There is something incredibly special about welcoming our alumni back to Raquette Lake, but this year carried even more meaning as we celebrated 110 summers of tradition, friendship, and memories on Raquette Lake. For generations, campers have arrived on these shores and found a second home. While so much has grown and evolved over the years, the heart of Raquette remains the same. Alumni Day gave us the chance to bring generations together and experience the activities, traditions, songs, friendships, and spirit that have made Raquette Lake Camps so special for 110 years.
Once a Raquette Girl, Always a Raquette Girl
Girls Camp welcomed our alumni home with a full day of favorite activities and traditions. The morning began with swimming, canoeing, tennis, and volleyball before gymnastics, sailing, and arts & crafts opened for everyone to enjoy.Of course, no return to Girls Camp would be complete without some of our most beloved traditions! Everyone gathered on Placid Field for a classic grilled cheese lunch before heading to Supy Hill for Song & Cheer. Hearing generations of Raquette girls singing together was a beautiful reminder that while the years may pass, the songs and the memories attached to them stay with us forever. The afternoon continued with an Alumni vs. Camper Bucket Brigade, bringing plenty of friendly competition and Raquette spirit. After snack, alumni and campers gathered together for an Alumni Campfire, the perfect way to reflect on friendships, memories, and what it means to be part of the Raquette Lake family.
Generations of Raquette Boys Together Again
Across the lake, Boys Camp was filled with just as much energy. Alumni began their day swimming, canoeing, and sailing, followed by volleyball and tennis. One of the highlights of the morning was the Alumni/Camper 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament on the Main Courts. Campers had the chance to compete alongside and against the Raquette boys who came before them. After another Raquette favorite, grilled cheese for lunch, it was time for an Alumni vs. Camper one-inning softball game. The afternoon then transitioned to an Alumni Campfire, bringing generations together around one of the most meaningful places at camp. The day ended with snack, free time, and one last chance to walk around camp, visit favorite places, reconnect with old friends, and take in the beauty of Raquette Lake.
What made Alumni Day so meaningful wasn’t simply looking back at 110 years of history. It was seeing that history come alive. It was former campers walking the same paths they once walked as children. It was alumni singing the same songs our campers sing today. It was campers competing against alumni on the courts and fields. It was old friends reconnecting and new generations discovering that they are part of something much bigger than one summer. For 110 years, Raquette Lake Camps has been a place where friendships become lifelong, traditions are passed from one generation to the next, and campers become part of a family that stays with them long after their summers here end.
To all of our alumni who came home to celebrate with us: welcome home. Here’s to 110 years of Raquette Lake—and to all the summers still to come.
