“Ask any fly fisher why they like to fish, and one of the first things you are likely to hear is that time and troubles all but disappear when you’re on the water. After experiencing this phenomenon for years, I began to lean into aspects of the sport that contributed to its meditative quality and, it turns out, the same practices that lead to relaxation and calm also make you a better fly angler. “

In a world obsessed with shortcuts to performance, fly fishing beckons us to slow down and take the scenic route. In this presentation, Cari will share some of the decisions you can make, on and off the water, to simultaneously enhance your enjoyment and increase your fly angling success.

Enhance your experience by joining us for a delicious dinner in our Historic Dining Hall overlooking Lake Sagamore, followed by the presentation.

Join Janet Mihuc, Professor of Biology at Paul Smith's College, for an enlightening and immersive presentation about the fascinating world of moths. This presentation will showcase the lives of moths and the ways they interact with plants and animals in forests.  The hobby of moth watching will also be introduced as you venture outside after the presentation where Dr. Mihuc will have lighting and panels set up to attract and identify moths.

Join us as we invite the community in for our first tours of the season and the opportunity to have brunch in Sagamore’s historic Dining Hall! Sagamore’s Historic Interpreters will be stationed throughout the camp to provide information, answer questions and guide you through the property.

A buffet brunch will be available for an additional cost from 10:30am to 1:30pm.

Join us for an evening of traditional Adirondack fare in our Historic Dining Hall overlooking Lake Sagamore. Executive Chef Sydney Richards is creating a delicious menu of local foods. Courses will be paired with an array of wines to complement the meal.

All Event Sessions

Humankind's earliest recorded histories can be found in the marks etched onto cave walls tens of thousands of years ago. When words fall short, we turn to images, using visual expression to communicate what language cannot. Join art professor Wes Sherman for an engaging presentation that delves into the significance of mark-making throughout human history, while also introducing the fundamental principles of composition.

Although the American Civil War ended 160 years ago, Americans still spend every day living in its wake.  Our politics are governed by its outcome, our society is shaped by its struggles, and psyches always live in a little fear that it could happen again.  Abraham Lincoln remains our greatest President, and Antietam remains our deadliest day.  And we must never forget that--between those fighting for the United States and those fighting against them, the American Civil War killed more Americans than all our other foreign wars, combined. Sagamore Historian Connor Williams speaks about the causes, course, and consequences of our greatest national tragedy, our the world wrought by our second American revolution, and the new birth of freedom that continues to define all of our days.

Join us for an afternoon of excellent food and great regional craft beers. Enjoy lunch in our historic Dining Hall overlooking Sagamore Lake, then walk the grounds on a tasting tour. Professional brewers, dedicated home brewers, and beer aficionados sample and discuss what they love, in a stunning Adirondack setting.

Join us for a unique and engaging presentation exploring the music of the Civil War, co-presented by Sagamore Historian Connor Williams and Dean of Music Dan Berggren. As part of our Seminar in History on the American Civil War, this event delves into the powerful role music played in shaping and reflecting the emotions, struggles, and ideologies of the time. Through live examples, Williams and Berggren will examine popular songs of the era, analyzing them not only as musical compositions but also as historical artifacts. Attendees will gain insight into how these songs rallied troops, swayed public opinion, and captured the cultural spirit of a divided nation. Blending historical commentary with musical interpretation, the presentation offers a compelling look at how melody and message intertwined during one of America’s most defining conflicts. Don’t miss this rich exploration of history through sound.

Cari Ray is a multi award-winning creative force. Her musical influences as a writer and performer are clear and present in her original material. But it’s her raw honesty, storytelling and ability to transport the listener into the worlds she creates that truly captivate. Her live performance will have your heart breaking one minute and your hips shaking the next.

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Our Summer Concert Series continues with Dan Duggan and Peggy Lynn, who are both steeped in Adirondack history and culture for decades. Individually and together, they share their knowledge and appreciation of the region through stories and tunes that engage every audience, especially families and children.

Peggy Lynn, singer and songwriter, runs from folk to blues with a style and range that gives meaning and emotion to all her work. Her most powerful message is for the contributions and burdens of women. Peggy believes there needs to be a female role added to the record of Adirondack history. She co-authored Breaking Trail: Remarkable Women in the Adirondacks. Bringing these stories to the public stage in her own program, “Mountain Women Can Be Heroes,” Peggy celebrates, through song and story, the comical, amazing and poignant experiences of Adirondack women as the unsung heroes.

Dan Duggan, nationally touring performer, is rapidly being acknowledged as one of the finest dulcimer players and composers in the country. As recipient of the prestigious National Hammered Dulcimer Championship, Dan's accomplishment, is even more considerable as he is the first winner to have performed all original compositions. Dan's renditions of traditional Irish and American tunes reflect his study and understanding of their original context. Whether re-creating 18th century harp pieces or vibrant 19th century dance tunes, Dan has engaged audiences nationwide in a variety of musical styles and moods.

