All Inclusive* 2-night Program Starting At:
$400/person - Double Occupancy
$550/person - Single Occupancy
* Includes lodging, meals, program activities and access to optional daily activities and recreational equipment. Learn More about the Great Camp Sagamore experience.
Program Overview
Join acclaimed photographer, birder, and nature sound recordist Wil Hershberger, with over 6,000 recordings to his name, for a weekend immersed in the sights and sounds of the Adirondacks. Celebrate the beauty and wonder of birds. This special program combines guided nature experiences, educational sessions, and the unique charm of Great Camp Sagamore to create a relaxing and inspiring getaway for bird enthusiasts of all levels.
The weekend begins with a warm welcome and orientation, followed by dinner and an evening gathering featuring A Celebration of Bird Song, an opportunity to meet fellow guests and tune your ear to the melodies of the forest.
Participants will enjoy guided bird walks through Sagamore’s historic grounds, explore the use of the Merlin app to learn and identify bird songs, and discover how to contribute to bird science through eBird and sound recording. Optional activities include a historical video and guided tour of Great Camp Sagamore, free time to enjoy the lake and trails, and a chance to experience the camp’s historic open-air bowling alley.
The program concludes with an early morning bird walk and breakfast, offering one last opportunity to share observations and reflections before departure.
Throughout the weekend, guests are invited to visit the camp’s gift shop, take part in complimentary historic tours, or simply relax and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds this National Historic Landmark.
Whether you’re a seasoned birder or simply curious about the world of birdsong, this program offers a perfect blend of learning, leisure, and community in one of the Adirondacks’ most remarkable settings.
Program Activities
Discover why birds sing and what their songs communicate
Learn which species are born knowing their songs and which must learn from others
Explore the complex social interactions between birds
Experience how bird song recordings are made and why they are important
Program Instructor
Wil Hershberger
Wil Hershberger has been an avid naturalist most of his life. After becoming an accomplished and well-respected birder, he rekindled the photography skills he had first learned in his dad’s basement darkroom. Today his photography has become an extension of his passion for the natural world. Wil is also an accomplished nature sounds recordist with over 6,000 recordings, including birds and bugs, archived at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library. Through his photography and sound recordings, he hopes to instill in others the desire to protect and save these sacred natural treasures.
Photo Gallery
