Spend six focused days refining your drawing practice at Great Camp Sagamore on Raquette Lake. Led by artist Wes Sherman, this commuter seminar blends studio instruction with outdoor sketching along glacial shorelines.
Spend six focused days refining your drawing practice at Great Camp Sagamore on Raquette Lake. Led by artist Wes Sherman, this commuter seminar blends studio instruction with outdoor sketching along glacial shorelines.
Book with Great Camp Sagamore
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Great Camp Sagamore · Raquette Lake, New York
easy.
6 days.
Minimal physical fitness required—comfortable walking on uneven shoreline and short trails is helpful.
No—this seminar accommodates beginners through experienced artists; exercises scale to skill level and feedback is personalized.
No—commuter pass covers instruction and meals as listed, but lodging is not included so attendees arrange their own accommodations.
Core instructional materials and shared supplies are available, but bring your preferred pencils, erasers, and sketchbook for continuity.
The program encourages full participation; you may arrive for breakfast as early as 8am and should depart after evening programming concludes.
Yes—the campus is reachable by road; check seasonal road conditions and parking instructions at the referral link before travel.
Yes—meals from dinner the first night through breakfast the final morning are included if you opt into meal attendance.
Great Camp Sagamore is part of the Adirondack great camp tradition and sits within the larger Adirondack Park landscape.
Limit impact by packing out supplies, using established paths for plein-air sessions, and respecting historic camp structures and shoreline habitats.
Great Camp Sagamore is a historic Adirondack retreat on Raquette Lake, New York, celebrated for its preserved late-19th-century architecture and curated cultural programming. Built in 1897 for the Vanderbilt family, the camp comprises 27 historic buildings set on a lakeside estate within Adirondack Park. Visitors find guided history tours, interpretive hikes, paddles from the 1897 boathouse, and seasonal public events that highlight the camp’s architecture, engineering, and natural setting. Program offerings include weekend commuter workshops and immersive retreats: a couples’ retreat and Imago-based communication workshop; nature-inspired art workshops led by instructor Terri Fraser; and beginner fly fishing weekends taught by instructor Cari Ray. Educational talks and history lectures are presented by historian Connor Williams, covering topics like presidential elections and the origins of the Great Camps and William West Durant’s architectural legacy. On-water experiences feature a 1.5-hour guided paddle that interprets the landscape and built environment, while land programs range from full-day engineering history hikes to volunteer work weekends. The camp also hosts a free summer concert series supported by the New York State Council on the Arts, with performances in June through August. Great Camp Sagamore balances historic preservation with public access, offering family-friendly tours with optional lakeside buffet lunches and commuter pass options for daytime participation. As a registered historic site within the Adirondack Park, the camp provides authentic, well-documented programming led by experienced instructors and historians, making it a reliable destination for history, arts, nature, and outdoor learning. Public programs emphasize conservation, stewardship, and visitor education today.
Book with Great Camp Sagamore