All Event Sessions

Dick Beardsley is among the world’s most respected and captivating motivational and inspirational speakers. He is the author of the internationally bestselling autobiography Staying the Course: A Runner's Toughest Race and the central figure of the acclaimed book Duel in the Sun: The Story of Alberto Salazar, Dick Beardsley, and America's Greatest Marathon. He is an American long-distance runner best known for tying for first place with Inge Simonsen in the inaugural 1981 London Marathon and his close finish with Alberto Salazar in the 1982 Boston Marathon. Beardsley is the only man to have ever run 13 consecutive personal bests in the marathon, and is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the feat.

Our Summer Concert Series continues with Dan Duggan and Peggy Lynn, who are both steeped in Adirondack history and culture for decades. Individually and together, they share their knowledge and appreciation of the region through stories and tunes that engage every audience, especially families and children.

Peggy Lynn, singer and songwriter, runs from folk to blues with a style and range that gives meaning and emotion to all her work. Her most powerful message is for the contributions and burdens of women. Peggy believes there needs to be a female role added to the record of Adirondack history. She co-authored Breaking Trail: Remarkable Women in the Adirondacks. Bringing these stories to the public stage in her own program, “Mountain Women Can Be Heroes,” Peggy celebrates, through song and story, the comical, amazing and poignant experiences of Adirondack women as the unsung heroes.

Dan Duggan, nationally touring performer, is rapidly being acknowledged as one of the finest dulcimer players and composers in the country. As recipient of the prestigious National Hammered Dulcimer Championship, Dan's accomplishment, is even more considerable as he is the first winner to have performed all original compositions. Dan's renditions of traditional Irish and American tunes reflect his study and understanding of their original context. Whether re-creating 18th century harp pieces or vibrant 19th century dance tunes, Dan has engaged audiences nationwide in a variety of musical styles and moods.

All Event Sessions

Wednesday nights continue to be filled with music as our Summer Concert Series goes on with Tim Rodrigue & Norm Allen. Tim and Norm are a duo with more than 60 years combined of performing experience. Tim plays lead guitar and mandolin. He has had the opportunity to take lessons from Frank Wakefield and Trey Hensley. Norm plays guitar and provides lead vocals. Norm started singing and playing at the age of four with his father. They each bring their interests to the duo and that's why you can expect to hear a little bit of everything...bluegrass, country, blues and rock!

All Event Sessions

Write what you know. Tell a story. Let the journey be your guide. So true. If only we all could tell our stories in the beautiful, moving, and melodic ways that Sara Milonovich does. Enjoy as she shares her fiddle-fueled, heady harvest of heart-stopping, original “roots rock” and alt-Americana.

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In 1850, the Adirondack region was a blank spot on the map, largely unorganized and uncharted. But, by 1900, the Adirondacks hosted elaborate summer estates for the wealthiest families in America: Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Carnegies, Whitneys and Morgans. While certainly not as lavish as their Newport cottages, Adirondack “Great Camps” such as Great Camp Sagamore still had elegant meals, fully stocked bars and dozens of staff to keep them running. The Adirondacks were a destination for escaping the city and recharging in nature, despite the dusty two-day journey. What was the genesis and what circumstances served as catalyst for this phenomenon?

This presentation by Sagamore’s historian, Dr. Connor Williams, will address these questions, and explore how environmentalism, opulence, industry, inequality, architecture and nature all intersected to produce the Adirondack Park (and the Adirondack vacations) we still connect to today.

All Event Sessions

Spend an evening steeped in traditional Adirondack folk music, regional history, and storytelling with Adirondack original and Sagamore’s Dean of Music, Dan Berggren.

All Event Sessions

Seasoned solo performers Dan Berggren, Peggy Lynn and Dan Duggan have combined talents to create a dynamic trio called The Jamcrackers. Named in honor of the river drivers who broke up log jams, they worked hard to find solutions to get things rolling again and it was a job that couldn’t be done alone. Dan, Peggy and Dan feel the same way about their music. These good friends and accomplished musicians bring a rare blend of humor, history, and musical spirit to their performances.

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Art Professor and 30-year career artist, Wes Sherman, has long been the beloved lead instructor of Sagamore’s annual Plein Air Painting Seminar. In this presentation, he’ll cover the longstanding of tradition of painting “en plein air” (French for “in the open air”) — at Sagamore, around the Adirondacks, and across the globe.

Mesmerizing folk duo Ordinary Elephant has spent the better part of the last decade on a never-ending tour that’s earned married couple Crystal and Pete Damore widespread, critical acclaim. In 2017, the pair took home the International Folk Music Award for Artist of the Year on the strength of their breakout album, Before I Go. Two years later, they returned with the similarly lauded Honest, which the Associated Press hailed as “one of the best Americana albums of the year.”

