All Inclusive* 2-night Program Starting At:
$445/person - Double Occupancy
$595/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
Immerse yourself in the beauty and legacy of the Adirondacks during a confidence-building wilderness retreat based at historic Great Camp Sagamore. Surrounded by pristine forests, winding trails, and the timeless charm of this National Historic Landmark, participants will step into a supportive community of women ready to build practical skills, self-reliance, and a deeper comfort level in the backcountry.
Designed for women of all experience levels, this retreat demystifies wilderness travel. It empowers you to explore the Adirondack backcountry safely and intentionally—whether hiking with friends or adventuring on your own. Through hands-on sessions, demonstrations, and guided discussions rooted in real-world backcountry experiences, you’ll gain the knowledge every woman should have to feel prepared in the wild.
This retreat offers a space to learn, grow, and step confidently into your own wilderness journey. Leave feeling empowered, prepared, and ready to explore the backcountry with renewed independence.
This extended program includes sessions after checkout, as well as a buffet lunch.
Program Activities
Building Comfort in the Adirondack Backcountry: Learn how to assess your comfort zone, travel with confidence, and adapt to changing trail conditions.
Essential Gear & Equipment: Understand what you really need in your pack—from the Five C’s of survival to lightweight comfort items that make the outdoors more enjoyable.
Navigation & Wayfinding: Strengthen your skills with maps, compasses, GPS devices, and understanding trail plans—plus solo-hiking safety practices like check-in procedures and emergency signaling.
Food & Water in the Backcountry: Compare common backcountry cooking methods, meal planning basics, and when to carry water versus filter it using backcountry-safe methods.
Fire-Making Skills: Learn how to gather materials, construct a fire, and use essential tools while following Adirondack fire safety guidelines.
Wilderness First Aid Foundations: Gain practical self-sufficiency and learn how to manage common backcountry concerns before they become emergencies.
Safety Essentials: Discover items you always pack—such as an emergency blanket or bivy—and how to prepare for both day hikes and planned or unplanned overnights.
Backcountry Comforts: Elevate your experience with lightweight luxuries like coffee, hot chocolate, art supplies, or a trail journal that help you slow down and savor your surroundings.
New Booking Option
For solo participants open to sharing a room, book the “Single Bed - Shared Room” option at our lowest shared-occupancy rate. You’ll be assigned your own bed in a shared room with fellow participants in your program. Room assignments are at the discretion of Great Camp Sagamore.
Program Instructors
Kim Sorensen
Kim has spent her career helping people connect to nature and culture through outdoor education, most recently serving 11 years with Texas Parks and Wildlife in roles ranging from Outdoor Education Diversity Specialist to Boater Education Manager. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Kim has always felt most at home in the mountains. Some of her most meaningful memories come from hiking and camping under the stars, paddling wild rivers, or casting a fly on quiet waters. A passionate outdoorswoman and educator, she loves inspiring others to discover adventure and take the road less traveled.
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) is a program sponsored by the NYS DEC designed to teach women outdoor skills. These programs provide women with information, encouragement, and hands-on instruction in outdoor skills such as fishing, shooting, archery, hunting, trapping, outdoor photography, map and compass, survival, camping, canoeing, and outdoor cooking.
All Program Sessions
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