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 operates as a youth camp during the summer months and is open throughout the year as an educational, recreational retreat center.
Our Mission is to provide both youth and adults with true to life experiences in leadership training, environmental education, and outdoor recreation. Oswegatchie is open to all groups and organizations. Affiliation to the FFA is not required.
The Oswegatchie Educational Center provides the perfect environment for learning about our natural world. The property includes 4 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! |
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A Brief History of Oswegatchie
Many moons ago, this place was Oswegatchie. The native people who
travelled these rivers gave the waters this name due to the tea
colored water. The water looks this way because of tannic acid which is leached from the local
forest and alters the water’s coloring.
As European settlers moved across the mountains and settled this land, loggers settled the
area in search of timber and furs. As time moved on, the grounds upon which the Educational
Center would exist, a logger’s hotel was constructed. Later, it became a retreat and a resort.
During the Great Depression and WW2, the lands were vacant and without owners.
In 1946, Agricultural teachers representing the New York Future Farmers of America
purchased the original 1,050 acres of land, plus buildings for $33,500. Since that time,
Oswegatchie Camp has served has a summer camp.
During the 1980’s and 1990’s, summer camps throughout the country were experiencing hard
times. Many camps closed their doors to campers ending years of long traditions.
Oswegatchie Camp was able to make it through these hard 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 4,000 guests each
year. With the use of our ropes course, ponds, forests, and great people, we are able to
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. We have the resources to offer a variety
of experiences for people. It doesn’t matter if you are
young or old, we have something for everyone.
For More Information call
(315) 346-1222 or email info@oswegatchie.org
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