Camp season 2025 ended on a high note with the final Carnival of the summer, hosted by our incredible partners at Stifel!
Before closing out with cotton candy and ring tosses, campers wrapped up a full session of classic summer fun—learning to pitch tents in Outdoor Adventure, splashing in the lake, boating and practicing their strokes, diving into arts & crafts, and playing every sport in sight. Campers also explored the cultures of their counselors through dishes representing their home countries—like Scotland, Jamaica, and Mexico—cooked up as part of a special International Night. Other highlights included camp cookout night and a very festive Christmas in July, complete with hot cocoa, “holiday” photos, and lots of dancing and singing to jolly tunes.
Camp Lanowa joined day campers from Allie’s Place and Prospect at Camp Wakonda for a fun-filled day that brought all the summer magic together. Stifel volunteers were all in—popping popcorn, spinning cotton candy, helping kids create their own jewelry, and leading some very competitive ring toss rounds.
The bouncy houses and water slides were crowd favorites, and face paint was in full effect just in time for Cotton Eye Joe. As for the classic carnival games—let’s just say some campers had better aim than others.
Representatives from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation also returned this session, setting up another interactive table—this time featuring animal pelts, bones, and even a live snake! The display sparked curiosity and conversation about the wildlife and ecosystems of Harriman State Park, where HFH Summer Camps is located.
Thanks to everyone who made this summer unforgettable. We’re already counting down to HFH Summer Camps 2026!
Some of the photos featured were taken by Amos Oman, a returning HFH Summer Camps counselor who is working to break into professional photography. Between leading activities and supporting campers, Amos has been capturing day-to-day life at camp through his lens—giving us an inside look at summer at Camp Lanowa and Camp Wakonda.