The band’s new stripped-down, self-titled collection is the purest distillation of their sound, showcasing the arresting power of the couple’s gorgeous harmonies and intricate fretwork. The songs are timeless, rooted in rich, character-driven storytelling, and the performances are similarly transportive, fueled by delicately intertwined banjo, guitar, and octave mandolin. Listen and you will hear more than just a husband-and-wife duo; you’ll hear the sound of sincerity and commitment, of patience and gratitude, of learning to let go of expectation and revel in the simple beauty of the moment.

All Event Sessions

Join us for an evening of traditional Adirondack fare in our Historic Dining Hall overlooking Lake Sagamore. Executive Chef Sydney Richards is creating a delicious menu of local foods. Courses will be paired with an array of wines to complement the meal.

All Event Sessions

From Upstate New York, Oona Grady (fiddle/viola/vocals) and James Gascoyne (guitar/banjo/vocals) play and sing North Atlantic dance tunes and folk songs as members of this amazing music venture, Drank the Gold.

Steeped in Irish music for as far back as she can remember, Oona spent many years living in Cork, Ireland, where she honed her skills as a fiddle player and Irish music specialist. Upon moving back to her hometown of Ithaca, NY, Oona immersed herself in the local traditional music scene and incorporated old time and Cajun tunes into her repertoire.

Growing up outside Louisville, KY, James was surrounded by music from an early age; radio, vinyl records, church music, and live concerts were a part of daily life. Finding his own musical style as an adult, James always keeps his ears open for sounds – new, old, familiar, or strange. While singing and playing guitar and banjo with Drank The Gold, he delves into the traditions of American old time and Irish dance tunes, while keeping true to his borderless, experimental musical roots.

Now based in Saratoga Springs, NY, Oona and James collaborate as Drank The Gold, bringing new perspectives and innovative arrangements to the music they love. “Craic agus ceol!” (“Good times and music!”)

All Event Sessions

In 1850, the Adirondack region was a blank spot on the map, largely unorganized and uncharted. But, by 1900, the Adirondacks hosted elaborate summer estates for the wealthiest families in America: Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Carnegies, Whitneys and Morgans. While certainly not as lavish as their Newport cottages, Adirondack “Great Camps” such as Great Camp Sagamore still had elegant meals, fully stocked bars and dozens of staff to keep them running. The Adirondacks were a destination for escaping the city and recharging in nature, despite the dusty two-day journey. What was the genesis and what circumstances served as catalyst for this phenomenon?

This presentation by Sagamore’s historian, Dr. Connor Williams, will address these questions, and explore how environmentalism, opulence, industry, inequality, architecture and nature all intersected to produce the Adirondack Park (and the Adirondack vacations) we still connect to today.

All Event Sessions

Spend an evening steeped in traditional Adirondack folk music, regional history, and storytelling with Adirondack original and Sagamore’s Dean of Music, Dan Berggren.

All Event Sessions

From the heart of the Adirondack Mountains, High on the Hog Stringband was born of late nights spent trading southern-Appalachian fiddle tunes, country standards, and homemade Adirondack originals. Equally at home under a festival tent or in a living room, the trio of multi-instrumentalists — Bill Chamberlain, Tyler Dezago, and Marion Hoelzel — together bring forth strong driving melodies on fiddle, mandolin, guitar and banjo, often swapping instruments and sharing harmonies. The trio draws on the simplicity of strings and vocals steeped in an authentic musical tradition while adding their own unique sensibilities and perspective.

All Event Sessions

Fiddle tunes, folksongs and fancy footwork will be featured from this acoustic duet called Quickstep. John Kirk is the primary vocalist and instrumental wizard on fiddle mandolin & more. Trish Miller plays banjo, guitar and provides percussive dance steps. Together, this married couple has been working and teaching in upstate New York for over three decades. They present traditional tunes and witty songs with unique arrangements and warm clear vocals.

Old time music is the basis for their repertoire, but they also like to mix in some originals, Celtic, early country songs, humorous selections, and Appalachian clog dancing. Many songs and tunes are rooted in the local lore of the northeast woodlands. Their story-telling songs and poetic pieces make their shows fine entertainment for all ages.

In 2022, John was inducted into the North American (& NY) Fiddler’s Hall of Fame. The duet has twice been nominated for Eddie Awards in New York’s Capitol district. Both of them are music instructors at Skidmore College, and John is part of the music faculty at Bennington College as well. They have been given numerous grants for concerts and teaching including their selection by the US State Department to various cities in Eastern Europe. As teaching artists, John & Trish have conducted school programs and residencies in music & dance heritage since the 1990’s. For many years, they have taught at summer music camps, museums, libraries, coffeehouses and more. From Carnegie Hall to their local Flurry Festival, John & Trish entertain and they work to carry on lively, traditional tunes & dances.

