FACILITY Our Lakeside at Camp Washington has 300-acre property has many hidden gems for students to explore. A trail through low-lying woodlands reveals many semi-aquatic plants and eventually winds around to an old family cemetery. Off-trail students can find an enormous fallen ash tree and learn about invasive species and their effect on our delicate ecosystems.
Students have many opportunities to observe how the environment can be altered by those inhabiting it. A trip to the Waterfront Pond allows students to see a human-made dam, while a trip to the beaver pond shows how animals can change the landscape. Students can also visit an old rock quarry to discuss mining operations and see how removing rocks from the land can cause erosion. On the way to the quarry, students can stop by The Snake Pit and see how humans can create habitats for animals with our snake boxes.
ACCOMMODATION We have 8 separate cabins that each house 14 students along with a private room, and a semi-private room for chaperones with one single bed. There is a bathroom inside each cabin which has two toilet stalls, two showers, and a private changing room.
LOCATION Lakeside offers 300 acres of woodlands in the Litchfield Hills of western Connecticut. Students have the opportunity to discover historic features of this former homestead, as well as new-growth forests, streams, a beaver pond, and vernal pools. The facilities at Lakeside can accommodate up to 100 students.
TRAVEL TIME Springfield, MA - 1 hour and 10 minutes
Pittsfield, MA - 1 hour
Hartford, CT - 1 hour
New Haven, CT - 1 hour and 20 minutes
RECREATION Kenyon Hall provides a large open space for activities and free time during the day. Students can enjoy our large field in front of the cabins which is ideal for football, soccer, Frisbee, or just running around and playing. We also have a basketball court, volleyball court, foursquare court, and a gaga pit for the students to use.