The New York State Art Teachers Association is in session at Great Camp Sagamore for their annual Summer Institute and will be hosting an Artisan Market on Wednesday, July 23 & July 30, 5:00 - 7:00 PM. Artists in residence will showcase their works with many opportunities to purchase the displayed items. The event will take place in the lower campus of Sagamore. Sagamore's Wednesday Free Summer Concert event is also available that night. For more information on the Concert, visit Sagamore.org, "Events", Summer Concert Series.

All Event Sessions

The Great Camps had great furniture. It came from nature, was built by necessity, and remains exceptional to this day.

Between the 1880s and the 1920s, “Great Camps” like Sagamore transformed the Adirondack wilderness. Unsurpassed in their acreage and ambition, these massive complexes attracted Vanderbilts, Carnegies, Morgans, Rockefellers, Whitneys, Webbs and hosts of other, only-slightly-less-wealthy Gilded Age millionaires and their descendants.

Fleeing congested cities of steel, smoke, and sickness, each summer they sought refuge in these mountains from the ill-effects of the industrial society that had made their fortunes. These bark-clad buildings provided the perfect retreat: rustic on the outside and surrounded by rugged wilderness, yet surprisingly comfortable, ordered and refined on the inside. “Roughing it,” in practice, was seldom that.

But how to refine the interiors? What items might make these sitting-rooms, studies, dining halls, hunting lodges, and bedrooms mirror their exteriors in simplistic, natural style, but still match the complexity, rarity and luxury their owners expected?

The answer to those questions came from men like George Wilson. During the 1900s and 1910s, Wilson worked at Sagamore as a gardener, nursing the crops of vegetables and flowers through the harsh extremes of the Adirondack seasons. But off the clock, he worked on his art—ornately ordered twig-work and tree root tables, bookcases and writing desks that were highly sought in his day and have become practically priceless in our present.

Due the generous loan of a private collector and in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks, almost a dozen will spend the summer on display at the site that created them, more than a hundred years ago--Great Camp Sagamore.

Join Sagamore's Staff Historian Connor Williams for dinner, an exclusive viewing of the pieces, and a lecture that explores the context, craftsmanship, manufacture, and meaning of these exceptional artifacts that were born from nature, and built at Sagamore.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

“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.