All Event Sessions

In 1850, the Adirondack region was a blank spot on the map, largely unorganized and uncharted. But, by 1900, the Adirondacks hosted elaborate summer estates for the wealthiest families in America: Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Carnegies, Whitneys and Morgans. While certainly not as lavish as their Newport cottages, Adirondack “Great Camps” such as Great Camp Sagamore still had elegant meals, fully stocked bars and dozens of staff to keep them running. The Adirondacks were a destination for escaping the city and recharging in nature, despite the dusty two-day journey. What was the genesis and what circumstances served as catalyst for this phenomenon?

This presentation by Sagamore’s historian, Dr. Connor Williams, will address these questions, and explore how environmentalism, opulence, industry, inequality, architecture and nature all intersected to produce the Adirondack Park (and the Adirondack vacations) we still connect to today.

All Event Sessions

Spend an evening steeped in traditional Adirondack folk music, regional history, and storytelling with Adirondack original and Sagamore’s Dean of Music, Dan Berggren.

All Event Sessions

Enjoy an evening listening to this dynamic duo on the shores of Sagamore Lake. Keanen Stark (guitar, banjo, harmonica) is becoming a master of the old-time folk styles of Woody Guthrie. A folk singer in the truest sense, with a knack for cross-harp, his stripped-down, minimalist take on traditional folk music is sure to please. Orion Kribs (mandolin, guitar) is a world-class mandolin player capable of breakneck speed and nuanced solo work.

All Event Sessions

Join us for an evening of traditional Adirondack fare in our Historic Dining Hall overlooking Lake Sagamore. Executive Chef Sydney Richards is creating a delicious menu of local foods. Courses will be paired with an array of wines to complement the meal.

All Event Sessions

Samuel Clemens: Tales of Mark Twain is a contemporary one-man show, written and performed by Joe Baer, that tells the story of Samuel Clemens’ life. Context and words from the pen of Mark Twain are intertwined to reimagine this legend on the lecture circuit, highlighting the ebbs and flows of this iconic American figure’s life against a visual backdrop of historical imagery.

 "I’m not trying to impersonate Twain but rather personify him. My goal on stage is to create a Twain character for the 21st century. His logic and ‘snappers’ are timeless, and many, for better or worse, are still applicable to todays’ world.”
- Joe Baer, Actor & Playwright

The show is an original script sprinkled with excepts from the hand of Samuel Clemens, otherwise known as Mark Twain. Baer portrays Samuel Clemens near the end of his career, in a narrative and thought-provoking performance. The show highlights events in Twain's life with events happening during his lifetime in American history. Baer presents a nostalgic look back through time, beginning with Twain’s rural roots in small town, Missouri, to his international acclaim. This parallel timeline brings Twain back to life by conveying how many of the same topics back then are just as relevant in today's world. Baer’s performance also portrays Twain's irreverence for politics and politicians as is his penchant for embroidering the truth with less true but more interesting alternative facts. Act 2 includes condensed passages from Clemens’s masterwork, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. If you enjoy history and story-telling with a satirical twist, you won’t want to miss this solo show. 

In the aftermath of the Election of 2024, many questions are circulating within our news media and within our minds.  Have political coalitions realigned?  How did one candidate "win" the election, and how did the other candidate "lose" it?  What do Americans really want from their leadership?  And at the core, how much of our present moment might fundamentally change America, and how much is politics as usual?

Although history cannot answer these questions for our future, it can give instructive examples from our past. Join Sagamore Historian Connor Williams for a lecture and conversation on what our nation's past elections can teach us about its present and future ones.

This is a non-partisan event: Connor's remarks will be grounded in the past, and presented apolitically--in all aspects, this event is intended to learn from history, rather than politicize it.

In 1850, the Adirondack region was a blank spot on the map, largely unorganized and uncharted. But, by 1900, the Adirondacks hosted elaborate summer estates for the wealthiest families in America: Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Carnegies, Whitneys and Morgans. While certainly not as lavish as their Newport cottages, Adirondack “Great Camps” such as Great Camp Sagamore still had elegant meals, fully stocked bars and dozens of staff to keep them running. The Adirondacks were a destination for escaping the city and recharging in nature, despite the dusty two-day journey. What was the genesis and what circumstances served as catalyst for this phenomenon?

This presentation by Sagamore’s historian, Dr. Connor Williams, will address these questions, and explore how environmentalism, opulence, industry, inequality, architecture and nature all intersected to produce the Adirondack Park (and the Adirondack vacations) we still connect to today.

All Event Sessions

Spend an evening steeped in traditional Adirondack folk music, regional history, and storytelling with Adirondack original and Sagamore’s Dean of Music, Dan Berggren.

All Event Sessions