The state Department of Environmental Conservation is once again inviting New Yorkers to experience camping through its First-Time Camper Program.
The program, returning for the 2026 season, is designed to make camping accessible for people who have never camped before by providing equipment, instruction, and outdoor recreation opportunities at state campgrounds in the Adirondacks and Catskills.
DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said the program allows participants to enjoy activities such as camping, fishing, hiking, boating, birdwatching, and paddling while learning the basics of outdoor recreation.
New York residents can enter a lottery for the program through June 12. Participants selected through the lottery will be assigned to one of seven weekend camping sessions scheduled throughout July and August.
Participating campgrounds include Meacham Lake, Ausable Point, Northampton Beach, Nicks Lake, and Luzerne campgrounds in the Adirondacks, along with Kenneth L. Wilson and Mongaup Pond campgrounds in the Catskills.
The program provides campers with a tent, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, camp chairs, a lantern, and firewood. A DEC Camping Ambassador meets participants upon arrival and helps them set up camp while providing a “Camping 101” introduction.
Campers also will have access to nearby bathrooms and hot showers and can participate in guided outdoor activities led by experts.
The First-Time Camper Program is intended to help introduce more New Yorkers, particularly those from underserved communities, to the state’s outdoor recreation opportunities.
Additional information about the program and DEC-operated campgrounds is available on the DEC’s camping webpage.
