named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Adult & Intergenerational Programs
Programs for adults and families that offer community-based retreat experiences, continuing the camp’s mission beyond youth programming.
All-Gender Cabins
Cabins that are primarily all-gender by default, with campers involved in setting cabin norms around privacy, visitors, and routines. Offers single-occupancy bathrooms and options for single-gender cabins when possible.
Social Justice Workshops
Weekly, optional workshops led by guest facilitators on topics such as LGBTQ+ history, disability advocacy, anti-racism, climate crisis, and inclusive schools. Designed to be age-appropriate, interactive, and engaging.
Staff Training Program
11-day intensive training for staff covering youth development, safety, anti-racism, LGBTQ+ inclusion, restorative justice, and community-building, preparing counselors to support a progressive, inclusive camp culture.
Summer Youth Sessions
Week-long summer camp sessions for youth featuring self-directed programming, community agreements, daily camp council, social justice workshops, and a restorative justice approach to conflict. Includes approximately 65 campers and 20 counselors per session.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Managed Campground and Retreat Operations 2 activities
- Maintain and steward camp facilities and groundsOperates a camp facility on a 9-acre peninsula on Beaver Lake in the Western Adirondack Park, maintaining historic structures from the 1920s and newer buildings in a consistent woodsy style. Stewards the grounds from May through mid-October, operates recreational facilities, and runs volunteer work weeks for maintenance and outdoor projects.
- Provide adult-focused creative and recreational retreatsOffers adult-centered programs including the Retreat for Creatives, Sleepaway Camp for Grownups, Young Adult Weekend, and the Creatives Canoe Trip, providing opportunities for personal enrichment, peer connection, and outdoor adventure.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Deliver arts and social justice programming at campOffers daily 75-minute workshops led by Artists in Residence in music, theater, visual arts, dance/movement, or crafting. Hosts 75-minute social justice education programs led by outside presenters one or two mornings per week, covering topics such as anti-colonialism and LGBTQ+ inclusivity.
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Accessibility Services for Cultural Programs 1 activity
- Ensure accessibility and inclusion across programsImplements camper-driven changes including gender-inclusive cabins, menu modifications, and accessibility improvements. Provides physical accommodations such as ramps, quiet spaces, golf cart shuttles, video captions, image descriptions, and sound systems. Offers sliding fee scales, scholarships, and full scholarships for Indigenous campers.
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Inclusive Social & Recreational Events 1 activity
- Host identity-affirming retreats for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communitiesHosts a weekend retreat for LGBTQIA+ teens and allies, a Women's Weekend, Mark's Gathering of Men, and an annual BIPOC Retreat designed by and for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color aged 12 and older. Also offers the Peak Queerness Hiking Trip for LGBTQ+ participants.
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Guided Outdoor Expedition Programs 1 activity
- Operate youth sleep-away camp sessions and wilderness tripsHosts week-long summer sleep-away camp sessions for youth ages 8–18, with approximately 65 campers and 20 counselors per session, fostering a close-knit community. Offers hiking and paddling adventure programs in the Adirondacks, including the 90-Miler Canoe Trip and Peak Queerness Hiking Trip.
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Archival Digitization and Preservation 1 activity
- Preserve organizational history and archivesHosts historical archives on an independent website, maintaining a collection of letters, memos, legal documents, newsletters, maps, brochures, photos, memorabilia, and written memories from former campers and staff.
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Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
- Rent camp facilities for private events and public campingOffers rental of camp facilities for private events during spring and fall, with tiered daily rates ranging from $1,200 to $2,100 per day. Provides access to a commercial kitchen and is developing HipCamp listings for self-led small camping trips.
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Volunteer and Professional Training Programs 1 activity
- Support volunteer engagement and staff developmentEngages volunteers in cabin counseling, workshop co-leadership, and activity supervision during summer sessions. Runs a summer kitchen program supported by volunteer meal prep and dishwashing. Provides professional training for counseling staff in leadership, child development, safety, first aid, conflict resolution, and inclusive community building.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Facilitate participatory governance and community inputOperates daily camp council meetings and includes campers with voting representation on the board of directors. Implements camper-driven changes to programs, policies, and facilities, promoting youth autonomy and democratic decision-making.
