Why Oswegatchie?
The Oswegatchie Educational Center in Croghan, New York, is nestled on 1200 acres of wooded land within the Adirondack Park. Oswegatchie is owned and operated by the New York FFA Leadership Training Foundation, Inc. The center serves as a youth camp during the summer months and is open year-round as an educational and recreational retreat center.
Our Mission is to provide meaningful experiences in leadership training, environmental education, and outdoor recreation to both youth and adults. Oswegatchie is open to all groups and organizations. Affiliation with the FFA is not required.
The Oswegatchie Educational Center provides the perfect environment for learning about our natural world. The property includes four bodies of water, various streams, wetlands, open fields, and woodlands for hiking, cross-country skiing, and environmental education.
We are New York State's FFA Leadership Training Center!
A Brief History of our Oswegatchie
Many moons ago, native people would travel this river for hunting and trapping. It's debated, but we believe Oswegatchie was used to describe the actual water, meaning "dark waters". The watershed is tinted a tea color from the "tannic acid" in the water. This mountainous location was difficult to live in during the winter months, so the native people returned to their homes to the north and east.
Eventually, European settlers overtook the land and built logging camps and small cabins for retreats. The property served as a lumberjack camp and later became a retreat destination. During the Great Depression and World War II, the land was abandoned for 16 years.
In 1946, Agricultural teachers representing the New York Future Farmers of America purchased 1,050 acres of land and buildings for $33,500. The summer camp was named the "Oswegatchie FFA Camp," in honor of the river that winds through the property.
During the 1980s and 1990s, summer camps across the country were struggling. Many camps closed their doors to campers, ending years of long traditions. Oswegatchie Camp managed to get through these challenging times. However, summer camp enrollment slowly dwindled, and change was desperately needed.
In 1996, Oswegatchie Camp became the Oswegatchie Educational Center. A full-time administrator was hired to build a place with opportunities for all four seasons. Using the structures already in place, including a fully winterized lodge, a new era of programming began for Oswegatchie. Since 1996, we have grown to welcome more than 5,000 guests each year. With our ropes course, ponds, forests, and dedicated staff, we offer many unforgettable experiences in the Adirondacks of New York.
Oswegatchie today offers year-round opportunities for colleges, high schools, businesses, churches, clubs, families, and friends. Oswegatchie is open to all, and we look forward to the opportunity to share our knowledge of leadership training, environmental education, and outdoor recreation with visitors. For More Information, call (315) 346-1222 or email [email protected].
The Oswegatchie Educational Center in Croghan, New York, is nestled on 1200 acres of wooded land within the Adirondack Park. Oswegatchie is owned and operated by the New York FFA Leadership Training Foundation, Inc. The center serves as a youth camp during the summer months and is open year-round as an educational and recreational retreat center.
Our Mission is to provide meaningful experiences in leadership training, environmental education, and outdoor recreation to both youth and adults. Oswegatchie is open to all groups and organizations. Affiliation with the FFA is not required.
The Oswegatchie Educational Center provides the perfect environment for learning about our natural world. The property includes four bodies of water, various streams, wetlands, open fields, and woodlands for hiking, cross-country skiing, and environmental education.
We are New York State's FFA Leadership Training Center!
A Brief History of our Oswegatchie
Many moons ago, native people would travel this river for hunting and trapping. It's debated, but we believe Oswegatchie was used to describe the actual water, meaning "dark waters". The watershed is tinted a tea color from the "tannic acid" in the water. This mountainous location was difficult to live in during the winter months, so the native people returned to their homes to the north and east.
Eventually, European settlers overtook the land and built logging camps and small cabins for retreats. The property served as a lumberjack camp and later became a retreat destination. During the Great Depression and World War II, the land was abandoned for 16 years.
In 1946, Agricultural teachers representing the New York Future Farmers of America purchased 1,050 acres of land and buildings for $33,500. The summer camp was named the "Oswegatchie FFA Camp," in honor of the river that winds through the property.
During the 1980s and 1990s, summer camps across the country were struggling. Many camps closed their doors to campers, ending years of long traditions. Oswegatchie Camp managed to get through these challenging times. However, summer camp enrollment slowly dwindled, and change was desperately needed.
In 1996, Oswegatchie Camp became the Oswegatchie Educational Center. A full-time administrator was hired to build a place with opportunities for all four seasons. Using the structures already in place, including a fully winterized lodge, a new era of programming began for Oswegatchie. Since 1996, we have grown to welcome more than 5,000 guests each year. With our ropes course, ponds, forests, and dedicated staff, we offer many unforgettable experiences in the Adirondacks of New York.
Oswegatchie today offers year-round opportunities for colleges, high schools, businesses, churches, clubs, families, and friends. Oswegatchie is open to all, and we look forward to the opportunity to share our knowledge of leadership training, environmental education, and outdoor recreation with visitors. For More Information, call (315) 346-1222 or email [email protected].
