DEC camps combine environmental education, sportsman education and outdoor fun. We use a fun, hands-on approach to teach about the environment. You'll learn outdoor skills as well as the essentials of backpacking, camping and canoeing. You'll come away with a life-long passion for nature and a dedication to stewardship of our natural resources. You'll explore New York's diverse habitats, and learn how human activities affect the environment. Campers solve challenges, learn environmental concepts, practice outdoor skills and spend the week immersed in nature. All of the camps offer sportsman education classes, including hunting and archery. The Pack Forest camp also offers shooting sports for the 14 to 17 year-olds Pack Forest, DEC's newest camp, opened in 1998. The camp is located in the southern Adirondacks on 2,500 acres of woodlands. The property includes an 85-acre lake and miles of trails leading to mountain vistas, marshes and the banks of the Hudson River. Campers at Pack Forest stay in cabins that house approximately 15 to 20 campers. Pack Forest was named after Charles Lathrop Pack, an Adirondack landowner who donated the land to the college to be used for research and training in the field of environmental studies. Campers seek solutions to group challenge activities that encourage interaction, communication and cooperation. Camp helps students discover their individual strengths and abilities. A typical week includes: Exploring forestry, aquatic biology, wildlife management, field ecology and other environmental topics. Learning professional forestry techniques, such as the use of Biltmore sticks and increment borers. Group dynamics and teamwork are emphasized as essential to the environmental decision-making process.