite makes sense! You have given your child the gift of camp, and tomorrow you will get to enjoy it alongside him. Lucky kids, lucky parents!

Before we get to today’s blog post, we’d like to present a Special Edition of Owego Sports Flash:

As you (and the rest of the world) may have heard, LeBron James signed a 2-year deal today with the Philadelphia 76ers. What you may not have heard, however, is that LeBron is contractually obligated to fulfill a 10-day contract with Lake Owego Camp before he can be released to play for the 76ers. It will come as no surprise to anyone at camp that Freedo has already placed his friendly bet with Kyle. To quote Freedo, “Let’s Go, Sixers!”

Back to camp we go!

Friday nights at Owego are for Matzoh ball soup, Challah, Rabbinical blessings, Tent chants, and divisional campfires. At dinner, we begin the meal differently from the other 6 nights of the week. Kyle invites the “Rabbi” up to the microphone to lead the blessings over the wine (grape juice) and Challah (Challah). The Rabbi is one of our 11th graders who was appointed during the previous summer’s Banquet. Everyone recites the blessings loud and proud, with a hearty, “Hey!” at the end.

Dinner tonight was steak and potatoes, accompanied by the very popular camp matzoh ball soup. It’s not the same as your Bubbe’s, but it’s pretty great for Pike County! Veterans encourage our new Owegans to dunk the Challah in the soup. It truly is a delectable experience! After Friday night dinner, everyone heads back to bunks to put on longs and longs. Juniors/Inters gather by the lake and Seniors/Hi-Seniors assemble by the pool. Each age group marches silently to its respective campsite in the woods, Crazy Creeks and soccer chairs slung over the campers’ shoulders. In the clearing, a raging bonfire awaits. These are Owego’s Friday Night Lights.

For those campers who are new to Owego, the first campfire can be an awe-inspiring sight. Everyone places his chair around the fire, just as the sun is beginning to set over the lake. A hush descends upon camp, a welcome peacefulness after a day of action and commotion. The Key Staff and oldest campers lead the way with stories, chants, and songs. These rituals get passed along to the next generation of Owegans, each and every time we assemble around the campfire. Owego’s traditions are its legacy, and that legacy belongs to each and every one of us. It is a legacy that will linger long after our time at camp has come to an end.

While we certainly miss our First Session campers who departed just yesterday, we wasted no time filling the empty space with an influx of Second Session Owegans as we kicked off the latter half of Summer 2026!

Campers arrived this morning by car, by bus, and even by airplane! We couldn’t wait to catch them up on all that has occurred these past 3 and a half weeks. The excitement was palpable as Full Session campers greeted old friends and became acquainted with new ones. While returning Owegans have a pretty good idea of what is still to come between now and August 13th, our new Brothers in Blue have seen only the tip of the iceberg.

Here’s a little taste of Second Session for campers arriving today who are new to Owego, as well as their families:

Second Session is like an out-of-control freight train in THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE! We begin with a typical daily schedule, with Choice periods and optional activities like Top Cooks and Top Golf in full swing (yessssss!). This weekend, we’ll host a Play Day for prospective campers on Saturday and Visiting Day for Full Session campers on Sunday. Post-Visiting Day, the Seniors and Hi-seniors will embark on their respective out-of-camp overnight trips. While they are away, the Juniors and Inters will play! Our youngest campers will enjoy Owegoland, a day of bounce houses, water play, and an awe-inspiring cotton candy machine! They will also participate in Switch Day with Timber Tops. Our boys spend the morning trying out activities alongside their counterparts at CTT, and the CTT girls spend the afternoon with us at Owego.

Further down the line, once the Tents have returned from the 100-miler (more about that at a later date), we will kick off Frontier Week with a spectacular bonfire and lots of pomp and circumstance. Campers will be assigned to a “Tribe” and will engage in 4 days of campsite clearing, shelter building, outdoor cooking, torch decorating, banner creating, and song performing — basically, a boy’s heaven on Earth! By the time Frontier Week wraps up (with another spectacular bonfire), we will be close to the end of Summer 2026.

Phew! It can be difficult to keep up with all of the action during Second Session, and that’s where this blog comes in. We will bring you updates on all things Owego several times a week, especially when a special event is taking place. Between the photos on CampMinder, the stories and reels on Instagram, and the insider scoop in this blog, you can rest assured that you’ll enjoy these next 3 weeks almost as much as your camper will!

We have now reached the official halfway point of Summer 2026, with the transition from First to Second Session. On “Changeover Day,” as we call it, we bid farewell to those campers who are with us for First session only. Whether they leave by car or bus, we send these boys back to their parents and prepare to usher in a new group of Second session campers tomorrow. It is a bittersweet ending and simultaneously an exciting beginning.

This morning, everyone was moving in different directions. Our departing campers were up extra early, partly from the anticipation of being reunited with their families and partly for the logistical need to feed everyone breakfast and get the buses on the road in a timely fashion! The counselors whose tenure was ending stayed behind to ensure that all departing campers were in the right place at the right time, and that all of the bunks were sufficiently cleaned out to make space for incoming Second session campers.

All Full session campers and staff boarded school buses and headed to Kalahari Water Park for a day of fun in the sun! Before the buses left, however, friends and bunkmates took the time to say goodbye to those who were departing. It’s always difficult to say goodbye to our camp friends, whether it’s on Changeover Day or the last day of camp. At this point in mid-July, next summer seems a long way off. While we hope to connect over the 10 months of the school year, we acknowledge that life often gets in the way and prevents us from seeing our Owego kin as often as we would like.

I will leave our First session campers and staff with these words: We are so glad that you spent the past 3.5 weeks with us at Owego, as one of the Brothers in Blue. Hopefully, you tried something new like Ropes or Archery or even Waterskiing. Maybe you discovered a food that you will now ask your Mom or Dad to make at home. My younger son came home from camp once, after eating only beige foods for several summers, asking me to make Baked Ziti because he “like(d) it now.” You undoubtedly made friends with Owegans from all over the country, and engaged with counselors from all over the world! You learned the chants, sang the songs, and adopted the rituals. You are forever an Owegan. We hope to see you next summer, either again for one session or maybe even the full summer. We’ll be waiting for you!

For now, we will hold on to what remains of Summer 2026. And we will take to heart the words of the 90’s band Semisonic, who taught us that “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

Bring on Second session. Here’s to new beginnings!