- Run intergenerational Family Camp and special weekendsOperates a week-long Family Camp program and hosts an annual Family & Friends Weekend (also held every Memorial Day weekend) to welcome children, families, and intergenerational groups for shared camp experiences.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$542K
Contributions & grants$52K10%
Program service revenue$475K88%
Investment income$14K3%
Other revenue$588
expenses
Total expenses$664K
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$374K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.93M
Cash$177K
Investments$878K
Liabilities$25K
Net assets$1.90M
Liquid reserves19.1 mo
4 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -2.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lauren Hunt | Executive Director | 10 | $18K |
board members · 8
- David Pynchon — Director
- Doug Taylor — President
- Emily Patka — Treasurer
- Jesse Ditkoff — Vice President
- Kelly Jennings — Director
- Kevin Eckstrand — Secretary
- Lynne Theophanis — Director
- Sujata Rege Konowitz — Director
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- Haudenosanuee Government — Recognizes stewardship practices of the Haudenosanuee people and seeks to align land use with their traditions.
- Haudenosaunee Government — Recognizes the Haudenosaunee as the original stewards of the land where Camp Unirondack operates.
- Haudenosaunee Confederacy Government — Located on ancestral land historically occupied by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, specifically the Mohawk and Oneida Nations.
- HipCamp Partner — Partnering to develop listings for small campsites to support self-led camping trips.
- Mohawk Nation Government — Located on ancestral territory of the Mohawk people; acknowledges this relationship in land acknowledgment.
- Naropa University Partner — Alma mater of Mental Health & Wellness Specialist Elena Kopel-Theophanis, indicating an educational affiliation.
- New York State Convention of Universalists Partner — Originally established Unirondack in 1951 as a retreat for ministers and religious educators.
- Oneida Nation Government — Located on ancestral territory of the Oneida people; acknowledges this relationship in land acknowledgment.
- Sam and Arson Partner — Camp managers responsible for handling registration inquiries and special accommodations.
- Staff Alumni Partner — Former staff members who return to volunteer in roles such as cabin counselors, weekend coverage, and program support.
- Trent University Partner — Alma mater of Director Caleb Seguin, indicating an educational affiliation.
- Unitarian Universalism Network — Historically connected to and informed by Unitarian Universalist values; offers programs reflecting this spiritual and ethical tradition.
- Unitarian Universalist Association Network — Member of the Unitarian Universalist religious network, rooted in the Universalist tradition and affiliated with the UUA since its formation in 1961.
- University of Vermont Partner — Current institution where Vaishali Konowitz is majoring in Math, indicating an educational connection.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Anti-Colonial, Youth-Centered Frameworkmethodology: anti-colonial_youth_workBy centering Indigenous knowledge and youth autonomy in programming, we counter systemic inequities in outdoor access and foster identity-affirming experiences, because youth are more engaged and resilient when learning is rooted in cultural relevance and self-direction.
- Experiential Education for Social and Political Awarenessmethodology: experiential_educationBy immersing youth in simulations and real-world education on colonialism and injustice, we cultivate critical thinking and activism, because direct emotional engagement leads to deeper understanding and motivation for change.
- Intentional, Identity-Affirming Community Designmethodology: community_coproduced_programmingBy designing retreats in collaboration with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and creating identity-specific spaces, we foster belonging and cultural affirmation, because inclusive co-creation produces deeper trust and resilience in marginalized communities.
- Restorative Justice as Community Practicemethodology: restorative_justiceBy using dialogue and collective repair instead of punishment to address conflict, we strengthen community bonds and accountability, because youth develop greater empathy and responsibility when included in solutions.
- Youth-Led Community and Identity Developmentmethodology: youth_led_community_buildingBy empowering youth to co-create community norms and choose their activities, we build responsibility and belonging, because autonomy and participatory governance produce deeper engagement and emotional safety.